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?
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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.
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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.
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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....