Don't let a number pad get in your way.
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Over the last decade, eSports has taken off in a big way. With so many competitive gamers participating in gaming tournaments around the world, it’s natural that companies would release eSports-related peripherals with greater frequency. There are several manufacturers catering to the eSports crowd out there -- with one of the most prominent being Logitech. One of the latest in the company’s gamer-focused G series is the Logitech G Pro Gaming Keyboard (See it on Amazon), which is the first keyboard to be labeled simply "Pro" instead of a bunch of numbers or a mythological name. The message is clear -- this is a keyboard designed for e-Sports professionals, or those who want to use the same gear as the Pros.
Design and Features
The first thing you’ll notice about the Pro gaming keyboard is its lack of number keys on the right side. Though you might find those keys useful, gamers generally don't, as the compact tenkeyless design makes the keyboard easier to carry to LAN parties and tournaments. Plus, the smaller design also gives you more space to move your mouse. From what I've been told, hardcore PC gamers consider the numberpad a waste of space as it's useless for tournaments, hence Logitech removed it from the Pro keyboard.
The next "Pro" feature is also designed for maximum performance. The G Pro features Logitech’s proprietary Romer-G mechanical switches, which according to Logitech have a response time that is "up to" 10ms faster than the competition (which is generally regarded as Cherry MX switches). All 87 of its keys have a short-throw actuation point also, which is the time it takes for key presses to be recognized. At just 1.5 mm it's .5mm shorter than a typical Cherry MX Red switch which requires 2mm of travel, and to put it into even more context the Corsair RAPIDFIRE K70 needs just 1.2mm of travel, so you can see where all these boards land on the actuation spectrum. For the G Pro, the shorter actuation distance allows for key presses that are up to 25 percent faster than standard mechanical switches, giving you a slight advantage. Also, the 10ms response time advantage may not be perceptible to regular folks, but competitive gamers will notice it.
While the keyboard is designed for gaming, it is also great for plain ole typing. Because of the low actuation force, I didn’t need to hit the keys so hard, so it actually made it possible to type faster than normal. Though the keys are easier to press down, they still have a satisfactory amount of resistance to them. Mechanical keyboards are notorious for being loud due to sound of the switches beneath the keys being activated over and over, but the Romer-G switches on the Pro keyboard are relatively quiet by comparison. That isn’t to say the keys don’t make noise, but it’s nothing that should bother anyone around you.
Since this is a gaming keyboard, it has been built to withstand a great deal of punishment. The whole thing is reinforced by a steel back plate that adds stability during gameplay. The backplate also adds some heft to it despite its small size, so it won’t easily slide around on your desk. Although it certainly weighs more than the average keyboard, carrying it around won’t break your back either due to its small overall footprint.
One feature that will be greatly appreciated by competitive gamers is the ability to remove the keyboard’s six foot long USB cable. Instead of having to wrap the cable around the keyboard, you can simply detach it. This will lessen the chance of breaking the cable at the point where it connects to the keyboard during travel. The cable features two support arms to facilitate a reliable data connection. This also ensures that you can’t easily unplug it while playing. Like the keyboard, the detachable cable feels tough and durable.
Software
Like any respectable gaming keyboard, the Pro keyboard features customizable RGB lighting. The main difference between this keyboard’s lighting and that of other popular planks is that it offers "through-the-center" lighting with keys that are flush with the base. This allows only the interior of the key itself to be illuminated rather than the base too like it is with other keyboards from Corsair, G.Skill, etc. This ensures that there isn’t any lighting bleed around the keys, which you may love or hate depending on your preference. The lights are highly customizable thanks to Logitech’s Gaming Software which lets you customize each individual key with virtually any color imaginable. The F1-12 keys can be customized to perform the function of macro keys. Users can store their lighting profiles onto the onboard memory. This means presets will always be the same no matter what PC the keyboard is plugged into. However, the keyboard will not store macro memory since that isn’t allowed in competitions.
Zone and Effects modes are easy to implement within the Gaming Software app. These don’t require much thought since one only needs to select a profile they like. Those two are fine for folks who want to keep things simple, but it is much more fun to program your own colors. The amount of options available here can be somewhat overwhelming. If you’re like me, you may want to check out some of the tutorial videos on Logitech’s site.
The keyboard also has a game mode that's activated via a physical button on the top-right of the deck. It lets you disable keys you wouldn’t need for a specific game, so you won't accidentally pressing a key during crucial moments. You can also make it so only specific keys light up for certain titles. This feature is also useful for actual gameplay since there are less lights on the keyboard to distract you. If the key colors are too vibrant you can always lower their intensity in the app. You’re also free to disable the lights altogether, but where is the fun in that? Though there are no dedicated macro keys you can program similar functionality to any key via the software.
Gaming
I use a mechanical keyboard for some typing and found the G Pro Gaming Keyboard to be comfortable and responsive. I tend to type hard and the Pro keyboard was able to withstand my finger’s fury with no issues. To see how well the G Pro keyboard handles games, I played Doom (2016), Skyrim, Knights of the Old Republic, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. I’m not a professional eSports gamer so I wasn’t able to detect any huge differences with response times. However, because the keys are easier to press, I was able to move around and use certain abilities more smoothly. After only a short time, playing on this keyboard became second nature. As far as gaming goes, I didn’t personally notice any difference with input time since I’m not a competitive gamer. However, simply playing with a smaller keyboard made the whole keyboard and mouse experience much better. Now that I’ve fully acclimated to it, I don’t see myself going back to my old full-sized keyboard for gaming. My eyes have been opened, as they say.
Purchasing Guide
The Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard has an MSRP of $129, and since it's a relatively new model that's the price you can expect to pay at any retailer, including Amazon:
• See the Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming keyboard on Amazon
Note that if you click on one of these links to buy the product, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.
The Verdict
With its durable design, responsive keys, and highly customizable lighting, the Logitech G Pro Gaming Keyboard is one of the best peripherals of its kind. At $129.99, the keyboard is decidedly on the pricey side though. However, it's excellent for gaming and even folks who just want more room on their desk will see the benefit of owning it. This is easily one of the best keyboards I’ve ever had the pleasure of using for gaming and typing.
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