What was once a slightly staid and boring keyboard and mouse brand has been transformed over the past five years into one of the leading names in the massive gaming and Esports market. Logitech has rebranded and developed a whole new range of gaming products that the company claims are used by 60% of elite Esports performers. That’s quite some turnaround and it’s mostly been achieved via the company’s cool Logitech G sub-brand.
The latest product to come out of the Logitech G stable looks as if it could set the gaming world on fire. The Logitech PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED is a compact gaming keyboard with professional-grade performance that’s fully programmable so the users can perform at the highest level of gaming tournaments.
The 60% keyboard is about as small a layout as you can get and still be able to do most of the useful things you’d want a keyboard to do. Brent Barry is head of Esports and PRO Series products at Logitech G and he explains the brand’s thinking behind this new flagship keyboard.
“In designing the PRO X 60 keyboard, our objective was to pack even more functionality than you’d find in a typical full-sized keyboard into a compact, 60% format,” states Barry. “This isn’t merely about reducing size, but ensuring users don’t compromise on performance or customization options by choosing a smaller form factor.”
To achieve this versatility, Logitech developed KEYCONTROL, a tool that’s easy to use and can be accessed using Logitech’s GHUB software. KEYCONTROL massively expands the compact keyboard’s functionality, giving it features way beyond even those of a standard full-sized keyboard. KEYCONTROL lets users assign up to 15 functions to each key, boosting the customization options of the PRO X 60 and enabling users to tailor the keyboard for any scenario.
The KEYCONTROL assignment tool in G HUB lets users completely customize how their whole keyboard works. Macros, audio and even lighting effects can be assigned to individual keys, plus all keys can be easily remapped with commonly used commands, creating a tool that’s as unique as the person using it.
Logitech opted for the compact 60% design because its research showed that a new wave of professional Esports players is developing new strategies and innovations for gaming. Increasingly, pro-level gamers want streamlined gaming peripherals with a minimalist design that reduces the clutter of their gaming setup, leaving them with plenty of space for precision mouse control. With KEYCONTROL, gamers no longer need to sacrifice functionality when they want to declutter their gaming space.
The PRO X 60 uses Logitech G’s LIGHTSPEED wireless technology for the ultimate speed and response without the clutter of wires. The keyboard also offers Bluetooth and USB-C wired connectivity. The PRO X 60 has PBT double-shot keycaps with a shine-through design that lets the keyboard’s LIGHTSYNC RGB Lighting illuminate the legends on each key.
The battery life for a single charge of the PRO X 60 is quoted as up to 65 hours depending on the intensity of the backlight brightness. Of course, you could always get more battery life by turning off the LED backlights but the snag there is you can’t see the legends on the keycaps without a backlight. If battery life is an issue, then connecting via USB cable takes away that anxiety and could be advisable if a game is truly critical.
The new keyboard has plenty of extra physical features such as a thumbwheel for adjusting volume levels and a full set of function keys and media controls, all accessible using the Fn key. Because the keyboard is a 60% layout, it has no physical cursor or navigation keys, but they are all there and available simply by pressing the Fn key or whatever other key the user wants to use. It takes a little getting used to at first, but it’s surprising how quickly you adapt to the new layout.
The Logitech PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED uses GX Optical switches and can be ordered in tactile or linear configurations. GC Optical switches have a faster actuation than standard mechanical switches and this translates into a faster and more responsive gameplay.
Unlike mechanical switches, the GX Optical switches are actuated using light, instantly sending a signal to the computer and eliminating the debounce required by all mechanical switches. Such precision and speed could make all the difference between winning and losing a tournament. There’s also a game mode switch and the keyboard even has a semi-hard carrying case for taking the PRO X 60 to a tournament.
Verdict: The new Logitech PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED gaming keyboard is the brand’s best yet. You can choose the connectivity method and everything on the keyboard is fully programmable, including key remapping, assignment of five functions to each key, plus modifiers and events. There are also separate and programmable layers that can be assigned with up to 15 functions for each key, although how you’d remember them all beats me. The typing action of the new GX Optical switches is a delight and the switches are superbly responsive. The backlighting and quality of the shine-through keycaps is second to none and the lighting effects and colors can all be customized to suit the user’s tastes. The backlit keys make using the PRO X 60 much easier in moody lighting. There’s so much depth to the Logitech PRO X 60 that it could take a lifetime to customize it.
Pricing & Availability: The Logitech PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED keyboard is available in Black, White and Pink/Magenta. It’s available now from LogitechG.com and in the US, Canada, and select markets worldwide. The suggested retail price is $179 / £189 UK / €229.
More info: logitechg.com
Tech Specs:
- System requirements: Windows 10 or later and USB 2.0 port. Internet access is required for Logitech G HUB Software 2.
- Layout: Pro-inspired 60% design
- Lighting: LIGHTSYNC RGB Lighting
- Onboard lighting profiles: Yes.
- Cable: 6 ft detachable charging and data cable.
- Latency: 1ms report rate.
- Battery life (Rechargeable): up to 65 hours.
- Wireless range: up to 10m.
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHz LIGHTSPEED, Bluetooth or USB.
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 290 x 103 x 39mm.
