14 DAY TRIAL // Not all RGB gaming keyboards are created equal, and some are better than others. So, where does the G213 Prodigy falls in that lineup? It’s not that simple, and it could be defined as a matter of preference.
When someone says gaming keyboard, they might mean something mechanical, like the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 or the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 2017. It’s not a stretch because the gaming community is slowly starting to confuse the notion of a gaming keyboard with the one of a mechanical keyboard.
And the truth is that mechanical keyboards work very well in most scenarios, not only when used for gaming. Sure, your office colleagues are probably planning how to get away with murder so that they don’t have to listen to that annoying mechanical sounds anymore, but it’s a risk you’re going to have to take.
You might start thinking that a keyboard must exist somewhere in the middle, that’s equally good for typing and gaming. And that also integrates some excellent RGB lighting. And you would be right since we’re now reviewing the G213 Prodigy, a keyboard from Logitech that should be able to fulfill both duties with no major issues. In theory, at least.
Design and specs
The first thing users will notice is that that the Logitech G213 Prodigy keyboard follows the standard layout, the only exception being the square-ish Enter key (strangely, the picture on the packaging shows a different shape). Besides all the standard stuff that you would expect to find, it also incorporates a few multimedia controls.
What’s also interesting is the fact that the keyboard is rather tall and can be further raised with a couple of supports for people that need that extra height. It features a palm rest, which can’t be removed.
Furthermore, Logitech has integrated something called “Gaming grade mech-dome keys,” but it’s just a fancy expression for really high keys with a distinct concave profile. It’s difficult to press the wrong one since the design allows for large spaces between the keys.
They are also pretty easy to press, which might not be something that people will want out of the gate. We have to say that the force of the feedback touches on aspects such as personal preferences. It’s the kind of thing that’s difficult to quantify for possible customers that want to know ahead of time what they are getting.
Other companies offer some numbers to define the force you need to exert on the keys activate them, but Logitech doesn’t do that since the G213 Prodigy isn't a mechanical keyboard. I would guess that the number is around 25-30g.
Gamers need to know that it’s easy to press the buttons, but they do feel nice to the touch and are definitely better than what a regular keyboard would offer.
A keyboard for gamers?
Logitech is promoting this keyboard as a product designed for gamers, and there are a couple of things that allows it to qualify for that niche. First of all, the shape of the keys makes it easier for users to press the buttons and to feel the separation.
Secondly, the software accompanying the keyboard is pretty good, although it does have a couple of kinks, but we'll explain them later. Pretty much the entire keyboard can be controlled and customized with the Logitech Gaming Software.
Users should be able to assign different command for the keys based on the game you’re playing, and that’s a brilliant feature. And since we’re talking about gaming specifically, G213 also comes with Game Mode key that allows users to enable or disable certain buttons. It’s handy if you want to make sure you don’t hit the Windows key during an important match.
“And since it’s a keyboard for gamers, we can’t forget that it’s also RGB, which means that you might be better at some games than others that don’t have proper lighting”
I’m kidding, of course, but it’s a nice option to have, especially in peripheral that’s not all that expensive.
The last feature on the list is the heatmap, showing what you’re usually pressing during a specific application of game, although I have yet to find it of any use myself.
The Good
The Logitech Gaming Software is also quite good, and it offers more than enough support to make it worthwhile. Even if you want the software just to control the RGB light, it’s still a nice addition.
The third reason why the G213 could be the keyboard for you is the fact that it’s spill resistant. The company says that it has been tested for 60ml of liquid. It’s not much, but at least it won’t break easily if you spill something on it. Please keep in mind that it’s only a recommendation, just don’t start to drop stuff on it just because you can.
It’s also helpful that users can link the keyboard with other RGB devices from Logitech, like the Logitech G903 Gaming Mouse and PowerPlay Wireless Charging System. The software does everything; you don’t have to worry about a thing.
The Bad
It’s also worth noting that the keyboard doesn’t have extra USB or audio Jack, although they are always a delightful addition and the ports don’t raise the cost of the device significantly. If you put multimedia controls on the keyboard, assume that people might want someplace to plug their headphones.
And then we move onto the Logitech Gaming Software, with its terrible, bland name. It’s not all that intuitive, and users will have to figure out some of the stuff that can be done with it. There are no user profiles (or at least I didn’t find them), which means that two people can’t use the same peripheral with vastly different preferences.
To end the bad news, I have to mention that the software comes packed with another application called Overwolf. You can skip the installation, but I can tell you that it’s terrible. It can be used to capture images and in-game videos, among other things, but in today’s market with so many other good solutions, it’s almost useless. In fact, it feels like bloatware on the phone, and eve comes with a rotating dock that hides on the side, like it's 2005.
Conclusion
Right now, it looks like Logitech really wanted something with RGB to market it towards gamers. It’s not a bad product, by any stretch, and I’m sure that lots of people will love it, especially since it’s not expensive, but it could and should have been better.
If you want a decent gaming keyboard, that’s spill resistant, has RGB lighting, and it’s rather cheap, you can certainly go for the Logitech G213 Prodigy.
