Logitech G309 review: New mid-range master

While the race at the apex of the hardware space is often enthralling, it's easy to forget that not everyone is looking for the lightest mouse with the most features - especially when that's often accompanied by the heftiest price tag.

There feels like a distinct lack of mid-range products on the market, leaving people who want great tech without spending an arm and a leg rather left out. 

However, Logitech aims to satisfy that space with their new G309 gaming mouse - introducing improvements over their ever-popular G305 model at a price that is certainly more appealing than many other options available to buy. 

It, of course, does come with some compromises - but how much they matter will very much depend on what you're looking for.

Shape

One of the most intriguing aspects of the G309's physical design is that it's specifically oriented towards palm grip styles that are largely overlooked. Most high-end gaming mice cater towards the more common claw or fingertip grips, offering a shorter length that favours support at the front.

However, the G309's longer and more gradual rear section allows the support of the whole hand, giving enhanced comfort for those who rest their weight on their palm. 

The same was largely true with the G305 as well, but there are even greater improvements here that make the G309 a more comfortable experience. The sides no longer curve in at the bottom - which I think helps a lot with keeping the mouse steady - and the falloff at the back is much less severe.

Of course, your preference very much comes down to how you hold the mouse and what your preferred grip style is, but I think it's definitely a more ergonomic design that - especially as a palm grip user - is more comfortable to use for longer periods of time. As my editor pointed out, it does look an awful lot like Buzz Lightyear's foot.

Build and visual design

From a feature set perspective, there isn't anything particularly different about the G309, but it certainly has everything you'll need when playing. Six programmable buttons are available to use, including a top DPI switch that has largely been neglected on the high-end, justifiably or not. 

While I'd never feel the need to switch from my set DPI, having it there as an extra button to do whatever I want is definitely handy in my favourite multiplayer games like Counter-Strike or Escape from Tarkov.

In terms of tactility, you'll find that the G309 features similar clicks to the Superlight 2 that have proven rather divisive, leaning more towards the heavier and louder side than you might expect.

How much this remains an issue is definitely down to the user as some might not even notice it, but if you're playing click-intensive titles like MOBAs this might become annoying. I personally don't find it too bad, but I can see where it could pose an issue in some situations.

While I love the overall shape and eggshell-like feel of the mouse, I'm not a huge fan of its visual design - especially when it comes to the middle partition. I definitely admit that from an aesthetic perspective gaming mice have become a bit stale, so the fact that Logitech is trying something different is definitely welcome, but in the end, this middle cutout just makes the mouse look odd and unappealing.

To battery, or not to battery

Much like the G305, the primary power source of the G309 is an AA battery which comes with both positives and negatives. By far the biggest downside is the weight, as a standard AA adds around 18g to the 62g frame that, by modern standards, isn't that light anymore.

This, however, makes it 12g lighter than the G305, which is definitely enough to justify the upgrade - and 80g overall isn't that bad in the grand scheme of things, especially for the price.

What you do get from the AA battery though is a staggering battery life, which according to Logitech will last you over 300 hours of continuous movement. If it's anything like the G305 then you'll likely go over a year without needing to change the battery, which is definitely a plus when it comes to convenience.

Suppose you have one of Logitech's Powerplay mousemats though you're in for a treat though, as with that you can forgo the battery entirely and never have to charge your mouse again. This is a huge plus for both convenience and performance and is definitely worth considering if you own Powerplay.

The battery life is also backed up by the standard exceptional performance you'd expect from both their HERO sensor and LIGHTSPEED wireless technology. As always you're getting the same HERO 25K sensor that exists within the flagship models so you're not compromising on performance, and the LIGHTSPEED wireless is both seamless to set up and faultless in execution. You're also now able to support multiple LIGHTSPEED-compatible devices on a single dongle too, allowing you to economise your USB ports and streamline the process - especially handy if you've also picked up the new G515 keyboard.

The Verdict

Logitech's new G309 beats out the G305 in pretty much every way, offering an enhanced product that is well worth the upgrade. Enhanced ergonomics, the introduction of Powerplay, and a big drop in weight all contribute to this being a fantastic mid-range mouse.

This does, however, come at an increased cost, setting you back $79.99/£79.99, which is an extra $30/£20 compared to the G305's standard retail price. This is still half the price of the flagship G PRO X Superlight 2 though, while retaining the same excellent sensor and wireless connection.

4/5

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