Why You Can Trust CNET Logitech G9x review: Logitech G9x
While the G9x is definitely a competent player, we feel purely as a function of its age that there are now better options available to the hardcore gamer.
Logitech's G9x is a slight revision of its G9, a mouse we rather liked when it came out three years ago. The G9x actually followed shortly after, but today is the first chance we've had to look at it.
Logitech G9x
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The difference that the additional lower case x brings? Higher DPI, and that's about it. The rest of the changes come courtesy of aesthetic updates in Logitech's SetPoint software, which is more a function of time rather than the G9x being remarkably different from the G9.
Logitech's SetPoint software is understated compared to its competition and is fully featured. It's also in dire need of a redesign with elements taking far too long to find, and for some bizarre reason requires a horizontal resolution of at least 1200 pixels to stop scroll bars appearing on some screens. (Screenshot by CBS Interactive)
It still comes with both high grip and satin finish swappable exterior shells, and the customisable weight system has stuck around too. As with the G9, the implementation is annoying; firstly, as the weight tray requires the exterior shell to be removed for adjustment and, secondly, because the weights themselves are fiddly to fit in.
Up to four weights can be included, and Logitech includes four 7g weights and four 4g weights for you to mix and match. Its own G500 offers a significantly more elegant and flexible system in this regard.
Swappable grips are great, having to remove them to adjust the weight is not. (Credit: Logitech)
On top of the standard left and right buttons and scroll wheel, Logitech enables side scrolling, throws in two thumb buttons and a not so easy to reach DPI switcher under the left mouse button. Up to five different customisable DPI settings can be programmed, with the DPI of the x and y axis able to be set independently.
Angle snapping is supported (the mouse detects if you're trying to move in a straight line and attempts to smooth the input), a USB polling rate of up to 1000Hz can be set, profiles containing custom button assignments and macros can be stored on the mouse and if you're finicky enough, the DPI light indicators can be set to any colour you like, depending on the profile. You can even auto-load specific profiles depending on what program you want to run.
You can program up to five different DPI levels to switch to on the fly. And yes, those levels are customisable. (Screenshot by CBS Interactive)
Two buttons are rather inconveniently placed on the bottom of the mouse, the first allowing the user to switch between stored profiles, the second shifting the mouse wheel between free spin and detented modes. Free spin is generally better for scrolling through large amounts of text, detented for gaming. Logitech calls this "MicroGear", although it has since figured out via the G500 that there are much better places to put the switching button, like under the scroll wheel.
Only the left mouse button and scroll up/down can't be customised, otherwise Logitech's software allows pretty much free reign, complete with macro editor that records mouse events. The macro manager is well thought out and on par with competing solutions.
Customise! (Screenshot by CBS Interactive)
Firing up sessions of Serious Sam: HD and Left 4 Dead, the G9x proved itself competent and accurate, although not as smoothly gliding as recent mice such as SteelSeries' Xai or Roccat's Kova.
While the list price of AU$199.99 is next to insane, thankfully the retail market has sorted things out to a degree, with the G9x retailing between AU$110 and AU$150.
While the G9x is definitely a competent player, we feel purely as a function of its age that there are now better options available to the hardcore gamer.