Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED – The Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED is one of the best wireless gaming mice on the market today, offering exceptional performance in an affordable and portable package. In this detailed review, we’ll examine the design, features, sensor performance, connectivity, software, gaming capabilities, and overall value of this impressive mouse. Whether you’re a competitive esports gamer or simply want a high-quality wireless mouse, the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED delivers.
Introduction
As a leader in gaming peripherals, Logitech has a long history of making quality mice designed for gamers. The Logitech G305 is their latest iteration of an affordable yet high-performing wireless gaming mouse.
This wireless gaming mouse uses Logitech’s advanced LIGHTSPEED wireless technology for super-fast response times, while still being powered efficiently by just a single AA battery.
At just 99 grams, the G305 has a lightweight, egg-shaped body with a nearly symmetrical design suitable for both right and left-handed gamers. There are no fancy RGB lights or a ton of buttons, but it provides everything needed for hours of lag-free gaming. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the Logitech G305 stand out.
Design and Build Quality
The Logitech G305 has compact dimensions of 116.6 x 62.15 x 38.2 mm making it easy to throw in your bag for gaming on the go. It uses a durable plastic construction available in subdued matte color options like black, white, lilac, or blue.
There are no fancy RGB lighting zones, just a small Logitech G logo toward the rear. This helps conserve battery power while keeping the focus on performance.
The mouse has a comfortable egg-shaped body that is suitable for various grip styles including claw and fingertip grips. Here are the dimensions for reference:
| Specifications | Details |
| Length | 116.6 mm |
| Width | 62.15 mm |
| Height | 38.2 mm |
| Weight | 99 g |
The palm rest is slightly flexible but doesn’t negatively affect performance or tracking. This allows it to conform nicely to your hand for comfort during long gaming or work sessions.
The mouse uses a matte plastic finish that feels smooth and resists fingerprints. The coating has a nice gritty texture allowing you to easily grip the mouse. Sweaty hands won’t be slipping off this mouse during intense gaming moments.
Overall, the mouse feels solidly built and the matte coating provides a premium feel. The lack of RGB lighting contributes to its understated look but also significantly extends battery life.
Weight and Battery Life
The G305 tips the scales at 99 grams making it slightly heavier than some ultralight gaming mice. Ultralight mice have become popular with gamers who want the quickest movements possible.
It runs off a single AA battery and Logitech claims you can expect up to 250 hours of continuous gaming on a single battery. This is significantly longer than most wireless gaming mice.
For example, the Logitech G PRO Wireless Mouse is rated for just 48 hours of continuous gaming. The Razer Viper Ultimate is rated for 70 hours. So the G305’s 250+ hour battery life on a single AA battery is mighty impressive.
There is also an optional 10-gram removable weight that can be inserted in the bottom. This allows you to adjust the overall weight and balance based on your preference. The ability to keep going with just an AA battery is useful when gaming on the go or away from your chargers.
Buttons and Controls
For a compact wireless mouse, the G305 has a respectable number of buttons. You get the standard right and left-click buttons with a clicky and responsive feel. There is a clickable scroll wheel and a dedicated DPI shifting button below it to adjust sensitivity on the fly.
On the left side are two thumb buttons which are programmable for shortcuts, macros, or other in-game commands. The thumb buttons have a concave curved shape and textured grip which makes them easy to press without looking.
A small G-Shift button allows you to assign a secondary function or command to all the other buttons for even more customizability. For example, holding a G-Shift while pressing the forward thumb button could trigger a different macro. This essentially doubles the number of custom functions accessible via the buttons.
The onboard memory can store only a single profile which is a bit limiting. But the buttons are highly customizable using Logitech’s software once you connect to a PC. Overall the buttons feel responsive and are placed well for quick access.
Sensor Performance
Powering the G305 is Logitech’s high-performing HERO sensor, capable of up to 12,000 DPI sensitivity with very little smoothing, filtering or acceleration.
This optical gaming sensor was designed from scratch by Logitech engineers to provide a super accurate and consistent experience. The HERO sensor accelerates precisely as you move the mouse without any delay or hysteresis.
This results in extremely accurate cursor movement needed for headshots or other precision shots in FPS games. Even at high sensitivity settings, the cursor won’t skip pixels or vary in speed.
The HERO sensor has extremely low latency and a fast 1ms report rate for super responsive gameplay. This means the mouse sends mouse movement updates to your PC within 1 millisecond. Together with LIGHTSPEED wireless, this results in lag-free gaming.
The lift-off distance is also tuned to be very short which is ideal for fast swipes and aiming accuracy. You can customize this even lower in the software depending on your mousepad surface.
Whether you play at 800 DPI or 12,000 DPI, the tracking stays consistent. The sensor has low jitter and precision error making this mouse suitable for shooter games as well as MOBAs that require a lot of clicking and rapid movements.
According to tests by Rocket Jump Ninja, the HERO sensor in the G305 has an extremely low click latency of just 7-8ms which is impressive for a wireless mouse. This makes it suitable for professional competitive gaming where every millisecond counts.
Connectivity and Software
The Logitech G305 connects wirelessly via the included LIGHTSPEED USB nano receiver. The tiny receiver can be stored within the mouse for easy portability.
When the receiver is plugged in, the mouse seamlessly connects without any pairing process required. Just turn the mouse on and you’re good to go. The mouse will automatically sleep when idle to preserve battery life.
The mouse also has Bluetooth connectivity allowing it to be paired with laptops and mobile devices lacking a USB port. Switching between LIGHTSPEED and Bluetooth mode is as simple as pressing a button on the bottom of the mouse.
For full customization of buttons, RGB, DPI presets and macros, you’ll want to install the Logitech G Hub software on your Windows or MacOS computer. This allows programming the buttons, adjusting the polling rate (125 to 1000 Hz), creating DPI presets for specific games, and more.
Some users have reported issues with G Hub being buggy or causing conflicts on certain systems. But the software is optional, and you can use the G305 out of the box without any additional configuration if needed. The onboard memory will retain your single profile.
Gaming Performance
Thanks to LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, the G305 delivers incredibly fast response times comparable to wired gaming mice. The wireless connection remains stable during intense gaming sessions with no noticeable dropouts or latency spikes.
LIGHTSPEED uses intelligent frequency switching between 2.4GHz and lower interference channels. Signal strength is constantly scanned and adjusted to maintain a strong connection. Everything happens automatically in the background.
The reliable tracking and quick 1ms report rate makes the G305 a great fit for fast-paced competitive titles like CS: GO, Valorant, Fortnite, and Overwatch. The lightweight body and grippy rubber sides also make it easy to precisely aim and flick shot.
For MOBA games like League of Legends or DOTA 2, the sensor accuracy allows you to swiftly target abilities and click rapidly during fights. The DPI shifting button lets you quickly adjust between high and low sensitivities on the fly.
If you play MMOs, there are enough buttons for keybindings and macros. The lag-free wireless performance also prevents any missed actions or commands, even in hectic raids or PvP combat. Hardcore MMO players may want a mouse with more buttons, but the G305 covers the basics well.
Overall, the stable connection and rapid response times are perfect for competitive gaming. Logitech even offers a G305 LIGHTSPEED League of Legends edition mouse designed in partnership with Riot Games. This variant has League of Legends artwork but is otherwise identical.
Everyday Performance
Beyond gaming, the Logitech G305 works great for everyday desktop use. The adjustable DPI lets you tune the sensitivity for image editing, detailed CAD work, or office documents.
I set my G305 to a higher 1600 DPI for rapid navigation and scrolling through documents and web pages. Lower sensitivities like 800 DPI work better for precision work like video or photo editing.
Side buttons can be mapped to common functions like cut, copy, and paste. I personally have them mapped to forward and back so I can easily navigate between web pages and documents.
For productivity purposes, the mouse has automatic sleep and power saving modes to preserve battery life. And pairing via Bluetooth allows using the G305 with non-gaming laptops and mobile devices that lack a USB receiver port.
The compact size and lightweight body make it easy to use this mouse for extended periods without fatigue. I used the G305 for full workdays without any wrist or hand pain. Those with larger hands may prefer a larger mouse, however.
Overall the versatility of the HERO sensor and LIGHTSPEED wireless makes the G305 an excellent gaming and office mouse. It works flawlessly across Windows, Mac, and even tablets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lightweight, ambidextrous egg-shaped design
- LIGHTSPEED wireless technology provides ultra-low latency
- HERO sensor delivers competition-level accuracy
- Extreme 250+ hour battery life with 1 AA battery
- Programmable buttons and onboard memory
- Removable weight for adjustable balance
- Reliable connectivity via LIGHTSPEED or Bluetooth
- Affordable price given the performance
Cons
- No RGB lighting which some gamers expect
- Side buttons are on the small side
- May feel too compact for large hands
- Only a single profile can be stored onboard
- Occasional software issues reported by some users
Conclusion
The Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED manages to deliver an extremely high-performance wireless gaming experience in an affordable, portable package. Both gamers and general users will find a lot to like in this versatile mouse.
It provides near-instantaneous clicks and movements thanks to LIGHTSPEED wireless technology and the HERO sensor. The battery lasts for months between changes, and you can use a common AA battery.
While it lacks some premium features like RGB lighting, the Logitech G305 focuses on pure performance. For the price, it’s hard to find a more responsive, customizable, and power efficient wireless gaming mouse.
The shape and size won’t be ideal for all hand sizes, but medium to large hands should find it comfortable for claw or fingertip grip. If you want the most buttons or RGB possible, there are higher-end alternatives.
But if your priorities are raw performance, lag-free wireless connectivity, and marathon battery life, the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED is an easy choice. It delivers wireless gaming excellence at an affordable price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is the Logitech G305 good for FPS games?
Yes, the G305 is an excellent gaming mouse for FPS games. The HERO sensor provides precise tracking with no acceleration or smoothing. The lightweight and LIGHTSPEED wireless technology allows fast flicks and reactions critical for FPS games like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike.
Q2: How long does the battery last?
Logitech claims up to 250 hours of continuous gaming on a single AA battery. In mixed usage of gaming and regular work, the battery can last several months before needing to be changed. This is significantly longer than most wireless gaming mice.
Q3: Is the G305 suitable for large hands?
The G305 may feel slightly small for users with very large hands. It has an egg-shaped, ambidextrous design best suited for claw and fingertip grips. Those with medium to large-sized hands should find the mouse comfortable. Users with extra large hands may prefer a larger mouse.
Q4: Does the G305 work for left-handed gamers?
Yes, the symmetrical egg-shaped design and side button placement make the G305 suitable for both left and right-handed gamers. The buttons can also be reprogrammed to suit left-handed use.
Q5: Does the mouse work without Logitech software?
The G305 works fine out of the box without any software installed. However, installing the Logitech G Hub unlocks the full customization potential for button programming, macro recording, RGB control, and DPI settings. Many users don’t install any software and are happy with the default settings.