It’s been a while since I had a play with a gaming keyboard, especially one that both looked and felt good. The Logitech G512 gaming keyboard is the latest in Logitech G’s lineup of mechanical gaming keyboards and possesses everything that a PC gamer would expect when looking for a new keyboard to utilise for both their gaming sessions and everyday use.
Thanks to the team at Logitech G, I was given a G512 to try out. At present, there are three different versions of the G512 Carbon keyboard available, each with different types of switches: Romer-G Tactile, Romer-G Linear and GX Blue. The version I received had Romer-G Tactile switches, which I’ll delve into later.
Design
Made of aircraft grade aluminium alloy with a brushed-metal finish, the keyboard looks incredibly polished, sleek and stylish. This provides the G512 with a classy, premium look compared to other mechanical keyboards in the market.
As with other gaming keyboards, the G512 is standard in size with the usual keys one would expect to have on a keyboard, including a number pad. Unfortunately, the keyboard didn’t seem to be equipped with dedicated media keys, which are often used for quick access. Instead, to control volume, toggle game mode, pause, mute and other such functions, the FN key needs to be utilised. While this wasn’t too much of a hassle for me, there may be other users who may find the lack of dedicated media keys off-putting, not only because it takes a little extra time to utilise FN keys and considering how many keyboards these days include separate and dedicated keys for quick use.
On the other hand, the keyboard does come with an additional USB cable that connects the USB passthrough port to its own input. This may prove useful to those who require an additional USB port to power additional devices like a mouse.
Features
The G512 keyboard comes with Romer-G Tactile switches, which has a discernable tactile bump that can be felt when pressing the keys. While there is a noticeable clicking sound when keys are pressed, it is a bit more dull and relatively slower in comparison with GX Blue switches. This allows for the keyboard to be relatively quiet and less distracting while maintaining precision.
As someone who is unfamiliar with mechanical switches, a little research led me to learn that Romer-G Tactile switches were best suited for esports professionals and are ideal for competitive and FPS gaming, compared to the Romer-G Linear switches, which are better suited for MMO and action games.
There wasn’t too much of a difference, touch wise, between the Romer-G Tactile switches in the G512 keyboard and other standard keyboards I’ve used in the past. The keys all felt good to touch and type on and even felt fine when typing out written work, which is perfect for someone like me who would rather use one keyboard for everything rather than having various dedicated keyboards for different activities.
The keyboard can be easily customised using the Logitech Gaming Software which allows for multiple profiles to be created for different games. Speaking of customisation, this keyboard comes with full-spectrum RGB with customisable per key lighting. What this means is that users can either create their own RGB effects or use preset lighting effects through the Logitech Gaming Software. One cool aspect is the new LIGHTSYNC technology, which allows for a more immersive RGB lighting experience by syncing up the illumination of keys with a variety of gaming, video and other media content. You can even sync up your keyboard lighting to match your other Logitech G devices that utilise the LIGHTSYNC technology. Just playing around with customisation can actually make for a fun time.
Overall
The G512 keyboard retails for $178NZD, which is in the mid range in comparison to other mechanical gaming keyboards. Considering the sleek, professional look of the keyboard, features, comfort and ease of use, the cost is well worth it, especially when the keyboard switches aren’t distractingly loud. There are of course, cheaper options out there but most of these do not offer the same customisability and LIGHTSYNC pairings.
I really enjoyed playing around with the G512 gaming keyboard. The most important aspect that had me sold was the feel of the keys beneath my fingertips as I typed as well as the more subtle sound of each click. Together with features and a design that makes the keyboard appear a lot more expensive than it truly is, the G512 is worth considering.