Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

I don’t really get excited about new mice, but this week I saw a wireless gaming mouse that impressed the hell out of me.

For whatever reason there are some perceptions in tech — some that I’m guilty of myself — that make us believe and do weird things. Things like banging the desktop tower so that it magically boots or spam-clicking a frozen tab in a browser as if that’ll knock something loose. We’ve all done stuff like that.

There’s also a belief that a wireless mouse is always going to be slower to respond than one that’s wired. With the G900 Chaos Spectrum (yes, these are too many words for a mouse), Logitech is trying to dispel that myth.

Sarah Tew/CNET

After three years of research and development, it doesn’t appear that Logitech had to compromise much with the G900. Many of the features and its design are the result of direct feedback from the PC gaming community, the very audience the mouse is aimed at.

It’s important to keep that in mind because a lot of what makes the G900 a really cool mouse are details that people in that scene really care about.

Logitech went through was seems like an awful amount of trouble to prove its low latency claims by setting up a series of tests to analyze response time and performance under severe interference issues. But the most damning evidence is in the data they collected when comparing the G900’s click and motion latency to some of the wired competition. These results may not sound like a big deal for you, but it’s undoubtedly head-turning stuff for the professional player.

Logitech

According to Logitech’s data, the G900 had quicker click latency than the Steelseries Rival 300 and Razer Death Adder and better motion latency head to head with the Death Adder.

Logitech

For wireless interference tests, Logitech set up a situation where each mouse was set up on what sounds like a turntable — think of a treadmill for a mouse — and then bombarded it with wireless interference. Their tests show a constant circular pattern being drawn with the G900 and numerous skips and jumps with the competition.

Logitech

Logitech

Sure, these test scenarios are not typical of real world conditions, but they may be things that pro gamers experience in the world of eSports. This is a mouse for the ultra-competitive. At $150, it’s not exactly the practical choice for the casual user. (While international availability is unknown at this time, that price direct converts to about £101 and AU$199.)

Of course Logitech was in control of all these tests but they’re betting that third-party analysis will find similar results. While I can’t test the G900 like Logitech did in their controlled environment, I should be able to to notice any interference in an apartment building with tons of competing 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi signals.

I got my hands on a G900 this week and the first thing I noticed after picking it up was just how light the thing was. I couldn’t believe it. At 107 grams, it’s noticeably lighter than most mice, wired or wireless. It has a striking symmetrical design (which actually reminds me of the Batmobile) that makes it useable for righties and lefties. In fact, its two side thumb buttons can be magnetically placed on either side of the mouse, or you can opt to use all four. The customization is up to you. And of course, using Logitech’s gaming software, you can tweak the buttons and functionality of the mouse to your heart’s desire.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Those three years of development didn’t just result in a lighter weight. The G900 is a mouse constructed from the ground up, with a new way of approaching the plastic left and right click apparatuses. Without getting too technical, Logitech engineered a way to reduce the actuation fluctuation over time that mice can suffer, aimed at ensuring a more consistent force requirement over the life of the product.

I played a few rounds of Counter Strike: Global Offensive at a Logitech event and then Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and Fallout 4 back at the office. I think the mouse feels good overall, but its shape will likely take me some getting used to, coming from the G502. I like the placement of the thumb buttons and love the customization options they offer too.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The G900’s rechargeable battery is rated at 24 hours of use on single charge which can jump to 32 if the RGB LED light is turned off. The mouse ships with a USB charging cable that can also be used as a tether for the mouse. When it’s connected you don’t need the dongle. And if you’re curious about the G900’s sensor, it uses the PMW3366, still regarded as one of the best around.

I’ll continue to be testing the mouse and update this with some more thoughts, but you can try it out yourself in April for $150.