Logitech's G915 TKL is a wireless mechanical gaming keyboard loaded with RGB lights, a slew of programmable buttons, a handsome brushed metal frame, and an irresistibly spinnable volume wheel. But its standout feature is undoubtedly its incredible proportions. The G915 is as thin as any mechanical keyboard I've ever seen.
But, at $230, it's also one of the most expensive keyboards around. So, does it live up to its price tag?
Logitech G915 TKL – Design and Features
The G915 TKL's shape is a genuine showstopper – it boasts a physique that almost defies logic. It's deceptively small at 15.2 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches, thanks in part to a sturdy, brushed metal frame. At 1.78 pounds, it's around a pound lighter than Corsair’s K70 RGB MK.2. That makes it a suitable keyboard to bring with you, whether you're traveling the country or simply lugging it from battle station to work desktop.
That low profile isn't the only feature that makes the G915 TKL a stunner. The RGB keys glow bright even in direct sunlight, and its brushed metal frame (available in white or black) makes it equally at home at a monster gaming rig as a Pinterest-worthy minimalist setup.
But that charming aesthetic belies a slew of invaluable gaming features. The TKL plugs into Logitech's infamous G-Hub software, where it can transform in myriad ways. You can program each F key, decide how you want the lights to function, and even disable specific keys while gaming.
The TKL takes advantage of Logitech's reliable Lightspeed connector. There's even a cutaway on the back to store it – hallelujah! Across the keyboard's sizable forehead, there are buttons for toggling between the Lightspeed and Bluetooth connection, activating game mode, cycling the keyboard between five steps of brightness, changing your music, and a lovely little volume wheel in the top right corner.
There's nothing groundbreaking about the feature set, but each of the buttons is almost immediately comprehensible, whether you read the included literature or not.
Logitech G915 TKL – Performance and Gaming
Buying the TKL comes with one critical question in three distinct flavors: what switches should you get? There's a linear option for those that prefer fluid keys, a tactile option that emphasizes precise feedback, and a clicky option for those that cherish a hearty keystroke.
On the surface, the tactile seems like the obvious option, and it's what I tested. Unfortunately, I found it (sadly) nowhere near the clickiness I prefer. It's worth noting that Logitech's low-profile switches only approximate the feeling of regular switches, when in fact, they sit at half the height. The result is a key that feels similar enough to standard Cherry switches, but feels uncanny to my fingertips. I was incapable of typing as fast due to the travel, and I could never tell the exact gradations needed to register a keypress. I’d say go for the clicky option if you prefer intuiting the exact moment a key will register and don’t mind the loud sound it produces when typing.
Typing on the keyboard was relatively quiet – even slamming keys in rapid-fire typing tests wasn't as wake-the-neighbors loud as my other mechanical keyboards. However, I did find the keyboard loud in a different way. There's a slight rattle when you shake the keyboard that's noticeable even when your fingers are merely grazing the top of the keys. I found this pretty annoying, not because it affected my typing but because it made the keyboard feel cheap, and at $230, this keyboard is anything but.
For whatever reason, I found myself infatuated with the volume dial. It's not the most sturdy mechanism, and there's no resistance inside, but the small ridges and AA battery size made it a pleasure to use. The concave, rubberized buttons atop the keyboard were similarly comfortable, though there's less reason to hit them in daily use. Similarly, I loved the ability to store the receiver, though I never really needed to move the keyboard. But for those who still have places to go, it'll be a welcome feature. If you forget the dongle at home, the keyboard still works with Bluetooth. I found the connection entirely reliable but prefer the Lightspeed for its improved latency and seemingly unbreakable connection.
The TKL's battery is exceptional. With the RGB lights at full tilt, the battery lasts 40 hours on a single charge. That's pretty shocking, considering the lights shine bright, even when the keyboard's unplugged. Turn the lights to 50% and you can extend that battery to 149 hours. Or turn them off altogether to last up to 219 hours. During my testing, the keyboard never died, even after days of inactivity. To keep it charged only requires plugging it in overnight once a week.
Unfortunately, that charging is done through a micro USB port. This is the only place the keyboard feels cheap, and it's a pretty unacceptable inclusion at this price.
Despite not having many problems typing on one of Apple's absurdly low-profile "Magic Keyboards," I found the G915 to require a tilt. Because your fingers have further to travel, the G915 TKL all but requires one of the two kickstand options. That might seem vaguely disappointing if the low profile is what you're attracted to, but even the higher of the two doesn't diminish the keyboard's look or feel.
As always, Logitech's Lightspeed held up admirably, and I especially dig how much smaller the dongle is for the keyboard than for its matching headset, the G733.
Speaking of, in my review of the G733, I had ongoing issues with Logitech's more-than-occasionally dreadful G Hub software. But no such problems surfaced while testing the keyboard. And that's great because there are loads of valuable features here. While you can't assign a key-by-key RGB profile, you can choose between a slew of familiar lighting effects, like breathing, cycle, and fixed, or choose between some kitschy-but-fun options like "Ocean Wave," which emulates – you guessed it, the build and crest of a wave.
G Hub's options are more than cosmetic, though. Each of the F buttons is customizable with commands, keys, actions, and macros. While it's a bit of a bummer these are limited to only the F keys, there are still many useful options to choose from. You can open Discord with a quick press of F1, cycle your G Hub profile with F2, then take a screenshot with F3. Finally, there's also a game mode that you can tap above the F3 button that lets you disable keys you probably don't want to hit when gaming. It's a nice feature for the chubby-fingered out there.
from IGN Reviews https://ift.tt/57vAw3p
This could be a real lead forward for personal gaming... Revolutionise gaming
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