Logitech G915 TKL Gaming Keyboard Review

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Logitech G915 TKL Gaming Keyboard Review

The Logitech G915 TKL gaming keyboard is a familiar keyboard to me. With only a few design tweaks and a discount, much of what I think about the G915 applies to its smaller sibling.

This is an easy one: the biggest change to the G915 TKL is the lack of a numeric keypad and macro keys. While the full-size G915 is 475 mm, the TKL is only 368 mm, giving you plenty of desk space for a mouse. If you're my type, that might mean coming to terms with the lack of alt code, but if you only game, you can easily make the switch.

Macro functionality is loosely maintained on the G915 TKL, but is shifted to a secondary program on the function keys. This can be toggled in the Logitech G Gaming software to prioritize macro functionality.

A Logi spokesperson revealed that full macro functionality for all keys is being considered (although it was not adopted for the G915 TKL).

So what else is on the G915 TKL? For one thing, it has wireless capabilities through Logitech's Lightspeed technology. Setup is simple: just plug the USB receiver into a USB Type-A port. We found that there was no lag or latency at all, and using the keyboard away from the receiver covered most realistic scenarios, with only a few instances of unreadable text being typed.

The USB receiver is the same little device as before, but one of the few changes introduced with the TKL is a small USB storage slot on the underside; a wireless device as small as the G915 TKL is likely to be carried around frequently. Losing that little dongle would be a loss.

You'll want to stick with Lightspeed for the most part to ensure the most stable connection, but wireless can also be provided via Bluetooth and is instantly accessible with the push of a button.

Battery life with per-key RGB lighting enabled is 40 hours (slightly longer than the full-size G915 due to the lack of RGB LEDs). Battery life without lighting enabled is 135 days, but who calculated this?

All the checkboxes for wireless connectivity are checked, but the point remains that a wireless keyboard is not high on my must-have list. It keeps my desk clear and is useful for adjustable standing desks that don't require cable routing, but it is far less important than a wireless gaming mouse, for example. I could do without a wireless gaming keyboard, but I wouldn't go back to a wired headset unless I had a good reason to.

And at $230 (£199) a piece, the G915 TKL makes you wonder what you really need. That's a big price tag for a small keyboard. While tenkeyless designs usually sell for less than full-size kits, the price difference between the G915 TKL and the G915 Lightspeed is a mere $20. However, the price difference between the G915 TKL and the G915 Lightspeed is only $20.

At least some of the best aspects of the G915 are carried over to the G915 TKL. Logitech's GL switches are a great variant of Kailh's thin Choc. My review unit has the tactile type (similar to Cherry's Brown switches), which are not as responsive or pleasing as the clicky GL switches, but they are probably the least inconvenient of the low-profile tactile switches I've encountered. Either way, the choice is yours. The G915 TKL has tactile, clicky, and linear.

The switches are mounted on a brushed 5052 aluminum alloy; the G915 TKL's slim, compact case and plastic underside are completely free of deflection.

The underside of the keyboard also has four feet that allow for 4° and 8° adjustment. The low-profile design matches both styles.

Moving to a tenkeyless keyboard, the media controls remain, only moved or downsized: the four dedicated media keys (play/pause, song forward, song back, volume mute) remain, only moved to the left. This is for a 3/4-size volume wheel, and the functionality is the same as on the G915 and other high-end gaming keyboards, so our rating here is unwavering.

In short, the G915 TKL is superior in almost every way. This is an incredibly expensive keyboard. At $20 for keys, switches, and materials that have been drastically reduced, it does not inspire great confidence given how expensive the original G915's parts list was to begin with.

If that is the price of wireless, one would need a good reason to buy it. I can think of a few legitimate use cases, but not many that can be shared by all. But if you really want to cut the cord, the Logitech G915 TKL is a great, if somewhat lofty, wireless gaming keyboard.

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