I love the Logitech hardware quality but I really wish they'd work on their software quality.
I'm using a G502 at work right now with Logitech Gaming Software and the two completely baffling decisions they made with that software on macOS:
1. It has to be running. If I launch it for configuration and hit ⌘Q it stops working and my mouse reverts to the default. I have to remember to close the window instead, which leaves it in the menubar.
2. I can't unmap buttons and have them act as generic HID mouse buttons. I can map buttons to mouse 1, 2, and 3, but I can't go past that. I can map buttons to various special functions, but it would be a hell of a lot more flexible if I could just have mouse 4 and mouse 5 mapped. For example, I can map the "sniper" button to Mission Control, but I can't change its behavior with keyboard modifiers, whereas if it was just Mouse 5 I could use the system configuration to map that to Mission Control and then use keyboard modifiers to change its behavior.
I hated the Logitech driver, it's been a complete dumpster fire -- constantly disconnecting, disabling certain functionality, and just overall a pain to fight. Ended up switching to SteerMouse, the developer's been crazy responsive and even went out of the way to work on MX Master 3 compatibility + support Smart Zoom functionality when it wasn't even previously up for consideration.
Companion software for hardware accessories has historically been terrible. I can't recall an instance where I wanted to keep companion apps besides drivers running in the background.
Whenever possible I would only open them for as long as I needed to configure something, then killed the process if it wasn't necessary.
Thankfully on the Mac I haven't encountered a need for those yet.
It really is quite incredible the unrewarded, often thankless (except that which we're doing now) effort that must go into that.
I had an issue recently with missing drivers for a network card (my fault, I deleted the kernel modules, it had been and now is again working), and it just made me think exactly what you're saying, how glad I am that someone's provided this.
I’d include Razer in the dumpster fire pile. In my estimation, the custom drivers of most HID products seem to be as bad as printer drivers back in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Actually worse because of all the RGB nonsense and cloud bullshit.
I use a razer orbweaver as a macro keyboard, and even though its still for sale it doesn't work with the current version of Synapse. So if you have an orbweaver and another peripheral, you need to run both synapse 2 and 3.
You can remap all G502 buttons to HID mouse button events, just not using any Logitech-supplied software.
Fortunately, these mappings are persistent, so reconfiguring the mouse from a Linux VM, once and for all, was, for me at least, a reasonable alternative.
Unfortunately, the mappings are sufficiently persistent that I don't remember the name of the Linux (command-line) utility that I used several years ago to configure my G502, but a quick Google search suggests the Piper[1] GUI app may be up to the task.
Caveat: if you ever plan on using the mouse with Windows, bear in mind that the Windows HID mouse driver only directly supports buttons 1–5 (though I have observed that the remainder do generate events in the underlying driver stack, so you could hypothetically work around this limitation by writing a filter driver to remap the events, assuming no such driver currently exists).
The Logitech software for the MX mouse interferes with two-finger touchpad scrolling on my Surface Pro 3. I don't know how or why, but clearly they're doing something very wrong. I went years before I figured out that no, touchpad scrolling is not supposed to scroll three screens per millimetre.
omg! thank you so much. I was scratching my head about loss of two-finger scrolling and totally forgot about Logi software installed (Windows 10, hp elitebook 820g1)
That is a very stupid way to design a mouse driver.
But this might help prevent accidental quits. Use the Keyboard System Settings to reassign the quit shortcut for the Logitech app from cmd-q to cmd-opt-q.
Yep. The Windows 10 software is dire. If I RDP into my desktop machine the mouse lights up like a damn Christmas tree and won’t stop until I physically unplug it.
It’s a cheap end G203 which I bought because it has a DPI switch on it so I can jump around easily when doing CAD stuff.
I have considered cracking it open and desoldering the LEDs.
The G203 has onboard memory (which also includes RGB light state / startup effect and DPI steps), so once you have your settings right you can just store the profile in the mouse and uninstall the software.
The latest version of the Logitech software (G HUB) doesn't make this feature obvious though, you have to set a local profile then click the gear icon > my gear > click the mouse image > switch on on-board memory mode > click Slot 1 (Default) > click replace with [the profile you just customized, usually Desktop (default.)
The old Logitech Gaming Software was much simpler in this regard.
Texas-sized 10-4 on that. I had to go find a windows PC and install thr software in order to configure the spinny wheel click stop tension thing because there was absolutely no way to do it in Linux. The default mode was infuriating.
For those interested, Logitech recently resurrected [1] their most famous mouse. The MX518. At least I was able to now buy it from retailers in Europe :) I love it. Could never get used to the more bulk Logitech mice such as the one in OP.
For MX518 lovers, I've got a strong recommendation for G400s. The shape is almost the same and it's amazing how durable it is. The cable issue is still there, just like in MX518, and eventually (I am guessing) that's the reason I'll have to switch to something else.
I've been using both of them for years and years. Amazing.
I prefer the G400s over the MX518 as I like the more grippy shell.
You can get cable replacement kits for the MX518/G400/G400s for $9 from eBay that includes new feet and a USB cable. So I'm really not worried about longevity.
P.S. You should take the mouse apart and clean it probably at least once per year. I cleaned my MX518 after about 5 years when the scroll stopped working consistently. I was shocked how much hair was on the inside, blocking the scroll sensor.
Yes, this was my replacement mouse when I built a new computer and couldn't find another 518. It's a great wired mouse - this is one of those designs that just works.
That sounds right IIRC the g400 was the old mx518 but without the peely plastic skin issue. They stopped selling old mx518 and I ended up with the g400. Both mice seemed close enough to me. For some reason the g400 was only considered a spiritual successor.
The latest one makes my MacBook Pro emit an extremely annoying high pitched noise when moving. I think it’s due to the high refresh frequency of the mouse versus more traditional ones.
It sounds like a squeaky wheel or a squealing (real, animal) mouse.
Other mice do not cause this problem. I mask it out with noise canceling headphones but I’d love a nice mouse that doesn’t cause this behavior. I’ve tried ferrite loops but they do nothing.
Looks like a number of Logitech mice suffer from whine, though whether it's the same whine as parent is describing I do not know. Apparently caused by a poor choice of capacitor: https://jdc.koitsu.org/logitech/ (you'll have to scroll down a bit).
I still have a pair of G5 mice that I use at home and work. It’s good to see Logitech bringing back that design! Other than the MX Master 2S I carry around for mobile use, I’ve never had a mouse fit my grubby paws do perfectly.
Other than a cable replacement and a switch cleaning, both of those original G5’s are still perfectly operational after over a decade of regular use.
Quite similar, but not exactly the same. The reissue of MX518 has a noticeable difference, too (using one right now, had 10 years of fun with the original one).
I had 3 of these mice over the years and each one eventually the cable would go bad/loose, I think including my G5, and I'm no fast twitch fps gamer. Looks like they changed he cable on this new one.
Ironically I switched to the MX series (multiple mx2 and mx2s, home/work) and I absolutely love them apart from the problems I used to have where they'd stutter on every OSX machine I used them on. I haven't had that problem in maybe a year, though. Logitech or OSX BT update maybe.
I can't go back to a non MX scroll wheel. I love it.
Are there any good mice with replaceable cable? I no longer buy keyboards without replaceable cable (usually mechanical), surely the same could be applied for mice, how would one combat obsolescence otherwise.
I meant swappable, i.e easily replaceable. A regular user would not solder a new cable, you go and buy a new mouse. For better keyboards it's slowly changing, why don't we see the same for mice then? SteelSeries was doing that, but it should be more common with standard usb connection cable.
Most decent mice already use a connector between the cable and the board, its just not designed to be hot swappable.
The cable finally wore out on my old Logitech G5 and I was able to order a replacement for a few dollars. I also had to replace the skids since they covered the screw holes. All it took was a screwdriver and five minutes.
Oh, I see. Do new keyboards have a micro USB port and you can just get a new cable? I haven't seen this, but I've also never had a cable go bad on me so this isn't a problem I've had.
Yeah, I can recommend it too. I experienced wrist numbness and pain, and they went away completely after I started using it. Originally I just wanted a vertical mouse, but MX Ergo is both vertical and a trackball. Go with MX Ergo Plus if you can, it has an additional wedge increasing the angle even more.
The only thing I have a problem with on this is the rubber coating on the metal plate. It's not sticking any more to the one I have at home. It seems like it's not a problem with the Plus but since I didn't know it even existed before your comment and I bought 2 of the normal ones (in case they go out of production...I have large hands and there are not many good products out there), it's not a solution for me.
Mine was an MX510 and mine also broke down after a cable issue... and then the second one after that. I'm not particularly conspiratorial, but that's 3 out of 3 anectoble circumstances.
My mouse progression since 2005 has been MX518 - G400S - G903. I used the G502 for a few days when it first came out, and couldn't stand it because it just felt...weird with my grip. It also made my hand hurt.
I'm completely locked into Logitech since I just can't function without a free-scrolling scroll wheel, and they apparently have it patented. I tried some of their other newer mice without free-scrolling, and not having it is just a complete dealbreaker.
I'm very happy with the G903 so far. The worst part was definitely the price. I'm tempted to get the new MX518, but I feel like the G903 is strictly better for my usage right now.
I 100% agree with you. Since using the MX Revolution in the late 2000s, I couldn't go back to anything. For me, MX Revolution - G500 - G500 (literally 2 for almost 8 years) - and just this year, the MX Master 2S. Long live the free scroll.
Also locked into Logitech, but for weirder reason. When I’m using other mice for prolonged time (couple weeks), I start feeling pain in the MCP joint of the index finger (the left clicking one). Logitech mice don’t cause any issues.
I still use 3 MX518s. One in my backpack, one at home and one at work. They’ve been used and abused for the past ~ 13 years and although they‘ve got some visible wear, they work as well as the day I bought them.
I gave up on mice after a few years with Logitech ones, and went 100% trackpad. Their scroll wheel is always too far from where your finger ends, making you curl your middle finger back in order to use it.
I've been using the 2S for a while and just bought the MX 3 because I needed an extra mouse.
They managed to improve an already near-perfect mouse. I just love the 3. Probably not worth ditching your 2S for, but nonetheless, a superb upgrade. I always felt the thumb buttons were awkward on the 2S and that has been rectified. The magnetic wheel is also really nice to use.
Yes, the thumb buttons seem much better. USB-C is an upgrade.
Only thing that is missing is a wireless charging. Some competitors use Qi charging or a special mousepad, so there's never a need to plug it in.
In 2010, Logitech released a solar-powered keyboard called the K750. Now that batteries and PV cells are improving, and low energy wireless technology is improving, I bet this would be less terrible.
Also in 2010, RCA invented an "Airenergy" device that could harvest ambient wifi signals for use as a power source.
I imagine some combination of the above technologies could eliminate cables from peripherals entirely.
The power density on WiFi is minuscule. FCC Regulations mean you can transmit at a max of 300mW only, and the power you receive is affected by the Inverse Square Law on top of that, so total delivered power to your device is fractions of a mW unless your wireless router is right next to the router. Even then the entire process tends to be rather inefficient on top of that so the math probably doesn't work out.
> FCC Regulations mean you can transmit at a max of 300mW only
Is that new? When I was originally playing with dd-wrt I was under the impression that 100 was the limit, discovered my AP was defaulting to something like 70mW, and would allow you to go higher.
The funny thing is that they don't seem to care about the directionality of the signal. You fire 120mW in a sphere and they have opinions. Narrow 100mW down to a (double) cone or a disc? No problemo.
I love my original MX Master, but it really annoys me when I have to deal with that charging cable. USB-C might be a marginal improvement, but I' love to be able to just put the mouse on my Qi pad when I leave the office...
The problem I have with the 2S is that the button clicks are really noisy - I had to swap out to another mouse in my office, since the noise was just too great.
I just wish that MX Master 3 had a couple of extra buttons by the thumb.
My 3 thumb buttons on my Logitech G500 are mapped to: Page Up, Page Down, and Back. Clicking and holding the Page Up button can rapidly take me back to the top of a page without moving my right hand to hit the home key on my keyboard. It's pretty useful, in my opinion, to be able to roughly and quickly scroll with Page Up/Down, then fine tune with the scroll wheel.
Looks like with the MX 3, I'd lose the back button though, because I really don't like the "gesture button" they've added.
Do you know about the button in the thumb rest? That'll be #3 for me. It looks like in the Logitech literature this is called the 'gesture button', and if memory serves it was introduced on the original MX, when they took away the third thumb button.
I think the original MX (what was it called, the 1000? Revolution?) had the three buttons and no thumbwheel and it was great for reading code and for playing a couple video games.
When they added the thumb wheel they moved the buttons too far back to be used comfortably. So it went in a drawer and I went back to the old one, found someone with leftover inventory and bought a spare for when the first wore out. When the second finally gave up the ghost I was not really playing those games anymore, but I still miss scanning code with page-up/page-down.
The 3 seems to compromise between the two. I just noticed it was available a couple days ago, so I'll be ordering one soon I expect.
I used to play a melee character in a game, and I had the buttons mapped to autorun, stop autorun, and back up. I never had to move my hands to follow a target, which greatly improved my uptime.
I think on the later mouse, with only two buttons, I retrained myself to use 'back up' to stop autorun, but it was important to me that I could mash the first button to start running and not have to worry about how many times I hit it.
Like OP said, for other apps I had it mapped to page-up/-down and back button and it made it a lot easier to focus on the code or documentation I was reading, instead of on navigating.
Regarding Logitech Mice, I have the Anywhere MX and the Anywhere MX 2S here. I rarely used the old AMX but still, I got a defective left button switch after about 5 years in which I used it probably less than 500 hours total. Changing the switch is needlessly cumbersome, you have to remove rubber pads and battery stickers (which can't really be removed without destroying them). But the AMX feels solid and the on/off switch also functions as a protector for the laser. You can also store the USB receiver between the batteries.
The AMX 2S is an absolute downgrade: Much cheaper build quality, no more protection for the laser, no user removable battery. The old AMX came with a leather pouch for transportation, the AMX 2S doesn't. On top of that, the Bluetooth connection of the AMX 2S is terrible. I have frequent minute long disconnects from my MBP at 20cm distance. Sometimes it won't connect at all. And the battery doesn't last as long as the rechargeable batteries I put in my AMX 1.
I'm on my 9th MX Anywhere(currently on the 2S). They all develop a defective mouse button eventually(it either doesn't click or clicks twice). It's incredible to me that we're now on who knows which iteration of the MX Anywhere and Logitech still uses a crappy 3 cent switch that breaks after 12-18 months. At least their support is somewhat decent and they keep replacing those mice without question every time.
Add to that no place to store the dongle. And no easy way to switch back to the dongle (unifying receiver) once Bluetooth is configured. You have to use the app to do that. I'm on Linux and there is no app (last time I looked.)
Nor do I care for a cable to charge it. I was happy with replaceable batteries.
I get frequent (Bluetooth) disconnects, though I don't know if it is the mouse or Linux' fault.
The MX anywhere is not meant to compete with the MX/MX2S/MX3. The "Anywhere" is a portable mouse, hence the laser cover. The MX 2S and 3 are meant to be left on a desk.
No, I'm talking about Anywhere MX and Anywhere MX2, I lazily omitted the Anywhere in my comment. Sorry for the confusion, I edited the original comment.
The scroll wheel in the Master 3 is totally broken. It doesn’t register scrolls properly. Within 10 seconds I noticed the issue. Same issue across multiple devices and OS’s too. Others have noticed too, like here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MouseReview/comments/d6yo5j/anyone_...
I returned mine and got a G604, which is a work of art, and you can load settings into on-board memory so you can delete the Logitech software after doing that.
I use the Anywhere MX 2, which is quite good, and would love to try the Master 3, but I mouse left-handed. Would love to see more support from Logitech for this mode, even if it came at a premium.
That the ruler is related to the antenna tuning is the initial guess of the author too, but he is unsure.
But come to think of it, why is the PCB silk-screened in the first place? I don't think such a cheap board will ever get serviced by the manufacturer, and slikscreening is cheap but not free.
My guess is that it is "just in case". If something goes wrong, the silkscreen is there so that things can be fixed by an assembly line worker. And they identified incorrect antenna dimensions as a potential problem and left a ruler there. Turned out everything worked fine and the ruler wasn't necessary.
Virtually every board is going to need some kind of marking, so if you're doing a silk screen anyways it almost free to add more stuff to that silk screen.
I do software quality assurance, and it wouldn't surprise me if this was put in by request of their QA department. I don't know if a human looks at every PCB, but however many they sample to QA, this would be a quick way to check an important feature of the hardware.
I'll go with occam's razor and say it was simply not removed from the development board to the full production board.
It's probably related to tuning but on a production board? Normally if you need it as part of your production process it would just be part of the tuning tool itself.
But honestly I cannot see how it would be used in production since the antenna length is determined by that point.
Does the 3rd version fix the polling issues these mice have over Bluetooth? Using the receiver works fine, but over Bluetooth it feels very laggy and jerky to use. They don't offer a USB-C receiver yet.
Are you using any USB 3 devices? I had really bad problems with wireless mice and keyboards after I had gotten an USB 3 hub from Anker... Apparently USB 3 devices are prone to interfere with wireless devices in the 2.4GHz band
Their ambi mice are decent. I use a G300S at work, and I think they have some fancier mice that are also ambi while having features like wireless charging and the toggle for smooth/ratcheted scrolling.
The only company I know of that makes an actually left handed mouse is Razer. Decent hardware, but if you're on a Mac their drivers are even worse than Logitech's. There's nothing worse than having your mouse stop working because the internet is down.
Good point, for some it is like being forced to buy a two right shoes to fit upon your feet. Let alone the aspect of mouse size and the analogy gets down to shoes only available for right feet and then sizes 6 and 11 only.
With that in mind - how hard would it be to make a mouse which had a gel top that would mould to your hand. Could have a gel that is perhaps viscus when an electric current passed thru it and solid when not - allowing you to setup the mouse to fit your hand. As for buttons, well, that has been one of the easier ones to fix and about the only area you can customise a mouse (switch left and right mouse buttons) which is your standard OS configurable.
Razer made a left handed Deathadder in ~2011. They've since been discontinued, I have 3 of them and can't switch away. I've gone through probably 5 others. The tracking is nice and the feel is very good, but the scroll wheel is made from acrylic and tends to warp over time. The left, right, and middle buttons basically suck and wear down. The toothed shaft on the scroll wheel is also very tiny where it meets with the rotary encoder and is very prone to snapping off or wearing down due to friction.
All these problems and I fear I'll never see a better left-handed mouse.
I switch between my left and right hand every couple hours. The scroll wheel is great but no free scrolling. The buttons are amazing. I think I charge the mouse once every two weeks.
3D Connexion, the company that makes the 3D mouse (for CAD) also makes a regular mouse, and it is available left handed. I haven't seen one in person so not sure what the overall quality is like.
I use an MX Anywhere 2 at work and an MX Anywhere at home. I love both of them (so much that I soldered in new microswitches when the original buttons on the MX Anywhere wore out).
I have never tried an MX Master. I have been curious, but I don't need the second scroll wheel.
I think the software is somewhat convoluted. My actual preference is that Mac OS would support all of the functionality natively. I think it's stupid that we need to use extra programs to get the keyboard/mouse to do what we want.
I have had one defective switch on AMX. But nothing like that on 2 AMX 2S that I bought more than a year ago (one for office, one for home). I think they improved something with AMX S2 switches.
I'm glad they changed the scroll wheel–it was arguably the worst part of the first one. I have had one for a few years, and the mechanical part that determines whether the wheel is free spinning or ratcheting has a tendency to slip over time, making the ratchet less effective until it is all gone. The mouse needs to be opened up every few months to poke the part back down. This is not an uncommon problem and I'm glad the mechanism has been changed.
I see that Logitech ramped up their advertising investment again. I looked up the mouse and it shows up on all popular youtube channels with crazy titles.
I remember same thing from the original Performance MX. Everybody said it was a great mouse. I got it, it was terrible. It didn't work on most surfaces. It didn't hold battery long.
Long story short, I will hold off until it stands the test of time for a bit.
I no longer care about Logitech mouses after I had THREE premium mouses, in succession, to die to the same problem for me personally and additionally one mouse for a person that I recommended it to. All had exactly the same problem -- double clicks registered when clicking left mouse button.
I had to replace the switches in my G100s after a few years, first the scroll wheel button and then the left click. Definitely an unacceptable level of longevity.
IMO it's an inevitable result of using mechanical switches. I love Logitech mice but I'll usually get n-1 versions that go for cheaper, so replacing every 1-2 years doesn't sting as much.
FWIW Razer has a new mouse that uses optical switches (Razer Viper). It'll be interesting to see if how their switches hold up a year or two from now. I've heard similar complaints about mouse switch failures with Razer mice as well, so it's great to see them attempt to address the problem.
Logitech has top quality hardware, but their software is degrading rapidly.
Why does Logitech need to update the mouse software every so often? Installing fresh Windows 10 on a new computer, a popup automatically appears on the bottom-right to download and install Logitech software - without installing anything. This is built-in ads for Windows essentially. Also, Logitech wants us to connect to the internet to create a profile. It nags you constantly.
We need software engineers to push back on these things that are pushed on to them by marketing execs.
I have an M510 and I love it but it needs to be taken apart and cleaned every year or so. It accumulates an insane amount of crap inside it which if left unchecked will eventually lead you to think there's a software issue or wireless interference as your pages scroll up and down randomly by themselves.
Most people probably just replace mice once they start acting up because they either don't want to bother cleaning it or else don't realise it can be taken apart and cleaned easily which fixes 99% of mice issues.
The MX Master 2 or whatever has been absolute trash for me on my work mac. There's the standard issue with macs and third party mice where the "inertia" or whatever of the mouse feels off, but more than that there has to be some sort of interference because the thing just floats and jitters constantly. Completely unusable, I gave it away to one of our finance guys.
Ehhhh........
It _works_, but the overwhelming consensus is that their software is a confusing-to-navigate buggy mess that has to stay running all the time, uses excessive CPU[0], and freaks out from time to time.
[0] - On a 15 inch 2017 MacBook Pro, "Logi Options Daemon" sits at 0.3% CPU when the mouse is still and 4% (!!!) while the mouse is moving
Does anybody know of any MX Master 3 modding forums or other resources?
The firmware and electronics in these things are fine, but these mice are one size fits none. In my case: way too small. I probably need one that's 2 times the size + preferably vertical.
I was thinking of doing a mod where I convert an MX Master 3 to a much larger MX vertical type thing. Shouldn't be too hard, but if I can think of this someone probably already did it. Right?
I am a long-time user of the MX series, having used the master 1 and 2 and multiple anywheres 1 and 2 for years, mainly for their free-scrolling wheels. I was surprised when Microsoft upstaged them with their precision mouse line, which has a "patented magnetic scrolling". It seems to me that Logitech is just playing catch-up with the "MagSpeed" wheels on the master 3.
I have an MX master and now own two triathlons. I love them because one AA battery lasts months, it's bluetooth or can use the receiver which the mouse can store inside of it, and it supports three devices. All for $25. I pair it to my iPad and use it or at work for 8 hours straight. Definitely check it out since it's basically a baby MX master without the thumb scroll.
I love this article and while reading it I realized that I wish I could scroll down exactly one "page" with my mouse so I mapped the MX Master side back/forward buttons to space/shift+space so now it's really nice to read long articles like this using the button to scroll down one page instead of the mousewheel.
Could anyone, with industry ties, forward these threads, in which people are fed up with the vendor supplied support software / drivers, each time they come up (and the do come up), to the appropriate decision makers?
Interestingly the Logitech WiFi receiver for these mice can cause audio issues on some wireless headphones. I briefly had a pair of Sennheisser headphones and it picked up an interesting tick every few seconds. Though, to be honest, I think that's more likely poor design from headphone makers.
As a coder while coding, how much mouse do you guys use? I try to minimize it as much as possible. And it seems like it is easier to hit touchpad than to grab an external mouse which is places 6-12 in away from center of the keyboard.
I’ve used the apple magic trackpads since they came out. As you say, it’s so much faster to just reach up and engage the touchpad surface, rather than to locate, grasp, and move a mouse. Third party software (BetterTouchTool) opens up virtually unlimited gestures. I’m never going back.
Yeah I love the latest Das Model S Ultimate. The aluminum plate and the keycaps feel very premium. The newer one's at work and I have an older gen at home and I much prefer the newer.
I own two Filco boards and they are extremely solid. Also easy to get an aftermarket controller board (and easy to fit) if you want to make it programmable.
I have been using the original MX Master for about 4 years now and the mouse has been a dream. Absolutely great build quality and perfect ergonomics (for a right handed person).
My Logitech G700s has a AA NiMH battery in an easily replaceable door, no need to open the mouse.
The battery still charges over USB if you have the mouse wired, and switches to wireless when that's unplugged.
I like it a lot, if you run the battery down you can just pop a new one in and put the dead one in the charger. But I assume the one they're using here gives them higher capacity, so it's a trade-off.
I have to say the battery on my 2 year old MX Master 2S is excellent, it needs charging about once a month. It has helpful LED battery indicators and a software warning - I've always had enough warning that it's never run flat, even though I give it basically no thought.
I don't think it's just the capacity but the power efficiency.
G700s has a really low run time, something like a week per charge as a heavy user.
The MX 2S can go about 2 months between chargers and the 3 should have an even better run time.
Hasn't been an issue for me, the cord lives on my desk and I just plug it overnight every couple of days. If I forget, grab a charged AA and swap it out.
I switched from a G700s to an Elecom XGM20DL due to the G700s's poor battery life and terrible software (the Logitech gaming mouse drivers, at least on Mac OS, are dramatically worse than the mainstream mouse drivers). Unfortunately the build quality is pretty average, not as nice as the G700s was and nowhere near the MX Master series. It also doesn't have a built-in battery charger.
I never liked the thumb button layout on the MX Master 1 and 2, but on the 3 it looks a lot better, so I might give one a try even though it doesn't have the index finger page up/down buttons.
I'm actually using SteerMouse with the Elecom because it doesn't have first-party Mac drivers. I never did try it with the G700s - I was already through with that based on the battery life. But it may have helped. (I am guessing, though, that even if it could handle all the buttons it wouldn't support the DPI switching on the G700s.)
Might be able to set the DPI switching stuff with its on device memory, set the rest of the buttons as generic mouse buttons, and then use it with SteerMouse.
Would require temporary use of the official software to set this up.
But if battery life was the problem it wouldn’t fix that. I use mine at my desk so I just plug it in and don’t have that issue.
I use linux... yes it works as a standard 5 mouse buttons, but there is no software for gestures or thumb scroll. Windows has those. Linux will probably never have anything like that
(thumb gesture-button seems to trigger KeyPress Meta+TAB, binding it seems not-so-easy)
Downside of such complicated mice with fancy circuit boards is that you can have issues like my s2 had, where the thumb button got stuck. This somehow caused a software lock, rendering the rest of the mouse unoperational; a nice 90$ paperweight. I don't mistreat my electronics either, it was not dropped or anything like that. This sort of stuff should not happen on such an expensive mouse. Coincidentally it happened 2 months after the warranty expired.
Essentially, you open up the mouse and loosen the internal screws on the thumb button a little bit, which moves the board away from the rubber over the button and relieves whatever pressure is keeping it pressed. You need a screwdriver with a T5 Torx bit to open up some of the screws, but overall the procedure is pretty easy and my mouse has been working great ever since.
I'm using a G502 at work right now with Logitech Gaming Software and the two completely baffling decisions they made with that software on macOS:
1. It has to be running. If I launch it for configuration and hit ⌘Q it stops working and my mouse reverts to the default. I have to remember to close the window instead, which leaves it in the menubar.
2. I can't unmap buttons and have them act as generic HID mouse buttons. I can map buttons to mouse 1, 2, and 3, but I can't go past that. I can map buttons to various special functions, but it would be a hell of a lot more flexible if I could just have mouse 4 and mouse 5 mapped. For example, I can map the "sniper" button to Mission Control, but I can't change its behavior with keyboard modifiers, whereas if it was just Mouse 5 I could use the system configuration to map that to Mission Control and then use keyboard modifiers to change its behavior.