Logitech G502 X Plus evaluation – probably the most versatile gaming mouse

The Logitech G502 is the best-selling gaming mouse vary of all time, with over 21 million models of the ten-year-old design having been bought thus far. The most recent model is the Logitech G502 X Plus, which continues the road’s core attraction of mixing a cushty design with plenty of further buttons and options, whereas additionally together with the corporate’s newest 25K Hero sensor, RGB lighting, and the choice of PowerPlay charging.

The important thing options of the Logitech G502 X Plus, which proceed to earn it a spot on our greatest gaming mouse information, are its professional integration of a great deal of further buttons, its helpful dual-mode scroll wheel, its tremendous sensor efficiency, and its fantastic wi-fi tech. It makes for a improbable general-purpose mouse, however its weight and some different components dent its attraction as a severe aggressive gaming instrument.

Specs

Options

There are three most important variants of the G502 X design. There’s the wired G502 X, the wi-fi G502 X Lightspeed, after which the G502 X Plus that we’re right here, which provides RGB lighting to the Lightspeed.

Probably the most distinguished options of the G502 X Plus are the identical ones which have largely outlined the G502 vary since its inception. Particularly, we’re speaking concerning the further buttons and the dual-mode scroll wheel.

It’s the scroll wheel that’s maybe most revered. With the press of a reasonably long-throw, clunky button on the highest of the mouse, you’ll be able to swap between the scroll wheel having a traditional, stepped really feel or having it spin freely. The latter mode makes it very easy to shortly glide by lengthy paperwork or carry out massive zoom maneuvers in Photoshop, as an example.

Whereas this has been an undoubtedly helpful function for years, the primary few iterations of the G502 hamstrung the scroll wheel by making it from stable metallic with a shiny end, leading to it being troublesome to grip. Fortunately, although, the newest variations have a rubber grip to repair this problem.

One of many the explanation why the outdated metallic wheels have been such an issue is that one other key function of those mice is the scroll wheel’s skill to tip backward and forward to offer two further buttons. On these shiny wheels, your finger simply slipped off (at the least in drier, colder circumstances) when attempting to do that, however the brand new model feels a lot better.

What doesn’t really feel higher is the slight wobbly really feel that these aspect buttons introduce to the scroll wheel. This makes it really feel much less exact than regular scroll wheels, and it’s very straightforward to by chance knock the aspect buttons simply once you’re scrolling, so we’ve at all times discovered it finest to disable the aspect buttons or not have them mapped to an in-game (or game-disrupting) function.

As for the opposite further buttons, on the highest there’s a profile switching button simply behind the scroll wheel mode button, plus you get two further buttons to the left of the conventional left-click button. These are actually conveniently positioned for fast, correct activation, however stay out of the way in which sufficient to not simply hit by chance.

Lastly, there’s an additional button that sits simply in entrance of your thumb. This button may be remapped, however, by default, it features as a “sniper” button that shifts the mouse’s DPI when held down. Whether or not you discover all these buttons helpful or not – we’ve by no means actually been satisfied – the one right here may be very cleverly designed, as it may be custom-made to your wants. You possibly can take away the button utterly in case you don’t prefer it, flip it round so it’s just a little additional ahead and out of the way in which, or transfer it nearer to your thumb for simple activation. The button simply attaches through a magnet.

On the entrance of the mouse is the USB-C charging and wired connection port, whereas the underside is residence to the ability swap and a round detachable part, beneath which you’ll be able to stow the USB dongle. The usual cowl for this part may also be changed with a Logitech PowerPlay adapter, which lets the mouse cost wirelessly through certainly one of Logitech’s PowerPlay mousemats.

In the meantime, the sensor is Logitech’s tried and examined 25K DPI Hero mannequin, which is a good sensor, although technically it has been round some time and there are different sensors with even increased DPI and acceleration scores lately.

As for the wi-fi options of this mouse, you get a USB dongle with a typical 1kHz polling fee (its 1kHz in wired mode too), with no choice to improve to a 4kHz or 8kHz dongle. Such velocity is just of worth to elite-level players in search of the very quickest attainable response, which isn’t essentially the goal marketplace for this mouse, however it will be good to have the choice.

Maybe extra of a big draw back for this mouse is that it doesn’t have Bluetooth. Many wi-fi mice, such because the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed and Corsair M75 Air, embrace Bluetooth and it’s a really helpful function for a extra multi-purpose mouse just like the G502 X Plus, so this can be a main omission.

Design

The core form of the G502 hasn’t modified an awesome deal in ten years, although the G502X has fairly a distinct look to earlier non-X variations. It has a really ergonomic form, in as a lot because it’s all very curvy and designed resolutely for right-hand use, reasonably than being a symmetrical-style mice that left-handed players can use.

It’s an extended however slender mouse that lends itself to a palm grip, the place you relaxation most of your hand on the mouse, reasonably simply gripping it together with your fingertips, although it’s completely suited to fingertip grip use too. The latter is aided massively by massive rubberized aspect sections, which offer dependable grip in heat and humid, or chilly and dry, circumstances.

Broadly talking, it’s a cushty mouse that can swimsuit plenty of grip kinds and hand sizes. Nonetheless, in comparison with modern-day light-weight mice, it seems like an actual heavyweight. It weighs 104g in response to our scales (2g heavier than said), which is a good drop from the 121g of the older G502 design, nevertheless it’s nonetheless almost twice the load of a number of wi-fi alternate options, such because the Cherry Xtrfy MZ1 Wi-fi, and is 120% heavier than some wired mice just like the Endgame Gear OP1 8K.

In the meantime, the RGB lighting of the G502X Plus is integrated into the Y-shaped hole between the principle panels of the mouse. It’s neatly built-in, making this arguably certainly one of Logitech’s better-looking mice – it’s a giant uplift over the utilitarian look of the G Professional Superlight. The lighting additionally serves a goal, indicating DPI and profile modifications, battery standing, and extra. That stated, we do miss the three little LEDs that indicated DPI settings on the outdated G502.

The mouse is offered in all-black, or the white and silver colour scheme proven right here. Logitech has but to come back out with a vibrant pink or red-and-white model, because it’s completed with its G Professional Superlight, however there’s a Millenium Falcon version, of all issues, as proven under.

Efficiency

As ever with trendy gaming mice, there’s virtually nothing of consequence to be stated concerning the sensor efficiency of the G502 X Plus. Whereas its sensor is perhaps a couple of years outdated now, and lacks the excessive polling charges of some mice, it finally offers basically flawless efficiency when used with a high quality mouse pad. Regardless of how a lot and how briskly we moved, there was no significant slip-up from the sensor, or certainly the wi-fi response of the mouse.

That stated, in comparison with 4kHz and 8kHz mice, you’ll be able to detect the decrease polling fee in some video games. In case you’re knowledgeable participant working CS2 or Valorant at over 300fps, you’ll be capable to choose up on the marginally much less easy motion from the decrease polling fee, nevertheless it’s a really refined distinction in most sensible phrases. Plus, once more, this mouse isn’t finest fitted to these kinds of video games for a number of different causes, so this must be the least of your considerations.

The important thing a kind of causes is the load of this mouse. In aggressive gaming situations, once you’re utilizing a decrease DPI and having to frequently carry and reset the mouse throughout very quick actions, the G502X felt actually cumbersome and uncomfortable. We flat out wouldn’t suggest this mouse in any respect for these types of video games – there’s an excellent cause why mice optimized for these video games are half the load of this one.

In case you really need the additional options of the G502 X Plus, but additionally need a greater mouse for the above types of video games, we’d suggest getting a second lighter, wired mouse, such because the Endgame Gear OP1 8K, if funds is a priority. Alternatively, any of the Corsair M75 Air, Logitech G Professional Superlight 2, Cherry Xtrfy MZ1 Wi-fi, and several other different choices on our greatest gaming mouse information are a lot lighter wi-fi choices, simply with fewer options than the G502 X Plus.

Worth

The Logitech G502 X Plus has an MSRP of $159.99, making it a really expensive mouse. Nonetheless, it’s frequently obtainable for nearer to $120, which places it among the many barely better-value wi-fi gaming choices obtainable, particularly given all the additional features this mouse offers.

Options

Logitech G903

In case you’re after a lot of the function set discovered on the G502 X Plus, however want a left-handed design, the Logitech G903 is the mouse to go for. It shares the identical scroll wheel design and has a number of different further buttons, however its symmetrical form can match each left and right-handed customers.

Learn our Logitech G903 evaluation.

Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional

For a mouse that has the same ergonomic form to the G502 X Plus, however a a lot lighter construct, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional is the way in which to go. We really discover it barely extra snug to carry, plus it contains Bluetooth.

Learn our Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed evaluation.

Verdict

The Logitech G502X Plus is one thing of a love/hate gaming mouse. In some ways, it’s much less of a “gaming mouse,” and extra of a multi-purpose normal desktop mouse. Its further buttons, dual-mode scroll wheel, and relaxed palm-grip-style design all lend themselves extra to desktop work than the calls for of intense gaming periods. It’s the Logitech MX Grasp of gaming mice.

Nonetheless, this largely relies on the way you outline a gaming mouse. In case you simply need an correct and fast response, however with tons further buttons for macros, or a fast-spinning scroll wheel for zooming into your Civ 6 map, the G502 X Plus completely delivers. If, although, you need a mouse that’s extra nimble and lends itself to being flung round at velocity within the likes of Doom, CS2, Apex Legends, or Fortnite, the G502 X Plus doesn’t actually hit the mark.

With a couple of tweaks, Logitech may have a mouse that maybe finds a greater stability total as a mouse for informal and aggressive players. Take away the tilting scroll wheel buttons, so the wheel feels a bit extra exact and taut, and cut back the mouse’s weight by a very good 30g, and it is perhaps getting someplace. In case you’re not massively into aggressive FPS play, although, the Logitech G502 X Plus stays a improbable selection for informal players in search of a mouse that merely does a heck of so much in a single package deal.