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 G100s: For Real-Time Strategy
The simplest model in the series has a pretty familiar look to it; if you bought into the first wave of optical mice from Logitech, you'll find the G100s has essentially the same shape. That's not exactly a bad thing, since that was a very functional mouse design and was popular in my circles. So why go back to this type of design?
.jpg)
As Logitech tells it, those old style mice wound up being exceedingly popular outside of the United States, specifically in South Korea, where competitive StarCraft is a serious sport. The original G100 served that market as an inexpensive but very efficient mouse for RTS play. Offered in the traditional shape with virtually the exact same surface treatment, it can seem kind of chintzy compared to its larger siblings, but looks can be deceiving.
The G100s has four buttons: left click, right click, middle click (under the scrollwheel), and a DPI switch that can be configured to be just about anything in the Logitech G Software. Unlike the other two mice in for review, the G100s has no onboard memory for storing configurations, but like the other two, it features an updated sensor and higher quality switches in the buttons. The G100s utilizes a specific optical sensor (as opposed to the lasers used in the G500s and G700s) that's supposedly extremely precise; I couldn't get any more details about it except that the product developer I spoke to was absolutely psyched about it and looking forward to deploying it in more products.
.jpg)
The idea behind the G100s design is that RTS players don't need a lot of extra buttons but do need to make a lot of quick, very precise motions. They tend to drive the mouse more with their fingertips than with a full grip, so a lighter mouse would be preferable for that style of play.
I opted to test their theory by playing rounds of StarCraft II and Civilization V (yes, I know Civilization V isn't actually an RTS, but it does share some of the motions), and I found that it was basically dead on. The mouse was underwhelming for playing anything super slow paced (the undemanding Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 actually wasn't very enjoyable with this mouse, surprisingly), but I noticed that my mousing style changed and adapted to the two strategy games. I'm not entirely sure how useful the DPI switch is, but having a fourth mouse button available and basically out of the way didn't negatively affect my use of the mouse.
It's also tough to adequately articulate, but the G100s really did seem ideal for strategy gaming, more so than the other two mice, and the sensor had an incredibly fluid and smooth feel to it. Like the others, the G100s is a very responsive mouse, but the entire subjective feel in hand gradually made a believer out of me.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
95 Comments
View All Comments
mgl888 - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
One thing I hate about the Logitech software is the game/application detection. The software has trouble detecting whether I'm playing the game or tabbed out and the profile do not change accordingly.chanman - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
My main mouse is a well-used 5-year old Microsoft Sidewinder (the left-click sensor seems like its starting to go - it occasionally registers single clicks as doubles). The feature I enjoy the most on it that doesn't seem to be offered on newer mice (and Microsoft's office mouse line now that they've again discontinued the Sidewinder branding) are the vertically stacked thumb buttons. I love it and wish it was a feature that others making non-ambidextrous mice would use more often.rms - Sunday, March 31, 2013 - link
I also used a Sidewinder for years, but as I'm a claw/fingertip person the thumb buttons were too far forward. Wish they were adjustable! And in general I find thumb buttons to be unusable on any mouse I've ever seenzehoo - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
The g100 looks like an mx300, finally they are releasing a mouse with this shape again. I still use my mx300 it was such a great mouse. Only difference seems to be the feet.dbcoopernz - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Do any of them have automatic switching between click to click and freewheeling mousewheel scrolling modes, like the original MX Revolution has?Dustin Sklavos - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
No, and that makes me sad all day. :(The MX Revolution's automatic switching was fantastic, I wish they'd use it more.
B3an - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Dustin, it's disappointing you didn't compare the G500s or 700s to the Roccat Pure and Kone XTD that you reviewed recently. You seemed to like the Pure/Kone XTD a lot. What are your thoughts?Tracking benchmarks would also be nice, and maybe tests on different surfaces. Don't think you go in to enough detail in these reviews.
I went from a G500 to the Kone XTD and think it's superior is pretty much every way, including software. The improvements Logitech have made here don't seem to be enough to make any of these new mice as good as the Kone XTD.
The new markings on the Logitech mice look tacky and i can see them starting to wear off after a few months, which ALWAYS happens with every Logitech mouse i've had that has a coating/markings on it (usually silver, always comes off). You end up with a worn down ugly mouse. Any mouse that has this, especially around the buttons, should instantly get marked down for such a ridiculously obvious design flaw.
Dustin Sklavos - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Truthfully I'm on the fence about whether I want to jump to the G500s or G700s or stick with the Kone XTD which is occupying my desktop presently. The coatings on the G500s and G700s don't generate as much raunchy handsweat as the XTD and they have the toggle freewheel, but the XTD's software is so ridiculously good it's tough to choose.That and the XTD *totally* matches my K90.
piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
I almost bought one of these but I couldn't tell if the wheel had a free spin mode and a good percentage reported wheel problems soon after buying.DarKHawK - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I'm interested in knowing what exactly did they do with the internals. I got my G700 as soon as it was released. The micro-switches gave way about a year later. They are omoron brand made in china. Replaced those with omoron made in Japan and they are working ever since. If any one have more technical info about what Logitech really did under the hood please share.