New Logitech mechanical keyboards are conservative in looks and price

Logitech launched two mechanical keyboards to its lineup on Monday. Delivery in February, the boards are a part of the corporate’s PC gaming model, however with their $70 beginning worth and basic, toned-down look, they’re additionally fascinating candidates for somebody looking for a productiveness keyboard with mechanical switches.

The Logitech G G413 SE and G413 TKL SE are $80 and $70, respectively, providing an affordable entry level for individuals who would possibly assume mechanical keyboards are too costly. Logitech, particularly its G gaming model, is not afraid to overload its keyboards with RGB lighting, however the backlight on these boards is available in white solely. The usual G413 is obtainable with an all-white or all-red backlight.

A subdued look continues with a high case manufactured from aluminum-magnesium alloy with a brushed black end that matches the black PBT keycaps. The plastic must be an improve from the non-SE G413’s ABS plastic keyboards, as PBT is mostly extra immune to degradation over time.

Beneath these keycaps are what Logitech calls “tactile mechanical switches.” That phrase suggests one thing like Cherry MX Browns, however Logitech did not specify the precise change used. In accordance with the full-size SE keyboard’s product web page, the switches actuate at 1.9 mm with 50 g of pressure and backside out at 4 mm. The web page did not specify how a lot pressure is required to really feel the discernible bump of the tactile change. We have requested Logitech for extra data and can replace this story if we hear again.

In any case, the G413 SE’s switches differ from the Logitech Romer-G tactile switches used on the usual G413 (1.5 mm actuation level, 45 g of pressure, tactile bump at 50 g, bottoming out at 3.2 mm). Shorter actuation factors that require much less pressure to hit may make the keys on the G413 simpler to smash shortly than these on the SE variations, however we’ll have to check the keyboards to make sure. Nonetheless, the switches within the G413 SE have shorter journey than Cherry MX Browns (4 mm/2 mm).

As with the non-SE G413, Logitech shouldn’t be providing the SE keyboards with linear or clicky switches. Preferences differ by participant, however many avid gamers vouch for linear switches, because the absence of a bump could make it simpler to hit keys repeatedly and shortly. Logitech insists that the G413 SE line is for avid gamers, pointing to six-key rollover and anti-ghosting, however numerous gaming keyboards supply full n-key rollover.

One sacrifice made to maintain costs decrease is in programmability. Not like a lot of Logitech’s gaming peripherals, this board does not appear to work with Logitech’s G Hub software program. It additionally has no onboard reminiscence and doesn’t characteristic reprogrammable keys.

The G413 is listed on Logitech’s web site for $70, the identical worth because the G413 TKL SE. It is unclear if the usual G413 will get a worth minimize as soon as the SE variations launch. The complete-size G413 SE is obtainable for preorder.

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