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 G700s: Convertible for the MMO Player
When Logitech showed me the G700s, I was actually pretty impressed by it and disappointed that I never saw the G700 in retail. Apparently I wasn't the only one; other gamers I know never saw the G700 floating around, either. Maybe it was too expensive, who can tell, but it wasn't an eyecatcher on the shelf (something the G500's ostentatious paint job undoubtedly helped.) That's kind of a shame, because if you're a fan of the G500 and G500s, this is basically a beefed up version of that mouse.
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For starters, the switches, textures, and sensors used between the two mice are the same. Where the G700s diverges is that it's a slightly larger mouse without the potentially oversized grip the G600 had. If you need a gaming mouse with more buttons, but the G600 was too big, the G700s might actually be exactly the ticket.
The G700s features eleven configurable buttons, up from the eight on the G500s. Instead of the trio of buttons under the thumb, there are now four. The pair of DPI switch buttons have had a third added beneath them, and then below the mechanical freewheel switch is an additional configurable button. I like that almost all of these buttons are basically where your fingers are going to be anyhow, and they require very little searching. The buttons all have fairly sharp angles to them to make them readily identifiable, but those wedges can be uncomfortable at first and may take some getting used to.
Unlike the G500s, there's no LED on the mouse to tell you what speed it's running at, but where the G700s deviates the most wildly from the G500s is that it's a combination wired and wireless mouse. It comes with a single user replaceable AA rechargeable battery, a wireless sensor, and then a special micro-USB cable that locks into the mouse firmly. I had a few concerns when it came to the potential pitfalls of the convertible design of the G700s, since something like this can be bungled badly in the details.
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My first concern was that the micro-USB connector (and you can use any micro-USB cable) would either wear out, or would be loose, but impressively, the cable that ships with the G700s is very secure. You can still use the mouse while it's charging as a conventional wired mouse, or you can take it off the mains and use the tiny wireless receiver. Note that this is not a unifying receiver similar to the ones used in Logitech's more consumer-oriented products; Logitech stated that the bandwidth required to reach their target 1ms latency meant using a dedicated receiver.
I switched back to corded mice after dealing with latency issues with two of my older wireless Logitech mice; they were great once they got rolling, and the MX Revolution remains a fantastic mouse if exceedingly hard to come by, but there was always a little bit of a hiccup when you started moving the mouse. The G700s doesn't have this problem; it has configurable wireless power levels, and the default one is actually imperceptible from a wired connection.
The G700s is almost flatly superior to the G500s, but I found the feedback on the thumb buttons to be a little too mushy, and the right click was actually too easy to accidentally hit and needed more resistance. If you're willing to make the tradeoffs, though, and are desperate to lose the cable without losing the sensitivity and responsiveness, I don't think you can really beat the G700s.
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Boopop - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
These are all well and good but I'm still not seeing anything compelling about these compared to my trusty MX518. I'd quite happily get a G700s for the wireless-ness but for me it just doesn't look as nice as my current mouse and actually has too many buttons.emgarf - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
The current equivalent to your MX518 is the G400s (which wasn't reviewed in this article). Mouse shape and button locations have stayed the same throughout the MX510 -> MX518 -> G400 -> G400s evolution.7amood - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Some reported that there is a very weak annoying sound of sine frequency that comes from the old G500 laser when idling, does it exist in the G500s?Dustin Sklavos - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I never heard it on the G500 or the G500s.Wraithtek - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I switched to a G500 last summer and have been liking it so far. Much better than the Razer Lachesis I was using (better for my grip and less rubber texture surface).One issue I see with the G500s in this review is... it *looks* worse than the existing G500. Sure, a mouse is a tool you use, and maybe you don't really care how it looks if it works well. But the visual design makes it look like a cheaper mouse, and the big "G" logo doesn't make me think Logitech, either. I don't know if the new design is meant to look more "gamery," but it doesn't work for me.
And a really minor comment about the G100s... why do manufacturers sell mice without forward/back buttons? At least in this price range. I know these are a deal breaker for me, not for any particular use in gaming, but for everyday web browsing. At least to me, that's far more useful than a dpi switching button. Anyway, I'm not really looking at the G100s, as I'm pleased with my G500, just don't know why so many mice leave out this super basic feature.
kmmatney - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I agree - I'm also using the older G500, and think it looks better than the new one. I'm sure it works fine, and I don't care what my moue looks like that much, but I don't want it to look cheesy.JBaich - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I rarely game but my Logitech gaming mouse is one of the best general purpose computing accessories I have ever purchased. Adjustable dpi resolution, wickedly fast and smooth scrolling wheel, great feel in hand; All these have positive impacts on all day UI effectiveness. A good mouse and keyboard are as important as a good screen. If you care about these things....Laststop311 - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I wish I had a larger selection of mice to choose from. My desk is a glass top surface and I have to use the performance mx since it has darkfield technology so I can use it on top of glass without a mouse pad. Good job logitech for making the only mouse in the entire world that works on glass without a mouse pad, now will you please expand darkfield to more products?WJames - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I have had a G700 for close to two years. The feel and the programmability are fantastic. However, I did initially have one issue with this mouse. After a couple months of use, I began to develop "tennis elbow" - the mouse is just a bit too heavy (imo). After removing the battery and switching the USB cable to a thinner, lighter cable, the mouse was noticeably lighter, and my "tennis elbow" issue went away. I am really not sure why mouse manufacturers are favoring a heavy mouse. However, with the weight issue "resolved", this is a great mouse.piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
Tennis elbow from a heavy mouse? I don't think your using it correctly.LOL