Logitech G403 Prodigy Review: Powerhouse Mouse

Logitech is announcing its new Prodigy line of products at PAX West this week, but prior to their official unveiling, the company gave me the opportunity to check out its new lineup.

Shortly after playing around with the G213 Prodigy, I set up its mouse counterpart, the G403 Prodigy. While downgrading from a G900 to the G403 Prodigy was a big step, I found there to be some benefits to the entry-level mouse including the comfort of its shape, its rubber sides, and its simple design.

Put Your Hand Where My Eyes Can See

The Logitech G403 Prodigy is as straightforward as they come. The mouse has a rather high body to help keep from straining the wrist too much, which entry-level gamers will certainly appreciate as their hands probably aren’t accustomed to long periods of play yet. The front of the mouse has a rather long slope to keep your index and middle fingers in place during use. The clickable scroll wheel and middle button are also placed in such a way to make them very easy to access, although it lacks the infinite scroll wheel option that I tend to appreciate when I’m forced to make my way through a long-winded article.

Last, but not least, are two buttons located on the left side that allows me to go “back” or “forward” when browsing the Internet, or can be customized for a specific task within my game of choice. For instance, by default, the “back” button initiates a melee attack when playing most first-person shooters, such as Overwatch. I also have the “forward” button bound to grenades, which I find to be much easier than using the middle button of the “G” key on my keyboard.

Considering the G403 Prodigy is an entry-level mouse, Logitech decided to make it easier to handle by placing two strips of rubber on its sides. I found this to be a great move on its part considering smaller hands or newcomers will have a hard time learning how to properly grip a gaming mouse. Having these rubber strips will not only teach them where your fingers should grip the mouse, but it’ll also give them an edge when playing as there won’t be as much of a learning curve.

Professional Grade Specs

While the outside of the G403 Prodigy may resemble an entry-level product, its internals are anything but entry-level. The mouse features the same sensor as its current lineup of high-grade mice, which is the PMW3366, allowing users a tracking resolution anywhere between 200 to 12,000 DPI and its weight can be fine-tuned. By default, the mouse weighs 90g, but a 10g coin can be added to give it a slightly heavier feel, which some users may feel more comfortable with.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m able to program each button of the mouse depending on the game I’m playing. But that’s not all as I can also change its DPI on the fly, which comes in handy when I suddenly find myself with a sniper rifle, and its lighting. Just like the G213, I’m able to change the lighting of the G403 Prodigy from up to 16.8 million colors, which is the current standard for all RGB-supported products,

An Entry-Level Mouse Muse

If your mouse that you “borrowed” from your office or one that came included with your PC isn’t quite doing it for you when playing games, the G403 Prodigy would be a great choice for those looking to dip their toe into gaming-focused peripherals. Its combination of  entry-level aesthetics with professional grade internals make it a mouse that’s worth your money.

This review is based on a retail version provided by Logitech. The Logitech G403 Prodigy will be available in retail in September 2016, for $69.99 for its standard version and $99.99 for its wireless.