Logitech launches its latest mechanical gaming keyboard, the G Pro X 60. Like the peripheral maker’s G Pro X TKL from last year, this is a wireless model aimed at competitive-minded gamers first and foremost. Unlike that device, it has a smaller 60% layout, which means it doesn’t have a dedicated function row, number pad, arrow keys, and navigation keys, but it takes up much less desktop space. This is a boon for gaming, as it allows for more room to slide the mouse around while retaining the most commonly used keys. Of course, it’s also more portable.
The G Pro X 60 is available for pre-order now, priced at $179 in the United States and €229 in Europe. It’s available in three colors (black, white, or pink) and comes with linear or tactile versions of Logitech’s GX optical switches. The product will be available at major retailers “in late April,” the company said.
I’ve had this keyboard for a few days before it was announced today, and I’ve been impressed, although I’d be hard-pressed to say it’s good value for money.
Let’s start with the good: This thing is well built. Its aluminum top is surrounded by a plastic frame, but it feels solid and there’s no real flex or looseness when pressed. Its two-tone PBT keycaps are very crisp and should avoid any tarnish that cheaper ABS plastic can develop over time. The legends on the keycaps are printed neatly and transparently, so any RGB backlight effects you set will be clearly visible. All keys are angled for comfort, and there’s a set of flip-up feet on the back.
I’m not crazy about the side-mounted volume wheel – it’s hard to give up once you equip your keyboard with a full knob – but it’s easy to reach with your pinky finger, so you can adjust the volume without having to lift it up in the heat of play. other fingers. There’s also a dedicated switch to turn on Logitech’s “Game Mode,” which disables keys you might accidentally press; by default, these include the Windows and Fn keys, but you can use Logitech’s G Hub software adds other buttons.
The keyboard can be connected via a detachable USB-C cable, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz wireless adapter. As is usual with Logitech devices, the connection on the latter is rock solid; I didn’t experience any hiccups or stutters when using some wireless keyboards from lesser-known brands, especially when waking the device from sleep. There are buttons built into the board to switch between Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connections, as well as a handy compartment for the adapter itself. You can also use an adapter to connect both the G Pro X 60 and certain Logitech mice. Logitech rates battery life at up to 65 hours; based on my testing so far, that sounds about right, but the exact number will fluctuate depending on how bright you set the RGB backlight.
The best thing about the G Pro X 60 may have nothing to do with the keyboard at all—Logitech includes a hard carrying case in the box. More companies should do this! It makes the device easier to transport.
Alas, this is probably not a keyboard you want to take to the office.Linear GX optical switch in my test rig Feel Totally enjoyable: They’re fast enough for gaming and come pre-lubricated so they press smoothly every time. Since they are optical and therefore do not rely on any physical contact points, they should also prove durable over time.
But they weren’t entirely quiet. Logitech installed several layers of silicone rubber inside the motherboard, but there’s not the rich sound-deadening foam found in some other options in this price range. To lift the curtain a little: I received the G Pro X 60 after testing a bunch of mechanical keyboards for an upcoming buying guide, so I’m a little spoiled for choice on this one.Some may like the obvious nagging So does every media outlet here. I can’t imagine their colleagues or roommates being that excited, though, and some modifier and navigation keys (like Alt, Ctrl, and Tab) sound more hollow than others.
Beyond that, my issues with the G Pro X 60 are more about what’s missing than what’s wrong with the keyboard. For one, its switches aren’t hot-swappable, so you can’t easily remove and replace them without desoldering them. Yes, it’s a niche product, but a $180 gaming keyboard as a whole is also a niche product. Being able to plug in a new switch is not only a benefit for long-term repairability; For some keyboard enthusiasts, this is half the fun in the first place. Replacing the keycaps is simple, though.
Taking a step back, more and more of its G Pro X 60 counterparts have some sort of analog capability, meaning they can handle varying levels of stress. The Wooting 60HE+, our top pick in our gaming keyboard buyer’s guide, is a great example: Its magnetic Hall-effect sensor lets you set custom actuation points, so you can crank out every key while playing fast FPS extra responsive, then makes them feel heavier and more composed when typing. They also enable a “Quick Trigger” feature that lets you repeat inputs faster, which is helpful for things like strafing back and forth during in-game gunfights. Other models from Razer and SteelSeries offer similar features. But the G Pro X 60 lacks any adjustable drive or quick trigger modes.This may not be a deal breaker for most people, but for those meeting Using these features is exactly what Logitech is targeting with this device.
This is a new remapping system called “Keycontrol”. With G Hub, you can assign multiple different commands or macros to each key through three independent control layers. This is a handy way to work around some missing keys in the design: for example, I set it up so that holding down Alt temporarily turns WASD into the arrow keys. But it also lets you perform different actions based on whether a key is pressed, held, or released, so you can combine complementary actions in the game (perhaps casting a few buffs in an RPG) with a single key press Get in touch. Some of the simulated keyboards mentioned above also work like this, and you’ll need to open G Hub to keep certain bindings active. Still, having this flexibility is better than none. Logitech said that more keyboards will receive Keycontrol support in the future, but declined to disclose more specific details.
All of this makes the keyboard solid in a vacuum, but it faces stiff competition. Rival gaming keyboards like the Wooting 60HE+ and SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless are richer with performance-focused features, while slightly larger options like the Asus ROG Azoth sound better and offer more customizability for keyboard geeks Hardware. There are a lot of great non-gaming keyboards out there that are much cheaper too. But if you want something compact and wireless, the G Pro X 60 isn’t a bad choice, so it might be worth it while it’s on sale.
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