Logitech G502 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse: Design

You are already familiar with the appearance of the G502 Lightspeed if you have used any of the earlier versions of the device. For the remaining users, this is a sizable (5.2 x 3.0 x 1.6 inches), ergonomic mouse designed for the right hand that features textured grips and a curved thumb rest. 

There are an astounding ten buttons on the upper side of the mouse. There are three buttons on the screen: a clickable scroll wheel, a right-click button, and a left-click button. Directly underneath the scroll wheel is a button that changes its resistance. This function has always been quite helpful to since there are situations when you want to scroll through a page quickly and there are times when you want to scroll precisely.

There's a configurable button behind that adjuster that, by default, measures the battery level. Two buttons for adjusting the sensitivity to dots-per-inch (DPI) are located to the left of the left-click button. There are two sizable thumb buttons on the side, and a "sniper" button that momentarily lowers the DPI is located right below them. While this may seem like a lot of buttons for a relatively small mouse, they are thoughtfully arranged and never feel overly congested.

But as you turn the mouse over, it becomes much more intriguing. That's where the little, circular pop-out container and the on/off switch are located. This compartment holds the wifi dongle by default and has the capacity to hold two additional 4-gram weights, which will be discussed later. You may also replace the PowerPlay battery, which charges wirelessly as you play, provided you possess the PowerPlay system. This is a helpful function, but it does restrict the amount of weight you may choose. 

The G502 Lightspeed features a detachable panel where you can add metallic weights, much like the wired G502. Although the G502 Lightspeed requires more space for wireless electronics than the previous mouse, the overall design is similar. 

We think the G502 Lightspeed's weight strategy is better than the prior model's since it employs modest, trapezoidal weights instead of the more complex, semi-hexagonal models. It's much simpler to add and remove weights now, and there's still a little carrying box to hold extra weights. The inability to use the PowerPlay attachment and the 4-gram weights at the same time is annoying, but it's not a deal-breaker. 

We do have one little complaint about the G502's design, though, and it could work to the device's advantage. It's almost admirable that the design hasn't altered at all in five years. However, since 2014, Logitech has introduced two amazing lines of high-end wireless mice: Logitech G900 (now the G903) and the Logitech G Pro Wireless. Both of the more recent mice, the G903 and the angular, heavy G502, appear positively futuristic with their smooth curves and interchangeable components that provide total ambidexterity.

Although Logitech's other high-end wireless mouse may feel a little more comfortable to grip for the same price, the G502's design still stands up incredibly well. 

Logitech G502 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse: Features

The G502 Lightspeed is powered by the Logitech G Hub software, which allows users to program all of the mouse's buttons, adjust illumination, and adjust DPI (100–16,000). The software is really simple to use, and you can even write G-Shift, which is an additional set of commands. These will be available to you at any time when you depress a button of your choosing. 

Although the G logo's color on the palm rest may be programmed, that's about the only area of the mouse that lights up. (You won't even see the little DPI monitor on the side, but it does light up.) Although RGB characteristics have never been the main selling point for a mouse—or not—this one will often appear to be plain black. So if aesthetics are everything to you, keep that in mind.

The wireless nature of the mouse is, of course, the most significant aspect of the G502 Lightspeed. As with other wireless devices from Logitech,we had perfect performance whether playing a game or just browsing the web. Additionally, according to Logitech, the mouse may operate without a charge for up to 48 hours. If you use PowerPlay, you won't need to charge the mouse at all, but if you dim down the lights and remember to turn it off between sessions, this is doable.

Logitech G502 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse: Performance

Anyone who has used a Logitech G mouse in the previous several years would not be surprised to hear that the G502 Lightspeed played games brilliantly. We used the peripheral to play shrewd card games in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, shoot lethal harpies in World of Warcraft, build up vast Zerg armies in StarCraft: Remastered, and shot down enemies in Overwatch. The G502 Lightspeed demonstrated sharpness, accuracy, and responsiveness.
We were able to do a head-to-head comparison of the two devices since I just so happened to have an earlier, wired G502 version on hand. With a superior sensor and fewer unsightly cables, the Lightspeed feels every bit as good as the previous generation, if not better. It's difficult to expect more from a wireless device when it outperforms its tethered equivalent.

Bottom Line

It makes logical that the G502 Lightspeed is not the absolute final word in wireless gaming mice as the G502 is no longer the ultimate gaming mouse. We think the G903 is better, but there's definitely value in less priced devices like the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless. 

Nevertheless, the G502 is a resounding triumph and will delight wireless aficionados of the original (or any gamer searching for an excellent wireless mouse). Start pinching yourself; this mouse is really expensive, especially if you want the PowerPlay system to go along with it.