Logitech G502 X Plus review

In 2020, the Logitech G502 Lightspeed proved to be the best gaming mouse available at the time with incredible versatility and excellent performance. Fast-forward to 2022 and Logitech has reimagined the iconic gaming mouse with three options: the wired G502 X alongside the wireless G502 X Lightspeed and G502 X Plus. Logitech sent me the G502 X Plus to review, and while it’s a mostly evolved experience, there are some changes and omissions that aren’t for the better.

At $279 RRP, the Logitech G502 X Plus is expensive but priced to compete with other high-end wireless gaming mice, including the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless and Razer Basilisk V3 Pro. While the G502 X Plus has a slightly cheaper RRP than those two competitors, both of those gaming mice have Bluetooth for extra connectivity. The big edge, then, that Logitech has is the 13 programmable buttons placed in such a way that they won’t bother shooter fans after fewer buttons but offer greater genre versatility for strategy, MMO and MOBA players.

The Logitech G502 X Plus has everything you need in the box for plug-and-play use, including a replaceable lower-profile DPI-shift button, which is a nice touch. There’s a magnetic-seal puck on the bottom to store the Lightspeed dongle, but the dongle doesn’t slot in, so it rattles around.

For anyone using an external USB hub, note that the G502 X Plus refused to work when connected to my powered USB hub. This isn’t a problem I’ve had in testing other mice in the past year. Connected directly to a PC USB port, though, Windows 11 detected the G502 X Plus immediately. It’s also great to see Logitech logically shift from Micro-USB to USB-C on the mouse for charging.

It only takes around an hour or so to charge the G502 X Plus from 30% (when the low battery warning kicks in) to 100%. Strangely, the G502 X Plus lost about 50% capacity overnight while connected to a powered-off PC across multiple tests. Disconnect the mouse or flick the power switch on the bottom to avoid this.

The classic Logitech G502 design has been honed, albeit without the option for removable internal weights. Buttons are sleeker across the chassis but all within easy reach. Admittedly, the two buttons to the left of the main mouse button are sometimes too easy to reach, so you may accidentally click them. That’s not so great when they’re dedicated to sensitivity up and down by default, which feels strange given the default trend towards DPI-changing buttons below the scroll wheel on other mice.

The G502 X Plus is incredibly accurate and glides effortlessly whether you’re using it for games or everyday computing. The thumb rest comfortably removes some digit slide resistance, while the feet are generously sized and well-spaced out. There were zero issues with skipping or inaccuracy during the dozens of hours of testing over a two-week period.

Admittedly, the scroll wheel takes some getting used to. Both the scroll wheel and the button used for free-flow scrolling have more resistance than any other mouse I’ve tested. It’s not a deal-breaker, but there is a learning curve. It also makes for noisier scrolling that requires more effort than usual.

You don’t need to install the Logitech G Hub mouse software to use the G502 X Plus out of the box, but it helps. For starters, I highly recommend tweaking DPI settings and changing button assignments to suit your personal preferences (and avoid accidental DPI changes). Logitech G Hub also has a Lightsync tab for changing RGB lighting settings. I’m no fan of RGB on a mouse—after all, it’s mostly covered by your hand, plus it drains the battery faster—but the chassis lighting on the G502 X Plus is, admittedly, very pretty.

Speaking of battery life, expect about a week with average use and being lazy with the on/off switch. Disable the RGB lighting, though, and Logitech estimates threefold battery gains. On the all-important gaming front, the G502 X Plus is as impressive as I’d expect it to be. It has a good weight, so I didn’t miss not being able to personalise the heft. The G502 X Plus is also incredibly accurate with low-click latency and it’s versatile across gaming genres thanks to the many in-reach buttons.

The Logitech G502 X Plus and Razer Basilisk V3 Pro are very close contenders. They’re both wireless gaming mice with a similar shape, weight and practical performance. If you want more buttons, the G502 X Plus is the obvious choice with two more in easy reach than the Basilisk V3 Pro.

But the Basilisk V3 Pro is more versatile overall, with Bluetooth connectivity and expansion via the Razer Mouse Dock Pro for magnetic wireless recharging, dongle-free connectivity as well as 2,000Hz and 4,000Hz polling rates. Admittedly, it’s tough to feel the difference beyond 1,000Hz settings and there are some game incompatibilities, but the option for higher polling rates does make the Basilisk V3 Pro feel more future-proofed.

The Logitech G502 X Plus is a great wireless gaming mouse. It has plenty of buttons for genre versatility and sublime performance. Still, the lack of Bluetooth, overnight plugged-in battery drain and some design quirks hold it back. I shifted from the original Logitech G502 Lightspeed to the SteelSeries 650 Wireless, but my gaming heart and hand now belongs to the close-to-perfect Razer Basilisk V3 Pro.