Logitech G604 Lightspeed Review: Great Gaming Mouse?

Can there be too many buttons on a gaming mouse? Players of games with low cooldowns, such as MMORPGs, MOBAs, and strategy titles, would definitely respond “Never.” That is why Logitech came up with the G604 Lightspeed, a wireless MMO/battle royale mouse with six macro buttons right beneath your hand. When searching for a wireless mouse without any noticeable latency, many gamers turn to Logitech. Consequently, the Logitech G604 Lightspeed is an intriguing wireless gaming mouse that succeeds the G602 and improves its design and performance while also adding some of the design and capabilities of the G502.

Key Takeaways

• The Logitech G604 is an excellent wireless gaming mouse because it combines responsiveness, adaptability, and personalization. The G604 has Logitech’s HERO sensor, which provides responsive tracking. Moreover, it is robustly constructed out of gaming-grade components to last through hours of use.
• The things I liked about the Logitech G604 are its 16,000 maximum DPI and adjustable sensitivity, both Bluetooth and Lightspeed compatibility with 15 customizable controls, including six thumb buttons, and enduring battery life.
• The things I disliked about the Logitech G604 are its non-rechargeable battery. It lacks RGB lighting controls and a higher price point compared to some other gaming mice, the form factor may not be comfortable for everyone, and some users may find the button assignments cumbersome.
• MMO or MOBA gamers will feel right at home with the Logitech G604. They will benefit from the 15 fully programmable controllers. Moreover, Users with bigger hands may appreciate the G604’s manageable size and ergonomic layout.

The Logitech G604 Lightspeed also won the Best MacOS Gaming Mouse For Fortnite Award.

The Logitech G604 holds significant nostalgic value for me. Reflecting on its predecessor, the Logitech G600, I am impressed by the industry’s advancements over the years. We’ve transitioned from a wired mouse with an abundance of buttons, beyond what most gamers required, to a wireless peripheral featuring a textured palm rest, dual connectivity options, and a month-long battery life powered by a single AA battery. Notably, the G604 shares similarities with the interim model, the Logitech G602. This comparison underscores the remarkable evolution of gaming mice.

While the G604 lacks the extensive features of the G602, it stands out as a rare wireless alternative in a category that has become less common. Therefore, it caters particularly well to enthusiasts of World of Warcraft and DOTA. Despite its impressive capabilities, the peculiar humped body design is a notable drawback, preventing it from being the ultimate MMO sensation.

With a price tag of $100, the G604 competes favorably with top-tier gaming mice, although it falls short of the wireless Logitech G502 Lightspeed in terms of pricing. Given its dual-line heritage, I conducted thorough testing to evaluate its real-world performance, assessing aspects such as design, controls, usability, software, and overall user experience, all in consideration of its price point. This review delves into a comprehensive examination of the mouse.

Related: GLORIOUS Model D Minus Mouse Review

Specifications

Box Contents

When you open the package, you will discover a G604 mouse (whose USB connector lies underneath the battery cover), a single AA alkaline battery, an extension cable for your USB connection, some instructions, a logo sticker, and a power adapter. Simply insert the battery, connect the USB dongle to your computer, and start playing, or you can also pair it over Bluetooth to use the mouse with your setup.

First Impressions

The Logitech G604, at first glance, appears more like an office mouse than a gaming one. Logitech has a solid track record with gaming mice, thanks to their HERO sensor technology, which combines impressive battery life with top-notch tracking.

The G604’s design is unconventional, taking cues from a less popular predecessor. While its overall appearance might not be everyone’s favorite, the side button cluster is a notable feature. It closely resembles the G602, boasting a similar layout and thumb rest.

The mouse features an ergonomic shape and comes in various black finishes. Unfortunately, there are no additional color choices. It has a weight of 135 grams with a battery, but the balance leans towards the back, making it less agile compared to lighter gaming mice. It’s one of the heaviest mice I’ve used in years, best suited for games that don’t require rapid, extensive movements.

Despite its bulk, it offers good portability due to its wireless design, with the receiver conveniently fitting inside the mouse for easy transport in a standard laptop case.

Design

The buttons and materials satisfy my expectations, but the G604’s physical design could use some improvement. It appears taller than it actually is due to a sharp incline. While the Logitech mouse is taller, it offers a flatter center, which enhances comfort. The layout closely resembles that of the G602.

I’m still using a right-handed ergonomic mouse with a raised thumb rest and six easily accessible buttons. It caters well to users with larger hands and those who prefer a claw grip for gaming. I appreciate the improved thumb buttons.

Upon closer examination, I discovered that the gripped surface at the bottom is detachable, allowing access to the battery compartment and providing a storage spot for the dongle. The omission of RGB lighting makes sense for battery life, but I believe a display for profiles and DPI settings would have been a valuable addition.

In hindsight, it feels like Logitech rushed the design of the G604. The sensor and side buttons are well-executed, but the overall design seems like a blend of features from older Logitech mice and more recent models. The raised feet pose a significant drawback, and the loose mouse wheel and bulky design hinder both gaming and portability, even with the Bluetooth feature for work-related tasks.

Comfort

An excellent gaming mouse will feel natural in your hand. The perfect gaming mouse has controls that seem so effortless that you do not have to give them a second thought when using them. You should not have to change your use habits or preferences to suit the mouse. If you are upgrading to the G604 from a smaller, lighter mouse, it might require a few games for it to become natural in your hands. The mouse may not feel quite right at first, but after a day or so, it should be fine. Fortunately, the overall look is more sophisticated than previous models.

It is mostly black, but the middle area features a thin layer of soft-touch covering for comfort. The rounded thumb rest provides a secure grip despite the absence of gripping materials, making it simple to pick up and carry. The sleek design belies a high-performance gaming mouse with a sensor that can track the movement of rapid actions. Additionally, the six-button cluster on the mouse’s left side strikes a solid balance between the few buttons on most gaming mice and the plethora of buttons on MMO mice.

They conform nicely to the shape of my hand, and setting them up in the Logitech G Hub program was a breeze. As a result, this appears to maintain your thumb poised to utilize the side buttons, but for my not-very-big hands, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. My thumb only just touches the mouse’s little thumb wing when I hold it normally. However, the thumb wing continues to be a great addition; it somewhat allows me to keep my grip on the mouse relaxed and comfortable even though the palm of my hand was slipping straight down the back of the mouse because of its steep slope and lack of rubberized grip compared to the middle and sides.

Grip Styles

The G604 is comfortable to use with a palm grip due to its ergonomic design. The greater size and contoured design make it a pleasant place to rest your hand. Because your whole hand may rest on the mouse, you will not become as tired from gaming or working on the computer for lengthy periods of time.

The Logitech G604 is too bulky and lengthy to use with a fingertip grip. When using a mouse with a fingertip grip, just the fingers make contact with the mouse rather than the palm or the base of the hand. Users with a fingertip grip may find it difficult to keep a firm grip on the G604 due to its greater size and longer body.

Claw grip users can use the Logitech G604. However, it may not be the best suitable choice for them. Having said that, claw grip users who value rapid access to extra buttons without compromising comfort will like the G604’s ergonomic design and button location, which makes things simple to reach.

 A Good Read:  Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Review

Buttons

There are a whopping fifteen inputs on the right-handed G604 Lightspeed Wireless. On the top, we have two primary main buttons. In addition to this, it has a scroll wheel that includes a click-down with two tilt inputs. Pushing the sides of the scroll wheel, either way, activates the tilt inputs, a feature I have seen reappear on a few mice in recent months. Consequently, this adds two additional programmable inputs. Additionally, the mouse wheel has an option for ratcheted scrolling in addition to the standard continuous/hyper-scrolling.

The scrolling mechanism is the G502’s mechanically toggled metal infinite wheel. No, not even the streamlined, lighter, and more modern version of that wheel. Not at all; this is the full-fat, substantial variation. While the infinite scroll wheel is as useful as ever, the extra weight causes the mouse to wiggle side to side while in free-wheeling mode. I do not see why Logitech is sticking with this bulkier version of the wheel rather than the newer, thinner one I just described. Perhaps they needed to dispose of some extra inventory. However, the tactile scroll increments are really substantial and enjoyable, and you probably will not play with the wheel in infinite mode anyhow. 

The G604’s default DPI slider, placed next to the primary left-click button along with plus and minus buttons, offers convenience but limited game customization compatibility. Unlike competitors adopting optical switches for better performance, Logitech sticks with standard Omron mechanical switches for primary buttons.

The G604 features six strategically positioned micro buttons, ideal for executing macros in games and navigating applications. They prevent accidental clicks with their protruding rectangular design and have rounded bottoms for smooth actuation. The upper three buttons are closely spaced, making them less accessible individually.

On the top panel, two buttons, one for wireless mode toggling and the other for Bluetooth, sit beneath the scroll wheel. They can be a bit tricky to reach and require finger repositioning. The G604 connects via a micro-USB receiver or Bluetooth and has a bottom-mounted power button. In terms of click latency, it’s quick and responsive, suitable for precision-demanding genres like multiplayer online battle arenas and role-playing games.

Similarly: Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless Review

Underside PTFE Feet

A mouse this size is really unreasonable. Instead of being flat like other mice, the bottom of this one is curled and tilted sharply. The mouse’s four cardinal direction edges have plastic arrows on which the gliding feet rest. Surprisingly, this aesthetic decision is completely unfamiliar to me. The glides do not consist of white PTFE, and they do not have a very smooth finish or rounded corners.

The mouse may be bulky, but its smooth feet make it easy to move on both a mouse mat and your desk. Unfortunately, the mouse does not come with any additional feet, but you can probably find some online if you need them. It has one of the most surprising glides I have ever seen on a major brand mouse. Surprisingly, its odd feet provide the impression that it is floating over my desk. Maybe that is a good thing?

Build Quality

Excellent craftsmanship characterizes the Logitech G604. The weight of the tilted input scroll wheel causes some rattling, but otherwise, the mouse seems solid. The mouse wheel shakes and jiggles a little, but it might be because it is tiltable. Aside from that, the construction is sturdy, and the latex-based grips on the grip position and thumb rest are comfortable. The G604 Lightspeed’s back compartment is quite empty, but that is because it is. The clicking of the mouse is extremely subtle and should not be audible even in a very quiet room.

Also Read: Types of Mouse Grips

Battery Life

The mouse’s single AA battery and USB receiver are both stored in a compartment at the device’s rear. The G604 Lightspeed makes the most of its AA battery, which is impressive given that I am not fond of non-rechargeable battery-powered mice. Logitech claims that a single charge can power your device for up to 240 hours when using 2.4GHz Lightspeed wireless and up to 5.5 months when using Bluetooth. I have been using the G604 as my main mouse for the past few weeks and have not had to change the battery yet. Fortunately, it is still alive and well. You can forget about turning the mouse on and off since the battery will enter standby mode when it is not in use. 

In most cases, I would rather recharge than replace, but if the battery really does last as long as Logitech claims, it should not come up too frequently. Great battery life. However, it seems inefficient and antiquated to use throwaway cells in such a high-end peripheral. Of course, you could buy a set of rechargeable AA batteries, but it would have been far more convenient to use a lithium-ion battery that only needed to be charged occasionally. 

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Connectivity

The G604 has a number of advantages over the G602, the most notable being its ability to connect by Bluetooth as well as a USB dongle. In addition, it just takes one button push to toggle between the two. Consequently, this allows you to connect the G604 to your gaming PC through USB and immediately switch to a Bluetooth connection for your laptop or mobile device. In addition, the G604 has a much longer battery life when connected through Bluetooth, so you should consider using both simultaneously for work and play.

The G604 is a competent wireless mouse, albeit I had more connection issues with it than with other wireless gaming mice I have tested this year. When using the G604 through the Lightspeed connection (a kind of 2.4GHz wireless connectivity) often performed flawlessly with no discernible latency, but on rare occasions, it failed to register clicks. However, I still think the wireless dongle is better than Bluetooth for gaming since the latter adds enough delay to be annoying. Unfortunately, there is no wired option for usage with this mouse.

Sensor

Within the body of the G604 Lightspeed is Logitech’s Hero 16K sensor, which, as the name implies, is capable of tracking at a maximum of 16,000DPI. Fortunately, you can change the DPI range of the sensor throughout a broad range. The G604’s motion and control are smooth and accurate, so you may make it as quick or slow as you want. It offers the mouse flawless tracking and extraordinary battery life. Notably, the mouse’s HERO (High Efficiency Rated Optical) 16K sensor is the result of years of research and development, and it is largely responsible for this.

The HERO can keep up with your craziest sweeping motions since it records at a maximum of 400 inches per second without any smoothing or filtering. I put it through its paces in tests measuring mouse input lag and click latency, where it shined. Notably, Lightspeed’s wireless connection is at least as fast as a cable one. The cursor never lagged behind the action, and there was no discernible delay in receiving input. Moreover, you can change the polling rate to 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, or 1000Hz, and the lift-off distance is small enough that it will not detect motion when you lift the mouse to reposition it.

Notable Mention: Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless Review

Performance

The G604 Lightspeed mouse was an eye-opener after I had correctly tied the thumb buttons to functions I really use in games. Consequently, it continues Logitech’s tradition of flawless wireless performance in gaming mice. While maintaining mouse smoothness at more than 300 FPS in Valorant, of course. Consequently, I jumped into a long series of Destiny 2 strikes. As a result, I found out that tracking was really simple to depend on, allowing me to fire hand cannon bolts into foes’ vulnerable points regularly.

The G604 sounds great in any genre. I thought I would not like the six little thumb buttons because they would be too hard to tell apart, but I ended up really liking them. Notably, I played Overwatch, Destiny 2, and Final Fantasy XIV while testing the peripheral. Surprisingly, I ended up paying great attention to DOTA 2 due to its high button count. In DOTA 2, I play Meepo as a midlaner, which allows me to make use of a wide range of control that stack to do more damage or provide more offense. 

By assigning them to the thumb buttons, I was able to focus on the action on the screen without having to move my hand up and down the keyboard constantly. It gave me instant access to my six most-used abilities and items while freeing up my left hand for situational moves. The G604 Lightspeed’s Hero 16K sensor performed well in my tests, and I had no trouble finding my target. Since I first started playing DOTA, I did not use them all very often since certain actions are more naturally suited to one hand than the other.

Veteran Macro users, however, will find plenty to their liking: the buttons are all reasonably spaced apart, easy to use, and compatible with G-Shift’s secondary actions. You can program a G-Shift button to activate a secondary set of controls whenever you press and hold the set button. Putting frequently-used functions like voice chat, abilities, and items on the thumb buttons made it much simpler for me to keep my cool under pressure.

Games that make a good case for using the V key for rapid melee attacks should really have that button moved to the thumb on this mouse. The thumb buttons, in addition to the right and left clicks of the scroll wheel, simplify actions like strafing and tilting in games like Rainbow Six Siege. It has so many viable possibilities that it would take an eternity to exhaust them all. When combined with the Lightspeed dongle’s maximum polling rate of 1,000 Hz, it is a performance worthy of use in professional MOBA esports titles.

Bluetooth, on the other hand, allows for polling rates anywhere from 88Hz to 133Hz. The G604 works appropriately for gaming, but its heft and the sound it makes as it scrapes over the mouse pad keep bothering me. Because of its size and weight, it is best used with a palm grip; those with tiny hands should look elsewhere. The Logitech G604 is not ideal for fast-paced gameplay due to its substantial weight. In addition, there is no practical method to greatly reduce its weight beyond the setup of a battery adapter to enable the use of AAA batteries in place of AA batteries, thus achieving the lowest weight.

Logitech G Hub Compatibility

Software

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Using Logitech’s G Hub program, I customized the Logitech G604 and installed firmware updates. G Hub offers DPI setting adjustments, macro creation, and button assignment, which is straightforward. It supports multiple profiles and game-specific macros, and the G604 can store up to five profiles onboard.

On a PC, G Hub allows unlimited profile storage, enabling unique settings for each game. Transferring profiles to the mouse can be complex, but the settings work across different PCs via Bluetooth. The G604 lacks customizable RGB lighting, simplifying setup.

There are various button options, including Logitech’s G-Shift feature, providing access to extra settings. Except for the receiver/Bluetooth toggle and wheel lock buttons, all buttons are programmable, resulting in 29 programmable inputs with G-Shift.

The Macros tab allows advanced customization, including programming macros for various tasks. However, automatic profile activation when launching a game can be occasionally inconvenient. You can opt for a single, permanent profile instead.

My main issue with G Hub was its inconsistency in automatically switching profiles. Despite precise button settings for DOTA 2, the program didn’t switch profiles when launching the game. This can be mitigated using the mouse’s onboard profiles.

Logitech’s customization options are extensive but assigning Back and Forward buttons to Mouse 4 and 5 was problematic. I had to use less common key bindings. Nevertheless, games recognized Forward as Mouse 4 and DPI Shift as Mouse 5. The mouse’s multiple buttons and macro settings also make it versatile for non-gaming tasks, such as text editing and Copy/Paste functions.

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Should You Buy It or Not?

Buy It If:

You Need Abundant Buttons: The Logitech G604 offers a plethora of programmable buttons, making it perfect for gamers who require numerous hotkeys.

You Value Customization: If extensive personalization options are essential to you, this wireless gaming mouse provides a wide range of customization features.

You Play MMOs and MOBAs: Gamers who delve into MMOs, MOBAs, or similar genres that demand a multitude of commands at your fingertips will find the Logitech G604 to be a strong choice.

Don’t Buy It If:

You Prioritize Comfort: If a comfortable and ergonomic design is your top priority, you may find the G604’s surplus of buttons comes at the expense of comfort.

You Want RGBs And Rechargeability: Those expecting RGB lighting and a rechargeable battery in a $100 mouse may be disappointed with the G604’s feature set.

Conclusion

As an experiment, I found my time using this mouse to be rather interesting. It demonstrates that the HERO framework is adaptable enough to support a mouse of this size and that additional side buttons need not compromise ergonomics. It also demonstrates the need for the rounded corners, smooth bases, and reduced weights that have become the norm in the gaming industry. You can not go wrong with the Logitech G604 Lightspeed.

It is a high-quality, wireless, customizable gaming mouse. Some may find the Logitech G604’s mix of high-end features typical of professional (Esports) player peripherals and lower-end features more confusing than helpful. The Logitech G604 is not perfect, but it is a great choice for MMO and MOBA gamers since it shines where it matters, like speed and precision, and because it offers a wide variety of buttons. Notably, it is unrivaled in terms of gaming performance and with almost limitless button customization options.

Its robust build and even more impressive battery life are equal to its performance. The mouse’s dual wireless modes and other features make it useful for both at-home gaming and casual office work. It has all the conveniences of wireless without significant drawbacks, except for the side buttons, which are a minor fault.

In my opinion, my criticisms of it are less and will likely go unnoticed by the typical player. Besides that, it is a perfect combination of performance and functionality. The Logitech G604 has outstanding compatibility. The program is available for both Windows and macOS users to download, allowing them complete control over the interface. Fortunately, the mouse’s buttons are completely functional in both operating systems.

Coming Next: Logitech G Pro Wireless Review

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Abdul Hannan

[Hardware Reviewer]

After many years of exploiting various pieces of hardware, Abdul Hannan now serves as an editor at Tech4Gamers. He’s been in the PC hardware reviewing industry for almost a decade, and his staff of passionate geeks and reviewers is second to none.

Abdul Hannan is constantly seeking new methods to improve the performance of his computer components since he is an ardent overclocker. He is well-known for providing the most extensive and unbiased analysis of the newest and greatest hardware for PC gaming, including everything from GPUs to PSUs.