Logitech is no stranger in the peripheral business, especially when it comes to gaming mice. In the mechanical keyboard world, however, the company isn’t as well-known. Since the company’s introduction of Logitech G, it is starting to change that.
The Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn, a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard designed with gamers in mind is the latest from the company. What differentiates this mechanical keyboard from its competition is one thing: the choice of switch. Instead of the more conventional Cherry MX switches, Logitech decided to equip the G310 with its own Romer-G ones. Let’s find out just how different these switches are and how they affect the overall usability of the G310.
What Is It?
The Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard; it doesn’t have a numpad on the right side of the keyboard. This, in turn, makes the G310 a more compact keyboard, ideal for gamers who travel around to competitions or LAN parties – or simply have no need for a numpad.
Other than the fact that the G310 uses Logitech’s own Romer-G switches, this keyboard also comes with an Arx Dock that acts as a stand for a smartphone or tablet. The reasoning behind this is the Logitech Arx Control app, which works in tandem with the machine the keyboard is connected to. It can show useful data like the PC’s temperature, GPU usage, and even the ability to set the DPI of a mouse – provided it’s a Logitech one.
Is It Any Good?
The most important aspect of a mechanical keyboard is the switches. Logitech spent quite a lot of time working on the new Romer-G switches, claiming that Cherry MX switches were never really meant for gaming in the first place. The switches also promise 40% longer keystroke life, and the keycaps themselves are angled at the sides, supposedly to guide your fingers to the centre.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Cherry MX Blue switches, and switching (excuse the pun) to the G310’s Romer-G switches is a little…odd. While it took some getting used to, I definitely enjoyed playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with the keyboard. My experience was similar to my other colleagues who tried it out too.
Part of the reason why I find myself enjoying the G310 while gaming is the fact that Romer-G switches have a higher actuation point at 1.5mm. Essentially, these switches will register a key press at a shorter distance than competing switches, which theoretically results in a faster input time. Because of this (and an actuation force of 45g), Logitech claims that the Romer-G switches are “25% faster than its competition.”
In real life usage, I can definitely feel my inputs being registered at a faster pace. I’m performing just as good (or even better) with the G310 as I do with other mechanical keyboards. While I do miss the tactile feedback and clickiness of Cherry MX Blue switches, my gaming experience did not change dramatically with the G310. Plus, the unique design of the Romer-G switches allow for a more even backlight – it is also very bright.
Well, if you’re using it strictly for gaming alone, the G310 is definitely an interesting keyboard. While the peculiar shape of the keycaps take some getting used to, I do find them rather useful to make sure I’m hitting the right keys. On top of that, the Windows key is shaped differently from the other keys. When my finger happen to rest on the Windows key while gaming, I immediately know what key it is. Of course, the G310 also has a Game Mode which disables the Windows key to prevent any interruption while gaming, but I don’t always remember to actually activate it.
The Bad Stuff, Tell Me.
For a RM499 keyboard, the G310 feels…a little cheap. Maybe it is to ensure it is light enough to pack around, but the G310 feels plasticky, and the overall build quality doesn’t inspire confidence; in short, it does not feel like a durable keyboard to carry around too often. This extends to the keycaps as well, which are rather rough to the touch. The keycaps are markedly less premium feeling in comparison to even normal ABS keycaps, which are one of the most common keycap materials.
On top of that, the G310’s keycaps are not exchangeable. This is due to the custom stem design to accommodate the Romer-G switches. If you’re not a fan of the uniquely-shaped keycaps, you’re unfortunately out of luck. Other than that, the switches themselves seem to have a bit too much plastic friction. It doesn’t feel as smooth as Cherry MX switches – or even Kailh switches, for that matter.
And, there’s the very interesting observation that the G310 feels rather odd to type with. While gaming, the keyboard certainly feels comfortable and responsive. However, there were some issues with typists getting used to the keyboard. Surprisingly, this is something a lot of people comment on with Logitech’s mechanical keyboards, though we can’t seem to pinpoint what exactly is the reason. You will get used to it after about two weeks, though. Typing speeds should get faster from that point.
Should I Buy It?
If you’re a gamer looking for a mechanical keyboard that isn’t equipped with a Cherry MX switch, the Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn is worth a gander. This is especially the case if you’re a fan of the keyboard’s design, not to mention the even and very bright blue backlight (although the LED itself is white, which illuminates the blue keycaps).
However, if you’re thinking of getting the G310 to do a lot of typing with, I would suggest you to actually try the keyboard out for yourself first before deciding. While I did get accustomed to the unique shape of the keycaps, the G310 itself doesn’t exactly feel like a mechanical keyboard to type on; it lacks the tactile feedback or clickiness of Cherry MX Blue and Brown switches, which can be found equipped on more affordable mechanical keyboards than the G310.
Also, the Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn is priced pretty high at RM499. At that price point, there are many other mechanical keyboards from the likes of Ducky and Corsair that have better build quality and arguably better Cherry MX switches. That said, the G310’s light weight (and what looks like a handle on the left side) suggests that the keyboard is meant to be light and mobile.
Regardless, the G310 is an enjoyable keyboard to game on. Just don’t expect it to be as enjoyable to use outside of gaming, especially if you plan on using it to do a lot of typing.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.
