Logitech introduced the company G Pro X 60, its latest mechanical gaming keyboard. It looks like a peripheral manufacturer G Pro X TKL from last year, it’s a wireless model aimed primarily at competitive gamers. Unlike this device, it is smaller 60 percent layoutthat means it doesn’t have a dedicated function row, number pad, arrow keys, and so on nav cluster but takes up less space on the table. This can be a boon for games, as it leaves more room for mouse scrolling while keeping the most common action buttons. Of course, it’s also more portable.
The G Pro X 60 is available for pre-order today for $179 in the US and €229 in Europe. Logitech’s GX Optical switches are available in three colors (black, white or pink) with a linear or tactile version. The company says it will be available at major retailers in “late April.”
I had the keyboard in my hands a few days before today’s announcement and was very impressed, though I’d be hard-pressed to call it great value.
Let’s start with the good: This thing is well built. Its aluminum top plate is surrounded by a plastic frame, but feels solid with no real flex or give when you press down. Its doubleshot PBT keys are a delight and should be avoided by anyone brightness will evolve with cheaper ABS plastic over time. The legends on the keycaps are neatly printed and transparent, so any RGB backlight effects you set will come through cleanly. All knobs are conveniently angled and there are a set of drop-in feet on the back.
I’m not crazy about the side-mounted speaker – once you’ve got your keyboard fully operational rotary knob, it’s hard to give up — but it’s easy to reach with the pinky, so you can adjust the volume without lifting other fingers in the heat of the game. There’s also a dedicated switch to go into Logitech’s “gaming mode,” which disables buttons you might accidentally hit; these include the Windows and Fn keys by default, but you can add others via Logitech’s G Hub software.
The keyboard can be connected via a detachable USB-C cable, Bluetooth, or a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. As usual with Logitech gear, the latter’s connection is solid; I didn’t experience any of the hiccups and stuttering I’ve seen with some wireless keyboards from lesser-known brands, especially when waking the device from sleep. There are buttons to switch between Bluetooth or the onboard 2.4GHz connection, as well as a handy compartment to store the adapter itself. You can also connect the G Pro X 60 and certain Logitech mice at the same time using a dongle. Logitech rates the battery life at up to 65 hours; This sounds about right based on my testing so far, but the exact amount will vary depending on how bright you set the RGB backlight.
The best thing about the G Pro X 60 might not have anything to do with the keyboard at all — it’s that Logitech has a hard carrying case in the box. More companies should do this! This makes the device very easy to transport.
Unfortunately, this is probably not a keyboard you want to take to the office. Linear GX Optical switches in my test unit feel it absolutely pleasant: They are fast enough for the game and are pre-lubricated, so each press goes down smoothly. Since they are optical and therefore do not depend on any physical contact points, they should also be durable over time.
But they are not completely calm. Logitech has put several layers of silicone rubber on the inside of the board, but it doesn’t have the bouncy foam richness you’ll find on some other options in this price range. To pull back the curtain a bit: I bought the G Pro X 60 after testing a bunch of mechanical keyboards for an upcoming buying guide, so I’m a little spoiled in that regard. Some people may like the obvious flutter every press here. I can’t imagine their co-workers or roommates are all that excited, and some modifier and navigation keys like Alt, Ctrl, and Tab sound looser than others.
Other than that, my issues with the G Pro X 60 have more to do with what the keyboard lacks than anything it does wrong. First, its switches aren’t hot-swappable, so you can’t easily remove and replace them without disassembling them. Yes, it’s a niche thing, but so are $180 gaming keyboards as a whole. Being able to run new switches isn’t just a plus for long-term repairs; it’s half the fun for some keyboard enthusiasts in the first place. Changing keyboards is simple.
Stepping back, an increasing number of the G Pro X 60’s peers have some kind of analog functionality, meaning they can respond to different pressure levels. Our top pick gaming keyboard buyer’s guidethe Wooting 60HE+A good example is: Its magnetic Hall effect sensors let you set individual trigger points, so you can make each key extra sensitive when playing fast FPS, then make them feel heavier and more purposeful when typing. They also “quick trigger” feature that allows you to repeat inputs faster, for example, can be useful for going back and forth during an in-game shootout. Other models Razer and SteelSeries provides similar functionality. But the G Pro X 60 doesn’t have any adjustable trigger or quick trigger mode. It’s probably a deal breaker for the people who do, but not for most people would be using these features is exactly the type of hardcore gamers that Logitech is targeting with this device.
Here is a new remapping system called “Keycontrol”. Through the G Hub, this allows you to assign several different commands or macros to each button, with three separate layers of control. It’s a handy way to introduce some of the design’s missing keys: I’ve done it so that holding Alt, for example, temporarily turns WASD into arrow keys. But it also lets you base different actions on whether you press, hold, or release a button, so you can combine complementary actions in a game—multiple boosts in an RPG, perhaps—onto one button. Some of the analog keyboards mentioned above may also work this way, and some bindings must have the G Hub open to remain active. Still, having that kind of flexibility is better than not. Logitech said more of its keyboards will get Keycontrol support in the future, but declined to provide more specific details.
It all adds up to a keyboard that’s solid in a vacuum, but faces some stiff competition. Competing gaming keyboards like the Wooting 60HE+ and SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless are a bit richer in performance-focused features, but also a slightly larger selection. ASUS ROG Azoth sounds better and offers more customizable hardware for keyboard enthusiasts. There are plenty of great non-gaming keyboards that are also cheaper. But if you want something compact and wireless, the G Pro X 60 isn’t a bad choice, so it might come in handy when it’s on sale.
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