Logitech G303 Shroud Edition review: $130 wireless mouse for big-handed gamers

What do you get when you take 2015’s Logitech G Daedalus Apex G303, halve its weight, tweak the length and width, and cut the cable? Well, you get another G303. But this time, it’s called the Logitech G G303 Shroud Edition. It’s way more powerful and expensive ($130 MSRP) than its predecessor, and it’s not for everyone.

Some of the changes made to the G303 were necessary for the mouse to compete in today’s gaming landscape. At 2.6 oz (75 g), it’s ready for first-person shooters and long sessions. At the same time, it avoids the aggressive sub-2-oz (57 g) ultralight category.

The G303 Shroud Edition is named so because it was made to the specifications of pro streamer Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek. What that means for you, besides some subtle Shroud branding on the mouse, is that you get a wider, flatter device. You’ll need bigger hands to find comfort here, and even then, the mouse’s pointy edges may turn you off. But if you’re bigger-handed and have been seeking a wireless gaming mouse for your fingertip or claw grip, you may find some reasons to pick up the Shroud.

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Specs at a glance: Logitech G303 Shroud Edition
Sensor	Logitech Hero 25K optical sensor
Connectivity options	2.4 GHz USB-A dongle, USB-C-to-USB-A cable
Programmable Buttons	6
Onboard profiles	1
Lighting	None
Size	4.92 x 2.50 x 1.57 inches (125 x 63.5 x 40 mm)
Weight	2.6 oz (75 g)
Warranty	2 years
Price (MSRP)	$130
Other perks	Wireless extender

Impressively lightweight

There are a few reasons some hardcore gamers won’t touch a wireless mouse. One is fear of lag or dropped connections (although I’d argue wireless mice have improved tremendously over the past few years), but another is weight. Because wireless mice require batteries, they can feel heavy to push around, making swiping movements more tiring. Some mice go so far as to put holes in their chassis to cut weight, like the 1.72-ounce (49-gram) Cooler Master MM720, and heavier mice are getting less popular, especially for those constantly moving their mouse around, like FPS gamers.

Something like the MM720 is easy to fling about quickly so you can target your enemies with speed. But if you’re playing a slower-paced game, you may not need such a small product. Or you might just prefer something that feels more substantial in your hand.

The G303 Shroud Edition finds a comfortable middle ground. The old G303 weighed 4 oz (113 g), which would make it heavy for a competitive gaming mouse today, even a wireless one. At 2.6 oz (75 g), the new G303 feels light but not dainty or cheap, and it makes a good candidate for fingertip grippers.

It’s lighter than some similarly priced wireless gaming mice, including the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro (3.1 oz, or 88 g), the SteelSeries Prime Wireless (2.82 oz, 80 g), and the fan-favorite Logitech G Pro Wireless (2.82 oz, 80 g). You can go lighter, even without bringing in a cable. Logitech’s own Pro X Superlight is under 2.2 oz (62 g), according to the company, and the Glorious Model O- Wireless is about 2.29 oz (65 g). But for many, the Shroud Edition’s weight offers a good balance between mobility and control.

The underside of the mouse has a pair of nonadditive PTFE feet, but I’ve tested gaming mice that get a better boost from their feet, especially when the feet cover a greater percentage of the underside. I’ve used mice that seem lighter because of their feet, but the G303 feels like a 2.7-ounce (77-gram) mouse in action.

Tweaked dimensions

Besides being wireless, there are a few other ways the new G303 differs from the prior model. The new mouse was supposedly made to fit Shroud’s hand. He seems to use wider, flatter mice with plenty of room for the pointer and middle fingers.

The shape is reminiscent of a diamond, and the new G303 seems to have more pronounced corners on the left and right side. Yet the new G303 is barely wider, measuring just 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) longer across than the 2.6-inch-wide (66 mm) G303 Daedalus Apex.

The biggest difference is in the length. The new mouse is 4.92 inches (125 mm) long, while its predecessor is only 4.57 inches (116 mm). That extra length gives you more space to rest your pointer and middle fingers, particularly when palm gripping. My fingertips still hang off the buttons slightly, but not enough to droop or lose control over the left- and right-click buttons.

I mostly used the mouse with a claw grip. That’s partially because it’s my dominant grip but also because the edges are so pointy that a palm grip makes the mouse uncomfortable. When using a fingertip grip, the pointy edge on the left side is closer to the pad of my thumb, allowing me greater control of the mouse but making it harder to reach the forward side button, especially without accidentally left-clicking. The forward side button also slopes down and is past the part of the diamond that juts out, unlike the back button, making it harder to reach.

I have long fingers for a woman, and I felt that the mouse’s width helped balance out the minimal height, but I was dragging my pinky on the mouse pad too much when palm gripping.

However, I asked someone with larger hands to try the G303 Shroud Edition, and he found the height substantial and both side buttons easily reachable without adjusting his hand’s positioning.

The mouse is also too flat to comfortably fill out my palm for a palm grip or to give me much support in my fingertip grip. It’s 1.57 inches (39.9 mm) tall, which isn’t short, but the hump isn’t far back enough to hit my palm naturally.