Logitech G512 X 98 Review: Most Beautiful-Looking Gaming Keyboard I’ve Used

The Logitech G512 X 98 is a keyboard that wants to do everything, and somehow it manages to pull it off. Combining analog and mechanical switches in one board through its Dual Swap system, this is one of the best looking and most customisable gaming keyboards I’ve had on my desk, and after weeks of daily use it’s become the keyboard I reach for without thinking twice.

Packaging Contents

Design and Build Quality

This is one of the best looking gaming keyboards I’ve ever seen. The design is striking and pleasing to look at, and the combination of cap colours and the two dials creates some nice accents that tie the whole theme together without looking busy. It’s the kind of board that gets noticed the moment someone walks past your desk.

The front-facing Lightbar is the real star of the show here, and it’s the best lighting design I’ve come across on a keyboard so far. The glow it throws off sits on another level entirely, making the keyboard even more enjoyable to look at and own, even when you’re not actively using it. Logitech G also sent over the Palm Rest for this review, which is sold separately, and it makes the whole setup look even more vibrant and complete on the desk.

There’s a catch though: the Palm Rest isn’t magnetised, and it doesn’t really click into place against the body, so it just sits there rather than locking on. That’s a bit of a letdown given how considered everything else about this keyboard feels. Still, it does its job as a palm rest and pushes the aesthetics even further, so I’d still recommend grabbing one if the budget allows.

At 1000g and built with a mix of recycled plastics (44% in the black parts, 34% in white), the G512 X 98 has a reassuring weight to it on the desk. It doesn’t shift around during intense gaming sessions, and the dimensions feel right for a full-size 98-key layout without it sprawling too far across your setup. Note that there’s also a 75-key layout version.

Dual Swap Switches: Analog Meets Mechanical

I didn’t expect the customisation experience on this keyboard to be this good. For a start, the body includes storage on the back for spare switches, and it’s covered by a glass panel that protects everything from dust while doubling as a nice visual touch rather than hiding it away.

The G512 X 98 ships with nine Gateron KS-20 analog switches included, and you get 39 Dual Swap switch beds across the board where you can fit either analog switches or any standard 3- or 5-pin mechanical switch. The remaining 81 positions are dedicated mechanical switch beds, pre-installed with tactile or linear switches depending on which version you go for.

You might wonder why Logitech didn’t just make every switch analog and call it a day. The answer comes down to cost, I think. Going all-analog across the board would push the price up significantly without delivering much real benefit for most people. If you’re mainly an FPS player, you’d likely only want analog switches sitting on W-A-S-D, plus maybe a few extras like R for reload, Q for an ultimate ability in Overwatch, or V for a melee strike in Call of Duty. If MOBAs are more your thing, you’d probably set the analog switches across your 1-4 ability keys instead and leave the rest as standard mechanical. This setup keeps the customisation focused and personal to how you actually play, rather than paying for analog precision on keys you’ll never need it for.

The analog switches let you dial in a custom actuation point anywhere from 0.1mm to 4.0mm through G HUB, which is a wide range to play with. Worth flagging though: setting it right down at 0.1mm gives you the fastest possible response, but it’s not great for typing, since the key becomes so sensitive that the slightest touch registers as a full press. I found a happier middle ground for everyday use and gaming but your personalisation may vary.

On top of custom actuation, the analog switches support Multipoint Action paired with the included Second Actuation Pressure Point (SAPP) rings. These give you a tactile bump right at the second trigger point, so you can feel exactly when that second action is about to fire rather than guessing.

Rapid Trigger is also baked in here and worth switching on if you’re playing competitive FPS titles, since it lets the switch reset and re-actuate the moment you release pressure rather than waiting for the full travel.

Typing Feel and Sound

All the switches on the G512 X 98 feel and sound great, whether you’re typing an email or in the middle of a match. They’re not loud, but they’re not silent either, so you get a nice mix of tactile, physical, and audio feedback all happening together rather than one drowning out the other. The premium gasket mount construction plays a big part in this. It gives the board a softer landing on every keystroke and dampens the harsher clack you sometimes get on cheaper mechanical boards, resulting in a more rounded, satisfying sound profile across the whole typing experience.

The PBT DoubleShot keycaps also deserve a mention here, since they’re not just about durability. The dual-layer design means the legends won’t wear or shine over time the way cheaper ABS caps tend to, and the RGB still shines through brilliantly from underneath, which matters given how much of this keyboard’s appeal comes down to its lighting.

Dials and Everyday Use

A dial on a keyboard has always been one of my favourite features, since it makes adjusting volume on the fly so much easier, and I find myself doing this constantly throughout the day between music, movies, and games. The G512 X 98 goes one better by giving you two dials instead of one, and both are clickable and fully customisable through G HUB, right down to assigning macros or quick actions to each one.

Performance and Polling Rate

The G512 X 98 supports true 8K polling, switchable down to 1,000 Hz if you don’t need the extra headroom, with response times as fast as 0.125ms at the top end. In practice, this translates to inputs that feel instantaneous, particularly noticeable in fast-paced shooters where every millisecond of input lag matters. Whether you’ll consciously feel the difference between 1K and 8K polling depends on your reflexes and the games you play, but it’s reassuring to know the headroom is there if you want to push for it.

G HUB Software

Logitech’s G HUB software ties the whole experience together, covering lighting effects, switch profiles, KEYCONTROL for layering different assignments onto the same key, and Game Mode to lock out accidental key presses mid-match.

Pricing and Value

The G512 X 98 sits firmly in premium territory, and that’s reflected in just about every part of the build, from the Dual Swap switch system down to the keycaps and gasket mount. It’s not a cheap keyboard, and kitting out more of the 39 Dual Swap beds with additional analog switches adds further cost on top of what’s included in the box. That said, for players who want the flexibility to tailor actuation points and switch types per key, there isn’t much else on the market offering this level of customisation in one board as far as I’m aware of. If you just want a great-feeling mechanical keyboard without the analog extras, you’ll find cheaper options elsewhere, but you’d be giving up what makes this one stand out.

Logitech G512 X 98 Review Conclusion

The Logitech G512 X 98 is a solid, premium, high-performing keyboard that also manages to stand out visually. Between the Dual Swap switch system, the wide actuation range, the SAPP rings, and the two customisable dials, there’s a real amount of depth here for players who like to fine-tune their setup down to the smallest detail. This has become my favourite gaming keyboard, and the Lightbar alone is a big part of why – plus, you get all the high-performing features like Rapid Trigger, Custom Actuation Points, 8,000Hz polling rate, and more for gaming.

Logitech G512 X 98 retails for A$339.95 and is available now for purchase.

Disclosure: Logitech G512 X 98 review sample was supplied for reviewing