Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Looking Closer at the Logitech G710+

The G710+’s shell is made of black and gray plastic, using both matte and glossy finishes. Its 20” x 8.7” x 1.5” (WxLxH) dimensions are respectable and weighing in at 3.2 lbs., most users should have little difficulty fitting this keyboard on their desks.

The detachable palm rest is entirely optional and extends the length of the keyboard by about two inches. The palm rest attaches with hinges, but the amount of rotation is more restricted compared to older G-series keyboards and as a result doesn’t flop around as annoyingly when moving the keyboard.

The G710+ uses two USB ports to power its backlights. A single USB port is available next to where the 6.6 ft. long cord connects to the keyboard.

Logitech does not explicitly name what type of mechanical switch is used on the G710+ on either the product packaging and on the product webpage. Finding out was a matter of using a keycap remover and prying off a few keycaps. Each mechanical switch is a Cherry MX Brown, large keys are backed by Cherry stabilizers, and each key is individually backlit by a single white LED.

Brown switches are tactile switches and unlike Blue switches do not rely on a clicking noise to enhance the feedback. Instead, Browns require less force to press and bottom-out. As such, Browns are considered a middle ground between the louder Blues and the two linear switches, Red and Black. A more detailed guide on mechanical keyboard switches can be found at overclock.net which does a good job at comparing the switches in numbers and diagrams.

A soft plastic ring on the underside of each keycap acts to dampen noise. This does not necessarily make the G710+ quieter than other mechanical keyboards, but it does change the acoustics compared to other mechanical keyboards that use Brown switches. Despite what Logitech claims, these keys are not exactly “whisper quiet.”

On the left hand side are 6 customizable macro keys with three toggle-able modes and on-the-fly macro recording. The macro keys are bordered by a glossy orange border that accents their presence. The profile toggles are the only keys backlit with a color other than white.

A “game mode” key next to the macro toggles disables the Window keys and the Menu key. When pressed, a light next to the Caps Lock light will turn on indicating that “game mode” is activated. Gamers who press the Windows key on accident and get interrupted by the Start Menu will appreciate this feature.

Near the top right edge is a set of media keys and dual backlight control keys. The left lighting key changes the lighting intensity for the WASD and arrow keys, while the right lighting key changes the lighting intensity for all the other keys. There are four light intensity levels and the backlights can be turned off.

Volume is controlled by a mute button and a wheel which are located above the numeric keypad.

Grooves on the underside allow headphone cables to be routed underneath the keyboard. Also seen in the image above is the palm rest attached by pinching hinges.