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
The Logitech G-Series Software
One thing peripheral vendors have been notoriously awful about has been software. I was never especially happy with the software Corsair uses, to say nothing of Thermaltake's and even Logitech's older software. The old G500 used the SetPoint software kit, separate from their gaming software, but with the new G series, all of the new mice and keyboards fall under a single unified software umbrella. This is immensely appreciated, as most vendors are using separate drivers and software for each of their products.
As it turns out, the G-series software is pretty good, too, and remarkably simple. Someone at Logitech seems to have decided that existing software was too clunky or not functional enough, because this software is lightweight and incredibly easy to use.
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Strangely, the G100s is the only one of the three mice tested that has more than one configuration page; one page handles the DPI levels while the second handles the limited button configuration. It seems really bizarre that they would take that approach with this mouse, as it's unnecessarily involved. Nonetheless, the software is very simple and intuitive, something that will be consistent across these three products.
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When you get to the G500s, you see most of the same functions as the G100s but lose some granularity in the sensor; the "Advanced" settings are all gone. The first window actually lets you choose between storing your settings in the mouse's on-board memory or storing them in software; from there it takes you to the single configuration window. Changing a button's setting is as easy as clicking on that button in the window, where a dropbox lets you choose between using the default or going to a page that lets you assign a macro, key, or basic mouse function (including multimedia controls.)
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Finally, the G700s ups the ante one more time by allowing you to store and toggle between up to five different profiles, but other than that it's essentially identical to the configuration options for the G500s. It does add the ability to choose a power mode, and I found the Max Gaming mode was enough to make the wireless connection undetectable; under the other two, there's just a little bit of perceptible lag even with the mouse right next to the receiver.
This is really clean, well made software and a major step forward for Logitech. If it loses anything, it's that it's not as robust as the ridiculously configurable Kone mice from ROCCAT. Those mice use illumination to identify different profiles, and they're frankly still going to be almost ideal for users who want to get as much utility out of their mice as humanly possible.
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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.