Logitech made colorful, more gender-inclusive PC gaming accessories

Logitech has announced a line of PC gaming accessories that are designed to be more gender-inclusive, and specifically geared toward women, than any of its previous releases. Companies should not try to market consumer technology by gender in 2022, and instead should recognize the wide variety of tastes and physical needs that consumers have. But Logitech went out and did it anyway.

And the devices in the Aurora collection look great and, in particular, are new, not just new color combinations of existing products. But aside from some cool features across the entirety of the Aurora collection, it still feels like a case of the pink tax at work.

With its latest collection of gaming accessories (and the many expensive add-ons you can buy to customize them), Logitech wants to let you know that it now recognizes underrepresented groups… the same groups it’s largely ignored for years. .

A wide variety of genres enjoy gaming and using all the necessary accessories, but many peripheral companies, including Logitech, have spent a lot of time designing products for a very specific type of gamer: one with larger-than-average hands and who feels comfortable using peripherals decked out in dark colors and RGB lighting.

Logitech has been slowly realizing that not everything should look like it came from the office IT department or Where did the “gamer aesthetic” come from?. She began offering accessories with rounder corners Y fun colors in recent years. The Aurora collection focused more on gaming than previously released productivity-oriented peripherals. Only, in addition to a sleek look that leans on “gender inclusive” marketing, this collection has more than affordable prices and surprisingly dismal battery life claims.

Logitech

The class leader in terms of price and impressive features is the $229.99 G735 Wireless Headset. It looks like a more whimsical version. of the G Pro X model, clad in white with RGB LEDs tracing around the perimeter of its bulbous, rotating earcups. Like the much more affordable ($50 or so) G435 Wireless Headphones, the G735 features braille on each side arm to identify left from right, which is a great accessibility feature that more companies should copy. Logitech claims that the G735’s design is more inclusive because it can accommodate smaller heads and things like small earrings and glasses. While that’s technically true, it’s strange that apparently it only makes its other headphones for people with giant heads and perfect vision.

The G735 features dual wireless connectivity, the ability to connect via 2.4GHz and, for example, your phone via Bluetooth. Logitech says the G735 can last around 16 hours with the LED lighting on and at 50 percent volume. Most wireless headphones these days tout battery life, at least, so this is a disappointing figure. Turning off the lighting apparently increases its lifespan to around 56 hours per charge.

Logitech

The $199.99 wireless G715, along with the $169.99 wired G713, are dongleless models that feature media keys, a volume wheel, and a host of RGB LEDs. In addition to the backlight below each of their double-shot PBT keycaps, they have LEDs surrounding the keyboard to give off an aura. Logitech says you’ll be able to choose between tactile, linear, or mechanical clickable GX switches at checkout.

The G715 can connect wirelessly to the included 2.4GHz Lightspeed dongle or connect via Bluetooth. Logitech says you can expect around 25 hours of battery life per charge. Like headphones, that’s on the lower end of the longevity spectrum, considering its high price.

Logitech

Lastly, the $99.99 G705 Wireless Mouse is the first mouse that Logitech says was “intentionally” designed for gamers with smaller hands. From one angle, it looks like an ordinary gaming mouse, but from the angle that exposes its two thumb buttons, it looks more like an ergonomic mouse with its contoured thumb rest. It has a “gaming-grade” sensor (Logitech didn’t confirm the exact sensor before publication) with a sensitivity of up to 8200 DPI and can last up to 40 hours with the LEDs enabled. That battery life isn’t great. If it sounds like I’m hitting a dead horse, that’s because I’m doing it.

Shopping for Logitech accessories is rarely affordable, and the Aurora Collection is no exception. It will cost you $499.97 (assuming you bought the wired G713, not the G715 which costs $30 more) to buy each of the three items, but why stop there? There are also add-ons to buy!

• The G735 comes in white, but you can buy a different colored boom mic with two ear pads (in pink or neon green) for $20.
• As for keyboards, you can buy keyboard top plates for $20, and don’t forget a $40 set of keycaps.
• For the mouse, there are two accessories for purchase, including a $29.99 15.75 x 18-inch mousepad and a $40 heart-shaped carrying case for the G735 headset and G705 mouse.
• If you’re all-in on Logitech’s lineup and buy one of each add-on, you’ll pay at least $649.97.

Many technology companies, including Logitech, love to explain to the press how each of their new devices is the byproduct of a great deal of research, testing, and user collaboration with the target audience, as if those were the ingredients that They will guarantee a great product that is angled in an authentic way. The team behind this collection seemed excited that their new products will make some people feel seen, and honestly, that’s great. Design that is too focused on a very specific group creates products that feel repetitive and potentially off-putting. Logitech making gaming mice for smaller hands and headsets that can be worn with glasses are nice things. Making games less insular is a very good thing.

But it’s the battery life that sounds horrible, because Logitech doesn’t want to solve the problem of smaller devices requiring less space for batteries, that’s a problem. It is the high price that is a problem.

If your target audience can’t afford the product or use it for the same amount of time as something cheaper, then how inclusive or accessible is it really?