When trying to move up the rankings and compete with the pros — whether your jam is Fortnite, CS:GO, or anything in-between — a solid mouse is a must. Rapid response and uninterrupted tracking make a huge difference — a larger one than you may at first realize.
Moving from the stock mouse that came with my PC to the Logitech G305 (one of Logitech’s newest gaming-centric mice), I’m shocked by the clear and noticeable differences it provides over most of the mice I’ve used.
From a comfortable design to instant wireless response, the G305 delivers a light, portable option for the serious gamer.
G305 Design
A quick look at the G305 reveals a surprisingly restrained, simplistic design. No crazy angles and curves like the Proteus, no flared hips like the G300S, and no extended thumb support segment like the G602.
Instead, the G305 offers a smaller, lighter design that works well for either a claw grip or a relaxed hand grip. The mouse has a solid feel but is fairly lightweight for a serious gaming peripheral. I think it feels best with the extra 10g weight added, but if you don’t want that weight dragging you down for twitchy FPS action, pulling it out is a snap.
The placement of the rubber feet makes the mouse absolutely smooth: it can glide across your desktop space with ease, and an extra foot at the bottom means overzealous players who slam their mouse buttons down aren’t going to do any damage.
Logitech has managed to pack a whole lot into the smaller space of the G305, with the wireless receiver dongle cleverly hidden inside the mouse next to the battery. It’s so small and effectively hidden that I didn’t even see it the first time I opened the case and thought my mouse mistakenly hadn’t included that critical piece.
G305 Features
Having two extra buttons on the side and one just below the scroll wheel significantly improved my Fortnite reflexes (and ranking!) since I didn’t have to move my hand and tap F1 to bring up the build menu. The MMB is more pronounced than some of the other mice I’ve used as well, making it easy to find in frenetic combat situations.
Another great feature is Logitech’s state-of-the-art HERO sensor. Found in some of Logitech’s other mice, the HERO sensor is supposed to provide enhanced power efficiency while still pushing exceptional accuracy and performance. And for the most part, it does just that. The sensor is accurate and responsive, shaving time (however small) off my movements.
You can also automatically switch profiles between games like Fortnite or Overwatch, assigning different functions to the buttons that are game-specific. And these profiles can either be stored on the mouse or on your PC.
With the Logitech software installed, there’s a crazy level of detailed usage data to be mined. Turning on the click analyzer lets you see what buttons you press most often, how hard you press them, and how long they remain depressed so you can plan your button profile strategy for any given game.
Best of all, the software lets you manually change sensitivity settings if they aren’t to your liking, since some games benefit from flinging the mouse across the screen in an instant, while others need more precision.
G305 Performance
What you get with the 305 is essentially the same basic functionality as the more expensive G703, but with a few key features culled to lower the price point. Most notably, there’s no Powerplay option for automatic recharging on the mouse pad like with the other mice in this series.
Although Powerplay isn’t an option here, the G305 will last a good long time on a single AA battery — up to 250 hours if you keep it on low-power mode. No matter what your settings are or how many profiles you save on the mouse, the battery life is long enough that you really don’t need to factor constant battery purchases into the price, so you are saving a good deal by not buying that awesome (but expensive) charging pad.
While the battery life is great, all that really matters for a wireless gaming mouse is its responsiveness — and that’s where the G305 outshines the competition. The sensitivity and response time are actually better here than with my standard wired mouse, which is something that seemed impossible just a few years ago.
Aside from the missing Powerplay feature, another potential issue is the lack of RGB lighting, which has become nearly standard with any gaming mouse currently on the market. While there are cheapo $10 mice out there that have more stylish and ostentatious aesthetics, they won’t come close to the sleek, smooth function of the G305.
Verdict
The G305 is undeniably pricier than your bare bones stock mouse while having a similar aesthetic. Where it beats out the lower-end peripherals, however, is in wireless connectivity, incredible responsiveness, a solid-yet-lightweight feel, and the Logitech gaming software.
For performance over panache, you can’t go wrong here. If you don’t care about flashing lights or flared, curved designs and just want to dominate in a round of Fortnite, the G305 is enthusiastically recommended.
Rated for 10 million clicks, the Logitech G305 is a fantastic mouse for the price. You can check out the full specs on Logitech’s website.
You can buy the Logitech G305 gaming mouse on Amazon for $59.99.
[Note: Logitech provided the G305 gaming mouse used for this review.]
Published: May 21, 2018 08:04 pm