Thursday, October 08, 2020
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed is hands down, my favorite keyboard right now. Here's why.
I've been trying to dial in the perfect office-slash-PC gaming setup in recent months, and part of that has come down to eliminating as many wires as possible. A big hitch in that plan was finding a reliable wireless keyboard that gave me the same feel as the gaming keyboards I was already used to. There are tons of wireless gaming mice out there, but keyboards, less so.
I eventually settled on Logitech's G915 Lightspeed keyboard — I'm already using the G502 Lightspeed mouse and love it. What started with a bit of trepidation over spending so much on a keyboard quickly turned into a love affair.
When the Logitech G915 Lightspeed first went on sale, its $250 asking price was pretty steep, but it has dipped slightly into $235 territory at certain points. If you're looking to pick one up on Amazon Prime Day, don't pay anything above $240. Alternatively, Logitech has since released the G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed, which is more compact without a numberpad, and is frequently available for under $230.
Low-profile bliss
Logitech G915 Lightspeed
Bottom line: The Logitech G915 Lightspeed nails everything as a wireless gaming keyboard. The low-profile mechanical keys make for excellent typing, and you still get RGB lighting, dedicated music controls, separate profiles, and macro keys. If you can afford it, it's a great purchase.
Pros
- Sturdy, sleek build
- Excellent low-profile mechanical keys
- Dedicated media controls
- Macro keys and separate profiles
- Can connect to two devices
Cons
- Quite expensive
- No included wrist rest
- Low-profile keys can take some getting used to
What you'll love about the Logitech G915 Lightspeed
The most striking thing about the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is its design. The build feels extremely modern, stylish, and sturdy. The top portion is made out of an "aircraft-grade aluminum alloy," according to Logitech.
Underneath that metal top is plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap. The whole package feels rigid and has some nice heft to it, which adds to the premium feel. Despite all of this, the build is deceptively slim.
One of the main attractions of the keyboard is its use of low-profile mechanical keys. Logitech allows you to choose between three key types: clicky, linear, and tactile. For this review, I bought the version with clicky keys.
The feel of typing on the keyboard feels like a more robust version of typing on a laptop, chiclet-style keyboard. The keys still have plenty of travel at 2.7 mm, and the clicky keys I chose still give that satisfying signature sound of a mechanical keyboard, but slightly quieter than you're probably used to. The experience of typing, once you get used to the low-profile keys, is hard to describe, but it's incredibly smooth.
Beyond the primary keys, Logitech also added in a row of five G-keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard. These are your standard macro keys, and they can be set to perform a chain of actions or commands on a per-game or per-profile basis. There are also three profile buttons so you can quickly swap between dedicated profiles based on whatever task you're performing.
The wireless connectivity on the keyboard is also fantastic. The keyboard uses the same Lightspeed tech that Logitech uses in its wireless mice, and there's no discernible lag at all. It still feels like you're typing on a wired keyboard without the added bulk of an actual wire running to your PC.
The keyboard also sports Bluetooth connectivity as an alternative, in case you don't want to use Logitech's included dongle. This also opens up the opportunity to connect the keyboard to two PCs at once. You can then toggle between PCs with dedicated Lightspeed and Bluetooth buttons at the top of the keyboard.
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed is hands down, my favorite keyboard right now.
I'm a big fan of dedicated media keys on keyboards, and, thankfully, they're present here. You've got your standard set of play, pause, skip, and mute keys right above the number pad, and they feel pretty good. Where Logitech adds to the premium feel is with the aluminum volume wheel, which is nice and wide and feels sturdy like the rest of the keyboard.
Battery life is surprisingly solid with the G915 Lightspeed, clocking in at around 30 hours per charge. Even with the RGB lighting turned on at all times, I was able to hit this mark consistently. When you're tapped out, you just plug the keyboard into a USB port, keep using it, and you're topped off within a couple of hours.
For controlling all of your macro and profile setups, as well as the lighting effects, you can use Logitech's G Hub software, which also works as a controller for the rest of Logitech's G series accessories. It's not required, of course, but if you're planning to take full advantage of the keyboard's features, or just want to sync your lighting with the rest of your Logitech accessories, it's a must-have.
What you'll dislike about the Logitech G915 Lightspeed
There's honestly not much to dislike about the G915 Lightspeed, but there are certainly some things to be aware of.
First of all, there's no getting around the cost. The $250 price tag is a lot to ask for a keyboard, especially when there are a ton of excellent options for gaming keyboards out there that cost far less. It ultimately comes down to whether you consider the super-sturdy build quality and wireless connectivity worth the price of admission.
There's also the issue of the low-profile mechanical keys. Personally, I love them, but they won't be for everyone. Coming from a standard mechanical keyboard, I certainly had a learning curve in getting used to feel of the G915 Lightspeed.
It only took me a day or two to get in the rhythm of things without having to occasionally look down at my hands while typing. Once you get used to the keys, they feel like butter under your fingers, and I don't know if I could go back to standard keys after this. Still, some are likely to prefer the longer travel distance on most standard mechanical keyboards.
Like the keys, going wireless isn't for everyone either. I think 30 hours of use is a solid length of time between charges, and the keyboard will cut lighting on the keys if it's idle to conserve battery life. However, if you never want to worry about pulling out a cable to charge your keyboard up after that 30 hours of use time is up, that will be a dealbreaker with the G915 Lightspeed.
Lastly, with the price of the G915 Lightspeed, it would have been nice to see a wrist rest included with the keyboard. Because it's so thin, your wrists won't have to bend quite as much to reach the keys as most keyboards, but the comfort of some padding under your wrists is never a bad thing.
Should you buy the Logitech G915 Lightspeed gaming keyboard?
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed sets the bar for what a premium gaming keyboard can be. Even if it were wired, it would still be an easy keyboard to recommend based on its features, design, and excellent typing experience alone. The lack of wires just adds to an already great keyboard.
If you can afford the steep $250 price, then picking up the G915 Lightspeed is a no-brainer. However, it's worth keeping in mind that you will experience a bit of a learning curve when typing on low-profile keys at your desktop PC. If you're worried about going wireless, or just want to save some cash, Logitech has a wired version in the G815 keyboard for $200.
Setting the bar
Logitech G915 Lightspeed
Everything a gaming keyboard should be
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed nails everything when it comes to a solid, reliable wireless gaming keyboard. The keys feel excellent, dedicated macro and profile keys give you plenty of customization options, and its battery life is solid. Add in a premium build, and you've got a winner.
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