Logitech G915X Lightspeed Review: The Ultimate Gaming & Productivity Hybrid?

Keyboards. One of the OG pieces of computing equipment that will probably never go away. Despite all the evolutions, touch screens, on screen keyboards, it is still immensely satisfying to mash out words on a a physical keyboard. For possibly the first time ever, a gaming keyboard graces my desk – the Logitech G G 915X Lightspeed (Tactile).

For me this is a particularly interesting review to do, given my last few keyboards were all Logitech productivity line ones, with the MX Keys S being the previous incumbent.

 

tl;dr: The Bottom Line

The Logitech G915X Lightspeed (Tactile) is a premium, robust evolution of a classic. Moving from the productivity-focused MX Keys S to this mechanical powerhouse offers a superior tactile experience and incredible macro depth via G-Hub. While the A$369.95 price and lack of hot-swappable switches might deter hardcore enthusiasts, its build quality and dedicated media controls make it a top-tier choice for high-end gaming and professional workflows alike.

 

Design & Build: Moving from MX Keys to G915X

Coming from the MS Keys S, the G915X is a generously sized keyboard. I had intended for a TKL (Tenkeyless) but a full size keyboard showed up so I just rolled with it.

As I compete often with junk the kids leave on my desk and cats looking for a space to sleep, the intention was to reduce the footprint on my desk. As it happens, the G915X is both wider and taller than the one I am replacing. Sorry cats.

 

What’s New? G915 vs G915X at a Glance

The G915X is a sweet unit that serves as the successor to the legendary 2019 original. While the silhouette remains familiar, the internals have seen a massive overhaul:

• Standardised Stems: Swapping proprietary hooks for industry-standard cross-style (MX) stems.
• Faster Actuation: Reduced from 1.5mm to 1.3mm for near-instant response.
• Durability: A thicker 1.5mm aluminum top plate and a move to Double-shot PBT keycaps.
• Modern Charging: Finally ditching Micro-USB for USB-C.
• Battery Leap: Massive increase to 800 hours (with RGB off).

 

Keycap Evolution: Durable PBT vs. ABS

The move to PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) is the gold standard for durability. After two and a half years of mashing at it, the ABS keycaps on my MX Keys S were definitely looking worse for wear. With the G915X, you can say goodbye to chipped finishes and those greasy, shiny halos on the keys.

Resting my fingers on the keys, they feel a little rough, gritty, and grippy. It feels reassuringly tactile. The keys are raised off the keyboard with a travel of 3.2mm, which feels deep and deliberate.

The top plate is brushed aluminium that feels solid to touch. Out of the box, I am grateful that Logi didn’t run with “in your face” RGB; the keys pulse in a soothing blue, with the WASD keys in a subtle pink. Both of these are noted as Logitech signature colours.

Unlike the TKL that I wished for, the full size G915X is a Swiss Army Knife with a stack of dedicated physical controls.

There are nine G-Keys, these are programmable macros keys. Five sits in a vertical stack on the left of the keyboard, four sits above the Functions 1-4 keys. Those four Function keys also have dual-functions.

Connectivity has dedicated buttons too – Lightspeed and Bluetooth. Next to that is a Game Mode, which when activated, will disable the Windows key. This will be handy for me, but invaluable for gamers.

Lastly in that cluster is the backlit selector – it cycles through 0% to 100% in 25% increments.

On the right above the keypad are media control keys, with a very handy mute all button. And above that right on the top edge of the keyboard is a volume roller.

Of course, how could I not mention the light up G logo on the top left corner?

 

Performance & Feel: The Tactile Typing Experience

In the time before COVID and #WFH, I rarely care about my keyboard. The nature of my work required me to use whatever is on hand. Customers don’t generally lay out the good stuff for contractors I can assure you.

Working from home for thje past few years has afforded me the opportunity to be picky, and settle in with keyboards that suits my usage. I value efficiency and changing keyboards and layouts is a big step to take whilst my muscles relearn new positions.

From the get go, the G915X started altering my flow in subtle but useful ways. Well before I even look at the G-Hub Software.

Other reviewers can talk about the key stroke feels, sound of the key presses and how sexy it is. I am going to lead with the volume roller and the kill audio hard key. Whether I am blasting out some tunes, or deep into writing a review, a flick of my finger on the generously sized volume roller gives me control over the sound volume.

There is no more fumbling for the mouse, get it over to the system tray, open the volume control and adjust the slider. Just move my right hand towards the top right corner of the G915X and give it a gentle roll. That’s it. Done. It is easier than aiming for the audio kill switch, and with more finesse.

That said, pairing the G915X with a precision mouse like the Superlight 2c or the just launched Pro X2 Superstrike (stay tuned for the review) creates a formidable desk setup for both gaming and deep-work sessions.

The volume roller is an infinite scroll with no click settings. You push it away from you to increase the volume, and roll it towards you to decrease. I love it.

Having used the MX Keys S for a bit over two and a half years, adjusting to the G915X took a bit of effort. The MX Keys S feels like a high-end laptop keyboard with dish-shaped keys that guides your fingers to the center and very quiet in action.

In contrast, the G915X is wholly mechanical. My review unit has the tactile (brown) switches which sits in the middle of Linear (red) – the quietest, and Click (White/Blue) – the loudest.

The keypresses are registered when depressed halfway, enough to trigger the the physical bump as the key depresses. You don’t actually need to bottom out all the way, but damn if it’s not satisfying when you do mash out something on the keyboard and feel that chonkiness.

And here is the key thing, I can slow down my typing speed a little and register keystrokes at a lower noise level by semi-depressing the G915X. On the MX Keys S – a membrane style keyboard, I have to physically bottom out the downward stroke to make it work.

 

G-Hub Software: Unlocking the Macro Potential

If you bought a G915X just to use the standard keys, then you are missing out on the best part. Especially on the full size version.

I’ll address the elephant in the room first. I love a lot of their hardware, especially the MX series. But I have never been a huge fan of the software, and I am not the only one. There has been various issues with Options, Options+, especially during the crossover period. Stability issues, forgetfulness. A quick search on the internet will yield loads of negativity.

Truthfully I was not particularly keen to install G-Hub, the software to manage the Logitech Suite. Don’t get me wrong, there are few software that I would actually install on my workstation. I run with PortableApps as much as possible. Unfortunately G-Hub does not have an official (or even unofficial) portable version. This point becomes important later.

As an aside, why portable? It leaves no footprint on the system. And for those people who have locked down corporate machines where they have no privileges to install software, it’s a clean workaround.

With the G-Hub software, available from Logitech, you can unleash the full potential of the G915X.

If you are into RGB, then you can configure LightSync and create the colour profile to suit you. The default profile out of the box is “Pulsar Point” with just the WASD keys highlighted. I ran with that but changed the primary colour from pink to DRN Orange.

Key Assignments are the MVP here. Unlike the MX Keys S, I can remap every key on the G915X through the G-Hub software. But it’s not just that, you can remap the base layer, the function later and a G-Shift layer. It is like having three keyboards at the same time.

For those that game, this is a must.

For those that want productivity, it opens up possibilities that was not as accessible previously.

Missing a few dedicated keys from my MX Keys S, I remapped a few of my G keys to open calculator, Obsidian and my graphics program. I also remapped Scroll Lock to locking my desktop. PrintScr is remapped to ShareX for screen capture.

If you want to go down a rabbit hole, you can create macros and assign them as well. For example if you have a repetitive task, you can teach G-Hub what it is and map it to a key.

If you have lots of them, then you can leverage the function layer and the G-Shift layer.

But that’s not where it stops. You can also create profiles.

Within the G-Hub software, you can create a productivity profile, and a gaming profile. Or specific gaming profiles for each game you play. That way you can quickly switch from work mode to gaming with an entirely different set of mappings.

 

The Trade-offs: Software Dependency & Non-Swappable Switches

I’ll keep going on the software theme.

In order for much of the customisation to work, G-Hub has to be running in the background. on your computer. Without it the G915X pretty much reverts back to factory defaults.

There is a component called Onboard Memory Manager, which allows you to save some settings to the internal memory of the G915X itself. Like the more basic RGB settings. But the downside is that it will only support simple key remaps – no complex macros, no system actions like launching software.

And there is definitely no G-Shift layer.

Overall I don’t find G-Hub to be intuitive. It does the job but I had to hunt around to do things. On the other hand, this is totally on par for Logitech software because I find the same for Options+.

A major dealbreaker for some people is that the switches are not hot-swappable. They are soldered onto the board and it is major surgery if one breaks outside of warranty. The keycaps are swappable, these can be pulled off and replaced.

 

Other Features

The G915X is a Lightspeed device, so it comes with a Lightspeed dongle (USB-C). It also has a USB-A (female) to USB-C (female) extender.

It is not compatible with the Unify or the Bolt dongles (naturally).

There is a slot under the keyboard to stow the Lightspeed dongle when the keyboard is being transported.

Charging is via USB-C, a notable upgrade from the OG G915. Be aware that the RGB lighting does come at a cost. At 50% brightness with static lights, the G-Hub software is reporting about 140 hours of use.

There is a two level height adjustment for the tilt of the keyboard.

Verdict: Is the Logitech G915X Worth the A$369.95 Price Tag?

The Logitech G915X Lightspeed is the definition of a “refined powerhouse.” After five years of waiting, it’s clear that Logitech wasn’t interested in reinventing the wheel, but rather perfecting it.

Transitioning from the membrane-style MX Keys S to this mechanical beast took a solid week of muscle-memory recalibration, but the payoff is significant. I traded near-silent office keys for a “chonky,” tactile, but incredibly satisfying typing experience that feels built to last a decade.

The Good:

Superior Durability: The shift to Double-shot PBT keycaps and a thicker aluminum plate solves the “greasy key” issue that plagued the original G915 and my aging MX Keys.

Masterful Media Controls: The volume roller remains the “gold standard” of desk ergonomics—it’s a feature you’ll use dozens of times a day.

Productivity Monster: Through G-Hub, the macro depth and G-Shift layers effectively give you three keyboards in one.

The Bad:

Premium Pricing: At A$369.95, it’s a heavy investment, especially when competitors are now offering hot-swappable switches at similar price points.

Software Reliance: To get the most out of the G-Keys, you must be comfortable with the G-Hub ecosystem running in the background.

 

Final Thought

If you are a hardcore enthusiast who wants to swap out switches and customise every internal spring, this isn’t for you. But if you’re a professional or a gamer looking for a “ride or die” flagship that bridges the gap between high-end productivity and competitive performance, the G915X Lightspeed is the new king of low-profile keyboards. It is a worthy (if louder) successor to the MX Keys S and a mandatory upgrade for anyone still clinging to the original 2019 G915.

There are some deals on at Amazon at time of publishing, taking up to $120 off RRP which makes it a very palatable choice.

DRN would like to thank Logitech for providing the review unit.