Logitech PowerPlay 2 review – mediocrity in mousepad form

The Logitech PowerPlay 2 is right here, eight years because the unique model of its intelligent wi-fi charging mousepad launched. This new model takes the thought of a mouse mat that frequently costs your mouse and simplifies it to its naked necessities. Gone is the included wi-fi dongle in your mouse, gone is the RGB lighting, and gone is the reversible arduous mousepad. As a substitute, the PowerPlay 2 merely gives its wi-fi charging capacity, which it fires by way of a skinny mushy mousepad floor.

All that simplification has resulted in a welcome drop in worth from the $119 of the unique to $99 for the brand new mannequin (latest tariff-related worth will increase however). Nevertheless, with Logitech eradicating so many options from this product, it is from a shoo-in for a spot on our greatest gaming mousepad information. Let’s take a better have a look at what it presents.

Specs

Design and options

As a reminder, the Logitech PowerPlay 2 (and unique Logitech PowerPlay earlier than it) consists of a mousepad below which is a system of wi-fi charging coils, just like the wi-fi charging pads you may get in your cellphone. The equipment features a wi-fi charging coin that may be fitted to the underside of a variety of Logitech gaming mice. These embrace the Logitech G502 X Plus and the Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2, in addition to older fashions such because the Logitech G Professional Wi-fi, in addition to the Logitech G903.

This coin picks up the wi-fi charging and passes it onto your mouse, including 2g of weight however gaining you the flexibility to by no means once more have to cost your wi-fi mouse. Up to now, so just like the unique PowerPlay, however from right here on in, there are some vital variations.

The place the unique PowerPlay included a wi-fi dongle for connecting your mouse to your PC, the PowerPlay 2 would not. This implies you possibly can, in concept, plug it right into a USB wall charger, which might be extra handy in your setup. Nevertheless, with out a type of handy, that you must burn up two of your PC’s USB ports – one for the PowerPlay 2 and one in your mouse dongle – in comparison with only one for the older mannequin.

This alone I discover a moderately wise change, as many trendy mice embrace excessive polling charges that push past the capabilities of the earlier PowerPlay’s included adapter. Logitech might have added a high-spec 8kHz dongle to the PowerPlay 2, however this is able to have bumped up the fee for a characteristic many customers will not want or need. In the meantime, your mouse already comes with a wi-fi dongle, so other than the USB port area problem, it is probably not an issue. Nevertheless, when mixed with the opposite omissions, it is much less of a straightforward change to simply accept.

As an illustration, gone now’s the flexibility to detach the 1.8m (6ft) lengthy cable from the pad, so if it breaks, you may want to purchase a brand new pad (except you feel adventurous with a soldering iron). And it isn’t like Logitech has outfitted this mouse mat with a very powerful cable. It is skinny and rubber-coated, with a floor that is simply grippy sufficient that I can see it simply snagging on the sting of your desk, for example.

As for the pad itself, this has additionally seen a downgrade. Whereas the principle wi-fi charge-delivering decrease layer has an analogous thickness as earlier than, the precise pad has gone from being a inflexible floor that may be flipped over to offer a tough plastic floor or a softer padded floor, to being an ultra-thin, versatile mushy pad. On the plus aspect, the charging space of the pad has elevated by 15%.

One other eliminated characteristic is the RGB lighting that was included within the plastic energy adapter portion of the unique PowerPlay. Now, this part is obvious black, although there’s a small white LED to point charging. Logitech’s G Hub software program will even present that your mouse is being charged (as reported by the mouse, not the pad), nevertheless it’s helpful to have the on-desk indication.

Efficiency

Establishing the PowerPlay 2 is straightforward. As long as you might have a USB port that may ship sufficient energy (any powered USB 2.0 port), it can present its charging service. Pop the coin into the bottom of your chosen mouse, and that is it.

The charging space covers the overwhelming majority of the pad, with solely the highest 2.5-inches and backside 1.5-inches of the pad not responding. I’ve indicated the areas of response within the picture beneath.

With every part arrange, the pad will merrily cost your mouse perpetually extra, indicating that it is working by way of the white mild on the pad or by way of the charging icon showing in your linked mouse in G Hub.

Nevertheless, one notice of warning right away is that the pad would not work on ferrous steel surfaces. So, for example, in case you personal our greatest gaming desk alternative, the Secretlab Magnus Professional, you can’t use this mouse mat. It merely would not work. I additionally confirmed that the likes of a metal central heating radiator and automotive hood equally interrupt the sign, simply in case you puzzled if they may make appropriate desk surfaces.

The pad itself has a floor coarseness that is near the Stability model of the SteelSeries QcK Efficiency mouse pads. It is not as fast-stopping as coarse-control mousepads (SteelSeries QcK Efficiency Management, LGG Saturn) however neither is it fairly as slick because the very smoothest speedy mousepads (SteelSeries QcK Efficiency Velocity, Corsair MM300). I favor a barely faster-feeling pad, however not a lot that I felt massively restricted through the use of this pad. I additionally did not really feel overly restricted by the comparatively modest measurement of this pad, however in case you favor a really massive mouse mat, this one will not be appropriate. Logitech would not present choices for alternate options pad surfaces.

As for the thickness, cushioning, and common construct of the included prime pad, it’s quite pathetic. It is simply 1.3mm thick with a woven prime floor, a 1mm (ish) thick layer of froth, and a sticky rubberized backing. The latter means it grips the floor of the charging pad moderately nicely when it comes to not sliding sideways out of your hand actions.

Nevertheless, the pad simply rides up and buckles (see above), and the non-stitched edge is already fraying after solely a few weeks into utilizing the pad I am reviewing. The benefit is that the mixed thickness of the pad stays low, at simply 3.5mm, however I really feel Logitech ought to at the least embrace a second pad with the PowerPlay 2 to bump up the sense of worth and potential lifespan of this product.

It is good, then, that the charging pad nonetheless works when used with different mousepads. I attempted a number of different pads measuring between 3mm and 4mm thickness, and it labored wonderful with all of them, and even labored by way of two layers of pad (above). So, it is doable to arrange this charging mat below a bigger desk pad, for example, though you’re going to get a slight bump within the pad, as proven beneath.

Value

The Logitech PowerPlay 2 worth was $99.99 at launch, making for a $20 saving over the unique model. Nevertheless, its worth now sits at $119.99, seemingly on account of latest US tariffs. Even at its earlier worth, although, with all of the downgrades in options, the PowerPlay 2 would not leap out as providing good worth.

Options

SteelSeries QcK Efficiency

Realistically, there aren’t any true alternate options to the PowerPlay system. Logitech has this tech locked down. Nevertheless, so far as premium mousepads go, the Steelseries QcK Efficiency lineup is value a search for the truth that it presents three totally different decisions of floor to fit your play model. Learn our Steelseries QcK Efficiency overview for more information.

Verdict

The Logitech PowerPlay 2 is a downgrade in practically all methods from the unique mannequin, and regardless of a slight drop in worth, it nonetheless presents poor worth due to it. The choice to have a non-removable cable is especially egregious, making this really feel a lot extra like a consumable, limited-life product when actually it ought to be capable to final many, a few years to return.

The pathetically skinny and flimsy mousepad prime can also be an fascinating alternative. It really works to make the PowerPlay 2 really feel moderately slim and like a traditional mousepad, nevertheless it seems and feels low cost, and it would not go away me assured it can final very lengthy in any respect.

Add within the unlucky indisputable fact that the charging would not work when the pad is used on ferrous steel surfaces, and that Logitech has additionally eliminated the RGB lighting, the wi-fi receiver, and flippable two-surface mousepad of the unique, and the PowerPlay 2 is decidedly underwhelming as an total product. What it could do, by permitting you to by no means have to cost your wi-fi mouse once more, continues to be a novel and massively welcome characteristic, however you pay a excessive worth for the privilege.

Whether or not you have determined to go along with a wi-fi charging mousepad or not, why not take a look at our greatest wi-fi gaming mouse information to seek out the precise match in your rig? Or, overlook charging altogether and take a look on the wired mouse choices on our greatest gaming mouse information.