The Logitech G512 Special Edition is an excellent mechanical gaming keyboard that features proprietary switches that are similar to Cherry MX Blues. These clicky switches provide a satisfying and light typing experience, but they can be too loud for quiet office environments. Logitech's G HUB software has tons of customization options to suit your needs; however, the lack of onboard memory is a bit disappointing, as the software is required to export profiles to a different computer. Although most of the features offered are fairly common among mechanical gaming keyboards, enthusiasts of clicky switches should be satisfied with its performance nonetheless.
Our Verdict
The Logitech G512 SE is an amazing keyboard for gaming. The blue switches are very responsive and the audible clicks give assurance that your keystroke is registered. The full RGB backlight is great for dark room gaming or to highlight important keys, and the function keys can all be reprogrammed with macros, though MMO players may find the lack of dedicated macro keys a bit disappointing.
- Responsive keyboard with remarkable latency.
- Good build quality.
- Short pre-travel.
- No wrist rest included.
- Clicky switches can be too loud.
The Logitech G512 SE is a wired-only keyboard and can't be used with mobile devices.
The Logitech G512 SE is a decent keyboard for office use. The keyboard provides a light typing experience that shouldn't cause any fatigue, and the switches are rated to last for a long time. However, noise can be an issue with the blue clicky switches, but the keyboard is available with silent linear switches if you're concerned. You'll need to get a wrist rest, though, and some keys may not function properly if you work on macOS.
- Good build quality.
- Great typing experience.
- No wrist rest included.
- Clicky switches can be too loud.
The Logitech G512 SE is a good keyboard for programming. It provides a great typing experience that feels light and responsive, and the programmable keys are a welcome addition over the average office keyboard, even though they're limited to function keys only. The main downside is that G HUB is only available on Windows and macOS, so Linux users won't be able to customize the keyboard.
- Good build quality.
- Great typing experience.
- Customizable RGB backlight.
- No wrist rest included.
- Only the function keys are macro-programmable.
- Can't be used wirelessly.
The Logitech G512 Special Edition is bad for use with a home theater PC. It's a wired-only keyboard, and the included cable might not be long enough to reach your computer from the couch. Also, it doesn't have a trackpad and dedicated media controls.
- Customizable RGB backlight.
- Can't be used wirelessly.
- No trackpad or dedicated media controls.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 13, 2023: We've added a disclaimer in the Backlight Features section of this review after receiving community feedback about the blue LED lights failing sooner than other colors.
- Updated Jun 15, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 26, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Sep 07, 2022: Added a comparison to the recently reviewed Logitech G PRO X Keyboard.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
While we tested the Logitech G512 Special Edition with GX Blue clicky switches, it can be purchased with GX Brown switches, which give tactile feedback without the audible click, and GX Red switches, which are linear and silent. Aside from typing quality, we expect most of our results to apply to other variants as well.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Logitech G512 SE doesn't have any special features that stand out in the market of mechanical gaming keyboards; however, the option to choose your preferred type of switches is nice, as clicky switches aren't suitable for everyone, especially if noise is a concern. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best RGB keyboards.
The Razer Huntsman and the Logitech G512 Special Edition are fairly similar, but the Razer performs slightly better for gaming. Its optical switches have a lower pre-travel, so typing on it feels a bit more responsive. Also, you can macro-program all of its keys, while the Logitech only lets you set macros to function keys. That said, the Logitech is available with different kinds of switches so you can choose something that better fits your needs. Both keyboards have remarkable latency and full RGB backlighting.
The Logitech G512 Special Edition and the Logitech G413 are very much alike. They both have a full-size layout and largely the same features and customization options. The G413 is available with Romer-G switches and has red backlighting. The G512 has full RGB backlighting and is available with GX Blue, Brown, or Red switches.
The Logitech G512 Special Edition and the Logitech G513 are two very similar keyboards that perform almost the same, but the G513 is more comfortable as it has a detachable wrist rest. Other than that, the main difference is the type of switches. Both options use Logitech proprietary switches; the G512 is available with different GX switches, while the G513 uses Romer-G switches. The GX Blue Clicky switches on our G512 unit have a longer pre-travel distance and require more force to actuate than the G513's Romer-G Tactiles. However, the G512 provides a better typing experience because the tactile feedback is more pronounced, and the longer pre-travel helps reduce typos. That said, the typing experience changes depending on which switch type you get. Other than that, the only other difference is that the G513 comes with a wrist rest.
The Logitech G512 Special Edition and the HyperX Alloy Origins are two wired-only keyboards that perform somewhat similarly. The HyperX has one more incline settings and feels better-built overall. All of its keys are macro-programmable, while the Logitech only lets you set macros to function keys. That said, the Logitech is available with different types of switches, so you can choose according to your own preferences.
Test Results
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