Logitech G613 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Review 2022

Some gamers adopt tricked-out keyboards with customizable RGB lighting and flashy design cues, while others are fine with a rather plain-looking lath as long as it has reliable mechanical switches and a few programmable keys. The Logitech G613 ($149) is the epitome of the latter, only it adds a twist: This is a wireless board, connecting to your gaming rig either via a USB adapter or Bluetooth. There aren't many wireless gaming keyboards on the market place, and so the G613 is one of the but options to unclutter your desk without compromising accuracy or typing feel. Its feature list isn't as all-encompassing as wired keyboards in its price range, however, including the current Editors' Choice Corsair K95 RGB.

Designed to Blend in, Not Show Off

Substantially a large slab of plastic in two shades of gray, the G613 is of satisfying heft but understated looks. In fact, there are only two things that tip you off to its gaming prowess: the unmarried column of six G keys forth the left edge and the switch that lets you lot toggle in and out of game mode on the correct side. Without them, it could pass for pretty much whatsoever standard keyboard that comes in the box with a new PC. The design is largely a matter of personal preference. I care little for ostentatious keyboard designs that scream "PC gamer!" such as the Das Keyboard X40 Pro'south aluminum elevation panel that's intricately designed with a dynamic collection of geometric shapes. I much adopt a less-distracting pattern like the G613's gray hues: There'south a deep, dark gray for the keys and wrist rest, and a lighter shade for the board itself.

The wrist remainder is a overnice characteristic to have, and I found it to be comfortable during a few multi-hour typing sessions. At this toll, still, I expect information technology to be detachable, like the one you'll discover on the Corsair K95 RGB. Instead, the G613 is an integral role of the keyboard, and it tin't be removed. One of the benefits of a wireless keyboard other than freeing your desk-bound from wires, is that you tin can easily motion it around and fifty-fifty bring it to the couch for a coincidental gaming session on your home theater PC. That's not the example with the G613, since the integrated wrist rest brings the lath'due south total weight to 3.2 pounds, which is significantly heavier than virtually ultraportable laptops.

The G keys are arranged in groups of ii in a unmarried column that lies adjacent to the Escape key, so if yous program any to perform actions that require fast-twitch response times, you'll mostly exist activating them with the pinky or alphabetize finger of your left hand. The G3 and G4 keys in particular are easy to reach with your pinky finger via a quick twist of the wrist without really repositioning your hand. While information technology would have been dainty of Logitech to include many more G keys (there are 18 on the Corsair K95 RGB, for instance), their thoughtful placement makes up for their relative scarcity. The only other addition to the standard 101 keys you'll find on any other The states keyboard are two rows of media controls above the number pad, which allow you lot adjust book, play, intermission, rewind, or fast forrad through music or videos. To the left of the book controls are two buttons for connecting the keyboard to your PC via the included USB receiver or Bluetooth. (I used my review unit with the receiver, which connected instantly, sparing me from the cumbersome Bluetooth pairing process that sometimes plagues wireless peripheral setup). Finally, there'south a Game Fashion toggle switch. Slide it to the right to activate Game Mode, which disables the Windows, Carte, and FN keys to prevent interruptions when you inevitably strike the incorrect key in the midst of intense gaming.

Customize Everything, but Don't Wait Lights

Y'all tin customize which keys are deactivated in Game Manner, map functions to G keys, and perform a dizzying assortment of other modifications to the keyboard'due south behavior using the Logitech Gaming Software control panel. The software works with either Windows or macOS, and includes three main windows. The first lets you customize the G keys, offering dozens of presets as well equally the ability create your own macro commands. For non-gaming use, I find the ability to assign left and right mouse clicks to the G keys helpful, since it gives the tired arrow finger on my right hand a break from clicking. The 2d window offers customization for the game mode; you can deactivate boosted buttons by clicking them, and even create multiple profiles for which buttons should be deactivated in each game. The tertiary window offers a slap-up— albeit gimmicky—input analysis recorder, which you can activate to record all of your key presses over a specific period of fourth dimension. The software will then create a key press heat map. Pro tip: Instead of opening this window each time yous want to actuate the recorder, you lot can just assign information technology to a G cardinal.

At that place's a significant omission in the Logitech software that you'll find in the software of other gaming keyboards: lighting controls. That'southward because at that place are no lights on the G613, relieve for Caps Lock and bombardment indicators. That'due south likely to be a major deal-breaker for gamers looking to upgrade from a lath that offers RGB lighting. The lack of lights on the G613 is understandable, since including them would result in a significant battery life hit, but the fact remains that an unlit keyboard is unappealing to many gaming enthusiasts. Too missing: an integrated lithium-ion rechargeable battery, like those on other non-gaming, high end Logitech boards such as the Craft. You lot'll need to bring your own rechargeable batteries to swap out or only use regular old AA cells; at least you lot won't have to deal with them very often, thank you to Logitech'southward estimated xviii months of bombardment life.

Switches: A Affair of Preference

Logitech uses its own in-firm Romer-G switches for gaming keyboards, instead of the Cherry-red MX switches you'll find on most other competing models. Like the overall design of the G613, the switches are too a matter of personal preference. I find them eminently comfortable for typing, but less and so for gaming, since they're linear switches that don't provide the satisfying clicky feel that yous'd expect from a Cherry MX Red. That'southward the opposite of conventional mechanical keyboard wisdom, even so, which holds that clicky switches are better for typing and linear switches are better for gaming since they have lower activation force. Ultimately, unless you've already used a Romer-1000 keyboard, yous'll need to try out the G613 earlier you buy information technology in order to evaluate the switches for yourself. Luckily, Logitech has a relatively generous 30-mean solar day return policy.

Unlike how key switches feel, a gaming keyboard's response fourth dimension is less open to estimation. Information technology's a particular business organization for a wireless keyboard, since radio interference may affect the betoken between the board and the PC. Logitech claims its wireless technology (marketed as "Lightspeed") limits latency and achieves "wired-like" performance. In 2 days of nearly continuous use, including marathon typing sessions and some light gaming, I didn't notice whatsoever difference in response times between the G613 and my usual wired keyboard, a Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum. Only the Lightspeed signals are all the same sent over the crowded 2.4GHz ring, which is shared by everything from cordless phones to wireless routers, and so your experience could vary based on how many such devices you have at domicile. Performance will also likely be afflicted if you use Bluetooth instead of the USB receiver. Again, Logitech's return policy will also come up in handy here in helping you make a decision.

Wired vs. Wireless

Ownership the Logitech G613 is a no brainer if you're in the market place for a wireless gaming keyboard, since your alternatives are extremely express—1 of the only other recent options is the Razer Turret, which is a specialized board designed mainly for couch utilise. There'south a lot to like about the G613, from its understated styling to its easy-to-use software. On the other hand, if you're comparing the G613 to other similar wired keyboards in its toll range, you might be put off by the absence of two features that define gaming keyboards: customizable key lighting and Cherry switches. Add in the possibility of wireless interference, and most gaming enthusiasts would be improve off sticking with a wired lath similar the Corsair K95 RGB.