Gaming keyboards are getting more and more hightech by the year these days with magnetic switches taking the pro scene by storm. While having adjustable actuation points on each of your keys is a very nice thing to have, they also have a much less appealing price tag attached to them.

Gamers looking for a decent entry-level keyboard that nails the basics are spoiled for choice around the £100 mark, and Logitech has just introduced another new option that’s very likely to win them over. The G316 X 98 is aimed at gamers who want a premium feeling board at a reasonable price point, and from my testing so far, it seems to have delivered.

The Logitech G316 X is a 98% sized board, complete with a full row of function keys and number pad. The 98% size strikes a neat balance between functionality and size, trimming the fat slightly to allow more room for your mouse on the right.

Although housed in a mostly plastic shell, the keyboard feels sturdy with very little flex, hopefully resulting in a lifespan that even the most heavy-duty of gamers can rely on.

That fit and feel translates very well to the typing experience. Logitech has designed the G316 X with gasket-mounted keys, which translates to a supper ‘thocky’ sound and feel that’s buttery to type on.

It also has the added benefit of not being too loud, which will be a huge boon for those who work or play alongside someone else in the house.

The board comes in two variants – either tactile, or linear. This gives gamers the choice of how they’d like their board to feel, but it’s not the end of the world if you change your mind later as the switches are hot-swappable.

That means each key on the board can be swapped out and upgraded at a later date, meaning your board can grow with you as your gaming habits change over the years.

Logitech has always impressed with the RGB lights on its higher-end keyboards, and the same can be said for the G316 X. I was surprised at how bright the LEDs could get, especially in a dark room with the light shining through each key beautifully.

I also appreciated the inclusion of a full lightbar between the number and function keys, adding another element of customisation to the board. Unlike the keys, this is something that you’re actually likely to see out of the corner of your eye while gaming, and it makes the design of the entry-level board feel much more premium.

The bar itself has 30 different zones to customise, which can be done easily in Logitech’s excellent G Hub software. This is also where you’ll configure your macros, which are a breeze to set up.

Looking to the top right of the keyboard, you’ll find a stunning little dot-matrix LED display. Combined with the adjustment dial to its right, this display cycles through a bunch of settings presets, allowing you to adjust things like your system volume, keyboard brightness and keyboard polling rate on the fly.

Not only does the dot-matrix display give the keyboard a stylish retro-future look, but it also makes changing up settings super easy without having to dive into Logitech G Hub – something I found myself doing often during the review process.

In terms of performance specs, you’re looking at an 8 kHz polling rate and a response time of 0.125ms. This is industry standard as far as wired keyboards go these days, and I never felt like the keyboard was slowing me down while putting it through its paces in a few games of Overwatch and Counter-Strike 2.

The main trade-off that gamers will have to reckon with is that this is a wired only keyboard with no wireless option available. That does come with the benefit of meaning you’ll never have to charge the thing – especially since you’ll want to keep those RGB lights on maximum.

However, there are other keyboards available in this price margin that do offer wireless capabilities.

The Verdict

The Logitech G316 X 98 is a strong entry to Logitech’s line-up of keyboards. Its gasket-mounted keys are a dream to type on, and the RGB lighting continues to impress even on this entry-level device.

I particularly enjoy the retro-futuristic look that Logitech is going for with its current slate of products, with the dot-matrix display and translucent purple escape key going a long way to add personality and flair to the board. In 2026, you can find wireless keyboards with magnetic switch functionality for a similar price, but if you want a keyboard that absolutely nails the basics and looks fantastic while doing it, I’d recommend giving the Logitech G316 X 98 a go.

4/5

The Logitech G316 X will be available from June 30, 2026, for £109.99.