Logitech G700s Review

By – Mike Bezek

All I have ever wanted from a wireless mouse boils down to one thing: precision.  In the past, previous purchases have always let me down in terms of overall reliability, and even more so, build quality.  When it comes to buying anything associated with the term gaming, the price invariably goes up, and the user can only hope the overall quality scales appropriately, but sometimes we get burned.  The Logitech G700s (not a pluralization) is here to rectify those shortcomings in an attempt to be a staple in your gaming arsenal.

A defining characteristic of wireless mice is how weightless they become in your hand.  Typical application for this tech always has me envisioning an informercial of a secretary who simply cannot complete her work tasks because of her unwieldy wired mouse, fumbling about, crashing into various office supplies with wreckless abandon. But a wireless mouse, which coincidentally can float because it is so lightweight, fixes all of her terrible workplace quandaries.  But when the moniker “Gaming” is labelled on a wireless product, along with consistent connectivity, the importance of weight and durability come to the forefront.  Weighing in at 17 ounces, the G700s is easily one of the heaviest mice ever to glide across my desk.

With this weight comes overall durability, establishing much more confidence in its ability to endure abuse from tense online matches. Defying the typical low-profile nature of wireless tech, the G700s vertical profile rises quite prominently to cradle your entire hand high above the mousepad.  It takes a bit of getting used to, and for some, it may be a bit difficult to use depending on the size of their hand.  The elevated curvature of the mouse means that if you have a tendency in anchoring your wrist to whichever surface you are using, it may become a bit uncomfortable in the beginning.  For full disclosure, I do not have the biggest hands, so your ergonomics-mileage may vary.

The high curvature also lends some interesting possibilities to the G700s’ plentiful button combinations.  At first glance, the customizable Logitech G buttons that rest on the left side of the mouse seem to be placed incredibly high.  This orientation is actually designed to bring your hand further up the mouse to reduce wrist stress over long periods of time, and while it does take a bit of adjustment time, your wrist will thank you.  The G buttons are slanted at different angles to accurately mold with your pointer finger to allow for their quick usage.  A variety of commands lie at your disposal by simply rolling your finger over them, as their natural positioning means there will never be confusion on which button is being pressed.

The center of the mouse houses the last two buttons, one being the final G button, and the other allowing modulation of the scroll wheel.  With a quick depression, the wheel can be adjusted to preference, one being free spin for quick internet browsing, and the other activates locking feedback for precision operation.  Complementing the surrounding area of these functions is the stylish decal that gives an impression that the mouse has a grip-like material to assist in maneuvering the hulking beast.  Unfortunately, the design serves as nothing more than an aesthetic. To be fair, there is grip material installed on each side of the mouse, which provides a healthy amount of grip to assist in guiding it around.  In addition to the topside G buttons are standard browsing buttons for the user’s thumb to utilize for navigation.  These buttons feature a depression in the center which divides them into sections, meaning the thumb can easily access any of them without needing to shift position.

All of this customization is accessed through Logitech’s Gaming Software that must be downloaded from their official site.  The nice thing about Logitech’s commitment to unifying their devices is that the ideology carries over into the accompanying software.  During this review, I was also testing out their G710+ Mechanical Keyboard.  Once the device drivers and software were installed, the navigation panel was updated to list both devices, allowing quick switching between the two.

While this review is strictly for the mouse itself, it is worth getting into detail about this excellent customization software.  What makes this application so special is how deep, yet intuitive it is in the face of overly complicated software that plagues other devices.  Nearly everything needed to provide an incredibly deep customization interface is handled on two simple screens with easy to understand options.  Adjusting, and even adding DPI profiles are a breeze, and assigning profiles to specific games is even easier.  The coup de grace to these options is that profiles can be stored on the mouse itself via a small amount of onboard memory, meaning the mouse does not need to pass custom commands through a proprietary application which could result in lag.

Other options include the ability to switch power consumption settings, as this mouse does know how to drain its battery quite quickly when on Max Gaming mode.  When at it’s highest setting, draining the batteries can take roughly 40-45 hours, so either remembering to switch profiles or turning the device off prevents constantly being forced to charge it.   When it does need a battery refresh, the charging cable can be plugged in during use through a front-facing mini-USB port while still staying flush.  The cable gives a surprising amount of resistance and weight.  It is best to set aside a time for charging as to avoid the additional heft that it burdens the mouse.  The main benefit gained from using the maximum battery consumption is the excellent level of tracking and precision provided by the Logitech Gaming Laser.  This marked the first time I felt wholly confident in using a wireless mouse for serious gaming due to how smooth and accurate every movement was. The G700s is capable of DPI levels ranging from 200 to 8200, which allows for a wide range of play styles with excellent feedback.

One of the biggest selling points of the G700 is how it addresses connectivity concerns I have had in the past with other wireless devices.  While Bluetooth has improved the landscape quite positively in the past few years, it still has yet to completely stifle unreliable connections.  In order to combat this problem, Logitech has included a USB dongle that allows the 2.4Ghz wireless transceiver to gain a good 3 feet of range.  While their infinitesimal Unifier can be discreetly installed in both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, the dongle can be utilized to solve any problems that may arise while not having a direct line of sight to the device.  This simple solution has improved my overall experience with the mouse, and I hope that it becomes a standard for those of us who enjoy wireless technology, but primarily use a desktop.

Is It Worth Your Money?

Personally, it has always been difficult to recommend anything in the wireless category for any type of gaming.  Running the risk of losing connection during a match is beyond frustrating, and is usually enough to keep anyone serious about their game experience away from wireless.  The Logitech G700 gracefully defies this preconception with it’s excellent dedication in providing a solid connection coupled with the functionality of a professional gaming mouse.  While some may balk at the $99.99 price tag, I would encourage anyone in need of a dedicated wireless mouse to make the investment.  With the portability of onboard memory profiles and a cable charging option for uninterrupted use, the G700s is a top-notch wireless contender with unmatched reliability.