Impressions Of The Logitech G413: A Mechanical Keyboard Under $100

The G413 is the latest mechanical keyboard from Logitech, and is among the most affordable ones on the market. It retails for $90, which is $40 cheaper than the G Pro that released last month.

In the box, you'll receive the keyboard, extra keycaps that have a slight groove, and a keycap remover tool.

There's nothing fancy about the G413, and that's one of its highlights. The chassis has a thin profile and exposed keycaps that protrude out of the base. Unlike other keyboards, there aren't any crevices for crumbs and dust to build up in, so keeping it clean is easy.

The additional keycaps have three ridges that slope inward to provide a textured feel. In theory, this is supposed to help you recognize the keys without having to look, but the grooves are too subtle to notice in the heat of the moment.

The G413 uses Logitech’s own Romer-G mechanical switch. It has a tactile bump at the actuation point, providing feedback when the signal of a keystroke is sent out, similar to the Cherry MX Brown. The actuation point on the Romer G is 1.5mm with a total travel distance of 3.0mm. This technically makes it a faster switch than the Cherry MX equivalent, which has a 2.0mm actuation point and 4mm travel distance. The Romer G has an actuation force of 45 g, common among lighter switches.

The Romer-G switches feel incredible to use, especially if you're looking for a subtle tactile feel. The shorter travel distance can makes for lighter keystrokes, which is great for typing and office use. This G413 is also much quieter than other mechanical keyboards that have tactile switches. The space bar is a bit of a disappointment since it feels wobbly and doesn't match the solid feel of all the other keys.

Based on playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, and StarCraft II, this keyboard performs admirably for competitive gaming. The responsiveness and consistency of the keystrokes, and the tactile precision of the switches felt great. However, the space bar's wobbly feel was noticeable during Counter-Strike and Overwatch, and its one aspect that can be improved.

Swapping out key caps is easy with the handy tool that comes in the package.

Although the Logitech Gaming Software offers robust customization for many of its peripherals, the G413 doesn’t have many features to tinker with. While this keyboard doesn’t have dedicated macro keys, you can reprogram what the 12 function keys do. Media keys are relegated to F9 through F12.

This keyboard only has red backlighting and just one alternate lighting behavior, which is a breathing effect.

The backside of the keyboard has rubber feet and stands to angle the keyboard eight degrees.

Unlike previous Logitech keyboards, the G413 features a USB passthrough that essentially acts as an extra USB 2.0 port.

A thick, six-foot braided cord splits off to two USB inputs; to properly work, the keyboard needs to be connected to either a single USB 3.0 port or two USB 2.0 ports.

If you’re looking for a sleek, minimalist keyboard that has fast, responsive switches with a distinct tactile bump, the G413 should be on your radar. Its price tag makes it an attractive option among the competition, but keep in mind that it doesn’t come with crazy features. If that sounds good, I would highly recommend this keyboard.