Capsule Review: Logitech's G100s, G500s, and G700s Gaming Mice
by Dustin Sklavos on March 30, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Mouse
- Peripherals
- Gaming
- Logitech
Conclusion: Three Mice for Three Users
I think what I may very well like best about the Logitech G100s, G500s, and G700s is that they're not one-size-fits-all mice. Undoubtedly I've been glowing throughout this review, but honestly I'd be happy using any one of these three mice, and if you've been keeping up with my peripheral reviews you'd know I tend to be fairly picky. Everybody should be; the mouse, keyboard, and display are the ways you interact with the computer and thus should be as enjoyable to use and even as seamless as possible. As far as I'm concerned, that should be the overarching mentality of virtually any vendor making technology products: people should enjoy using these devices, and the devices should not get in the way of what people want to do with them.
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Starting at $39, I think the G100s is actually a little bit of a tough sell, at least superficially. This looks like a garden variety mouse, and it does feel a little cheap, but those wind up being the prices you pay for what the mouse is intended for. As an RTS mouse I suspect it's going to be a very popular and effective weapon, and the optical sensor is actually the most fluid and enjoyable to use of the three mice tested here. There's no reason to think this mouse won't go on sale at some point, and at $29 it'd be an absolute steal.
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At $69 the G500s continues the G500's reign as the elder statesman workhouse mouse. If you loved the G500, you'll love the G500s, because all Logitech has done is fix their software, upgrade the laser slightly, and make the buttons more durable. I'm madly in love with the coarse texture used on the grips, personally, as well as the toggleable freewheel. Some users will undoubtedly appreciate the configurable weight, too. I wouldn't recommend actually paying sticker price for this mouse; Logitech mice go on sale all the time, and the G500s really belongs at $59.
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By now you probably already know whether or not you want the Logitech G700s. In many ways it's like the G500s but better, though I do prefer the lighter weight of the G500s in the hand. If you want to be able to switch between onboard profiles on the fly, though, it's pretty tough to beat. I just wish there were some kind of LED indicator on the mouse for both the active profile and the active DPI setting (similar to the G500s), and the weight kind of comes with the territory of a wireless gaming mouse. Finally, at $79 it's a very hard sell, but there isn't much out there that's quite like it.
I can easily and cheerfully recommend any of these mice, and I would urge users to seriously consider what they're getting for their money. Can you make do with a cheap $20 mouse and keyboard? Sure, absolutely. But you spend extra money for what honestly can be a substantially better experience; I've tested a lot of these peripherals on friends who were used to using basic, chintzy consumer kit and found their reactions often come just short of outright epiphany. The prices on some of these are high (excepting the G100s, which is actually a pretty straightforward deal), but peripherals are very particular from user to user, and the good stuff can really make all the difference.
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Nexos - Sunday, March 31, 2013 - link
Just want to add a few things about the G700: the LED display can show the battery level in green, the DPI in red and the selected on-board profile in orange. I would also like to add that although it is wireless, this is not a portable mouse. Its not designed for battery life, but for performance instead. in my experience the best you can expect on battery power is about 6-8 hrs of gaming (double that for light desktop use), which is enough for me personally, but not really comparable to standard wireless mice.piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
I think he was referring to the fact that there isn't a LED always on so all you had to do is glance at the mouse. With the 700 you have to push the button to have the led light up. Probably because they do double duty with the same set of LEDs used to show DPI and profilesmeacupla - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
It would be nice to give size comparisons. I use G300 and orochi after disliking all these larger mice.If Anandtech is going to review any more mice, I'd suggest bluetooth mice, especially notebook bluetooth mice. I think the orochi is the only one.
Beenthere - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I gave up on Logitech mice and keyboards a few years ago as they have become totally unreliable. Even the replacment mice fail in a few months. Logitech has lost their way IME.kmmatney - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Are you buying the cheap $10 Logitech mice from Walmart or something? Even those last a long time for me. I'm still using my G500 mouse from 2009, working as good as ever.Friendly0Fire - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
My G7 lasted me about 6 or 7 years before the mouse buttons started acting erratically. I'm pretty sure that had I wanted, I could've cleaned it and it would've worked fine, but by then the coating was gone in places from excessive use so I just went ahead and replaced it. I'd say that considering the kind of usage I made out of it, it was an excellent purchase.piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
So what do you buy instead?I keep hearing people complain but never tell what they buy that is so much better. So what out there is better?
apudapus - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I just picked up a G700 mouse from Best Buy for $50. I also own a G300 and a G500 and I like the G300 the best. The G300 is the cheapest one but has the most tactile buttons. It's lack of a laser sensor is the only drawback. The G500 is okay but the extra buttons are small and there's only one on-mouse profile. The G700's buttons are the mushiest of the 3. The button labeled G10 (top left button) is useless for gaming and was broken on the first G700 I bought.Asmodian - Wednesday, April 3, 2013 - link
I have a G700 and the G10 button is one of my most used extra buttons, I hit it twice every 20 seconds during a boss fight in my current MMO. Just goes to show it is hard to design a single mouse for everyone.What changed between the G700 and the G700s besides the paint job?
piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
switches and the laser and yes the paint job.The 700 was still wireless even when it was plugged in so that's also different as the 700s turns into a wired mouse when plugged in.