The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse adds an extra option in Logitech’s mischief of mice and one which is likely to surprise. It is super lightweight, precise, with plenty of buttons. It’s labelled a gaming mouse, but it’s quite versatile and all at an affordable price. I’ve been putting it through its paces the last fortnight for work and play, so what do I think?
First, my history with keyboards and mice
I am a simple man. At one point when I was gaming competitively and being offered sponsorship deals, I was playing with a simple Microsoft corded mouse and keyboard set that I paid $5 for and got $7 cashback. I used that combination for a lot of years, which included using a pencil to prop up the keyboard.
For the last 10+ years, though, I’ve been using Razer DeathAdders. I say multiple, because there’s been a couple of versions, but I’ve also had one at the office and one at home for that duration. If nothing else, it’s fun when someone tries to show you something on your computer and they can’t handle the mouse sensitivity.
All this to say, mainly, that I’ve used a very reliable gaming mouse with high DPI, precision, and one that my hand has been extremely accustomed to over the years. So, how does the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse compare…?
First Impressions of the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse
Out of the box, I was worried. The mouse is smaller than I’m used to, the sides don’t curve in like I’m used to, the side buttons are thin and stick out unlike those that are larger and flatter than the Razer, and there was an extra button between the buttons that I had no idea about. This was going to be interesting.
That said, the moment I sat it on the table and took hold of it, it felt perfectly comfortable, natural, and my hand moulded to it with ease. Despite ten years of using one particular mouse, this one felt great.
Just while we’re on “out of the box”, the box was pretty simple with its contents. There’s no wasted space; it’s a box barely bigger than the mouse. It includes the mouse, the LIGHTSPEED USB receiver, a USB cable extender (for if you have your computer a distance from your mouse), the standard paperwork, some grip stickers and a AA battery.
The Set Up
Admittedly, I’m rocking a Logitech G915 TKL keyboard, so I already have the Logitech G Hub software installed. But, would you need it? Well, my work laptop proves that you really don’t. But, for my gaming computer, it was as simple as plugging in the LIGHTSPEED USB receiver, throwing in the AA battery, and flicking the switch underneath to on, and the mouse was in play.
With the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse now on, playing around on desktop showed that this mouse was going to be really easy to get used to. It was sharp, responsive and comfortable in the hand. And, at this point, I’d not adjusted a thing.
I’m continuing to use my mouse ‘naked’, but it does come with some grip stickers you can throw on the side and main buttons if that’s your thing. I’ve never had use for them, but they are an option if you want them.
One thing I’ll mention before continuing, the LIGHTSPEED USB receiver is a minor complaint for me. In that, I need an individual one for my mouse and an individual one for my keyboard. I have plenty of USB slots, so it’s not a big problem for me. But if I had a gaming laptop, for example, while I could use Bluetooth, for optimal performance the Wireless route is preferred, and having two devices off one USB dongle could be mighty handy.
Mouse Sensitivity on the fly
One of the cool features with this mouse is that you can adjust your mouse sensitivity on the fly. With the Logitech G Hub software, you can set up to five sensitivity presets, adjusting the Wireless Report Rate (from 125Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz or 1000 Hz) and the DPI in increments of 50 from 100 DPI to 25600 DPI.
Now, anyone that uses their mouse at 1000 Hz and 25600 DPI is nothing short of a mad man. But, I like my mouse pretty sensitive. I have a range of presets at 1000 Hz Report Rates ranging from 450 DPI to 3600 DPI. These presets let me either flick around my desktop over two screens with minimal effort or have precision movements when I need to in game or when doing detailed photo editing.
And, with that button between the mouse buttons I was initially worried about, I can switch between any of the five sensitivity profiles on the fly without having to go back into the G Hub software. Even better is that I can turn on “on-board memory mode” and save those sensitivity profiles to the mouse, meaning I can then use said profiles on a computer which doesn’t have G Hub (for example, my work computer).
The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse offers both wireless and Bluetooth
With this mouse, I have been able to get rid of not one but two Razer DeathAdders off my desk. With a very discreet button on the bottom, I can switch the mouse between Wireless and Bluetooth connections. Meaning, like my Logitech G915 TKL keyboard, I can use the same device for both my gaming rig for personal use (via Wireless) and my work laptop (via Bluetooth).
And, to be honest, there’s no noticeable difference in performance (though, admittedly, I’m not gaming on my work laptop). With the sensitivity presets still in play, if someone needs to use my computer for something, I can turn down the sensitivity so they can actually control the mouse. In addition, by using Bluetooth with my work laptop, it means I don’t have to worry about losing the Wireless dongle switching it between computers.
Precision and Accuracy and Prolonged Use
I’ve given the mouse a great work out the past fortnight.
At work, plenty of admin work and mouse clicking and working through databases and the like. Standard stuff. But the mouse is really responsive, I’ve not had a misclick, and it is comfortable to use for hours at a time.
For fun, gaming has been a pleasure. Lengthy sessions have been a breeze. Both games like DOTA 2 as well as more traditional first-person shooters have been great with this mouse. I’ve definitely found the mouse more responsive than my Razer DeathAdder (potentially due to its age), responding quicker and accurately. In terms of accuracy, I’m currently deep into Ready or Not phase, which is an ultra-realistic SWAT simulator with AI that is crazy accurate and quick to shoot, who often take hostages or shoot around corners. The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse has no problem moving quickly, accurately, and responding quickly to my movements and mouse clicks, letting me complete the mission at hand with (mostly) no civilian casualties.
One massive thing I have to note is no more cord-drag / tangle. Often, I found my mouse would not respond how I expected, because the cord had been caught on my notepad or the corner of the desk or some such. Working and gaming wirelessly, especially using the PowerPlay Charging System, means I don’t need to worry about cords nor do I need to worry about flat batteries.
Now Logitech just need to work on a much larger PowerPlay charging system and have their keyboards able to be sat on it for constant charge, too. (Add a wireless charge point for a phone, and please give me some commissions.)
Battery Performance
The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse is powered off a single AA battery. It is advertised as getting about 300 hours of run time off that battery.
Now, for me, using it for both work and play, that will go down annoyingly so, perhaps. My G915 TKL keyboard has a battery life of 40 hours with the RGB on full brightness, but I do find myself only having to charge that once a week or so (and generally have the RGB off or dull). With 300 hours, roughly how long would that last me? Well, working conservatively for seven to eight hours a day, then using my gaming PC for both watching TV, gaming and life admin for two to four hours a day, I’d probably be looking at replacing that battery every four to six weeks. Which isn’t too bad, really.
But, I’ll be honest… my birthday was coming up, JB Hi-Fi had a great sale on the Logitech G PowerPlay Wireless Charging System. So, after the first few days of using the mouse on battery power, it is now running on the PowerPlay set up and powered via the mouse pad.
The best part about that? My mouse went from an already lightweight 86g to just 68g, as the mouse doesn’t need the AA battery in it to function. Comes down to personal preference from there as to if you like a super lightweight or a fraction more weight to your mouse (as leaving the AA battery in doesn’t hurt it at all).
The (Absent) RGB
My second and only other super minor complaint is a stupid one. But we live in an age where EVERYTHING has RGB. My gaming rig has fans, coolers, RAM, graphics cards, even hard drives with RGB on them, and the PowerPlay Gaming System has a customisable RGB G at the top.
The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, however, is black. (Or white, if you pick up that variant.) It has a light grey Logitech G painted on it, but it is otherwise black. It looks clean, sharp and all I want. But, I somewhat wish that little G was a tiny RGB light, or the scroll wheel had some RGB in it (like my DeathAdder did). Why? Because on a perfectly black mouse mat, in the dark, sometimes you fumble for the mouse rather than seeing exactly where it is.
Is it a game breaker? Definitely not.
The Buttons
A very brief mention of the buttons.
The sensitivity preset adjustment button, between the two main mouse buttons, I thought would get in the way. Never noticed it once.
The primary LMB and RMB and middle mouse button of the scroll wheel all have satisfying clicks and are super responsive. The scroll wheel also runs effortlessly with the standard haptic sensation with each fraction of a rotation.
The two side buttons were my bigger curiosities. The Razer DeathAdder are larger, flat buttons set into the side of the mouse. I have broken one of them in the past frantically knifing countless people in Battlefield. The ones on the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse are narrow and a bit more pronounced than I’m used to and I thought that was going to be weird. But, not at all. They’re comfortable, easy to find in a moment of panic while gaming, and never accidentally bumped while browsing (noting they are used for the standard functions of going back or forward to previous web pages).
Final thoughts on The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse
I’ve become a fan of Logitech’s gaming gear. Not just because of my ability to review them (for which we are extremely thankful, Logitech), because I have also expended my own money on their gear. I find it looks good, performs well (both battery life wise and overall performance wise), and is often at reasonable prices.
Is this a top-of-the-line gaming mouse that will do EVERYTHING you will do and you will want to wield at the next eSports tournament? Perhaps not. There are other wireless gaming mice in Logitech’s collection that will fill that need, but at a higher price point.
No, the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse is a great wireless gaming mouse with superb performance at an extremely reasonable $149 price point. If you manage to pick up the PowerPlay charging system (normally $249, but I paid $99), the two combined will offer so much versatility, performance and gaming prowess to your set up, you will be set.
If it is any sign; before I had a Razer DeathAdder on my gaming PC, my home-work setup and my office set up. Now, I’m throwing my Logitech keyboard and mouse into my laptop bag when I head into the office.
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