Logitech G502 X Mouse Review: When the Downgrade Is an Upgrade

Overview

I had a funny conversation with Jason about this review. Sometimes when a piece of gear is really good or really bad—or just really interesting—it’s easy to sit down and talk about it at length. But sometimes you end up with something like this Logitech G502 X mouse that does its job so well that you kind of just want to say, “It works.” Even though that’s really my response, it’s worth trying to understand why that is.

I am not one of those people who gets really bogged down in the details of my peripherals. If it feels good, works good, and looks good, then I’m not overly concerned with the specs (although given my ever-expanding collection of keyboards and mice, maybe I should be). So there’s no reason I shouldn’t have loved the very fancy G Pro X Superlight that was on my desk, considering it’s probably the single most popular mouse among pros.

The consensus on the G Pro X is that the combination of feathery weight (2.22 oz or 63 g), super fast 1ms wireless response time, and claw-friendly universal “generic mouse” shape makes it the best all-rounder for Esports, but some of that is the same reason I don’t love it. I like it, I’ve used it a bunch, and I admit it is crazy accurate, but some of those are the same reasons I prefer the G502 X.

I come out of the automotive world, and one of the things we talk a lot about are “touch points,” literally the places you actually touch your car and interact with it. For gaming, you basically have three of those: Mouse, keyboard, and headphones. You might spend a lot of money on your PC and want it to look good, but deep down in our mammal brains, it’s what we touch that matters. It’s a new first impression every time you sit down, and at least for me it helps set my mood. It’s the same reason people get so deeply into keyboards. They’re not doing anything an e-waste membrane keyboard doesn’t do, but the feeling is so much better that you really can’t go back to typing on mush.

Logitech G502 X Specs

How the Logitech G502 X Feels

At 89 grams/3.14 ounces, the G502 X is lighter than the previous G502 Hero, but still almost exactly three times heavier than the feathery 30 gram Pro Superlight. I think three ounces is a real sweet spot, because human bodies like some feedback. The textured grips on each side are great, and in gaming sessions lasting several hours I never got sweaty or sticky.

The one complaint people have is the overall size, because this mouse is almost half foot long and it is CHONKY. I have average hands and obviously I love it, but if you’re on the smaller side there’s a good chance you’ll have to move your hand to reach the upper keys. However, the two (G4 and G5) buttons above your thumb are reversible to tune them for your reach, or you can remove the G5 altogether and replace it with an included blank plate. But either way, with the non-removeable cord you’re not going to be slipping this into a laptop sleeve.

I have a torn ligament in my thumb, and it can be hard for me to find a mouse grip that’s comfortable, but my hand falls into place perfectly on the G502 X. I think my only real issue is that the steeply sloped palm area puts my hand back and down a little and positions my wrist more or less on my desk mat. It’s almost identical to the curve of the G903. The Pro Superlight has a much less steep curve and I prefer the way that keeps my hand up and away from the surface a little more.

Logitech G502 X Dimensions

How the Logitech G502 X Performs

As I said, I’m not a mouse specs geek, in part because outside of some competitive Esports scenarios, there’s very little meaningful real-world difference between mice as long as they work properly. The Logitech has really cool optical-mechanical switches very similar to keyboard switches, which promise, and deliver, really satisfying clicky mechanical sensations while cutting down on accidental double clicking. They should also be very durable, which as my old G903 demonstrates, is a hallmark of the brand’s higher-end mice.

Underneath it has new (from the Hero) slippery glide feet and might be the smoothest gliding mouse I’ve ever used. It is at least on par with my Razer Basilisk V3 and very noticeably smoother than the Pro Superlight.

However, the amazing ergonomics of the Logitech might come with a few compromises. When I switched from the Pro to the G502 X, I had some trouble aiming at first, and kept veering off a few degrees to one side or the other until I figured out how to index it properly to 12 o’clock. It was a weird issue, and I think it’s because it locks your hand so firmly into a single position, making it very sensitive to your arm angle. You kind of move from the elbow more than with other mice. You certainly get used to it and I do like the secure feeling.

Conclusions

For ergonomics the G502 X is a 10 out of 10. The same drop off the back that lowers your wrist also straightens it out and the whole thing keeps your hand in a supported, neutral position that feels comfortable, stable, and immediately natural. You might have problems with this if you have a smaller hand, or prefer a claw grip since it definitely does not work with one.

I think this is a very well thought-out mouse with lots of attention to detail. I prefer the white colorway, but in black it would also be an outstanding productivity mouse for needs like graphic arts where comfort and the ability to map multiple quick access functions to buttons are also useful. I’m not an MMO person, but I could see it being good there, too.

I always do a lot of research into keyboards and before buying one, and the G502 X still feels good every time I use it. I think the only thing I’d do differently would be getting the RGB version instead, but considering my wired version is 30 percent off right now, that’s really had to justify when this one is just about perfect.

This review is based on a purchased retail Logitech G502 X gaming mouse. While FullCleared has affiliate partnerships, these don’t influence our editorial content. We may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page.

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