Back in December 2020 I bought myself the Logitech G502 after endless endorsements from friends and the internet as a whole and, well, they were right to do so as I have been using it as my daily driver ever since then with relatively few complaints.
Today then is an interesting day as Logitech has just announced the G502 X family of mice as the direct successor to the G502.
See our news story from earlier today with more details about the launch and how beloved the original G502 truly is.
Around a week ago the local representatives for Logitech sent me the G502 X to review, the entry level mouse in the range and the most direct competitor to the G502 that I already own.
As you can tell from the images on this page, I was sent the white version of the mouse. One key differentiator for this launch is black and white colourways available from the beginning for buyers to pick whatever suits them.
Taking the white mouse out of the packaging and it’s a bit shocking how light it is. Over the last few years there has been a massive movement in the gaming mouse segment towards lighter mice which is why you’ve been seeing products with almost literal speed holes drilled into them like this. And yes that is a Simpsons reference.
According to Logitech the new G502 X that I have is a scant 89 grams, compared to older version at 121 grams. That hefty 121 grams of the older model is without any of the five optional 3.6 gram weights and here it’s worth mentioning that the X doesn’t include any additional weights to add, further showing this newer thinking towards lighter mice.
Despite this lighter side the build quality and overall solid feeling of the mouse in your hand is still very good, as we’ve come to expect from Logitech, but before I can even plug the mouse in there are two heinous material choices here.
The first is that of a plastic USB cable in place of a braided one. Not only are braided cables basically a requirement for PC peripherals right now, but the old G502 had a braided cable. For a company like Logitech to ship a new mouse in 2022 with a plastic cable, at this price (more discussion about price later on) is unacceptable.
Another major annoyance here is the choice of rubber trim around the sides of the mouse. The quality of the rubber is fine but for a surface like a mouse shell we can’t imagine that rubber will hold up, or maintain cleanliness, after a while. I’ve only had the mouse in for review for a week now and the rubber still looks pristine, so only time will tell if it remains that way.
Once plugged into a PC and in use the G502 X pulls out its next party trick after the weight loss: the new type of switch for the main two buttons called LIGHTFORCE Hybrid Switches which are said to combine optical technology with mechanical clickyness. These are incredibly fun to use and the haptic feedback is immensely satisfying.
Those who prefer clicky mechanical keyboards will absolutely love these and the only real downside is that they can be a bit on the loud side. Open plan offices and houses with annoyed family / roommates may not be the biggest fans of this.
One last quirk of the outside is the DPI-Shift button. In a media roundtable Logitech told us that some users of the old mouse did not like how easy it was to accidently hit this switch in the middle of a game, so the option now exists to remove it. The switch cap can be easily taken off and replaced with a cover to make the button underneath inaccessible. Magnets help keep things together and it all works rather well.
Once finally in games or doing work and the G502 X is absolutely solid. I honestly don’t have much to say here because there’s just about nothing to complain about or comment on. This mouse does everything I ask of it and is just as comfortable in all genres of games as well as more mundane tasks like spreadsheets and document editing.
The user experience is a pleasure overall just like the G502 was. Once again: there’s a reason this family of products has such a legacy
As promised let’s end on the talk of money. The G502 X that I have reviewed here is the cheapest of the new models at R1 499 when it launches in September. The wireless LIGHTSPEED version is R2 699 and the top of the chain PLUS, which is wireless with extra features, is R2 999.
When I bought the older G502 in December 2020 I paid R1 200 which is the same price you can still buy the mouse on Evetech and Takealot right now. That being said those prices are sale prices, and the older model is around the same R1 499 of the new G502 X.
Because of these close prices it really is up to you. The original G502 offers a heavier mouse, legacy support, a braided cable and the status of a mature product that has been around for years.
The new G502 X offers a white colourway option, much better main buttons, far less weight, DPI switch removal if necessary and the excitement of being new, at the expense of a plastic cable and rubber trim.
Logitech will be quick to point out many more differences between the two but as someone who has used a G502 for so long those are the differences that are most clear to me, and what I think buyers should keep in mind when deciding between the two. As the old G502 will remain on sale, this is worth remembering.
