The Logitech G513 is a very good wired, full-size keyboard. This is an excellent choice for gamers, as it has customizable RGB backlighting, a comfortable wrist rest, and the tactile switches on our unit offer a light and responsive gaming experience. That said, there are linear, tactile, or clicky switches available as well. Unfortunately, while you can set macros in the companion software, they're limited to the function keys, and there's no onboard memory to save your settings. While this board used to be available with Romer-G Tactile and Linear switches, it's now only available at most retailers with GX Blue, Red, and Brown switches.
Our Verdict
The Logitech G513 is an excellent keyboard for gaming. The tactile switches on our unit offer a light and responsive gaming experience. The frame is made of plastic and aluminum, which feels sturdy and doesn't exhibit any noticeable flex. It has RGB backlighting, which can be customized in the companion software. Unfortunately, the keycaps are made of ABS plastic that feels cheap and will attract oil from your fingertips. Also, while there are macro-programmable keys, they're dedicated to the function buttons only.
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Light and responsive gaming experience.
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Wide variety of switches available.
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Good build quality.
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Comfortable, detachable wrist rest.
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Macros only available on function keys.
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Straight profile.
The Logitech G513 is a good keyboard for office use. The switches on our unit are quiet and offer a light typing experience. On the upside, they're quiet enough not to disturb those around you. The ergonomics are decent, as it comes with a detachable wrist rest and one incline setting, which should help reduce pain and fatigue.
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Wide variety of switches available.
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Quiet switches on our unit.
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Comfortable, detachable wrist rest.
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Straight profile.
The Logitech G513 is a wired-only keyboard and can't be used with a mobile device.
The Logitech G513 is a good keyboard for programmers. The tactile switches on our unit are quiet and offer a light typing experience. Its frame is made of both aluminum and plastic that feels sturdy and doesn't show any signs of flex. It also has full RGB backlighting, which can be customized in the companion software. It has macro-programmable keys, but they're dedicated to the function keys only.
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Wide variety of switches available.
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Good build quality.
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Quiet switches on our unit.
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Comfortable, detachable wrist rest.
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No multi-device pairing.
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Macros only available on function keys.
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Straight profile.
The Logitech G513 is bad for use with a home theater PC. It doesn't have wireless connectivity, so you'll need to run a cable from the couch to the computer, which isn't ideal if you're worried about tripping over wires. Additionally, you need a separate mouse to navigate because it doesn't have a trackpad.
- 8.5 Gaming
- 6.7 Office
- 0.9 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.2 Programming
- 2.8 Entertainment / HTPC
- 8.7 Raw Performance
- Updated Oct 01, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed HyperX Alloy Rise to the Hardware Customizability section.
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Oct 30, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
- 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 20, 2023: We've corrected an error in the result of the Switch PCB Socket test in the Hardware Customizability section of this review. The result has been changed from Soldered to Non-Customizable Design because the PCB sockets are specifically designed for Logitech's Romer G switches.
- 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 02, 2022: Added a mention of known Logitech G HUB software issues to this review.
- Updated Feb 18, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Oct 05, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Sep 04, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 24, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 21, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 13, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Logitech G513 is available in two colors and in a wide variety of switch variants. While this board used to be available with Romer-G Tactile and Linear switches, it's now only available at most retailers with GX Blue, Red, and Brown switches. You can see our unit's label here.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Logitech G513 is a wired, full-size keyboard, excellent for gamers. It looks and performs almost identically to the Logitech G413, but features a detachable wrist-rest and full RGB backlighting. Like many gaming keyboards on the market, it's available in a wide variety of switches.
For other options, check out our recommendations for the best RGB keyboards, the best gaming keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards.
The Logitech G513 and the Logitech G815 LIGHTSYNC RGB are quite different. Although they're both full-size keyboards, the G815 is a low-profile mechanical keyboard, while the G513 has a more standard height. The G513's Romer-G and the G815's GL Tactile switches have fairly similar pre-travel distance and operating force, so they perform almost identically in terms of responsiveness. The main difference is that the low-profile switches have a shorter total travel distance. The G513 provides a better typing experience mainly because the G815's keys wobble, and some people might not like the shorter travel because the keys bottom out sooner. The G513 comes with a nice wrist rest, but the G815 has dedicated media controls, dedicated macro keys, and onboard memory.
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 G513 is an upgraded version of the Logitech G413 that includes a wrist rest and full RGB backlighting. They perform almost identically. There are some slight differences in the pre-travel distance and operating force, but it's fairly minor and shouldn't be noticeable to most people.
For gaming, the Logitech G513 scores better than the Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED mainly because the G513 has backlighting and the G613 doesn't. We tested the G513 with Romer-G Tactile switches, the same ones as on the G613, so they perform almost identically in that regard. And even though the G513 is wired and the G613 is wireless, latency is only slightly higher on the G613 and shouldn't be noticeable. The G513 feels better built and has a USB passthrough, while the G613 has dedicated media controls, multi-device pairing, and a column of dedicated macro keys.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Logitech G513 are both outstanding gaming keyboards. The main difference is that the Razer's Linear Optical switches have a shorter pre-travel distance and much lower operating force than the Romer-G Tactile switches on our Logitech unit, making them feel more responsive. However, the Razer's incredible responsiveness also makes it less ideal for general typing because the keys are overly sensitive, which leads to more typos. The Razer offers more features like dedicated media controls and onboard memory. Every key on the Razer is macro-programmable, while the Logitech only allows you to reprogram the function keys.
The Logitech G513 is a better keyboard than the Logitech G910 Orion Spark. The G513's wrist rest is detachable, and its build quality is much better due to the sturdy aluminum faceplate. That said, the Orion Spark has an ARX dock for your phone and dedicated media keys.
The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Logitech G513, mainly because the Razer lets you reassign or set a macro to any key, while the Logitech is limited to the function keys only. There are some minor differences between Logitech's Romer-G and Razer's Orange switches, but overall, they perform very similarly for gaming. That said, the Razer provides a better typing experience because the tactile feedback is more distinct and not as mushy as the Logitech. The Razer has more extra features, like dedicated media controls and onboard memory, which the Logitech lacks.
The Logitech G513 is a much better keyboard than the Logitech K845. Since it's designed for gaming, the G513 has some programmable keys, customization software, RGB backlighting, and a USB passthrough. It also has lighter and more responsive keys, and it comes with a wrist rest. However, the K845 has a longer pre-travel distance, which should help prevent typos, and it's fully compatible with Linux.
The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is a better gaming keyboard than the Logitech G513, but the Logitech is more versatile and performs better for office use and mixed usage. The HyperX has onboard memory to save your preferred settings, and all of its keys are macro-programmable. It's only available with linear Kailh Silver Speed switches, which have a very responsive feel that’s great for gaming. The Logitech has better ergonomics thanks to its detachable wrist rest, and it comes with dedicated macro keys and a USB passthrough to plug in other peripherals. It’s available in a variety of switches to suit your preferences.
The Logitech G513 is much better than the Das Keyboard 4 Professional. The Logitech has backlighting, programmable keys, and software for customization. It also has much better ergonomics because it offers two incline settings and includes a wrist rest. The Logitech's Romer-G and the Das Keyboard's Cherry MX Brown are both switches that provide tactile feedback, but the Romer-G has a shorter pre-travel and a lighter actuation force. Also, the Logitech has significantly lower latency, making it better for gaming.
The Logitech G513 and the ROCCAT Pyro are wired gaming keyboards, but the Logitech has significantly lower latency. Also, the Logitech G HUB software is easier to use and is available on macOS. The Logitech is available with Romer-G Red, Blue, or Brown switches. On the other hand, the Pyro has onboard memory, but the ROCCAT Swarm software is only available on Windows. The ROCCAT is available with linear TTC Red switches.
The Logitech G513 is a full-size wired gaming keyboard, while the Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II is a 75% compact wireless board for mobile devices and tablets. The Logitech has RGB backlighting, incredibly low latency, a USB passthrough, and its keys are macro-programmable. Also, it's available with a variety of GX Blue, Red, and Brown switches. On the other hand, the Lenovo can pair with one device via Bluetooth and another via its USB receiver, and it has mouse click buttons and a TrackPoint nub to control your cursor without the need for a separate mouse. It uses tactile scissor switches, which feel light and responsive.
Test Results
The Logitech G513 is a full-size keyboard that takes up a lot of space on your desk and even more so when the wrist rest is attached.
The Logitech G513 gaming keyboard's build quality is good and is very similar to the Logitech G512 Special Edition and Logitech G413. The faceplate is made of aluminum, and the plastic bottom frame exhibits almost no signs of flex. The rubber incline feet are decent and grippy enough to keep the keyboard from sliding around. Unfortunately, the keycaps are made of cheap ABS plastic that will attract oil from your fingertips over time. If you'd prefer a board with PBT keycaps, check out the Logitech G413 SE.
Note: We've received community feedback that the blue-colored LED lights in this keyboard's backlighting may tend to fail sooner than other colors. For more details, see the Backlight Features section below.
The Logitech G513 has decent ergonomics. It has one incline setting and comes with a detachable wrist rest that should help reduce fatigue.
If you're looking for a full-size gaming keyboard that offers more hardware customizability, check out the HyperX Alloy Rise.
The Logitech G513 has full RGB backlighting. Each key is individually-backlit and can be customized further through Logitech's G HUB software. You can also control the brightness directly on the keyboard by pressing FN+F7. If you're looking for a keyboard with flat tile keycaps and transparent switches designed to better showcase the RGB backlighting, check out ROCCAT Vulcan Pro.
Note: We didn't experience any issues with this keyboard's backlighting during testing, but we've received community feedback indicating that the Blue LED lights on this keyboard may tend to fail sooner than other colors. This may be because blue LEDs require more voltage than red or green, and this is a known problem that isn't unique to this particular keyboard or the Romer-G switches it uses. However, the volume of reports online from other users may indicate this issue is more commonly experienced with this keyboard for unknown reasons.
We encourage readers interested in this product to purchase under warranty directly from Logitech or an approved reseller and to contact Logitech support in case of any issues.
This keyboard has a non-detachable braided cable that's fairly long. It's very stiff and retains kinks easily.
This is a wired-only keyboard.
The Logitech G513 has a few nice features. There's a USB passthrough that allows you to plug in other peripherals and charge devices. There's also a 'Game Mode' key, which is essentially a Windows Lock key to prevent accidentally minimizing your screen during gaming sessions. Unfortunately, only the function keys are macro-programmable. If you prefer a keyboard where every key is macro-programmable, check out the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB.
Typing on this keyboard feels good overall. Our unit uses Romer-G tactile switches, which offer a small tactile bump and feel like a mushier version of the Cherry MX Brown switches. It's also available with clicky or linear switches. The keycaps feel solid and don't wobble much, but are made of cheap ABS plastic and may get slippery over time due to the oil in your fingertips. On the upside, it should feel comfortable due to the plushy wrist rest and shouldn't cause any fatigue. While this board used to be available with Romer-G Tactile and Linear switches, it's now available with GX Blue, Red, and Brown switches only.
Our unit's Romer-G Tactile switches are quiet and shouldn't bother those around you. That said, there are variants available that may be too loud for an office environment, such as the GX Blue switches, which are loud and clicky.
Our unit uses Romer-G Tactile switches, which have a small tactile bump right before the actuation point. They have a very short pre-travel distance and require very little force to actuate, making them feel responsive and light. While this board used to be available with Romer-G Tactile and Linear switches, it's now available with GX Blue, Red, and Brown switches only.
The Logitech G513 has exceptionally low latency. You shouldn't feel any delay while on the desktop or gaming.
This keyboard has good software support thanks to Logitech's G HUB. You can customize the RGB backlighting and program your macros from here, and create unique profiles to suit your needs. Unfortunately, there's no onboard memory to save your settings, and an account is needed if you want to use the Cloud Sync feature. If you want a keyboard that has onboard memory to save custom profiles, check out the Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile.
There weren't any software issues during testing, but many users online have reported various problems trying to use the Logitech G HUB software, including but not limited to startup issues, freezing, and connection issues with some devices. If you'd like to share your experience using Logitech G HUB with this keyboard, feel free to leave a comment in the discussions section.
The Logitech G513 has decent compatibility. It's fully compatible with Windows, but the 'Pause' and 'Scroll Lock' buttons don't work on macOS. The G HUB software is, unfortunately, not available on Linux.