After the PixArt PMW3366 sensor ceased to be exclusive to Logitech, and other brands got their hands on its analogs under different names, the company began to actively switch its gaming mice to a sensor of its own design called Hero. In many ways it is similar to the 336x series of sensors, but this similarity is more in terms of characteristics than internal structure. Just look at and compare the appearance of their chips. Unfortunately, the origin of Hero is shrouded in commercial secrecy (as are AM010 and Mercury), but there is no doubt that this sensor is unique. And the main difference of Hero, after all, is its extremely low power consumption (a 10-fold superiority over all 336x sensors is claimed), and it is not surprising that it has firmly established itself in wireless gaming mice. And the first representative of the new cohort of devices with this sensor, which we got for review, was the Logitech G305 Lightspeed manipulator. At first glance at it, you want to ask the question – is it a wireless version of the G102, or the G Pro? Let’s figure it out in detail.
Package Contents
But first, let’s traditionally take a look at the packaging and contents. The mouse box is blue and small in size. On its front and back sides there is an image of the product and its four main advantages are listed in several languages – low weight, optical Hero sensor, LIGHTSPEED wireless technology and economical battery power consumption. Technical specifications can be found on the left side. Inside, a cardboard damper and a bag are provided for protection against damage.
In addition to the mouse, the package includes a 1.5-meter USB 2.0 extension cable for connecting the receiver, warranty information, a brief user manual, a receiver and one Duracell AA battery.
Appearance and Design
The Logitech G305 has a fairly simple streamlined and symmetrical shape, which generally follows the contours of the G102 and G Pro. The mouse is medium in size, not small, as it might seem at first. The top panel is made of smooth matte plastic, which is quite resistant to dirt. The G logo is applied in gray paint on the back. The LMB and RMB panels are separate, with Omron switches with a rated life of 10 million clicks located under them. In addition, these panels are spring-loaded, so they have no backlash and quickly return to their original position. In terms of pressing force, they are quite light, with loud juicy click sounds. Between the keys is a glossy insert, which contains a scroll wheel, a small oval DPI change button (light, with a muffled click sound), a dot indicator of the current resolution and battery level.
The back of the top panel is removable by pressing it lightly in the center and sliding it back. Under it is a centrally located compartment for a single battery, next to which is a pocket for the receiver. Under the top cover there is a soft spring insert, which provides good battery pressure. The weight of the empty mouse is 74 grams.
No matter how remarkable and stable wireless communication the LIGHTSPEED technology provides, no one has canceled the laws of physics. The greater the distance between the receiver and the transmitter, the greater the delay in signal transmission and the more the signal is interfered with by extraneous radio interference in the now overloaded 2.4 GHz range. Therefore, the kit includes an extension cable for the mouse receiver, which allows you to place it next to the rug and minimize these problems. Ideally, the receiver should be located less than 20 cm from the mouse and no closer than 2 meters from other wireless devices, such as a Wi-Fi router.
The left side is made of rough plastic. In the middle, in the upper part there are two narrow glossy side buttons. They are easy to press and have a clear sound when triggered. The buttons have no free travel.
In the front view, you can see that the main keys have recesses for the fingers. The fit of the parts is good. The scroll wheel is rubberized, with even transverse notches. It rotates quite quietly, has clearly defined fixation positions, well distinguishable tactilely. The middle button is pressed hard and quietly.
The right side of the mouse is the same as the left, but without the side buttons.
The stern of the mouse is streamlined and rounded. It fits comfortably in the base of the palm with a “claw” or “palm” grip.
Logitech G305 is well suited for all major types of grip and will be equally comfortable in both right and left hands. The mouse is most versatile for small and medium hands, while owners of large hands will probably prefer to use it exclusively in a finger grip.
On the bottom of the mouse there are four oval Teflon feet at the corners, a pad around the sensor, and another small round foot at the back. There’s also the power switch located here. In the center is the window of the Hero optical sensor with infrared backlight.
We decided not to open the manipulator, as many video reviews on how to disassemble this mouse are readily available online. And there we noticed one interesting peculiarity. The Hero sensors in the Logitech G305, G Pro, and Pro Wireless look completely different, even though they are called the same. And the sensor from the G305 most resembles the shape of the microchip and the external backlight diode to the mysterious Mercury from the G102. As for the Hero sensors in the G Pro and Pro Wireless, although they have backlight integrated into the microchip, they also differ in appearance.
Fortunately, the mouse lacks RGB backlight elements to save battery life, and the only thing that can light up on it is the dot indicator in the middle. It doesn’t shine for long either, but it shows in color what mode the mouse is currently in (when turned on), which level of resolution is selected, and how much battery life is left.
Software
To configure the mouse, users can choose between two Logitech G305 software options. The first is the traditional universal Logitech driver, and the second is the new Logitech G HUB driver, which is still under development and testing. Both software can even be installed simultaneously, although in this case G HUB will have priority until it is removed. That’s why we’ll talk about it.
From the main screen, there is quick access to selecting a device, changing profiles, program settings (upper right corner), account (lower right corner), viewing news, and accessing the official website (feed below).
If desired, you can create your own account to access the cloud storage of profiles. The mouse supports one built-in memory profile. To edit it, the program needs to be granted access. In LGS, everything was a little simpler in this regard. After enabling the mouse, we get access to the assignments of any of the six keys. The set of allowed commands is standard – keyboard and mouse clicks, Windows functions, and macros. It is possible to set alternative commands that will be activated in G-Shift mode when the button responsible for it is pressed.
The macro editor looks quite funny and allows you to record a sequence of commands from the keyboard and mouse, taking into account delays. After recording, you can choose one of four ways to play back the macro command. The positions of the mouse cursor and the direction of the scroll wheel are not fixed by the application. Text and emojis can be added directly to the body of the macro, a link to start an application, a system command, or a delay can be embedded.
In the sensor settings, you can choose up to five sensitivity levels in the range from 200 to 12,000 cpi with a step of 50 cpi. To quickly select a specific level, you can assign the “SHIFT DPI” key. The polling rate is selected from options of 125, 250, 500, and 1000 Hz, but this is only available in high performance mode. If the mouse is switched to power saving sensor mode, the polling rate is fixed at 125 Hz.
In profile management (tab in the center at the top of the main screen), you can link a profile to the start of a specific application, create a usage scenario for it, assign a basic profile, and add necessary macros to it. And this is what the G HUB settings window looks like. Here you can select its launch and operation parameters, interface language, and you can also update the program or view its manual. In the “My Gear” section, you can select parameters for supported devices, and in ARX Control you can configure pairing with an external screen or mobile device to display program data on it.
Ergonomics and Testing
Testing of the Logitech G305 Lightspeed mouse was conducted on a black Mionix Alioth M single-color fabric rug. The receiver was located directly next to the gaming surface, according to the instructions. Compared to what is now considered “gaming mice,” the G305 looks a bit primitive, like a guest from the past. There are no rubber or metal inserts, soft-touch, multicolored garlands, and aggressive shapes. Everything is extremely ordinary, and if anyone remembers the Logitech Pilot mice from the early 2000s, they will definitely notice the similarity. But behind all this lies reliability and functionality. The body is assembled strong and light at the same time. The weight of the mouse with battery is 96 grams, and it is perfectly distributed along the axes of symmetry so that the manipulator does not tip over when lifted from the surface. The mouse panels feel good in the fingers and are resistant to dirt. The performance of all keys and the scroll wheel can be called excellent – they are clear and responsive. The main buttons are additionally spring-loaded. The feet here are not particularly slippery, and overall the mouse has low inertia.
In terms of connection stability, everything is also very good. During work and games, both in maximum and reduced performance mode, I was unable to feel any lag or delays. This mouse cannot be distinguished from a wired one without special devices. The mouse has a sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity even in game mode, but the power saving is not aggressive, and to wake it up it is enough to slightly move the manipulator, while the cursor freezes for literally a fraction of a second. Continuous activity mode is not provided here, so this option of automatic saving can be considered an acceptable compromise.
If the mouse is used at minimum settings, its charge will last approximately 9 months of active daily use. But at maximum settings, the battery life is up to 250 hours, which is about a month of gaming for 10 hours a day. Thus, gamers will have to buy not only a mouse, but also a decent rechargeable battery, or even two, if they don’t want to use a cartridge of batteries throughout the year (especially since after a year the rechargeable battery will fully pay for itself).
Regarding the operation of the Hero sensor (in the modification that is installed here), I have no complaints. It differs little from the PMW3360 in performance, supports high speed and accurate cursor positioning. It is also impossible to cause cursor breakdown on it, and there are no parasitic features like acceleration, excessive smoothing of the trajectory, and angular binding. The only difference is the inability to adjust the lift-off height, here it is fixed at slightly less than 2 mm. The ideal resolution range, from my point of view, would be the 800-2000 cpi segment.
Verdict
The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a high-quality and durable, albeit simple-looking, wireless gaming mouse that is a wireless version of the Logitech G102. Its advantages include an excellent optical sensor, a strong and balanced body, low weight, good keys and scroll wheel, stable lag-free connection, and long battery life. I couldn’t find any significant flaws in the G305 that could spoil the impression of working or playing on it.
However, the recommended price of this mouse seems overpriced, even against the background of other products from the company, not to mention competing solutions. After all, it is worth considering that in a gaming scenario, the buyer will also have to purchase a couple of rechargeable batteries and a charger for them. As they say, good, but expensive. However, if the convenience of the absence of a wire is above considerations of economy, and the shape of this manipulator fits your hand, then the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a worthy choice.