Logitech G305 Offers Gaming Performance in a Portable Package
Logitech continues to refine its line of gaming mice.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
Gaming hardware is a pretty complex place to plant your foot. Even within a specific manufacturer, there are so many lines that it can be hard to figure out what's right for you. Logitech is one of the major manufacturers of gaming peripherals, and its been hammering away at the market for some years now. The Logitech G305 feels like a culmination of those efforts aimed at the average player.
The top-end of Logitech's current line of gaming mice is the G903 Wireless Gaming Mouse with the company's new Lightspeed technology. As a downgrade, the hardware manufacturer offers the Pro and G603, aimed at different types of enthusiast players. The company's latest effort is slotted below both those offerings, trying to bring Logitech's new Lightspeed wireless and HERO (High Efficiency Rated Optical) sensor to a slightly lower price point.
Enter the G305. What we're dealing with here is a Logitech Pro cut down in terms of build quality. The shape is similar and it feels largely the same within the hand, with the primary mouse buttons and thumb buttons in the same space. The mouse wheel is largely the same design and the DPI/Mode switch occupies the same spot. Squint and this is just a Pro.
What changes is the overall weight and construction. The G503 is a mere 99g, compared to the 129g of the wired Pro mouse. The LED lighting of the Pro mouse is completely gone here. And while the Pro is a wired mouse for gaming professionals, the G305 wants to bring that kind of performance to everyone.
Slide off the rear cover can you'll find a compartment for the mouse's USB dongle and a slot for a single AA battery. Logitech has the battery life rated at 250 hours of gameplay on a single battery in the 1ms Performance mode, and a whopping 9 months in the 8ms Endurance Mode. What you're looking at here is a gaming mouse you can take with you.
The G305 has been my road warrior mouse for a good week now, and I find myself pretty happy with it. If you just need to mess around with web surfing and general writing, the Endurance mode is perfect and the single AA battery is a low barrier to cross. Performance mode kills the battery, but you're still getting 250 hours at high precision for a wireless mouse. It is worth nothing that there's no wireless configuration for the G503; the included USB cable just increases the range of the dongle, instead of attaching to the mouse directly.
It's a bit too small and light to be my replacement gaming mouse on my desktop. When I'm playing at home, I want something that's a bit heavier. If the G305 offered changeable weights, I'd be a bigger fan of its desktop use. The G903 is just a complete winner in terms of form and weight, so I'm sticking with that as my main ringer.
If you're looking at wired speed and reaction time of Lightspeed with the precision of the HERO sensor, but in something that you can throw in a bag and forget, this is your mouse. The lightweight nature and general build quality means you're not really worrying about the G305 being destroyed at the bottom of the bag. The price helps too, with the mouse coming in at a smooth $59.99. It's not compatible with the PowerPlay charging mat, but again, this mouse is much better on the road.
If you want a mouse that you can take with you and won't break the bank, Logitech has a great option for you finally. Straightforward form factor, lightweight, top-notch technology, and a decent price adds up to a great gaming mouse for those always traveling.