Very interesting keyboard for the right person.
When I found out about this keyboard, I was immediately intrigued. The styling and layout are nice. I am coming from a Logitech MX Mechanical with the Clicky (blue) keys, which I really love. I have never liked tactile switches, and I do not like linear at all. I had to special order my MX because none of the retailers stocked the version with the Clicky keys. My main complaint with the MX Mech is the keycaps. I can not stand the smooth plasticy feel of the ABS, and they pick up finger oils like no keycaps I have ever seen. After seeing the G515 I was curious to try it out, however the price was a point of contention. I had already paid a lot to get the MX, which I thought was overpriced to begin with. So $120+ for another keyboard was a big ask. And there also is no option for Clicky switches, only tactile and linear. Really would like to see a Clicky option. I ended up getting a pretty good deal on a Used-Good Condition for around $72. Expected it to show up with issues, so tried to not get overly excited about it. To my surprise the keyboard showed up in its' original box, with all accessories and documentation included. I see some recent reviews of users complaining about the board having a slight upwards bow to it, keeping the center foot from making contact. My unit exhibited the same issue, so I assume I got the unit one of those buyers returned. I was able to easily solve this by flexing the board carefully in the opposite direction until the board was close to flat when relaxed. The board now sits flush on the table. Outside of that, I have not noticed any other issues in the few weeks I have been using it. One thing I would like to correct that I see almost all reviews get wrong is that the keyboard is fully plastic. While the majority of the body is indeed plastic, the top plate beneath the keys is steel. Not aluminum, STEEL. You can easily verify this by sticking a magnet to it. The steel plate is what gives this board such a hefty feel. I am undecided if steel or aluminum is the better choice for the plate. Keycaps. The keycaps on the G515 are far superior to the ones on the MX Mech. Not only are they PBT, but they also have a moderate texture on the surface, which I think feels quite nice. I've seen some reviews that say the texture is too rough, and I can understand their position, but I feel like this level of texture is a good balance and should wear nicely. They keys also feel much denser and substantial than the ABS caps on the MX Mech. Logitech should make a replacement keycap set for the MX and send them out to anyone to anyone who requests them. The stock keycaps are pretty bad. Unfortunately the MX has some non-standard shaped keys, so the keycaps of the G515 will not work. One thing you should take note of is that the lettering on the G515 keycaps are clear/transparent. Logitech did this to increase the light transmission from the LEDs beneath the keys, but this makes the keycaps impossible to read in almost any lighting condition. You are basically forced to keep the backlight on at all times so you can see the keys. I'm am ok with this, but you should take note if that will be a problem for you. Key switches. I much prefer a clicky switch, but I decided I would give the G515 with tactile switches a try anyway. I am glad I did. These tactile switches feel much better than any tactile switch I have used before. I am unsure if it's a result of the switches being pre-lubed, a slightly modified design, or influenced by the nicer keycaps. Maybe a combination of all those factors. What I can say is that the overall feel is pretty good. Overall I am liking this keyboard a lot. It feels premium, the keycaps feel nice, the switches feel great, and the heft is nice. I'm not really bothered by the rest of the plastic chassis, since it in no way feels cheap. For the original price of around 120 (sale price) I might be a tiny bit more picky. That is a lot to spend on a keyboard afterall. I can not blame the person that returned the unit I ended up buying used if they felt the quality did not meet the price point they had paid. I certainly would be more critical if the price was closer to the MSRP of 160. The only things I would like to see improved are the connectivity options. The MX Mechanical allows you to have the USB dongle connection, plus 2 bluetooth devices. I would like to see the G515 updated to allow for at least 2 bluetooth devices, preferably 3. Logitech could allow remapping the game button function to pair another bluetooth device instead. Read more












