When it comes to computer peripherals, two names sit at the top of the pile: Razer and Logitech. That’s for a good reason, as they make some of the best gaming mice and keyboards money can buy. So if you’re in the market for new peripherals, you may wonder which of the two brands to go for. Who takes the cake in the Razer vs. Logitech face-off?
The two brands’ products are generally more similar than they are different, so don’t expect one brand to dominate in any of our categories. Still, we think this comparison will be helpful for those who want a quick overview to get the lay of the land. Let’s get started.
Razer vs. Logitech: An Overview
Logitech is one of the longest-running names in computer peripherals, having been around since 1981. The company’s been at the forefront of peripheral technology for most of those 40 years, bringing innovations such as laser and cordless mice to the market. Logitech has several sub-brands, but the best known is likely Logitech G and its high-quality PC gaming peripherals.
Razer is a veritable child compared to Logitech, only emerging in its current form in 2005 out of failed parent company kärna LLC. The company quickly made a name for itself with high-quality gaming peripherals and high-profile esports sponsorship deals. Gaming mice and keyboards remain the company’s most popular products, but it’s also now known for its Razer Blade laptops and a growing range of lifestyle products.
Razer vs. Logitech: Mice
Let’s start by looking at mice, where both companies do some of their best work. Both companies have a wide range of mice, from high-end ultralights to more budget-friendly options. Interestingly, the two companies’ product lines are very similar, with many mice in direct competition.
For the top-end Logitech gaming mouse, the G Pro X Superlight, see Razer’s Viper V2 Pro. Similarly, Logitech’s feature-rich, ergonomic G502 X Lightspeed wireless mouse has a Razer counterpart in the identically-priced Basilisk V3 Pro.
The similarities aren’t limited to top-end mice, either. Logitech’s classic egg-shaped G305 meets its match in Razer’s excellent Orochi V2 wireless mouse, which has a similar shape and price. And if you’re in the market for a basic wired ergonomic gaming mouse, the Logitech G403 goes toe-to-toe with Razer’s DeathAdder V2.
However, Razer’s mice have two crucial advantages that put it ahead of Logitech mice. Firstly, Razer offers significantly more options than Logitech, even if they may have a similar number of shapes. Most Razer mouse shapes come in a few flavors designed for different needs and budgets, giving you more flexibility when shopping.
Let’s look at the Razer Viper “family” of mice, which consists of several models with varying features and prices. You have the wireless Viper V2 Pro gaming mouse at the top end, the basic wired Viper in the middle, and the compact and low-cost Viper Mini at the bottom. It’s much the same with the Basilisk and DeathAdder mice: same shape, multiple variations, and something for everyone.
Razer also has a notable advantage when it comes to its mouse hardware. Both companies use similarly high-quality PixArt-derived sensors, but Razer’s in-house switches give its mice a durability advantage over Logitech’s offerings.
The third-gen Razer Optical switches on the Viper V2 Pro, for example, are rated for an impressive 90 million clicks. That’s significantly better than the 20-million-click Omron switches on the Logitech G Pro X Superlight. As a bonus, Razer’s optical switches are immune to the dreaded double-click issue, which the G Pro X Superlight’s switches are sadly prone to. So Razer mice are the better buy if longevity is a concern.
Winner: Razer
Both companies make excellent mice, so you can’t go wrong no matter which of the two brands you choose. For example, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight isn’t just the best Logitech mouse right now, it’s likely better than even the Viper V2 Pro. However, it’s hard to go against Razer here for its broader gaming range and better mouse hardware.
Razer’s “family”-based approach to its peripherals means that there’s almost always a mouse for you, no matter your budget. You won’t be locked out of using a shape simply because you can’t afford the top-end version, which is commendable.
The company’s long-lasting mouse switches are also a great boon. The first- and second-generation Razer Optical switches may not feel quite as nice as mechanical switches, but their extreme durability helps make up for it. Overall, these two factors give Razer the edge as far as mice go. Check out our list of the best Razer mice for some recommendations.
Razer vs. Logitech: Keyboards
Now let’s move to the second-most important gaming peripheral, the keyboard. Both companies serve the gaming market ably with a wide range of products. Will Razer have the edge here too? Let’s find out.
Like mice, there’s a lot of overlap between the two companies’ products, and they generally target the same customer bases with the same basic functions. But that’s not surprising; after all, how much can you do with a keyboard to differentiate it?
Both companies use proprietary switches, launched after Cherry’s patents lapsed. Logitech’s mechanical keyboards feature either full-size GX or low-profile GL switches, both mechanical. Razer offers slightly more switch variety, with full-size mechanical, full-size optical, low-profile optical, and Analog Optical switches available.
Logitech’s switches come in the usual tactile, clicky, and linear flavors, but Razer only does so for its full-size mechanical switches. Razer Opticals only come in linear and clicky variants, with the Razer Analog Optical switches only available in a linear form.
As far as switch quality goes, we don’t think either company’s switches are good or bad enough to make that the primary purchasing decision. If you prefer full-sized mechanical switches, you can’t go wrong. However, those with more specific needs will find their choices limited by what each company offers.
Want a low-profile mechanical keyboard? Then you’ll have to go with a Logitech keyboard like the G915 Lightspeed. Want to experiment with touch-sensitive analog switches? Razer’s Huntsman V2 Analog is the one you want.
This theme extends to more than just switches, too. For example, Razer is the only company of the two that caters to the compact market with the 65% Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini and 60% Razer Huntsman Mini. If you need something small, Razer is your only choice here.
On the other hand, Logitech’s G Pro X Keyboard is the only one from either company that comes with hot-swap sockets. So if you want a gaming board with some high-end linears without going down the custom route, the Logitech is the way to go.
Both companies have similar issues, too. Build quality and typing feel is passable, but the stabilizers and overall quality generally trail behind similarly-priced non-gaming mechanical keyboard options. If you’re primarily a typist, a keyboard like the Ducky One 3 will be a much better buy than anything from either Razer or Logitech.
Bottom rows are also a problem, especially on older models. The non-standard bottom rows mean you’ll need to buy Razer or Logitech-specific keysets if you want to swap keycaps. This limits your aesthetic and material choices significantly.
Thankfully, both companies have seen the errors of their ways. Newer keyboards like the Razer Huntsman V2 and Logitech G413 SE have standard bottom rows that will work with all aftermarket keysets. If you must have a keyboard from one of these companies, get one of their newer models to avoid keycap headaches.
Winner: It’s a Tie!
Neither company has a definitive advantage here. Razer may offer more switches and form factor options on their best keyboards, but some of those options are relatively niche. Analog optical switches aren’t for everyone, and not all gamers out there can get used to 60% or 65% boards.
Logitech may have the hot-swap advantage with the G Pro X Keyboard, but it’s only one keyboard. No matter how great hot-swap is, a single keyboard isn’t enough to swing the balance decisively in Logitech’s favor.
Overall, we don’t think either company has a definitive upper hand here. Both make decent enough keyboards with all the features gamers will want, so the victor in this comparison will boil down to your aesthetic and ecosystem preferences.
Razer vs. Logitech: Gaming Headsets
Now that we’ve got the two main peripherals out of the way, let’s move on to another product segment where the two companies compete directly with each other. Neither company is necessarily at the top of the pile here, but they still make great headsets that adorn many setups. Let’s see who has the upper hand here, shall we?
Both companies offer a range of full-sized gaming headsets that cover all the usual categories and feature sets. You start with affordable wired headsets such as the Logitech G332 and Razer BlackShark V2 X and go up to high-end wireless options with spatial audio like the Logitech G Pro X Wireless and Razer BlackShark V2 Pro.
Each company has adopted a different spatial audio system: Razer’s 7.1 headphones use THX Spatial Audio, while Logitech headphones sport DTS Headphone X. We’re not surround sound connoisseurs here at Voltcave, so we won’t weigh in on which is better.
However, there seems to be a long-standing issue with Logitech headsets where users can’t access the (higher-quality) DTS implementation in DTS’ Sound Unbound app. This leaves users stuck with either two-channel audio or Logitech’s sub-par DTS implementation in G Hub, Logitech’s software suite.
If surround sound is a key feature, Razer’s THX headsets may be the better option. However, you’ll need to pay an extra $20 or so for Razer’s THX Spatial Audio software to get the most out of your surround-sound headphones. It’s a slightly unpleasant additional charge, but the upshot is a ton of flexibility, including a graphic equalizer, full surround sound calibration, and a mixer for customizing settings on a per-application basis.
In terms of raw sound quality, both companies make products capable of impressing. Logitech’s G433 stands out as a great neutral headphone that would work even for serious music listening, which isn’t something you can say for many gaming headsets.
Both companies have a companion app for their wireless and USB headsets that lets you change EQ profiles and tweak the sound profile to your heart’s content. So while Razer’s headsets may sometimes lean a bit more towards bassy gamer-friendly sound profiles than Logitech’s, that’s nothing a quick EQ profile change can’t fix.
There isn’t much to separate the two brands when it comes to their microphones, either. Sure, Logitech has a slight brand advantage with the Blue Microphones-powered BLUE V0!CE technology on headsets like the Logitech G735, but Razer’s higher-end headset microphones are equally as good.
You get similar noise canceling and voice enhancement features no matter which brand you go for, so you won’t have to worry too much about your choice here. But, as ever, you only get these enhancements on pricier headphones like the aforementioned G735 and Razer Kraken V3 Pro.
Winner: It’s a Tie (Again)!
Both Razer and Logitech make good gaming headphones, and you can’t go wrong with either brand if you’re after basic headphone functionality. You can get great-sounding headphones and good mics no matter which brand you go for.
However, Razer has a clear advantage in the surround sound department, with a full-featured configuration program that works without issue. If you’re a committed spatial audio user, then Razer is the better pick. We also prefer how Razer’s headsets look, but that’s a subjective point that can go either way. So while Razer has some advantages, neither is concrete enough to give it a decisive win.
Closing Thoughts
On an objective level, there isn’t much to separate Razer and Logitech. While we think Razer has the upper hand for mice, that’s only because of the company’s wider, more accessible product range. Performance-wise, Logitech’s mice are almost entirely equal to Razer’s offerings, and the same goes for keyboards and headsets.
Yes, each brand has certain niche features that will sway the comparison one way or the other depending on a user’s needs. But we don’t think there’s any way to cleanly and conclusively separate the two brands for the general consumer.
We’re sorry to disappoint you if you came here looking for a winner. But we’re all winners, really: you can’t go wrong whether you go for Razer or Logitech. And that’s a great thing in our book.
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