Logitech G9x laser mouse review

March 16, 10:52 AMPC Game ExaminerBryan Edge-Salois

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The G9 mouse and one of its interchangeable
mouse grips.

The Logitech G9x Laser mouse may very well be the best PC gaming mouse -- that $100 can buy.

The G9x Laser mouse offers near-perfect comfort, razor-sharp precision, and -- like most of Logitech's gaming gear (like their G35 headset) -- tons of customization options to fit virtually any purpose -- gaming or otherwise.

Features
Most gaming mice offer extra buttons, superior precision, and a host of customization and programmability features. The G9x offers all of these things and scores tops marks across the board for all of them. $100 may seem a steep price to pay for a mouse, but the G9x is worth every penny.

The G9x supports up to five different DPI settings (from 200 DPI to 3200 DPI), and enables you to tweak the speed and sensitivity of the mouse to the finest degree. For example, you can adjust the polling rate of the mouse as well as its overall speed and acceleration. You can set separate horizontal and vertical scrolling speeds, and you can adjust DPI sensitivity settings for the X- and Y- axis separately.

Switching between DPI settings can be done quickly via two buttons that sit just below the left-mouse button by the LEDs. My only (minor) gripe is that the default buttons for controlling the DPI settings force you to step through the settings. It works well enough, but it's not quite as handy as having a separate button for each DPI setting (like the Microsoft Sidewinder gaming mouse).

If you don't use multiple DPI settings, you can change the function of the DPI switching buttons to virtually any keystroke, macro, or other function.

In addition to its near-endless programmability, the G9 can store up to five different profiles in its onboard memory. In addition, these profiles allow you  to attach the G9 to any computer and use its full functionality, regardless of whether or not Logitech's SetPoint software is installed on the host computer.

Profile switching is a little awkward -- you must press a button on the bottom of the mouse and then use the DPI switching buttons to change to the profile you want. It's a little inconvenient, but not something you're likely to do often. Each profile can also have its own LED color assigned to it, so you'll know which profile is active based on the color of the LEDs on the top of the mouse.

If you like a bit of heft to your mice like I do, the G9 also comes with a set of small weights that can be inserted into the mouse. You can add from 4g-28g to the mouse.

Last -- but not least -- you can change the behavior of the scroll wheel from a click-by-click setting (best for gaming) to a smooth, fast-scrolling option better for general mousing and Web browsing. The only downside to this feature is that the scroll-wheel's behavior is changed via another button located on the bottom of the mouse. This is a cool feature, but I'd probably use it more if I could switch the scroll-wheel's function more easily. (Unfortunately, because this is basically a mechanical adjustment, you can't assign another button on the mouse to switch the scroll-wheel mode.)

Comfort
All the cool features in the world won't matter if a mouse is uncomfortable or poorly designed. Fortunately, the G9 is one of the most comfortable mice I've used, and its buttons -- with the exception of the two on the bottom of the mouse -- are all conveniently placed.

At first I thought the G9x would be a tad small for my hands -- and those with very large hands might also find it a bit small --  but I was almost immediately won over by its comfortable grip -- in particular the extra-wide thumb rest. The G9 practically 'marries' your hand to its grip, making man, mouse, and machine a seamless engine of PC gaming domination. (Maybe not, but it sounded cool to say.)

The extra programmable buttons near the thumb rest are well placed, and like every other button on the mouse they can be programmed with a variety of pre-made functions. You can also use the SetPoint control panel to record complex macros -- which can consist of mouse and keyboard functions --  and assign them to any mouse button you desire.

The G9 comes standard with two different grips -- one with a silky-smooth feel, and another grip with a coarse texture to prevent slipping. For $20 you can also order your own your own customized grips and add your own personal picture or logo to it.

My only minor gripes, aside from the buttons on the bottom of the mouse --  are that the scroll wheel is pretty stiff (it requires a fairly hefty finger-press to push down), and that the DPI switching buttons don't always register even when they felt thoroughly pressed. Neither problem ever proved to be a show-stopper or impact my gaming overly much, and I suspect I'll adjust in time.

Overall
The Logitech G9x Laser mouse is precise, sleek, comfortable, and feature rich -- and it's hands-down one of the best gaming mice to grace PC gaming desktops.

Visit Logitech's G9 home page for more info

Technical Specifications

• Tracking
  Resolution: 200 - 5000 dpi
  Image processing: 9 megapixels/second
  Max. acceleration: 30G
  Max. speed: Up to 150 inches (3.81 m)/second*
• Responsiveness
  USB data format: 16 bits/axis
  USB report rate: Up to 1000 reports/second
  Sleep mode: Disabled
• Glide
  Dynamic coefficient of friction - Mu (k): .09**
  Static coefficient of friction - Mu (s): .14**
  Tuning weight: Up to 28 grams
• Durability
  Buttons (Left/Right): 8 million clicks
  Feet: 250 kilometers

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