I have one major drawback with the G515 Rapid: it doesn't have the numpad. Yes, I know, it's already in the name. This is a gaming keyboard first and foremost. But it's so good at all the other stuff, too, that a part of me wishes it had the full widgth of a "normal" keyboard.
Apart from that, I can't think of a single thing I'd change about it. The G515 Rapid is an effortlessly great peripheral, a superb refinement of what makes Logitech's products so good, and one of the most comfortable and satisfying computer accessories I've used in years.
A big part of that comfort is down to the switches – the mechanics that bind the keys to the keyboard. This time around, they're magnetic, which keeps the keyboard clicky, but also extremely quiet. It's not fully silent, but the loud clacking of a full mechanical keyboard, which makes any apartment sound like the set of His Girl Friday, is long gone. Instead, the noise output matches the typing experience: short, precise, and calming.
On a more superficial level, the G515 Rapid is pretty. It's a sleek and confidently built device that looks nice on the table and draws just enough attention without ever being gaudy. It nails that aesthetic between a Gamer product and something you can actually think of as classy office gear. I love it.
The magnetic analog switches also work wonders for gaming. With just 0.1 - 2.5 mm travel distance, this keyboard is incredibly accurate and responsive. I spent a long weekend with the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Beta to put the Rapid through its paces, and I saw notable improvements in reaction time and movement, even for someone like myself, who has cognitive disabilities and cramped hands.
For hardware geeks, the G515 comes with Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap technology, which, I'm told, is de rigeur with competitive gaming today. You can even assign multiple actions to a single button, which are triggered differently based on their actuation points. This all comes down to the magnetic triggers used on the keyboard, and it seemed to work surprisingly well in my testing. But, honestly, I'm not a competitive gamer, and I doubt an average user will notice, either.
What everyone will notice is the hysterically high polling rate of 1000Hz, which sets the G515 Rapid above the cut. In practice, this means the keyboard reports button presses to the computer at 1000 times a second, increasing responsiveness immensely. For gaming, it means faster peaking around corners. In everyday use, I can report that writing has become even more a joy than before. Typing is quick, smooth, and deliriously accurate.
Another part where the G515 Rapid excels is accessibility. Thanks to the low travel distance and slim profile, it's easy to set up and use without strain on wrists or hands. It's just 2.2 cm tall, which makes it one of the thinnest keyboard around.
Despite it weighing under a kilo, I never felt like Logitech skimped out on product robustness, either. This is a solidly built and designed piece of tech that feels – and looks – lovely. The blue backlight is nice and bright, but never overpowering, and the thin keycaps have a nice textured matte finish that is just grippy enough to type on, but smooth enough to slide your fingers over in a rush.
In short, the G515 Rapid delivers on everything you'd want out of a gaming keyboard today. It's one of the rare cases where something designed specifically for the gaming experience works fluidly as an everday device as well. Would it replace a dedicated office setup for someone who works on Excel sheets all day? Heck no, but that's hardly the point.
For someone who uses their home setup for all purposes, including work and gaming, the G515 Rapid is the perfect midway point between fun and function. Its advances are such that gaming actually drives innovation at this point, leading to a nicer, more accessible, and high quality experience on all fronts.
It's my favorite keyboard that I've tested to date, and my new daily driver for the foreseeable future.
