Logitech G502 Lightspeed review: Kessel Run smasher

When it comes to taking your gaming more seriously, there are a few key purchases. Speaking of keys, you want a responsive gaming keyboard. Next, invest in an accurate gaming mouse. Finally, the pricier-but-worth-it final steps are to look at upgrading your headset and monitor.

When it comes time to upgrade your gaming mouse, you should absolutely consider the Logitech G502 Lightspeed. Regardless of your preferred gaming genres, this mouse will quickly prove itself a faithful companion.

The G502 Lightspeed comes with everything you need out of the box (just add a mousepad), including a 1.8-metre USB 2.0 charging and data cable. This cable can connect to an included extension adapter, which has the Lightspeed wireless receiver on the other end. Alternatively, just connect the included wireless receiver directly to a spare USB 2.0 port on your computer. The box also includes six weights that can be inserted into the G502 Lightspeed chassis, as well as user documentation.

• Incredibly accurate sensor
• Top-tier wireless performance
• 11 programmable buttons

An incredibly accurate sensor, wireless performance that’s as good as wired, and 11 programmable buttons are the key reasons to buy a Logitech G502 Lightspeed. The Hero sensor is incredibly accurate, while two of the 11 programmable buttons are, by default, dedicated to shifting sensitivity up or down on the fly. The button at the tip of your thumb lets you select a secondary DPI that the mouse will automatically shift to while it’s held. These button features are particularly handy for shooter fans, but are also versatile for everyday use.

By default, the G502 Lightspeed feels great in the hand and, in use, has a solid mix of ease-of-sliding and a slight weight to help maintain control. Pop off the bottom panel and you can add additional weights into fixed grooves. There are four 2g weights and two 4g weights to tune how it slides. The size of the G502 Lightspeed means it’s built with moderate-to-large hand sizes. If you have small hands, consider the Razer Viper Ultimate.

Here’s a Logitech video on how to add weights to the Logitech G502 Lightspeed.

Logitech’s technical wizardry means the G502 Lightspeed is just as accurate in wireless mode than it is in wired. All of the DPI options and the same 1000Hz report rate are available whether you’re operating wire-free or using the charging cable. And that’s how you should see the cable: for charging. With up to 60 hours of battery life on a full charge (up to 48 hours if you leave the RGB lights on), an automatic low-power mode to preserve battery, and 2.5 hours of juice from a five-minute charge, you should never need to game with the G502 Lightspeed in wired mode. Just keep the sensor and mousepad free of dust, hair and other smaller obstructions to ensure consistent accuracy.

Download the Logitech G Hub software to get the most out of the G502 Lightspeed. This easy-to-use software should work with all recent Logitech products, including other Logitech keyboards, mice, headsets, webcams, and even the Blue Yeti X. Just click on the peripheral to dive into the relevant settings. For the G502 Lightspeed, the G Hub software controls lighting, button assignment (including macro commands), as well as changes to DPI sensitivity – from a snail’s pace 100 to a hummingbird 16,000 – as well as report-rate values: 125, 250, 500, or 1000 (keep it high).

There are cheaper gaming mice out there, but this pricepoint is where the top-tier mice roam. Buying the Logitech G502 Lightspeed is absolutely an investment, but it’s a worthy one. This is a mouse that performs incredibly well for everyday use and across game genres. It’s accurate enough to please shooter fans and Logitech has managed to include a practical number of programmable buttons to be practical for input-heavy gaming genres, too.