The Logitech G316 X 98 offers a compact, feature-rich gaming keyboard boasting hot-swappable switches, high polling rate, and customisation options at an accessible price, challenging traditional high-end models.
Logitech’s G316 X 98 is a reminder that a gaming keyboard does not need to be a collector’s item to feel properly considered. At €119.99, it aims squarely at buyers who want a compact mechanical board with sensible customisation, a full numpad and enough polish to justify the nameplate. Logitech’s own launch material positions it as part of the wider G3 range, stressing its 8 kHz performance, hot-swappable switches, multi-layer gasket construction and interactive dot-matrix display, while reviews from SmartWorld and other outlets suggest the company has tried to package a surprisingly feature-rich board at an accessible price.
The 98% layout keeps the number pad while trimming the footprint, which makes the keyboard easier to live with than a full-size model without sacrificing practical keys. The Italian ISO layout is a meaningful plus for local buyers, and the overall design is more distinctive than many mainstream gaming boards: there is a translucent purple dial, a small dot-matrix read-out and a front light bar that gives the keyboard a more theatrical presence. SmartWorld reports that the body is plastic rather than metal, but says the finish still feels more substantial than the price suggests, and notes that Logitech uses recycled plastic in the shell.
A major part of the appeal lies in the switch and mounting setup. Logitech ships the board with tactile Long Hua switches and a gasket mount with sound-dampening layers, which, according to SmartWorld, gives the keyboard a muted, more controlled acoustic profile than the average budget gaming board. The switches are hot-swappable and compatible with both three-pin and five-pin replacements, so users who dislike the factory tactiles can swap in something else without soldering. That flexibility matters because the Italian ISO version is not offered with linears as standard, making upgradeability one of the keyboard’s most practical selling points.
Logitech also leans heavily on the software and input side. G HUB allows per-key lighting control, polling-rate selection from 1,000Hz up to 8,000Hz, gaming-mode tweaks and storage for two onboard profiles. The company says the keyboard’s dial can switch between volume, polling rate, brightness and media control, while SmartWorld notes that the small display confirms the active function and even shows animated standby graphics. For competitive players, the headline figure is the 8 kHz report rate; for everyone else, the real-world benefit will be more subtle, though the keyboard’s wired-only design ensures there is no battery to think about and no wireless latency to trade off.
That said, the G316 X 98 is not without limits. The shell can twist under force, the dial is not remappable and the box is spartan, with no extra accessories included. There is also a wider market context to consider: while SmartWorld and AlkTech praise the keyboard’s sound, features and value, PC Gamer’s review of the tactile version was more sceptical, arguing that the factory switches feel overly stiff and less convincing in practice than the specification sheet might suggest. Taken together, the picture is of a keyboard that looks far closer to a custom build than a conventional gaming accessory, and one that offers enough flexibility to appeal to buyers who want a compact board that can evolve over time rather than a finished object they never touch again.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
