Logitech G512 X review

In February, we reviewed the impeccable Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and called it the 'biggest gaming mouse innovation in a decade'. That's a pretty big win for Logitech, and though the Logitech G512 X doesn't feel like as much of a revolution for its market, it does feel like it could be just as important. That's for a multitude of reasons.

The first is its 'Dual Swap' functionality. Thanks in part to the tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors underneath the keycaps, 39 of its switch beds can be swapped between analogue and mechanical switches. This means you can trade some switches for better precision, custom actuation, and rapid trigger, and leave other keys as mechanical for that classic typing feel and feedback.

In practice, I found the perfect setup for me was to pop analogue switches on WASD, and maybe the space bar, and use mechanical ones for the rest.

This is a bit of magic to me. The caps and switches come out easily, and they're even hot swappable, so you don't need to unplug the keyboard before you can start using the keys again. The keyboard has a small 'scan' button at the top left, which not only registers which switches you're using but highlights them with RGB so you can remember them.

One thing worth noting is that the likes of the Wooting 80HE have all analogue switches (though Hall effect rather than TMR), but I never really found a need to use all 39 switch beds in the G512 X.

The keyboard includes a handful of SAPP (second actuation pressure point) rings, which are small rubber rings that sit underneath the keycap, offering resistance as you hit 2 mm actuation. This is designed for multipoint actuation, so you can set the likes of the W key to both walk and sprint, with walk at 0.1 mm to 2 mm and sprint at 2 mm and above. It's a relatively niche feature, but noticeable in practice. The SAPP rings bring me to the next part of what makes the G512 X feel special: its storage.

I had a chance to chat with Logitech in its London office just before getting my hands on the board, and I was told its design is an homage to Logitech's Swiss roots. After getting some time with it, I can say that statement feels true. It's just very smartly packed together, clean, and efficient.

At the top of the keyboard is a small storage space for nine switches. Then, underneath that is space for five SAPP rings. The feet of the keyboard double as switch and key pullers, and not one inch of it looks out of place. I have been testing the 98-key black and purple model, and I can say the Evangelion fan in me is very happy.

Speaking of looks, the G512 X has a light bar down the bottom of the keyboard, and each key is individually lit. The light bar consists of 33 different lights, making it super customizable in Logitech's software. It's a lovely look, and one of the dials on the top right is automatically set to control RGB, making it easy to tone down when you want a little less visual oomph.

It's actually important that the keyboard's RGB looks pretty and stands out, as it's almost necessary on much of Logitech's gear. The keys are hard to make out, especially in darker rooms, without it. Luckily, I see no reason to go without here.

Logitech tells me that the G512 X completes an aesthetic ecosystem in the G5 range. That includes the G522 gaming headset and the G502 X Plus gaming mouse. The mouse is missing the purple, but it does have a pretty RGB streak down the centre, and the G522 gaming headset's purple band and lit-up side certainly fit the aesthetic. They do look pretty together, though I'm happy for my gear not to match if it looks appealing by itself. The G522's microphone is certainly standout, but the G512 X is the obvious standout here in both quality and look.

I've also managed to get my grubby mitts on the G512 X palm rest, which costs $45 for the 98-key model. The palm rest doesn't click into place as many do and instead sits just below the light bar. Made from acrylic, the light bar shines through it, and as much as it might pain me to say about a $45 palm rest, I get the vision.

It further accentuates the lights from the keyboard and feels comfortable under the palm, even though it can technically move about as you play. The benefit of it being acrylic is that it's easy to wash, too, should you find yourself mucking up your palm rests (wouldn't be me). I think I'd struggle to justify this cost if I'd just bought the keyboard myself, but it does contribute to the look and feel.

Speaking of feel, the G512 X is comfortable to type on. The switches are slightly muted, and the double-shot keycaps are smooth to press. The lighting certainly helps when I've lost my position on the keyboard, and I don't have any complaints in this regard. Broadly, I'd say it gets nothing wrong in regard to typing feel, sitting around the middle of the pile relative to other keyboards I've tried.

For gaming, though, the G512 X is a bit of a beast. TMR sensors make for a super-precise feel, and all of the software customisation only adds to it. Rapid trigger means I can press quicker than a traditional keyboard, and per-key actuation means hitting the most important keys even quicker.

In Counter-Strike 2, I found it easy to stop walking as soon as I let go, which naturally helps with aim, and getting across the keyboard to my grenades and other weapons feels easy to do. The keyboard is well-sized for gaming, and the keys feel distinct. The hybrid switch bed design is used in most of the keys you would use with your left hand, plus the arrow keys, with the rest of the keyboard being standard mechanical. I never found myself wishing others were Dual Swap compatible, so I'd say Logitech has done a good job picking the most important ones.

I've also been testing out the keyboard in plenty of single-player games like Tides of Tomorrow and Crisol: Theater of Idols, and I've found myself playing for hours with little fatigue. It's a snappy keyboard that truly shines in competitive games, but doesn't hold back in comfort either.

As far as build quality is concerned, I'm not concerned. It's not as weighty and firm as some Wooting / Cherry keyboards I've had time with, but it's certainly not weak. It feels well-balanced for my desk, with it being easy to move on purpose, but hard to move by accident.

If you feel like you will struggle to remember which keys have Dual Swap, you can just look under the switches. Dual Swap keys have purple in the base underneath them, and plain 'ol mechanical keys are black underneath. Either way, both types of switch beds have a max polling rate of 8,000 Hz and have TMR sensors.

This is not the first TMR keyboard I've tried, but it is the first Logitech TMR keyboard. And I can say the G512 X offers a much more appealing package than the likes of the Cherry Xtrfy MX 8.2 Pro TMR TKL and Cherry K5 Pro TMR Compact. It looks more appealing, feels better to type on, and for what it offers, it is better priced, too.

The only thing missing is a wireless variant, but I wouldn't recommend using a wireless keyboard and 8,000 Hz polling at the same time, because the latter uses a lot more power than, say, 1 kHz polling. Given that a keyboard spends most of its time in the same position on your desk, you probably don't want to be dealing with charging it on a regular basis anyway.

There's an argument to be made for the smaller 75-key G512 X being wireless, though, so you can pop it in a backpack and bring it outside with you. It would be a tad brave of you to bring a $200 keyboard in your backpack, but I can certainly see why one might want it wireless.

Logitech's own G Hub software is necessary to swap actuation, get updates, and set the keyboard to 8,000 Hz polling, and I can say it has gotten much better over the last few years. Back in 2024, I moved away from Logitech almost entirely, and that's partly down to how much of a problem I would run into with G Hub. Now, it works pretty much as intended, and the G512 X is easy to customise as a result. Each light on the light bar can be configured, giving you access to patterns, and it's all rather neat.

'Neat' is a good way of describing the G512 X overall. It has plenty of features that I might not use day-to-day, but it allows a level of customisation that feels incredibly rare for major gaming keyboard brands. It makes me feel like a bit of a tinkerer, yet it's much easier to use than anything custom. And, it's offering all those extra features without a price hike either.

Competitive-level TMR gaming keyboards are already fetching the G512 X's price point, without including all of the great design, plus it has a striking light bar and sweet aesthetic. If the G512 X were in my budget, I can't think of another keyboard that would take its spot.