This is my review of the Logitech G213 keyboard after using it for over 10 months. I’d like to start by saying I never planned on getting this keyboard specifically. It was simply on sale for $40 right during a time when my other keyboard came to a sticky end. The G213 offers a lot of features at a budget-friendly price tag. It’s spill-resistant, has fully RGB backlit keys, comfortable palm wrest, dedicated media controls, and mech-dome switches.

Disclaimer: I’m not much of a keyboard and mouse gamer. Even on the PC I just plug in the controller and hack away at single-player games. A mid-tier board like the Logitech G213 seemed like a good investment at the time. In the meantime, I received a Razer Huntsman: Elite from Unleash the Gamer, which I have also reviewed here, so I will be retiring the Logitech G213 for office use. It’s versatile that way. Here’s my Logitech G213 review after hundreds of hours of usage and more than a few drinks spilled on it.

What we played: Mass Effect 1,2 & 3, GRIS, PUBG, Metro 1 & 2.

*This item was not provided by Logitech. It was purchased by Unleash The Gamer for review purposes only.

COMFORT

Overall, the Logitech G213 is a comfortable keyboard. The plastic palm wrest has an ergonomic shape, similar to that of the Corsair K70, and offers good support during long gaming sessions. As a membrane keyboard it is definitely better than any no-name keyboard you could buy off-the-shelf. The keys are well-spaced, making it particularly good for typing, but they do feel a bit mushy because of the rubber under the keys (more on this later). One thing I noticed on my keyboard, and also in other reviews, is that some keys don’t register well after a while. My “Z” and “I” need long presses to register and it can be annoying, but at least it’s not my W A S D ones.

I like the media controls, even if they add to the size of the keyboard, because they are easy to find even in the dark. A volume dial would definitely have been better, but concessions must be made when you’re building budget keyboards.

DESIGN

One of the main reasons for purchasing this keyboard was its minimalistic, tasteful design. Sure, it’s huge, but at least it looks good with that matte black plastic frame and ABS plastic keycaps. The palm wrest isn’t detachable, which for me isn’t necessarily a minus since I have a huge desk.

The top strip on the frame accommodates several extra features, adding over one inch to the total width of the keyboard. At the top left you have the backlit Logitech logo, followed by the status indicators, gaming mode, light button, and media controls in the right corner. On the back of the keyboard, we have a full-width rubber strip that keeps it in place and two plastic height adjustment feet, which are super easy to use.

COMPACTNESS

The Logitech G213 membrane keyboard has a lot of features and that makes it incredibly large. Its total size is: 41.5 x 21.5 x 3.2 cm / 17.8 x 8.6 inches, with most of the width dedicated to the arm rest. That being said, it’s still smaller than the G910 Orion Spark (19.9 x 9.6 inches) and slightly wider than the G810 Orion Spectrum (17.5 x 6.0 inches).

STURDINESS

The Logitech G213 is fairly durable. I’ve had it for 10 months and during this time I spilled coffee on it twice. It still works! Although membrane keyboards aren’t supposed to be disassembled, I cleaned & washed the keys a few weeks ago (view photos). As you can see in the photos, the ABS plastic key caps preserved quite well, despite the fact that I’ve been using the keyboard a lot.

The Logitech G213 also comes with a super durable 1.8m rubber braided cable. Its plastic feet and rubber pad are also incredibly sturdy. The one thing I found disturbing about the board, but it’s something you don’t notice while using the it casually, is the amount of flex that the frame has.

PERFORMANCE

How exactly did Logitech keep a keyboard with RGB lighting, media controls, and software under $80? The secret lies in its mech-dome keys. While mechanical keyboards use individual switches to send signals, this keyboard transmits electrical current between membranes. This makes the Logitech G213 a lot cheaper than similar mechanical counter-parts, but also less precise.

I can’t say I’m a fan of membrane keyboards (most of them are crap), but I have to admit that Logitech’s membrane is superior to $30 office models. Because it’s a membrane, you can’t really expect this keyboard to perform as well as a mechanical one. The keys are decent to type on and they resemble the mushy feeling of Cherry brown switches.

Although they do not create the same satisfying thump as they hit the deck, they are good enough to satisfy the needs of a casual gamer. At 500hz refresh rate, the Logitech G213 is four times quicker than your average keyboard. I’ve mostly played single-players with this keyboard (Mass Effect trilogy & Metro series) and the keyboard performed very well. I also played a few games of PUBG and noticed a difference between the Huntsman: Elite (opto-mechanical switches) and the Logitech G213. Picking up items and interacting with the environment was faster and more streamlined with the Huntsman. So, if you are looking to invest in a keyboard for competitive play, I wouldn’t recommend the Logitech board. You’re better off investing in a mechanical keyboard with no RGB illumination and media controls.

CUSTOMIZATION

Now, in terms of customization, the Logitech G213 is a mixed bag. The RGB illumination is, in lack of a better word, quite disappointing, mainly because the silicone membrane obstructs the light. Furthermore, the font light effects are spotty due to the plastic plungers of the keycaps and the light toggle has a rudimentary function. On the other hand, zone lights and color zones are fully configurable by using the Logitech Gaming software and the keys can be remapped in any fashion. It’s also worth mentioning that the keyboard has a game mode, which can be used to disable certain keys, as well as a series of function keys which can be programmed as macros. The software is very intuitive and easy to use.

NOISE

In terms of sound, there’s nothing special to add here. Being a membrane keyboard, the Logitech G213 is very silent due to the material composition of the keys.

CONCLUSION

This concludes our Logitech G213 review. The Logitech G213 is a good casual-use keyboard blended with game performance for a decent price. At its full price, there are better alternatives, but nowadays the keyboard is almost permanently discounted to $45 on Amazon. You won’t find a keyboard with similar keyboards and RGB lighting for this price.