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Aug 27, 2023

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Review: Top Wireless Gaming Mouse on a Budget

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more It's no secret that PC gaming is expensive, especially once you start getting into peripherals and accessories. If

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

It's no secret that PC gaming is expensive, especially once you start getting into peripherals and accessories. If you're looking for the best gaming mouse, you'll probably come across wireless options with high-end features that sell for well over $100. But the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is proof that you can find a great entry-level mouse for a lot less.

An affordable yet very capable model from one of the industry's top gaming brands, the G305 Lightspeed delivers quality wireless performance at a nearly unbeatable price. After using mine as a PC gaming and work mouse for two years, I've found it to be an incredible value that has held up well over long-term use. Here's why it's the best wireless gaming mouse you can buy on a budget.

At first glance, the Logitech G305 doesn't look like much — but that's one of its best features. In a market saturated with harsh, angular mouse designs, the smooth and symmetrical build of this mouse is a breath of fresh air. Logitech has also released it in a handful of fun colors, like Mint and Lilac, which sets the G305 apart from your average black-and-neon gaming mouse.

Though definitely not an ultralight mouse, the G305 is fairly lightweight at only 99 grams. It's a good medium for casual gamers: not so light that your cursor is flying away, but also not so heavy that each stroke is a chore.

On the other hand, the mouse's simplicity means that it lacks the ergonomic comfort of other options. Its symmetrical design doesn't account for the lopsided shape that a hand rests in while using a mouse.

The G305 is also very small compared to other options, meaning users with larger hands or longer fingers may find it uncomfortable to use for long stints. After using mine for two years, I haven't found this to be a problem, but users with easily fatigued hands may want to consider something else.

In total, the Logitech G305 has six buttons: left click, right click, the scroll wheel, the DPI switcher, and two additional buttons where your right thumb rests. Most users will keep the majority of these mapped as they are, with the thumb buttons (mouse four and five) free to be programmed for convenience depending on the game. Compared to other gaming mice, this is the bare minimum, but for casual gamers and beginners, this is all you'll need.

The mouse's clicks are easy to actuate, but not overly so. They're clunkier clicks than more premium mice I've tested, but by no means are they unpleasant. The thumb buttons also feel great, and they're in an easy position to reach in a pinch, without getting in the way.

In all my time using the Logitech G305 Lightspeed, I've never found a need for more buttons. I've used it across a variety of games, including first-person shooters like Overwatch 2 and Team Fortress 2, survival builders like Terraria and Minecraft, and top-down pixel roguelikes like Nuclear Throne. The thumb buttons add a lot of convenience when programmed for finicky tertiary commands, like throwing grenades or using push-to-talk.

This mouse uses a small, low-profile USB-A dongle to connect to your laptop or computer. Setup is a breeze and connectivity is strong, even with objects obstructing the line of sight between mouse and dongle. I've never experienced disconnection issues, even when plugging it into a USB hub.

Just like every other gaming mouse worth its salt, you can adjust the Logitech G305's DPI (dots per inch), or its sensitivity, anywhere from 200 to 12,000. The small button underneath the scroll wheel is actually a DPI switcher designed to quickly toggle its sensitivity by cycling through a range of common settings; you can also program the exact DPI numbers these correlate to in Logitech's software.

In the age of USB-C charging, the Logitech G305 feels a bit archaic in its use of AA batteries for power. Despite this, its battery life is superb — after using mine every day for over two years, I've only had to change its single battery twice, and doing so is easy.

It's a bit of a blessing to be spared another nondescript black cable in my drawer, even if it means I have another reason to keep AA batteries around.

The cherry on top of this mouse is that it's almost always on sale. Despite its $50 price tag, you'd be hard pressed to find the Logitech G305 for more than $40. At that price, it's an absolute steal for incredible performance that is literally game-changing.

In exchange for falling into the budget category, this mouse does give up some features that more premium mice integrate. As previously mentioned, you don't get a ton of extra buttons and the mouse doesn't support USB-C charging. And compared to gaming mice around the $100 price point, the G305's PTFE feet don't glide quite as smoothly, and clicks can feel hollower. The scroll wheel is also clunky, and doesn't fly as smoothly as more expensive options. Its DPI range is much smaller than pricier models as well, with most going up to around 25,000.

These are definitely noticeable trade-offs if you have your hands on a more expensive mouse to compare it with, but they're not fatal blows for most users.

The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a great purchase for entry-level users, casual gamers, and budget-minded shoppers. It blows you away with its dependability and simplicity, which are traits so often overlooked in the gaming accessory sphere. After testing dozens of mice with a range of capabilities and price points, I still return to "old reliable" in the end: my Logitech G305.

For gamers specializing in FPS (first-person shooters) or competitive esports, this mouse is probably not for you. An ultralight option with a higher-resolution sensor will always grant more accuracy when getting headshots, and a full-featured customizable option will have more buttons to program for quick-time reactions. These upgrades come at a price though, and for most, the Logitech G305 will do just fine.

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