Logitech G610 Orion Red Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Background: I just made the jump from what ever the heck garbage I was using to a mechanical keyboard for gaming. This is my first real keyboard and I have to be honest, I was intimidated by what is out there and a little uneasy about the purchase because I wasn't sure what I was going to get at this price point. Mechanical keyboards seem to have a really crazy price range and compared to the top end models, I wasn't sure what this one would be. I am super happy with this purchase and just kicking myself for not jumping over sooner. This review is prob best for people who are just getting into mechanical keyboards to step up their gaming because I don't know squat about the range of mechanical keyboard options and can only compare this to membrane switches. Keep in mind, this is my first one and I am jumping from a "gaming" marketed keyboard that had membrane switches but maybe that could be helpful to some. Quality: This is the nicest keyboard that I have owned. My very first impression is just wow...no regrets. The keys move like liquid under my fingers. I am just blown away at how fluid and addictive it is to flow through the keys for just general typing and gaming. The keyboard has a really heavy weight to it so it feels super solid and stuck to my desk. I love that feel because it doesn't slide around and I don't have to awkwardly keep adjusting it's position over time. I feel like overall, this is a really well made keyboard and I am nothing but impressed with the quality. I have only owned this thing for a couple of days so I don't know how it will hold up over time but my initial reaction is that it feels like it will be solid for the long haul. The only negative thing that I can come up with is that the space bar is a little wonky compared to the smaller keys. It feels like it has a small snag when depressed so it isn't as fluid as the small keys. Most likely it is due to the large space bar sitting on one switch in the middle so if you press on the space from the side and not in the center, the space bar tilts just slightly and doesn't have a perfect 90 degree angle downwards into the switch. This isn't major and it isn't something that I don't even notice while typing or gaming...it just isn't perfect and I am ok with that because I didn't drop $200 expecting a perfect keyboard. Layout: I have to comment about the layout. I really really like the simple but super effective layout. The board is no larger than what it needs to be and the key layout is just ...default as it should be. I love how it has a minimal footprint and isn't any larger than what it needs to be on my desk. What I really like though are the volume and tune controls in the upper right corner. I have had some weird keyboards in the past where there are some volume and music controls that felt really awkward and hard to find. The extra keys on this one are minimalist but exactly all that you need. The volume scroll wheel is super responsive and just in a perfect location to quickly adjust volume. I really like the wide wheel because it feels really easy to find in the dark and for a quick volume adjustment in a heated game situation. I love the play, stop, and forward, backward button placements as well. I feel like overall, it is super easy to find and fluid to use when going back and forth between music and gaming. It is minimum but very efficient because it is all that I need and that appeals to me quite a bit. Software: The software is weird for me but this isn't a major thing because I don't even care about it. I am more of a set it and forget it type of person so I'm not going to be in there too much. What threw me off at first was how unintuitive the hue adjustment of the backlighting was. This keyboard only has the white key color but you can adjust the hue from white to black. There is a color box which traditionally...you click on the color box and you get a pop up for some adjustment but that isn't the case. I raged out for 5 minutes clicking on the color box as nothing happens when you click it and there are no indications on what to do. You have to adjust the hue on the C-shaped wheel to the left and then click on the color box to set that hue. Ahhhh....ok. Sure. Not a big deal but I have a thing about software being lazy. That is just lazy programming...not a clever minimalist decision. Give me some indication on what to do so that I don't have to google your software or randomly click on things in hopes to figure it out. That is a bit of a diluted rant though because software is just like that right now for everything. Switches: This is where I am out of my league here. I got the cherry red switches just based on recommendations for gaming. I don't regret it at all but this is where I have to be honest...I haven't compared the others. For the reds, there is really no feedback what so ever that a key press is finalized. It feels really weird at first but I am quickly getting used to it and honestly sort of addicted to the fluidity of it. For gaming...holy heck...it feels sooooo good. For typing...it was weird at first and I can see how people might be a little thrown off but after two days in, I love it. I feel like these switches really do make an improvement to my gaming in a strange way where my movements are more responsive to what I am thinking. That is why I am kicking myself for not switching over sooner. I didn't really believe that there would be a gaming difference but I there totally is. My movements are just more fluid and responsive overall so that is why I have 0 regrets about not trying other switch types. It feels amazing and I am happy with that. Overall...just super happy with this keyboard. For the price, I feel like I got a high quality product that made a difference. Aside from making a difference, it is just really enjoyable to use. Read more

I'm coming from a corsair membrane keyboard and let me just say, the difference is incredible. I went with the red switches since I game a lot, and I just can't get over how easy it is to actuate these switches and how much quicker my input is registered. I didn't think it would make much of a difference, but I was wrong. Case: The case of this keyboard is very premium, although simple and a bit industrial in design. The plain, matte black top looks very clean and the back-lighting on the keys is superb, barely any light bleed. The feet on the bottom are very grippy and the 3 height point adjustments are very handy for getting the exact angle you want. Additionally, this keyboard weighs a ton. This may not seem important, but it is great for keeping the keyboard in place no matter how hard you smash those keys. Plus this helps with the premium feel even more. Peripheral Keys: The keyboard comes with a few media keys, which is always nice to see. I would never recommend getting a laptop without these, unless you are one of those people who never listens to music. The volume wheel is actually very nice, much quicker and easier to adjust then buttons. Having the mute button right next to it is also rather nice to quickly toggle the sound. Key Switches/Caps: There isn't much I can say that hasn't been said already. The Cherry MX Red keys are amazing, as with all cherry keys. Incredibly uniform from key to key, easy actuation force, long lifetime, quick registering, and the list goes on. Never buy a keyboard with knockoff switches, you will regret it. Maybe not right away, but in a few years when your switches die, the cherry keys will still be going strong. The keycaps are very nice, although simple. I haven't noticed any excessive wear on them so it seems good so far. Engraving appears to all be very uniform, although because of the led placement under the switches, some keys with symbols at the bottom do not get fully lit up. The keycaps are not the most stable and they do have some wobble to them, but this is a fairly cheap mechanical keyboard and the keys don't have stabilizers so what can you expect?! Lighting: The keyboard comes with a few cool lighting effects, although since all the lights are white it doesn't get too crazy. My personal favorite is the wave. It is a very smooth wave of light and is oddly relaxing. There is a program you can download to adjust the lighting and it has a few options, some passive patters like this and others react to your key input. The program also allows you to customize lighting and keys for use in specific games, although I'm not a huge fan of using those lighting effects. Verdict: Amazing keyboard at a very competitive price. The slight wobble in the keys is just about the only complaint I could possibly have about this keyboard. Other than that, it deserves more than 5 stars. You will not find a better keyboard for under $100, that is a promise. As far as whether to go with red or brown switches, it depends what you do. For typing you want browns, no question. For gaming, some like reds some like browns. I play fps games a lot where you are very rapidly pushing keys, so I found the tactile bump in browns to be a bit annoying, but that is personal preference! Purchase a cherry switch tester kit or visit a local computer store to try them out yourself and see! Read more