I’ve been using computer mice pretty much ever since Microsoft’s first ball mouse. Since they became popular in home computing, there have been many different types to appeal to consumers. We have seen the rise (and fall) of mouse balls, optical technology, lasers, increased resolution, LCD displays, ergonomic designs, wireless technology, onboard memory, programmable buttons, and the evolution of scroll wheels. There have been a few close contenders, but after all these years of potential innovation, I have yet to come across one mouse that could be everything to everyone.
Could this be the ultimate mouse?
I have a rather high set of criteria for the “ultimate mouse”. In short, such a product should have all of the features without any drawbacks of prior products. I seek wireless technology without lag, a multitude of programmable buttons, onboard memory, high DPI, notched AND free scrolling, customizable resolution switching… oh, and it shouldn’t cost a lot, either. I think I may have a serious heir to the throne in the Logitech G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse. Can this rodent truly be everything to everyone?
Logitech seems to have intercepted my angry letters and discovered the surveillance footage of their corporate office security. Instead of contacting the authorities, they took the high road and included these features in the G700. While they were at it, they took away nearly every other complaint one would have about a mouse. Some prefer a notched scroll wheel while others prefer a smooth frictionless motion. How about both in one mouse? You want a wireless mouse without lag, but the option to be wired when you need it? Done. You want onboard memory, 4 thumb buttons, profile switching, LED display, onboard memory, and a sexy office midget in leather chaps? Done, done, done, and done (well, maybe not that last one).
On the next page we start taking this mouse out on the town…
Logitech’s mice have had similar designs over the years, and if you’re a fan of their gadgets then the G700 will look genetically enhanced, but strangely familiar. My friend Corey summed up the look of the G700 best when he said: “It’s like a G5 and G9 did the funky, but the G9 cheated with the G7”. I’m not sure I could sum it up any better.
Yes, the G700 looks like a hybrid between the sleek G5 but with the cyborg quality of the G5. Then they made that hybrid wireless.
The box comes with the mouse, USB cable, extension cable, wireless receiver and quick-start guide
The top of the mouse has your standard left and right click buttons, and between them is an aluminum scroll wheel that has been adorned with a rubber grip. This is no ordinary scroll wheel, however, as a hardware switch below it toggles the wheel to be notched or free-scrolling, but more on that later. Beneath this switch is another button (G11), which by default toggles through any profiles you create. To the left of the left-click button are three programmable G-buttons (G8, G9, and G10).
The left side of the mouse features a very prominent thumb rest, which you will need because you have FOUR thumb buttons to contend with. These buttons are thinner than normal thumb-buttons, but have protrusions so they are very easy to identify by touch. In front of the thumb button array are three multicolor LEDs which are strategically placed so they are never obscured by your mousing hand, and they change depending on the context. For example, if you press the “battery status” button (G8 by default) then 3 green LEDs means fully charged, 1 green LED means getting low, and 1 red LED indicated critical. The lights change to red to indicate the DPI setting, and amber to indicate the profile position.
Left and right side of the G700
The right side of the mouse has an ergonomic slope that cradles your fingers, but isn’t as contoured as the SteelSeries Ikari (one of my favorite ergonomic rodents). My pinky finger rests on my mousepad, which can cause drag when moving the mouse around.
The front of the mouse has a recessed area at the lower front which conceals a small USB port, which is where the included data cable attaches. Once attached, the tethered cable looks like it was permanently attached, and does not pull out easily, so there’s no accidental disconnection.
Battery compartment can hold 1 AA NiMH battery and stow away the wireless receiver
The bottom of the mouse has four teflon feet surrounding the 5700dpi infrared laser sensor. Below the sensor is an on/off switch, which really only needs to be switched off when transporting the mouse. Below this switch is a battery compartment which houses a single Sanyo Eneloop Nickel Metal-Hydride HR-3UTG Ready-To-Use 2000mAh AA rechargable battery. Since it’s NiMH, it won’t suffer from any battery memory issues, so it should retain most of its life even if you frequently recharge without completely draining it. Also in this compartment is a nook in which to store the included Unified wireless receiver when taking the mouse to a LAN party.
When you first pick up the G700, it feels heavier than other mice, especially if you just got finished playing with a small Razer Imperator mouse. Weight is an important issue to a PC gamer, which is why some of the more expensive ones come with weight cartridges that allow for a custom feel. Since the G700 can be run with or without a cable, we compared it to several popular gaming mice, and some wireless office mice.
When compared with others, the G700 doesn’t appear so heavy after all. If you run the mouse corded (and without a battery) it’s about the same weight as the very lightweight Mionix Naos or SteelSeries Ikari. If you run the mouse wirelessly, it is still much lighter than the paperweight which is the Microsoft Natural Wireless (which requires 2 AA batteries). The G700 is the heaviest of them all if you are charging the battery (data cable plugged in plus AA battery). Keep in mind that you usually don’t feel much of the cord weight when moving the mouse, but the cord weight can affect mousing, especially when the cord “pushes back”.
Gaming Mouse Weight Comparison
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The sum of the previous two paragraphs is that the Logitech G700 isn’t too light or too heavy, and can be run in different configurations to suit your weight requirements. It’s not as granular as the CoolerMaster Sentinel, but fits inbetween a “light” and “heavy” configuration.
Gripping the mouse is very comfortable, just like most of Logitech’s other mice with similar shapes. I really dig the large thumb rest and placement of the buttons. All of the common-use buttons are easily accessible and the ones you don’t want to click accidentally (like the profile switching button) are out of the way. I’m actually surprised how easy and useful the four thumb buttons are. I use them in gaming and in productivity mode.
We tested the Logitech G700 wireless mouse in a variety of applications and games, in all power modes, and created several profiles and button customizations. We plugged the Unifying receiver at the back of our motherboard, rather than using the extension cable to bring the receiver closer. Below is our test configuration:
| Hardware | Intel i7-950 Processor Asus P6X58D-E Motherboard (USB 2.0, 3.0, Firewire 400 onboard) 12GB Corsair Dominator-GT DDR3-2000 Asus Xonar D2X nVidia Quadro CX Video Card 2x Corsair F40 SSDs (in Raid 0) Western Digital 1.5TB HDD Lian Li V-1020B Black Aluminum Case Razer Destructor mousepad |
| Software | SetPoint version 5.40.39 Driver version 5.10.9 G700 Firmware version 22.35 |
One of the greatest things about this mouse is the customizable scroll wheel. When in games it can be easily switched to have a ratcheted action (for switching weapons), and can then switch to “free scroll” mode, which can easily traverse a very long web page with a single flick. In “free scroll” mode the wheel has a tendancy to drift, but this can be easily fixed by adjusting the wheel sensitivity in software. I love being able to manually toggle between the two modes, and it really puts me in control. The notched mode feels a bit light when compared with other gaming mice that require a little more force to move to the next notch, but if you like the feel of Logitech’s metal scroll wheel then you’ll be right at home.
Scroll wheel can switch between notched and free-scrolling with a toggle button
From my findings, most of the issues one would have with this mouse can be quickly remedied by using the software. Sensitivity not what you like? Use a higher-power mode and/or mode the receiver closer (or just run the mouse completely wired). Scroll wheel drifting? Adjust the sensitivity or change to notched mode. The only natural faults one may have with this rodent is the stiffness of the data cord and the texture of the plastic.
The three LED lights are positioned in such a way that your hand will never obscure them, and change colors depending on the context of information. In general, the lights act as a meter, and change their maximum from 1 to 5. If you only have 3 profiles on your mouse, then the LEDs only go up to three, but if you have 5 then they go up more. How do you denote 5 possible positions from only 3 lights? Like this:
| – – * | 1 |
| – * * | 2 |
| * * * | 3 |
| * * – | 4 |
| * – – | 5 |
The LEDs change color depending on what you’re looking at. When checking the battery, 3 green lights indicate full battery, 1 is low, and a single red LED is critical. Amber lights indicate which profile you have selected, and red lights indicate which DPI position for the profile you have. One problem I had with the SteelSeries Ikari was that there were only 2 LEDs, they were the same color and alternated between low and high. It was hard to tell at a glance which mode you were in because the lights were so close together. If Ikari used the method that Logitech does (- * for 1 and ** for 2) then the user could easily distinguish which DPI mode they were in).
The LEDs on the left side are easily visible and change with context
Of course, the LEDs change depending on the profile. In productivity mode I have 5 DPI settings, (800, 1200, 2000, 3200, and 5200) and in gaming I have 2 DPI settings (800 and 5000). When I’m in productivity mode I need to remember that 2 red LEDs mean 1200 and not 5000. Some mice have character displays on them, like the CoolerMaster Storm and Ikari Laser, but they are obscured by your hand or are under the mouse. If Logitech used a character readout then you’d have to peer at it to know the output. 3 LEDs with different colors provide much better usability for those who need to know the output at a quick glance.
The wireless reception is amazing, and there was abolutely no lag in gaming. The mouse does have to “wake up” from a long idle when using low-power and “normal” power modes, but was non-existant in “Max Gaming” and corded mode. Some users have complained that the mouse doesn’t pick up small movements in wireless mode, but I feel that this would be eliminated by changing the power mode and possibly switching to a different mousepad. As mentioned before we used the Razer Destructor mousepad and the wireless receiver was plugged into the back of our test PC and not right next to the mouse.
Battery life lasts just over a day, and perhaps a little less if you are in “max gaming” mode. Luckily the mouse takes standard AA NiMH batteries so they can be replaced in a pinch, Do not use alkaline batteries as they do not provide the voltage necessary over its full life and could blow up if you tried to charge them. The Sanyo Eneloop Nickel Metal-Hydride HR-3UTG Ready-To-Use 2000mAh AA rechargable battery only takes about an hour to charge.
Wireless receiver is so small that it doesn’t get in the way, even on a laptop
Tiny receiver is so small it can stay plugged in to any USB port without getting in the way, including a laptop. The receiver will also take input of up to 5 other wireless Logitech devices. The receiver also tucks neatly inside the G700’s battery compartment when you need to take your mouse to a LAN party. I only wish they included a carrying bag.
The Logitech SetPoint software can be accessed by right-clicking the Logitech Setpoint icon on the lower-right of the taskbar. This can be difficult to identify when you have several Logitech products running, like the G510 keyboard and G930 Wireless Headset. When the software opens, you can select which mouse you want to configure, but in my opinion the software should open up to the configuration screen if only 1 mouse is registered.
SetPoint is laid out with the categories on the left side, and the configuration options for each section on the right. From top to bottom, the left navigation lists the name of the mouse, battery status, and wireless (or wired) status. You can select a dropdown of which profile you would like to configure, and the default 3 are Gaming, General, and Productivity. Below this are the Overview, Basics, Buttons, Pointer, Scrolling, Battery, Profile Manager, Macro Manager, Device Options and SetPoint options.
The Overview screen shows a summary of all the subsections listed on the nav. You can click the “Edit” button to be taken to that subsection, or just click on the left nav.
The Basics screen lets you change the Profile name, description, and position in the mouse’s onboard memory. You can also assign applications to use this profile, so that the mouse can switch automatically when a particular program or game is run. For example, if you play First Person Shooters, you can have the mouse automatically switch to FPS mode, and when in Photoshop it will automatically change to Productivity mode.
The Buttons screen lets you change any of the mouse’s 13 (that’s right…THIRTEEN) buttons. There are a wide variety of functions you can choose from without having to set a macro (Copy, Cut and Paste are options without having to set a keyboard macro for them). The functions are too numerous to list in this review, but feel secure that there are plenty of media controls, macros, and productivity options available. The buttons available are:
| 1. Left Click 2. Right Click 3. Middle Mouse 4. Bottom-right Thumb button (G4) 5. Bottom-left Thumb button (G5) 6. Top right thumb button (G6) 7. Top left thumb button (G7) |
8. bottom-most index finger button (G8) 9. center index finger button (G9) 10. top index finter button (G10) 11. dead center button (G11) 12. Left scroll button 13. Right scroll button |
When you assign a button to a Macro, then the available macros you’ve defined appear in a lower drop-down list. If you want to create a new macro, then click the Macro Manager button and you’ll be taken directly to a sub-window which lets you create a new one on-the-fly.
Buttons screen lets you assign anything to any button
The Pointer screen lets you set the number of DPI levels from 1 to 5, as well as independently set the X and Y resolution at each position. One of my favorite gaming mice is the SteelSeries Ikari Laser, simply because you can switch between 2 DPI levels. Many FPS gamers need to instantly switch between “run for your life” mode and “sniper” mode, which translates into high DPI for movement and low DPI to hone in on an opponent’s head. The time it takes you to hunt for the right button and then toggle through a few modes could cost you your virtual life. I have reviewed many mice and I have not until now encountered a mouse that gave you this much flexibility. You can set your mouse to as many or as little resolution jumps as you wish, and that should be a standard feature in all gaming mice.
To change the DPI levels, you simply adjust two slider bars (one for the X axis, the other for Y). When you select 5 DPI levels then 5 slider points appear on each bar; when you select 2 DPI levels then 2 slider points appear on each bar. You can set the minimum and maximum DPI levels for each profile by where you set the left and right slider points. You can choose between a low of 200 and a high of 5700.
Pointer screen lets you set number of DPI levels and indepently choose X and Y levels
This screen also allows you to change the polling report rate of your mouse, from 125Hz to 1000Hz, as well as enable or disable OS native drivers for pointer acceleration. You can even toggle angle snapping. Whenever pointer acceleration is enabled, mouse movements are interpolated, and additional movements are filled in, so gamers usually have this disabled (which is why a high DPI mouse is so desireable).
The Scrolling screen allows you to set the vertical and horizontal scrolling speed of your mouse wheel, and is as straightforward as it sounds.
The Battery screen displays an indicator of your mouse’s rechargable AA battery. You can also toggle a checkbox which displays a notification icon when your battery is low. You can also change the power mode of your mouse between Power Saver, Normal Gaming, and Max Gaming. All wireless mouse perform several tricks in order to preserve battery life, which is why many wireless mice require a good shake to “wake them up” after being idle. When set to Max Gaming, I’ve never had to “wake up” the G700 in such a way, but battery life suffers as a result. Luckily, the power mode can be different for each profile, so the mouse is in high-power mode when fragging zombies, and allowed to go idle when browsing the web.
The Profile Manager lets you set how you want onboard profiles to be switched. You can manually switch between them using a mouse button (G11 by default), or you can have SetPoint automatically switch the profile for you when a particular application is in focus. You do have to take some time to identify the executables that SetPoint should look for, but it can save you loads of time once configured. You can also Export, Duplicate, or Delete any onboard profiles.
Profile Manager and Macro Manager screens
The Macro Manager is probably the most complicated part of the SetPoint software, but is still easy to use. You create a blank Macro and name it whatever you want. You can then click the “Start Recording” button and use any combination of keyboard strokes and mouse clicks, and you can even set delays between commands. This can be helpful not only for Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and MMO gamers, but First-Person-Shooters (FPS). You can easily record a double-jump by pressing Space twice with a delay in between.
Whenever you are finished recording your macro, press ALT+F1 (the end command can be changed via a dropdown). You can also click checkboxes to toggle what the Macro Editor listens to. If you uncheck “Record Mouse” then you can click all the buttons you want while recording, and only keyboard strokes will be identified. There also appears to be no practical limit to the length of the macro, as I created one with 60 events (30 keystrokes) and it would still let me continue. If you need to edit a complicated macro, you can right-click on any event and insert new commands, insert a delay (500ms by default), or delete any command in the chain. You can also set up the macro as a Single Keystroke or Multiple Keystrokes (useful when you need to hold down Control or Alt while pressing another key).
Keep note that you have to click Save and then Exit before you close the Macro Editor window, or your newly-created macros will not appear on the Macro drop-down list.
Onboard Memory Manager lets you change the position of your profiles
The Device Option screen displays the current Firmware version, and lets you check for updates. You can also restore the default General, Gaming, or Productivity profiles as well as launch Logitech Online Support.
The SetPoint Option screen basically lets you toggle the notification icon in your taskbar. You can also check for updates to the SetPoint software.
That’s an awful lot of configuration options and features for a mouse, and the software really lets you unleash the power of your mouse.
The Logitech G700 is truly the mouse to beat and sets the bar for the new standard. Although we’ve proven that the mouse’s weight is right in the middle when you do a real comparison, it can feel a bit on the heavy side when everything is plugged in. Regardless, this mouse is built like a tank and can definitely take a beating.
The G700 is also the most customizable mouse I’ve ever seen, even when compared to mice specifically designed for MMO gaming. Just a few of the killer features are notched or smooth-scrolling, completely customizable DPI settings (1 to 5 levels), 13 programmable buttons, and any resolution up to 5700 dpi. The macro editor is full-featured with keyboard, mouse, and time-delay support, and you can store up to 5 profiles in the mouse’s onboard memory. Once you program this mouse, you can take it to any computer and it will function exactly the same, even without installing custom drivers.
Hey, a Laser! How come YOU don’t have a laser, Woody?
The only issue I have is that the plastic texture can make my thumb sweat. Some have said that the data cord is a bit stiff, but if you make sure there’s plenty of clearance there shouldn’t be a problem.
Its price-point should not scare off the casual gamer, either. Although its MSRP is $99, we found it for $85 here. There are a lot of mediocre gaming mice that are pretty much the same, and honestly if you spend just a few dollars more then you get a mouse that is head and shoulders above them all. When you shop around, you will see other mice (*cough* Razer Mamba *cough*) that are $129 that don’t have the features the G700 does. If you’re a FPS, RTS, or MMO gamer, then the Logitech G700 is THE mouse to get, and will likely hold that crown for several years.
Wired or wireless, the choice is yours
The Logitech G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse scored the highest marks in every category, which earns it our rarely-used “Perfect” award badge.
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Tracking
- Resolution: 200 – 5,700 dpi
- Image processing: 12 megapixels/second
Responsiveness
- USB data format: 16 bits/axis
- USB report rate: Up to 1,000 reports/second
- Sleep mode: variable
Glide
- Dynamic coefficient of friction – Mu (k): .09**
- Static coefficient of friction – Mu (s): .14**
Durability
- Buttons (Left / Right): 8 million clicks
- Feet: 250 kilometers
Max. acceleration
- 30G* Max. speed: up to 165 inches(4.19 m)/second*
Bottom of the mouse has four feet, laser, and power switch
- 13 programmable controls with macro capability
Perform either single actions or intricate macros with multiple keystrokes, mouse events, user-defined delays and repeating - Idividual sculpted buttons
Every button on the G700 is carefully designed and placed to be easily identifiable by touch, so they’re right there when you need them but out of your way when you don’t. - Ideal for MMORPGs
When your guild gets together, you’ll have all the control you need to do battle, complete quests and level up your character. - Natural curves that fit your hand
Your mouse is designed to let you play comfortably and maneuver effortlessly for as long as you want. - Smooth gliding feet
You can forget sticky workarounds — the low-friction polytetrafluorethylene feet glide effortlessly across almost any surface. - Full-speed wireless
1,000 reports per second give you gaming-grade responsiveness and wireless freedom. You get a steady, powerful connection with no dropouts. - Rechargable
You’ll always have the power you need. A quick-connect cable lets you plug in fast and continue your campaign without pause. - Data over cable
Worried about that critical game situation? Playing in a busy wireless environment? With data over cable you always have a backup for reliable connectivity. - Gaming-grade laser
Game-changing precision at any hand speed. Whether you’re zeroing in on one pixel or whipping across a million, the gaming-grade laser gives you hard-to-beat cursor control. - Onboard memory profiles
You can program up to five profiles for individual players or games (keyboard macros and dpi settings), so you can play your way on other PCs without software installation. - Plug-and-Forget Nano-receiver
Take it with you– your Gaming Mouse G700 is laptop ready. The tiny receiver can stay plugged in a USB port or stored inside the mouse for when you head to a LAN party. - Sensitivity switching
You can shift from pixel-precise targeting (200 dpi) to lightning-fast maneuvers (up to 5,700 dpi) in an instant. - Dual-mode scroll wheel
You get precise click-to-click scrolling that perfect for weapon selection when you’re gaming. Hyper-fast scrolling lets you fly through long Web pages. - LED display
Your battery power, profile settings and dpi sensitivity are always visible at a glance — without being covered by your hand.