simply put
The Logitech G815 is a great, reliable choice for both gaming and general desktop use. The super slim, low profile design is compact and understated though there’s still a few macro and RGB flourishes on show.
the good bits
Full-sized layout with low profile keycaps
Heavily customisable G-Keys
RGB integration is well done
the not so good bits
No wrist rest or support
Front edge is too cramped and surprisingly sharp
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Logitech’s G range has long been a go-to for gamers looking for a nice quality and cost balance. The G815 LIGHTSYNC RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard sits at the top end of the range and is packed full of the brand’s best tech.
An ultra slim, low profile design with the customisation of G-Keys and Logitech’s own mechanical switches make the G815 an enticing option for a range of scenarios.
design
Keyboards tend to sort themselves into two lanes when it comes to design, incredibly understated or incredibly extra. The Logitech G815 however finds a way to cleverly walk the line between the two.
The brushed metal base plate feels super premium and adds a classy touch as well as a surprising amount of weight. I’ve been testing the white variant and the brushed texture is considerably more obvious on the lighter silver plate than the dark option. It’s also the less subtle of the two choices, the bright white keycaps and high key silver faceplate are definitely more in your face than the stealthy black.
For a full-sized keyboard the Logitech G815 is actually surprisingly compact. There’s no extravagant bezels and low profile switches and keycaps make it just 22mm high. That’s great for saving desk space without losing functionality, however it’s almost too skinny for its own good.
Horizontally there’s no issue, everything is nicely spaced from the five programmable G-keys on the left to the num pad and media controls on the right. Top to bottom though Logitech have been a little too heavy handy with the trimmer. Not only is there no palm rest on offer here, there is practically no bezel whatsoever between the bottom row of keys and the noticeably sharp edge of the keyboard body.
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I found this pretty majorly impacted the overall comfort when it comes to typing as I struggled to find a natural resting place for my hands. I can’t count the number of times my thumb was pinched by the space bar as it tried to hang on to the edge of the frame or else plummet down the cliff to the desk below. For the sake of an extra cm of bezel I think the experience would be transformed.
Unsurprisingly for a modern gaming keyboard there’s RGB coursing through the G815’s veins and on the whole it’s implemented nicely. Syncing happily with Logitech’s G-Hub software the G815’s LIGHTSYNC LEDs are bright and vibrant without much noticeable leaking between keys. G-Hub offers a range of preset animations and patterns, or you could spend all day designing your own lightshow masterpiece.
performance
The rise in popularity of low profile mechanical keyboards has been particularly welcome in my book. I do as much typing as I do gaming and have always found the keycaps on some mechanical keyboards to be almost deliberately obstructive to flowing, comfortable typing. Thankfully with the Logitech G815 this isn’t an issue and the experience overall is pleasant.
I’ve primarily been trialling the GL Linear switches but I’ve also had hands on the G815 with GL Clicky switches. This is very much a personal preference thing so I won’t tell you that one was better than the other but there’s a noticeably different feeling between them. Both have the same 1.5mm actuation and 2.7mm total travel distance and I had no issues with missed actions or accidental double ups using either.
I found the GL Linear switches felt a bit muddy to type on and despite the same travel distance they felt noticeably heavier and longer when it came to writing. The GL Clicky switches felt snappy and like they kept up with me more and I typed. Though there wasn’t a discernible difference in my actual typing speed or errors between the two, so this was largely a vibe thing and not something actually realised in the output.
The 5 customisable G-Keys are a nice addition and can be bound to individual keys or used to fire off extensive macros. While you’ll set things up in G-Hub there’s also three onboard profiles to easily jump between different configurations on the fly and a helpful Game Mode button to disable keys that might otherwise get in the way mid game. The experience of configuring these G-Keys was surprisingly painless and you can even download setups and macros from other users, which is a nice timesaving touch.
On board media keys are always a welcome addition and the rubberised buttons on the Logitech G815 do the job as you’d expect. There’s a bit of wobble to them which makes them feel far less responsive than their mechanical counterparts but I didn’t notice any major issues with missed actions. The stepless volume wheel spins smoothly but could do with a little more friction for my liking. It’s all too easy to brush it when reaching past the top of the keyboard and you end up slamming your audio levels in the process. It’s also firmly bound to master system volume and it’d be nice to see this opened up to new binds in G-Hub.
summed up
As far as gaming keyboards go, the Logitech G815 is a bit of a quiet achiever. It’s understated styling means it won’t look out of place in an office, while strong LIGHTSYNC RGB implementation keeps it right at home in gaming setups too.
There’s no shouty bells and whistles here, the G815 is happy being a dependable keyboard with the added bonus of customisable G-Keys. With the GL-Clicky keys it makes a great typing companion and GL-Linear keys will likely appeal to the most intense gamers.
