Logitech’s New G910 Orion Spark: The World’s Most Advanced Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

All too often, gaming peripheral manufacturers resort to hyperbole when they introduce their latest and greatest products.

Well, this time, Logitech just might have a legitimate claim if or when it declares that its new G910 Orion Spark is “the most advanced mechanical gaming keyboard in the world.”

For one thing, the G910 Orion Spark has all-new, exclusive, Logitech-developed Romer-G mechanical switches.  The new Romer-G switch type is not a variant of the ubiquitous Cherry MX switch type; rather, Logitech says that its exclusive new switches offers “25 percent faster actuation than any other mechanical switch, improved durability and intelligent illumination.”

Vincent Tucker, director of Logitech gaming, has this to say about the G910 Orion Spark:  “This keyboard is the culmination of years of ongoing development by our engineering team, incorporating feedback from gamers and eSports athletes to develop a next-generation mechanical key…  Our team was charged with developing a keyboard that truly improves the gaming experience, and Orion Spark delivers.”

Logitech has already allowed members of Team Solomid some time with the G910 Orion Spark.  The team’s owner, Andy Dinh, said, “My players love the new switches.  They are so excited about them, that the whole team is using them in the League of Legends World Championship.”

The Romer-G mechanical switches have an actuation point of 1.5mm, allowing them to register your key presses up to 25 percent faster than any other switch type.  Per Logitech, its new switches can withstand up to 70 million keystrokes, which is 40 percent more than competing switch types.

Not only is the new switch type faster and more durable, it is also capable of what Logitech calls “Intelligent RGB Illumination.”  Each individual key of the G910 Orion Spark can be customized with a color palette capable of displaying a staggering 16.8 million color options.  This isn’t just visual bling; the idea of having so many color options available is intended to enhance the keyboard’s functionality.  So now you can designate red color effects for Crysis 3 and green for Battlefield 4.

The G910 Orion Spark also features “Arx Control Integration.”  According to Logitech, “Arx Control is a new app from Logitech G that works with LGS (Logitech Gaming Software) to enable delivery of a wide range of information on your mobile device including anything from in-game intelligence, to vital system performance stats, to media controls.”  The company has already given game developers such as Valve the Arx Control SDK in the hopes that they can create custom applets unique to their games.  The G910 Orion Spark keyboard itself also features a pullout tray that can fit most iOS and Android devices, thereby making it ultra-easy for users to experience the benefits Arx Control Integration offers.

The Orion Spark’s key layout features nine programmable G-keys, as befits a top-flight gaming keyboard.  The keyboard supports up to 27 commands across three user profiles using these nine G-keys, thereby offering gamers the ultimate in customization and usability.  The superb LGS, of course, is the secret software ingredient that unlocks the G-keys’ magic.

Logitech’s G910 Orion Spark should be available in the US, Europe, and other select countries starting in November 2014.  MSRP is $179.99.