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
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Introducing the Logitech G100s, G500s, and G700s Gaming Mice
The dirty secret of gaming peripherals is that if they're good quality products in general, they're often going to be head and shoulders above hardware marketed toward the regular consumer. For whatever reason, high rent keyboards and mice just aren't marketed to consumers who'll often settle on an inexpensive wireless mouse and keyboard combination. This was strangely evident in Logitech's pre-G-branding era, and while the G branding is ultimately a good thing, some users are liable to miss out on some fantastic quality kit.
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In the strictest sense, the Logitech G100s, G500s, and G700s aren't new mice. They're three of the four mice that were recently announced (the fourth being the G400s, which we unfortunately didn't receive in time for review), but they're primarily refreshes. That's okay, though: the G100s is a descendant of the G100 which wasn't made available in North America, the G500s gives me a chance to properly review my beloved G500 as a new product, and the G700s sheds light on the oddly scarce G700.
When I met with Logitech in San Francisco, their statement with these "new" mice was essentially this: "if it ain't broke, don't break it." While I'd be liable to rib them a little bit for complacency, the reality is that many of these products have been phenomenally successful for them and well-received. Seriously messing with the formula runs the risk of disenchanting the customer as well as potentially resulting in a run on a dead product. That's not what you want; you want a run on a live product.
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Our conversations regarding peripherals were actually pretty long and detailed, certainly more than I've gotten from other vendors, but I think that's due to Logitech being principally a long-standing peripheral manufacturer. Mice and keyboards can be tricky things; each person's body chemistry is different which in turn affects the way different materials feel in the hand. I can't use Razer mice, they make my palms clammy in seconds, but I know a lot of people love the texture on their products. That's before getting into the differences in preference between the different mechanical switches Cherry produces in keyboards.
What Logitech is pushing with their G branding marketing, other than finally having a unifying brand umbrella (and software package!) for all of their gaming products, is summed up in their slogan: "Science Wins." It's goofy, but the philosophy is sound: they rigorously test their products (apparently one version of the G600 MMO mouse had a small production run alongside the current version, they were tested against one another, and the release one won out), and they design them based on scientific data about how they're used. That means looking at grip, looking at the situations they're used in, and so on.
The G100s, G500s, and G700s may have gradually increasing model numbers (and price tags to boot), but don't be deceived: each really does serve a unique purpose unto itself.
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spunlex - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
If you're comfortable with replacing the switches yourself it can still be a good deal. I got two replacement switches for my G500 for about $5 and the repair process wasn't to painful.HisDivineOrder - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
So wait. The buttons sticking is not an uncommon problem for the G500 and... they admit it? Isn't that enough for people to go, "Hey, if you know this is so common, you best replace it FOREVER."?If the company continues to manufacture something they know is likely to fail in a time past their warranty period (but within a reasonable amount of time), it seems like there's an obligation to... fix the problem before you choose to do a refresh of the line.
Also, that seems like a pretty crappy company. Just sayin'.
I wonder what problems these new products have that they know about that they'll acknowledge after a refresh... in the future? Do you take the chance?
If so, Logitech is apparently for you. Science! ENUFF SAID.
piiman - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - link
You are obviously a troll for one of their competitors. Which one is it?And no if it last past the warranty they are not obligated to replace them forever if at all.
So tell us all what amazing a wonderful mouse you use?
JDG1980 - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
The Logitech MX Performance mouse has a lot of good reviews, but I've also seen a lot of complaints that the microswitches wear out early. This review says that Logitech will be updating their gaming mice with better-quality switches; will that also be done with the MX?UltraTech79 - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I hope these actually do play better than they look. Really ugly design, but I will take function over form. But why not both?scaramoosh - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
I have a G5 2007, been fine for me.I bought a Razer Mamba in like 2010 but I hate it, just sitting in the attic lol. I even made new feet on the G5 that worn down rather than using that shit.
scaramoosh - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
Worn down after 6 years of use everyday for hours though...searanox - Sunday, March 31, 2013 - link
Jesus. These mice are some of the ugliest I have ever seen. I like Logitech products but I think I'd feel embarrassed with one of these on my desk. This is supposed to be what gamers want? Is Logitech's target market 8 year old boys?Etern205 - Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - link
These are the new ones, the originals are in all black.MadAd - Sunday, March 31, 2013 - link
Ive owned many Logitech products through 12 years of gaming. I currently have a G700, a G500, an MX518 (now G400), an Extreme 3d Pro Joystick (actually, several, I keep wearing them out), several desksets for both myself and use their cheap wireless kits for additional pcs.The good: The MX518. Most awesome mouse for gaming, well balanced, light, doesnt drop out of my palm on lifts. Feels good. For basic gaming there was no other, sadly the lack of more buttons and no constant or side scroll means its not fantastic as a desktop mouse and when it became aged I moved on. The G400 is a shadow of its former self, but feels the same and for me comfort is 90% of a mouse, sadly my fps gaming style uses way more buttons now but if I was still into Quake style DMs id probably be using one.
The bad:
G700:
I wont rehash a long speech about why I think this is the most badly designed gaming mouse ive every come across, in short its badly weighted, the shape simply does not allow for comfort keeping it under control in my palm and simple pick and drop operations see it wrestle itself into the heel of my hand. The entire thumb control area is a curvy mess meaning very little angular control no matter how much grip you apply because its (unsuccessfully) all going into keeping it flat.
I wrote a much longer explanation here on the Logitech forums for any who care to research.
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/G-series-Gaming-Mice...
The annoying:
The G500. The biggest drawback to me is it feels plasticky. Its right here, I push it at friends if I need a second mouse on screen but mostly it stays plugged in unused. Even loaded with more weight than a ship of scrap metal to the orient it still feels like a cheap toy. While the main 2 buttons are flawless, the additional buttons arent positive and feel cheap, plus the curve of the heel started to not fit my hand as good as the 518 at this point of the development.