Logitech G915 Lightspeed Review

This is a fantastic gaming keyboard that has many of the customization features we like to see in keyboards. It also happens to be wireless and compares favorably to top-performing wired gaming keyboards. The ease of programming lighting effects, along with the ability to record macros (including on-the-fly recording), are what distinguish it from other models. The G915 Lightspeed also differs from most gaming keyboards and occupies a more minimal outline with floating keycaps.

Performance Comparison

Lighting Customization

One of the qualities of the Logitech G915 Lightspeed that we enjoyed the most is the ability to play with lighting profiles and create our own lighting schemes. Other keyboards we tested offer wireless connectivity, but in our experience, the software was challenging to install and didn't work properly. Most of the gamers we talked to agreed that lighting and the ability to make per-key adjustments were critical features when considering which gaming keyboard to buy.

Of the wireless gaming keyboards that we tested, the quality that sets the G915 apart is the software. It was a lot of fun to play with lighting schemes and effects on different keyboards during our testing, but we quickly lost interest when the software didn't work well. We found that there are more lighting presets available on other keyboards, but the presets that are available on the Logitech are a great place to start. In fact, we were a bit daunted by the many different ways you can customize the lighting in the G Hub software.

Performance

While lighting is an exciting feature and is what differentiates top gaming keyboards, performance is where a keyboard shows its true colors. After all, if a keyboard is slow to transmit keystrokes or doesn't register certain key combinations, our performance in the virtual world suffers. And that isn't something we are willing to put up with!

While the G915 Lightspeed has a 26-key rollover, which is a lot less than keyboards with full key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting, we never had any issues in our intensive gaming sessions, and we were successful with any key combination we needed. We also didn't have any issues with latency or responsiveness with this board. Overall, we were pleased with how it performed in games such as World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and League of Legends, where speed is critical. In our opinion, the performance of this product will more than satisfy skilled gamers who are concerned about latency or key rollover.

Convenience

With a dedicated Game Mode and media controls, we could transition from typing to gaming, connect to different Bluetooth devices, and make media adjustments with a swift keystroke. We really liked the location of the media controls and how intuitive they are to use. Some keyboards require a function key to access the controls, but the keys on the G915 make it seamless to listen to music, pause, skip tracks, and control the volume. We also appreciated the Game Mode setting that allows the user to disable certain keys to avoid errant key presses. In fact, you can easily disable any key except for the media keys and the macro keys.

Low-profile tactile, clicky, or linear switches are available with the G915 Lightspeed, but they are not hot-swappable, so you have to set your preference at purchase time. The ABS keycaps are swappable, but not as easily as with other keyboards. Most keycaps have a standard “+” sign on the bottom, but this keyboard's keys do not, which means that customization is not as straightforward as with other keyboards. Lastly, the G915 Lightspeed does not offer a USB passthrough. We can see how this feature would be a nice add-on, but it isn't a dealbreaker for us.

Key Assignment and Macros

The G Hub software allows you to assign just about any key combination you can think of to one of the five macro keys (the G keys) on the left side of the keyboard. However, that is where the options for key assignments end. The macro recording software is okay in terms of usability, but we think the keyboard would be even better if the software was easier to use.

After some experimenting and learning the ins and outs of recording and editing macros using the G Hub software, we found that we could record just about any macro we could conceive of. We also discovered how to record on-the-fly macros after a search on Reddit, although we couldn't find an explanation in the Logitech support materials.

Palm Rest

Many of the top gaming keyboards include palm rests, which can both contribute to comfort during extended sessions and provide additional lighting features. After our extensive testing with the G915 Lightspeed, which lacks a palm rest, we found that we didn't miss it that much. If we do end up using a palm rest with this keyboard in the future, we anticipate it should be low profile to match the key height.

Should You Buy the Logitech G915 Wireless?

If you like the idea of a slim gaming keyboard that also connects easily to tablets, TVs, or other devices via wireless or Bluetooth and has a host of features, including lighting customization, the G915 Lightspeed might be the keyboard for you. Our experience tells us that it will fit the needs of most gamers, but if you aren't convinced that the wireless connectivity is responsive enough for your needs, you'll find great wired models in our best gaming keyboards review.

What Other Gaming Keyboards Should You Consider?

Our testing identified other excellent keyboards that will satisfy different budgets and tastes in design or customization. If you are concerned about latency and key rollover, we recommend the Corsair K100 RGB as an excellent wired gaming keyboard. It also offers dedicated media keys, a magnetic palm rest, and swappable keycaps. The option to install optical switches or mechanical switches is another benefit of the K100 RGB, although these options are limited to linear switches (enthusiasts of tactile or clicky switches might be disappointed). However, the lighting customization with the iCUE software is extensive and is conveniently controlled by a small wheel on the keyboard. For gamers on a budget, we recommend the Corsair K55 RGB Pro XT, which is a full-featured gaming keyboard at a lower price. We like the high level of customization with the same iCUE software, the dedicated macro keys, and the clip-in palm rest. The K55 RGB Pro XT also uses rubber dome switches, which make it more resistant to spills (yes, sometimes we eat at our computer) and can be easily cleaned up. Mechanical switches may offer more longevity, but we appreciate that we can get a richly featured keyboard and still have some cash left over to upgrade our other devices or buy some new games.