Logitech’s gaming mice range is a bit mind-boggling, and so is making a decision when it comes to buying that perfect mouse that suits your needs. However, one thing that’s for sure is that the G502 Proteus Spectrum is Logitech’s absolutely high-end wired gaming mouse, and boasts of a wide range of features which attract gamers of all genres. Before getting started with the review, I should mention that I myself have been using its predecessor, the Proteus Core for over a year now, and frankly, it’s the best mouse I’ve ever used.
I’m not the only one who thinks so too, the G502 is featured at the top of most gaming mice reviews.
The only major difference between the G502 Proteus Spectrum and the Proteus Core is customizable RGB lighting. Agreed, they don’t really add much, but the Proteus Core in itself is a solid device. Measuring 132 x 75 x 40 mm, the mouse is quite comfortable to hold and has textured rubber grips. In addition to the left and right click buttons and the scroll wheel, the Proteus Spectrum has two extra programmable buttons on the side of the left click, two side buttons along with a third DPI Switch button on the left side of the mouse, making it a conventional right-handed mouse. There are two more buttons behind the scroll wheel, one for switching between different profiles and the other for enabling/disabling precision scroll. .
The G502 Proteus Spectrum weighs about 121 grams, making it one of the heavier mice in the category. Allowing for extreme customization, a separate box is provided with 5 weights of 3.6 grams each, using which you can increase the weight of the mouse by up to a maximum of 18 grams, as per your need. The weights are placed on the bottom side of the mouse after removing the magnetic cover as you can see in the pictures. The best part is you get to decide the distribution as well. If you want your mouse to be heavier at the center, or near the palm, it’s easy to try out different configurations. Although there is no difference in performance and you might not be able to tell the difference when you use 1 or 2 weights, the change is quite noticeable between using the mouse with no weights and with 5 weights.
By default, the two keys near the left click button help to shift the DPI up and down, but using the Logitech Gaming Software, you can set these to perform various functions. The same goes for the side buttons, though by default they perform the function of taking you forward and back while browsing. The third side button is called the DPI Shift button, and helps you to quickly shift to a different DPI setting as long as you have it pressed. It can be extremely handy while playing FPS games for when you need to use the scope while sniping, or for some precision aiming while designing or modelling. The scroll wheel itself can be clicked in three different directions – left, right and middle. Using the button just behind, you can toggle the friction for smooth, super-fast scrolling.
The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum has a matte finish almost all over the mouse, including the left and the right click keys. The rest of the buttons have a glossy finish, and a similar glossy streak passes through the mouse giving it a sophisticated look. The scroll wheel is dark grey and has a glossy look as well, though it feels more metallic in texture. The mouse is entirely black in colour, save for the scroll wheel and the DPI indicator zone. The sensor has a staggering range of up to 12,000 DPI, and supports five sensitivity settings. You can enable per profile settings as well, allowing you to have a different setting for each profile. Customized profiles can be saved on the mouse’s on-board memory or the software can automatically detect installed games on your system and create profiles accordingly. You can even tune the mouse for different surfaces for better tracking accuracy. The improvement is minor, but every slight increase in performance matters to the hardcore gamer.
All the buttons are responsive, and the mouse is quite comfortable to use, even for long hours of gaming. The placement of the buttons is great as well, though it’s possible you might end up misclicking the left click while trying to switch the DPI up and down. I think it’s a matter getting used to. The DPI Shift button is well-placed and easy to reach, eliminating any possibility of mislicking as it is just outside beyond the tip of the thumb.
The Verdict
The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is best gaming mouse I’ve used, hands down. It might sound a little biased because I’ve been using the Proteus Core sure, but that shouldn’t affect your judgement about the mouse. The programmable buttons and 12000 DPI sensor take of all your gaming needs irrespective of the genre, and the DPI Shift key comes in handy quite often, whether you’re gaming or designing. Also, the weights let you adjust the overall weight and weight distribution so you can tune the mouse to your optimum level of usability. It’s comfortable, it’s precise and it looks kickass. The only drawback (if any), has to be the price point of INR 5400 (Amazon).
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