Pro gaming has been garnering more and more attention, and that has caused a wave amongst peripheral manufacturers. One company has made gone above designing for eSports-minded players and has instead gone into full collaboration with professional gamers to design what is, to them, the perfect pair of mice: that company is Logitech and we have those mice in our hands. This is our review of the Logitech G Pro and G Pro Wireless.
Specifications
- Sensor: HERO16K™
- Resolution: 100-16,000 DPI
- Max. acceleration: tested at > 40G
- Max. speed: tested at > 400 IPS
- USB data format: 16 bits/axis
- USB report rate: 125Hz (8ms) - 1000 Hz (1 ms)
- Microprocessor: 32-bit ARM
- Main buttons: 50-million clicks with precision mechanical button tensioning
- Feet: tested at > 250-km range
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Physical specifications:
- G Pro Wireless: 4.92in (H) x 2.50in (W) x 1.57in (D)
- G Pro: 4.59in (H) x 2.44in (W) x 1.50in (D)
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Weight:
- G Pro Wireless: 2.8oz/80g
- G Pro: 2.93oz/83g (mouse only)
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Cable length:
- G Pro Wireless: ~6 ft (charging)
- G Pro: ~6.5 ft
- Illumination: Yes, dual zone
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Pricing and Availability:
- G Pro Wireless: $149.99 at LogitechG.com
- G Pro: $69.99 at LogitechG.com
Logitech has always been the a premiere peripheral manufacturer; we’ve reviewed a number of their keyboards and accessories here, in fact.. The Logitech G Pro series mice are a special case, however, as they have been painstakingly designed and tested in collaboration with eSports athletes. The process has spanned two years, and many hours in iteration, production, and testing. At each stage, pro feedback has been key in designing and creating the best pro gaming mouse available today. Equipped with the brand new HERO16k sensor and LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, Logitech looks to take the pro gaming scene to a whole other level and, for the first time, offers a wireless entry to the Pro line.
Key Differences
These mice are based on the same technology, but there are key differences you’ll want to be aware of. The wired Pro mouse is much closer to the original, offering an almost identical visual design and USB tether. The wire on this version of the mouse is not braided, however, which allows the cord to maintain a low-friction contact against your gaming surface to reduce drag and it is very flexible for cable management.
The wired mouse is a little bit smaller in your hand, which some people may like, and suited for a fingertip grip. The G Pro Wireless is a little bit bigger but only fractionally. The weight of the wired mouse comes in at 83 grams while the wireless mouse comes in at an amazingly light 80 grams. This is one of the lightest mice created to date and it shows in how breezily it moves. You can hardly feel it in your hand, making the mouse an extension of your arm rather than something you’ll consciously be thinking about in the middle of a gamer.
Along with size, there are also differences in shape. The Pro wired mouse has a more angular curve to match its smaller size while the Pro Wireless has a larger contour to fit either palm, fingertip, or hybrid grips. Logitech fans may notice that the Pro Wireless looks like the G403; however, they’ve improved the design by mirroring the left and right sides.This makes the mouse both ergonomic and ambidextrous, which is great for those left-handed gamers who want to use this mouse properly.
The next key difference is the placement of the DPI button. On the standard Pro, the DPI button still sits atop the mouse right below the wheel. On the Pro Wireless, it has been moved to the bottom, and it is on the opposite side of the sensor from the on/off switch. This button is still clickable but is well out of the way of any misclicks in the middle of a match.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Chris! Wireless mice are no good for the competitive scene, they have latency. Laaaaaatency! Well, the G Pro Wireless has an ace up its sleeve: LIGHTSPEED Wireless Technology. LIGHTSPEED is a proprietary connection technology which provides lag-free gaming on the Logitech Pro G Wireless device. It brings the wireless report rate down to 1ms, in line with other wired gaming mice, and allows for a reliable, worry-free gameplay experience for gamers and pros alike.
The last feature difference you’ll want to know about is the addition of POWERPLAY compatibility to the G Pro Wireless mouse. Logitech’s POWERPLAY system allows you to wirelessly charge your mouse using their specialized mouse pad. If you’ve invested in the system, this compatibility allows you to use the mouse without worrying about batteries
A HERO(16k) Under the Hood
Under the hood, the Logitech G Pro and G Pro Wireless mice share very similar technology. With new times comes the need for new and improved sensor technology, and that is why Logitech designed and produced the new HERO16K Optical Sensor for their new Pro devices. This sensor is the second iteration of the successful HERO sensor, and that means one thing: improved performance. The core architecture behind the HERO sensor was updated to use a new lens and firmware upgrades to provide higher performance and efficiency. The tracking for HERO16K is very accurate coming in at over 400 IPS and 40gs of acceleration. Its DPI range is also increased to 16,000 DPI range for the farthest ends of the performance spectrum. Another important point for competitive gamers is that it never adds smoothing, filtering, or anything else that could add unwanted lag during gameplay.
Mechanical Spring Button Tensioning is a technology that Logitech gaming mice have used for years but has proven incredibly popular and so makes its return here. Developed in partnership with Omron, they offer satisfying tactility and a 50 million click lifespan. In the world of eSports, you don’t want to be worried about your buttons breaking or double clicking, so their unique tensioning system allows for the almost instant activation of the key at click; this is impressive and strikes me as truly pro level design.
The mice also use the - currently in Beta - Logitech G Hub software. This new hub is intended to replace the Logitech Gaming Software (LGS) and unify your devices in a new, more user friendly and modern, presentation. Within it you can configure your lighting and custom button profiles. Each of these mice offers dual RGB illumination zones. Maybe you like to see your mouse breathe and cycle as you are playing - the hub will let you do that. Every single key is programmable within the hub as well, offering you a huge list of preset windows shortcuts and full macro programming.
Speaking of RGB lighting, the Pro Wired and Wireless both feature RGB right in the palm of your hand. The classic G logo on both of the devices lights up using a set of presets and custom colors. The Wired mouse offers a little more RGB with a light strip on the heel of the mouse but both of them still look amazing on your desk.
Conclusion
Overall, my time spent with Logitech’s new Pro G Wired and Pro G Wireless has been fruitful in terms of my gaming performance. They’re high fidelity tools of the trade for competitive games and I feel more responsive than ever in PUBG. The improved HERO sensor, the smooth gameplay, the increased durability, all adds up to a premiere pair of mice. When it comes to my opinion on if you should buy one, I would say simply that they’re the best gaming mice I’ve ever used, hands down.
Pros
- Excellent performance with the new HERO16k sensor
- Each mouse offers a different, comfortable ergonomic fit for different mouse grips
- Lightweight - perfect for competitive games
- G Hub allows for excellent programmability
- POWERPLAY compatibility on the G Pro Wireless
Cons
- Large price difference between the two models
The product discussed in this review was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
