It's been a while since I've last reviewed a solid piece of tech; especially a mouse.
The last review I did on a mouse was the Logitech G Pro X Superlight. The one I had bought for myself, and it's been over two years that I've used and abused that thing. And I can say as a guarantee, that it was a solid investment and a well-built piece of modern gaming tech.
Yes, back then these things were quite expensive, and some still are, to this day, but the prices are coming down. The latest tech is becoming more and more affordable. Yet, we still have a long way to go.
After the Superlight, I've eyed the Shroud Edition Mouse by Logitech for quite a while. The shape was what seemed interesting to me, and since I'm a sucker for testing and evaluating, I just wanted to get my hands on it ASAP.
And as they say, if you truly want something, then the universe has its ways to make it happen. Now, here we are, with a review of the Logitech G303 Shroud Edition.
Alas, this little beauty isn't mine. It belongs to a friend. My only task was to find a unit for him, and my ask in return was to be given a few days so that I could test it, before handing it over to him.
A few days isn't enough to properly test out gaming products. There's a matter of durability when it comes to these peripherals and different sorts of testing depending on their specifications. Because these products go through a fair bit of "torture" and so they have to be well-built and guaranteed products from the companies that make them. There are things that the average user can't distinguish, nor do they need such features. These are factors that only a true gamer can identify. Even the term "true gamer" doesn't do it justice because these are e-sports peripherals, and e-sports players can be considered "digital athletes".
So, only a player who's either an e-sports player or someone who has fair knowledge about e-sports can tell the difference between a well-made peripheral, and a bad one. Basic "gaming" products don't cater to e-sports players because they require top-of-the-line products. Thus, peripherals made specifically for e-sports will always be in a league of their own.
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I'll first start with the shape. It isn't for everyone. That is why it isn't as popular as the G Pro. The G Pro is an ambidextrous mouse, one that caters to people who either use their right or left-hand, while also being suitable for most mouse grip styles. The G Pro is in a very safe shape. The G303 is "safe" too, but it leans more towards those with an aggressive claw grip, used with the right hand.
I do have a fairly aggressive claw grip, but this shape should have been a better fit for me. The only thing that bothered me was balance. The G303 is back-heavy, and it is also around 15 grams heavier. Now, 15 grams may not seem like a lot, but it can be the reason that causes a lot of inconsistency. The same goes for the center of mass.
I don't want to speak much about the buttons and clicks because this is Logitech's most horrid and consistent weakness. They may charge top dollar for their mice, but the switches they use are absolute garbage, and barely 4 to 6 months, depending on how much they're used. 4 to 6 months is criminally low for a flagship product of this caliber. They could easily charge $10-20 dollars extra and get better switches for their mice. Yet, I don't know why they don't. It's been the case for many years now, and I believe they know that it's easily fixable, but they keep on ignoring it.
Another less talked about issue is the LOD, Lift Off Distance. LOD is a less talked about issue, but I believe it can make or break someone's gameplay. These days the LOD levels can be switched via software, and many smaller companies have implemented it. However, Logitech for some reason is still behind when it comes to these features.
What is LOD?
Lift Off Distance (LOD) describes the point when you lift your gaming mouse and the sensor stops transmitting a signal to your computer.
It is crucial for players when it comes to fast-moving games and also sometimes while controlling recoil in FPS games. And since these mice are targeted towards FPS players, they should implement these
I could go on about the features that this mouse is missing, but that's compared to mice that are available these days. The G303 Shroud Edition came out back in 2021, so it would be an unfair comparison. The G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2 is currently available as well, and it has an extra feature or two, but I believe it still lacks a lot of new features. However, I have to admit that these features aren't necessary. Yet, it doesn't hurt to have these features, especially when you're paying top dollar.
Well, that's about it for this review. More like a first impression actually. Because a proper review requires at least a month to 6 months of rigorous testing.
