I’m a big fan of Logitech’s G-series gaming keyboards. The Logitech G512 is among my personal favorites. For the past week, I’ve had the chance to test out the new Logitech G915 Lightspeed wireless keyboard. Set to release alongside the G815 LightSync RGB mechanical keyboard, the G915 provides users with a high-end gaming keyboard which is light, thin, and durable. After putting it through its paces, I can confidently say the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is one of the best gaming keyboards on the market.
The G915 and G815 have aluminum-magnesium alloy for their respective top cases. They also have a steel bar running through their center. Both of these materials make the keyboards highly durable and very light. What makes the keyboards so thin (aside from the low profile switches) is the carved out design of the bottom case, which has custom spaces for resistors and capacitors on the PCB inside. The G915 is so thin and light you can effortlessly carry it in one hand. If you frequently travel with your gaming peripherals, you’ll appreciate how light the keyboard is.
Both the G915 and G815 are available with three different switch variants. These include GL Linear, GL Tactile, and GL Clicky. The linear keys provide the smoothest keystrokes while tactile features the highest actuation speed. As its name suggests, the clicky variant provides users with an audible “click” and tactile feedback.
The G915 is a hybrid, of sorts. It has the design and comfort of low profile keyboards but the durability and function of mechanical switches. This is thanks to the custom low-profile GL mechanical key switches. They have very short housing, which compliments the low profile design of the keyboard’s body. Each keycap has a triple paint process and laser etching. This ensures the keys last long and work well with RGB lighting. Thanks to their anti-oil coating and their UV light curing, they’ll retain their luster for many years.
What all of that amounts to is a fantastic typing experience. I’m a mechanical keyboard aficionado, so I love the resistance the G915 provides. The satisfying clicking sounds it produces is also great. Being half the height of standard mechanical switches, the GL switches provide a 25% faster actuation time. The low profile makes it easy to type for long hours without tiring your fingers. Typing on the G915 is one of those experiences I can’t properly convey with words. You’d need to experience it yourself.
The G915’s wireless functionality is another big draw. You can use the keyboard wirelessly via the included USB dongle or via the keyboard’s built-in Bluetooth. Because of these options, users can connect to PC, mobile devices, and more. Switching buttons on the keyboard lets users swap between connection types at will. You also have the option to use the included micro USB cable. The G815 is a wired keyboard, though it has all the same functionality of the G915.
One major concern with wireless devices is battery life. Logitech designed the G915 to minimize the amount of power it consumes. With full RGB lighting enabled, you’ll get approximately 30+ hours of battery life. That translates to around two weeks when using the keyboard normally. If you disable the RGB lighting, you’ll get around 1,200 hours of uninterrupted battery life. Static color lightning drains the battery the most. Color cycle mode adds three times the battery life. If you’ve completely drained the battery, it only takes four hours to recharge the keyboard with the micro USB cable. At the time of this writing, I have yet to completely use up the G915’s battery.
Thanks to the Lightsync RGB lighting technology, users can design their own custom lighting effects, which are available across 16.8 million colors. Tools such as screen sampler, audio visualizer, and custom animations are available through the G HUB macro editor program. Located on the left-hand side of the keyboard are five G Keys, which one can program through the aforementioned application. Users can create multi-function macros and API-controlled interactions with programs like OBS and Discord.
Three different memory modes enable three different sets of G Keys. This allows users to set up controls for a variety of purposes, even outside of gaming. There are three onboard memory slots for game profiles. You can save up to five macros to each of the slots and choose lighting effects for them. The built-in effects include four different color waves, color cycle, ripple, and breathing. You can also save custom animations to two lighting effects slots.
The ability to customize lighting effects is a great feature for those who want a truly personalized experience. Enabling custom profiles at the touch of a button is also great. While I personally find the number of lighting options overwhelming (in a good way), I appreciate how in-depth users who desire this feature can go.
For the purposes of testing, I played Monster Hunter World, Doom (2016), and Blazing Chrome. I also wrote this review using the G915. I loved the way the keys felt whenever I pressed them, along with the satisfying clicking they produced. As I said, I’m a die-hard mechanical keyboard user but I found the G915 as good or better than any mechanical keyboard I’ve tried. Though I’m not a mouse and keyboard player, I did find gaming with the G915 an excellent experience. It is just a great keyboard for typing and for playing video games.
Though coming in at a hefty $249.99, the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is one of the finest, if not the finest, gaming keyboard released by Logitech to date. It is light, durable, has a long battery life, and comes with a slew of customizable lighting options. The $199.99 G815 is $50 cheaper but comes with all of the same features (minus wireless functionality). If you’re in the market for a new gaming keyboard, I cannot recommend either the G915 or the G815 enough. They are fantastic keyboards.
Expect the Logitech G915 Lightspeed Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the G815 Lightsync RBG Mechanical Gaming Keyboard sometime later this month. You’ll find them on Logitech’s website and at global retailers for $249.99 and $199.99, respectively.
For more gaming and RGB keyboards, check out our sister site PCMag.com’s Best Gaming Keyboards of 2019 and Best RGB Keyboards of 2019.
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