Logitech G213 Prodigy Review

The G213 Prodigy wants to turn you into a gaming prodigy by giving you everything you need for everyday play. It boasts 60ml spill resistance and includes a full panel of media controls, all to make sure you don't have to ever stop playing. To find out exactly how this crowd-pleaser stacks up against other gaming keyboards, we put it through a series of practical tests to reveal just how much of a prodigy it really is.

Performance Comparison

Performance

Performance is naturally the most important metric for evaluating a gaming keyboard, and in this regard, the Logitech G213 Prodigy stands up to the best of the best. It has a perfectly acceptable polling rate and scan rate of 1000 Hz, making it responsive enough for most gaming situations outside of the highest end of competition. It is also free from chord splitting, meaning multiple simultaneous key presses will register together without added delay.

Under the hood of the G213 Prodigy are Logitech's proprietary Mech-Dome membrane switches. While membrane switches have a reputation for higher latency, meaning they take up precious milliseconds for your input to register in-game, we measured a mere 8ms latency on this keyboard. This level of delay is practically imperceptible and is on par with many of the highest-end gaming keyboards available. Keep in mind that this responsiveness pertains to G213's wired connection — and it does not have a wireless or Bluetooth option. Another feature that is rare for membrane keyboards is “N-key rollover,” which refers to the ability to register an indefinite number of keys simultaneous keys without conflict. Even as a membrane keyboard itself, the Logitech G213 Prodigy was capable of handling every weird combination of key presses we threw at it.

Comfort

While many gaming keyboard manufacturers tend to sacrifice comfort in exchange for performance, Logitech included a couple of thoughtful considerations with this product that makes it easier on the hands than most.

The most obvious among these is the built-in palm rest. It is smaller than most third-party palm rests on the market, but our tester noted, “I think this would work for most people. Maybe not those with very large hands.” The palm rest is made of lightly textured plastic with no padding and has a noticeable drop-off near where the wrists tend to lie. Even so, it serves its purpose well and negates the need to purchase a separate product for comfort.

This keyboard also has a relatively low actuation force of just 45.45 gram force. Coupled with an adjustable angle of either 2º or 8º, not to mention the palm rest, this is a keyboard you can type or game on all day without strain.

Hardware Options

The Logitech G213 Prodigy is an entry-level keyboard in every sense — including the fact that it does not have the customization options that enthusiasts tend to value so much. This is a full-sized keyboard with a built-in palm rest you cannot remove, so the first question to ask before buying is whether or not it will even fit comfortably in your gaming space.

There is also no denying that the tactile Mech-Dome membrane switches of the Prodigy present another limitation. Membrane switches are, by definition, not swappable. They also tend to be less durable and more difficult to repair. Some gamers may prefer the feel or sound of a membrane keyboard, but it is worth noting that gradual wear and tear might leave you with no choice but to replace the entire keyboard within years. While many membrane keyboards do make it easy to at least swap out the keycaps, that is not the case with the Prodigy. Logitech does not offer replacement keycaps for this particular product, making it even more apparent that buying a replacement is the intended solution once your keyboard accumulates enough battle scars.

Typing Noise

In our typing noise tests, we measured the volume of the G213 Prodigy's key presses at an average of 47 decibels. This puts it in the middle of the road compared to other gaming keyboards we tested, though our tester noted that this keyboard noticeably “sounds louder” than the HyperX Alloy Origins despite coming in at the same decibel reading.

We noticed that the loudest part of typing on this keyboard comes when the keys come back to the top after a press. There is a substantial rattle sound, which is even more noticeable with the spacebar. The sound is lower, rather than being high-pitched, and has a light, thocky profile that is almost reminiscent of distant rain. The aural experience of typing on the Prodigy is pleasant enough overall. Like many gaming keyboards, though, its loud volume leaves much to be desired. This is not likely to be your first choice if you want to be discrete while gaming, and it will certainly draw unwanted attention if you use it to type in a work environment.

Type Experience

The tactile Mech-Dome membrane of the G213 Prodigy is surprisingly effective in terms of performance, but our tester was not particularly fond of it in terms of typing feel or overall experience. While it provides a lighter feel compared to other membrane gaming keyboards we tested, there is still a mushy sensation when the keys bottom out.

The Prodigy keyboard has a light yet constant rattle that also affects the typing experience. This contributes to noise and makes it feel like the keys are moving beneath your fingers as you type.

The actuation point in a keystroke is 2.78mm, well beyond the tactile bump at 1.04mm. This sudden, steep drop can feel like falling in a dream. While the keys certainly have a satisfying tactile bump and a fun bounce, our tester found it to fall short of the experience provided by other tactile keyboards in this category. As a top performer, though, the Prodigy does provide a positive enough experience while gaming. Our tester reported that he never felt as if he would hit the wrong key or lose track of his position on the board. With no lag or key conflicts to note either, you can have an enjoyable time with this keyboard so long as you aren't relying on it for typing essays or lengthy office reports.

Lighting

The G213 Prodigy is compatible with Logitech's LIGHTSYNC RGB software, making it easy for you to modify your gaming aesthetic and sync this keyboard with other RGB-compatible Logitech devices. The software is easy enough to use with this keyboard, but the amount of customizability does not reach the same extent as some of the flashier gaming keyboards we tested.

The Prodigy has five customizable lighting zones, which can feel like a downgrade for any gamers who have laid hands on a per-key customization product in the past. However, the LIGHTSYNC RGB tool gives you the ability to choose practically any color you could possibly want. However, we noticed some slight color inaccuracies, with yellow tinting slightly toward green and white tinting slightly toward blue.

Color and lighting are entirely matters of preference, but we appreciate that this keyboard is relatively dim and only illuminates the letters on the keys. There are no alternate brightness settings, though, nor can you store color presets on the hardware. There is a dedicated key for toggling lights on and off, but there are no animation effects available for this keyboard's lighting.

Should You Buy the Logitech G213 Prodigy?

The Logitech G213 Prodigy is a great buy for anyone who values a well-performing gaming keyboard. It has an attractive price tag that makes it perfect as an entry-level option for PC gamers who are ready to take that crucial first step toward leveling up. Don't be tricked into thinking that a low price means low quality, though — this is a reliable weapon that even a pro can comfortably fall back on.

What Other Gaming Keyboards Should You Consider?

If a lack of customizability or poor typing performance are deal-breakers for you, consider investing in a gaming keyboard that can do it all. The HyperX Alloy Origins is a jack-of-all-trades that can tick just about every box a gamer has. If it's the size of the G213 Prodigy and its built-in palm rest that's putting you off, take a look at Nuphy Field75 HE and its excellent form factor.