If it ain't broke, don't fix it—tweak it. That's the idea behind the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum ($79.99), a solid, high-performing gaming mouse primed for personalization. The main difference between the Proteus Spectrum and its predecessor, the G502 Proteus Core, is the addition of customizable RGB lighting. These new lighting options don't really add much, but the mouse's sophisticated and comfortable design, 11 programmable buttons, resolution that's adjustable up to 12,000dpi, and removable weights make it a fine choice for most gamers. While the Razer Mamba ($119.99 at Amazon) is more expensive, its adjustable click feedback and superior lighting keep it as our Editors' Choice.
Design and Features
Measuring 1.57 by 2.95 by 5.2 inches (HWD), the Proteus Spectrum ($57.83 at Amazon) remains largely unchanged from its predecessor in regard to button placement, color, and overall design. The only discernable difference is that the Spectrum nixes the Core's teal highlights in favor of a design that's all black, save for its dark-gray scroll wheel and a silver dpi indicator. It features a matte finish on the body, as well as on its left and right buttons, which after a week of all-day use held up nicely against finger sweat and grease. The rest of the 11 programmable buttons, including the scroll wheel, have a glossy finish.
Both sides of the mouse have texturized rubber grips, while the left side also features a comfortable thumb groove with three buttons: Forward and Back above the thumb and DPI Shift (for instantly switching between two resolutions) in front. The only potential drawback is that the groove and the button placement make the Spectrum a right-handed mouse only. Two sensitivity adjustment buttons, left of the left-click button, can either increase or decrease the dpi. Beneath the scroll wheel are another two buttons: The top button toggles friction for hyper-fast scrolling, while the bottom allows you to switch between three gaming profiles that you can set up in the Logitech Gaming Software. The dual-mode scroll wheel itself is ridged, which helps for precision scrolling, and can be clicked in three directions (left, right, and middle).
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The mouse weighs 4.3 ounces, making it heavier than competitors like the Corsair M65 RBG Laser Gaming Mouse ($46.49 at Amazon) (4.05 ounces), but slightly lighter than the Razer Mamba and the Razer Diamondback ($72.99 at Amazon) (both 4.32 ounces). Billed as a tunable mouse, it comes with a plastic box containing five 3.6-gram weights, for a total of 18 grams you can add via a magnetic cover located on the bottom of the mouse. If you prefer your mouse to be heavier in the center, for example, or more weighted toward your palm, it's easy to experiment. I tested the mouse with various weight configurations; there was no difference in the mouse's performance, and while you probably won't be able to tell the difference between two or three weights, there is a noticeable change between zero and five.
The biggest tweak from the Core, is the addition of customizable RGB lighting in the Spectrum. Although you can use the software to set up different lighting profiles and effects, there's no real reason for this feature. The only LED portions of the mouse are the G-series logo on the body of the mouse, which is almost always covered by your palm. You cannot customize the color on the dpi indicator. You can sync the mouse with Logitech RGB gaming keyboard, such as the G810 Orion Spectrum ($300.20 at Amazon) or the G910 Orion Spark ($179.99 at Logitech) , to have matching lighting, but this feature is limited to two effects (Color Cycle, which cycles through the color spectrum, and Breathing, a pulse-like effect for a single color), which are too distracting for keyboards.
The Spectrum's sensor ranges from 200 to 12,000dpi, the same as that of the Logitech G303 Daedalus Apex ($69.99 at Logitech) but short of the Razer Mamba's maximum of 16,000dpi. Not everyone will appreciate the difference between 12,000 and 16,000dpi, but it's worth noting for hard-core gamers. You can also adjust polling rates between 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1,000Hz. Another nifty feature is the ability to switch between using customized profiles you save on the mouse's onboard memory or letting the Spectrum automatically detect games on your computer and set up profiles accordingly.
Lastly, the Spectrum can be tuned to different surfaces, such as a desk or a mouse pad, to maximize the sensor's tracking accuracy. The process is relatively simple: Just load up the software and follow the on-screen instructions. I tested this feature on a cloth mousepad, desk, and a magazine cover. In each instance, there was a noticeable improvement compared with the factory preset. Granted, the improvement was at best a minor increase in accuracy and responsiveness, but any advantage, no matter how slight, is an important consideration for serious gamers.
Performance
In my tests, the Spectrum was comfortable and responsive for both gaming and everyday use. While testing with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($39.99 at GameStop) , I was able to quickly and smoothly change camera angles with no discernable lag. For the most part, the buttons are well placed, especially those located near your thumb. But I personally found that, because of their position, the preset dpi adjustment buttons require a bit more concentration to use effectively. If you're not careful, you can find yourself accidentally left-clicking when all you want to do is increase or decrease dpi. Luckily, it's easy to reassign these functions to the Forward and Back buttons or whichever buttons you think to be more intuitive. The DPI Shift button was also easy to reach, and its location just beyond the tip of my thumb prevented any mis-clicking.
Conclusion
Right-handed gamers will appreciate the customizability, high performance, and comfort of the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum, and its matte finish, 11 programmable buttons, and higher dpi give it a slight edge over the similarly priced Corsair M65 RGB. But with snazzier lighting, adjustable click feedback, and wireless operability, the Razer Mamba remains our top pick, though the Proteus Spectrum is a worthy and affordable alternative.
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