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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Flunk - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
"With the G500s available there's no reason to recommend the G500" This statement isn't quite true. Logitech is fire saling the G500 so price is a big factor at the moment (I paid $30 for one). After that, I doubt there will be any more to compare.Dustin Sklavos - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
The problem is that the G500's primary buttons aren't particularly durable. I wore out my first G500 and I have a friend who wore his out as well.You can get a G500 at a fire sale price, but there's really no point when you'll just wind up replacing it with the G500s anyhow.
shahrooz - Saturday, March 30, 2013 - link
mine tooDeo Domuique - Wednesday, April 3, 2013 - link
I really wonder why you keep buying Logitech mice... Their damn buttons were always as crappy as hell... And they insist... The point is, why do you, the customers instist, likewise? Their god damn build quality is as cheap as possible; you need new mouse in a few months due to misbehaving/broken/malfunctioned buttons.nickb64 - Thursday, April 4, 2013 - link
My G400 has been fine, and I've used the hell out of it for the slightly more than 1 year I've had it. It's also spent a significant amount of time getting stuffed in my bag to take with me to college to use instead of the crappy Dell mice the school has in the computer labs.The only problem I've had was the scroll wheel was stuck for a couple days, and didn't turn as freely as it normally does. Upon further inspection, all I needed to do to fix it was scrape some junk that had become lodged in the opening out of the space. It's still just as functional as ever.
Best mouse I've ever owned, and I bought an extra just in case they don't have something like it when this one finally wears out, or in case I need another mouse when I get a proper desktop PC again.
Lyianx - Thursday, April 11, 2013 - link
MY G700 has been great for well over a year. It sounds like you are mistreating your mice so they break under conditions they were not meant to be put though, or you've got a lemon.piiman - Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - link
LOL you must work for Razar. lolThe cheap button are rated at 20,000,000 clicks yeah they're cheap lol
I had my g700 since it came out and button 3 is sticking in the down position. Probably just dirt but I felt like a new mouse after 4+years and grabbed the 700s at Best Buy which amazingly was the best price I found at 69.99. I'm sure it will last me just as long if not longer. What mouse do you think has better buttons?
offshoresho - Sunday, April 21, 2013 - link
I don't know how you've been treating your mouse but my G500 has been with me since Bad Company 2 and had no button problems EVER. To me the LOGITECH mouse were build to last. Playing FPS is my first love with games and constantly changing DPI when i need too. Now compare it to another 2 brands my friends have and playing the same games, i would only say "R" & "C" have problems.As long as im happy with my mouse. Don't abuse your mouse. (It's animal abuse)
bgatot - Sunday, April 21, 2013 - link
Do you work for Logitech? Do you hold stock in the company? Why assume that when they break it's always, 100% OUR fault? Still, it was a nice mouse before the middle button (and the scroll wheel with it) gave up the ghost.And as far as people keep buying Logitech, probably because there ain't much better alternative. At least I don't know any. My Razer's buttons are failing too. I wonder if the new Logitech would last longer, now that the button clicks have apparently been improved. If not, what other brand of mouse is durable enough out there?
anon29929292992 - Friday, May 29, 2015 - link
I'm jumping ship to Corsair's new mouse because I've seen the build quality of their cases. If they can build a durable case, then they will probably build a durable mouse. Logitech has always been a good brand, and I've bought and recommended Logitech for over a decade, but they constantly fail in build quality. When their products work they are great, but I've seen too many product failures. They need to take their flagship products and perfect them instead of pumping out design defects, and they need to seriously consider redesigning their software and customer service model. Customer service doesn't even exist at Logitech...so until they can step the game up I'm finding and recommending alternatives....