Logitech's new gaming keyboard lets you hot swap analog and mechanical switches

Logitech has just announced its first gaming keyboard that can hot swap between analog TMR switches and conventional mechanical switches. Called the Logitech G512 X, it allows you to get all the features of an analog keyboard while also being able to swap keyswitches out to use your preferred mechanical switch for typing.

If, like me, you value the gaming potential of analog but don't want to give up on the feel of tactile switches or the sonic feedback of clicky switches when typing, this combination has the potential to make for one of the best gaming keyboard options around.

Logitech describes the G512 X as marking "a shift from static hardware to a modular, performance-driven system built to be tuned, tweaked, and mastered," saying that it's "crafted for players who want performance that's personal."

To this end, the board offers up 39 swappable keyswitch locations, which can either take a TMR analog switch or any standard 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical keyswitch. So, you could drop in some classically clicky Cherry MX Blues, take on some tactile Gazzew Boba U4T, or add to the nine Gateron KS-20 analog switches that ship with the keyboard.

The ability to use analog switches means you can input analog functions from your keyboard, just like you can with a gamepad trigger or thumbstick. So, you could map WASD to analog directional movement or use Ctrl and Shift to precisely control accelerating and braking in racing games.

These switches can also provide dual-actuation points, so that one key can be used to trigger one action when it's pressed a certain distance, then a different function when it's pressed further. That's a standard analog keyboard feature, but here you can also add Second Actuation Pressure Point (SAPP) rings that provide tactile feedback when the second point is reached.

The board is a wired-only unit that offers a "true" 8kHz report rate, for an ultra-speedy input response. When combined with the ability to enable snap tap and rapid trigger modes using the analog keys, this should make for a peak-performance keyboard.

Available in either a 75% (G512 X 75) or 98% (G512 X 98) form factor, this keyboard will leave fans of full-size keyboards wanting, but the G512 X 98 does include a numpad.

With a surprisingly bold black and purple design, the G512 X includes a Lightsync RGB light bar and will support backlight keys, if your choice of keyswitch includes this feature.

The G512 X release date is May 2, with prices set at $179.99 / £169.99 / €189.99 for the G512 X 75 and $199.99 / £199.99 €219.99 for the G512 X 98.