Logitech gaming keyboards don’t agree with me. I think they’re too expensive for too little functionality, pretty much all the way across the line. But the company is doing its darnedest to change my opinion. The new Logitech G512 X keyboard goes all in on performance, whether you want standard MX switches or adjustable actuation, all without throwing in a tiny little screen.
The Logitech G512 X comes in almost-full-size (1800) and 75% sizes, both using full-fat switch designs, no low-profile stuff here. These are designed for a r/battlestation setup that seeks no forgiveness. At first glance, it’s clear that Logitech is going for a much more in-your-face “gamer” look than the clean blacks and whites of other G-series keyboards. Company reps described it as “cyberpunk” in a presentation, and yeah, I see it. The black models get purple accents and the white ones get teal, both with a gigantic RGB strip down the sides and all the way across the front. That gigantic front light panel will also illuminate a translucent wrist rest for an even bigger light show, though sadly you’ll need to buy it separately.
Logitech
Furthering its unapologetic gamer chops, this design is wired-only, no wireless options. That makes sense with the TMR sensors (tunnel magneto resistance, an alternative to Hall effect for adjustable actuation), 8,000Hz polling, and big RGB lighting, all of which would chew through a battery like nobody’s business. But the adjustable actuation isn’t on all the switches—only 39 of them, including the spacebar. The TMR switches end at 7/U/J/M on each row, basically whatever you can reach with your left hand, plus the arrow cluster. This is smart, both for practical reasons (who needs 50 points of sensitivity on Page Up?) and for cost savings.
Logitech
The design also gets rid of one of the biggest weaknesses of adjustable actuation keyboards: limited hot-swap functionality. This keyboard offers standard hot-swap sockets that are compatible with the hundreds of MX-standard switch choices, plus Gateron TMR switches. This is something I’ve only seen elsewhere on the Glorious GMMK 3.
To offer even more options, Logitech is throwing in what it calls SAPP (Second Actuation Pressure Point) rings. These little silicone(?) rings for the switch stem give you a tactile bump that makes it easier to sense where a secondary switch point is, at least if you configure it right. It’s an intriguing idea, one that could sell me on adjustable actuation for real functionality… if it works the way Logitech says it does. We’ll see.
The keyboard has some other novel touches, including tactile or linear MX switches installed by default but nine Gateron TMR switches included in the box. Or rather, in the keyboard itself, because they’re hanging out in a dedicated storage bay at the top of the keyboard. (They’re hiding behind a little door.) How will you swap them out? With the included keycap and switch pullers… which double as the keyboard’s feet. Neat! There really are some interesting ideas packed in here.
Logitech
Logitech wants $180 for the 75% model of the G512 X and $200 for the almost-full-sized one. That’s not cheap, especially for a wired-only board, but it’s not crazy for the TMR functionality. (Consider that Razer wants $250 for a full-sized analog board, though that includes a wrist rest while Logitech wants an extra $39/$45 here.) At those prices, this design needs to nail pretty much every aspect, including the software… and the proprietary G Hub doesn’t have a great track record.
I’m getting a review unit to test all of this. If you’d rather chance it ASAP, they’re on sale now at the official Logitech store.
