Logitech vs. Razer? If you’re new to the PC gaming scene (or even if you’re a seasoned veteran), you’ve likely asked yourself this question or discussed it with the community. It’s a reasonable question, what with plenty of both brands’ gear consistently popping up in the top spots for peripheral roundups.
But what is it about these two brands that often has them directly competing in the minds of gamers? What makes them so similar, and what makes one different or better than the other?
We hope to help you answer these questions today. Let’s take a look at the history of these brands and break down their product lines to uncover the truth behind Logitech vs. Razer.
What is Logitech?
A Swiss company started in 1981, Logitech swiftly made a name for itself as a premium computer peripheral brand. Originally starting as just a mouse manufacturer, they quickly expanded in the early 2000s and bought up several other Silicon Valley startups to bolster their mouse functionality and expand their product offerings.
Logitech prides itself on innovation, and in many ways, we wouldn’t have much of the gaming-specific peripherals and components without them. Just a few examples include the infrared cordless mouse, thumb-operated trackball, and the laser mouse.
That constant cycle of innovation, acquisition, and expansion has remained consistent over the years. They now include ASTRO Gaming, Ultimate Ears, Jaybird, Blue Microphones, and Streamlabs, alongside the core Logitech and Logitech-G brands and products.
While they may not be a company purely focused on gaming, their ventures into high-class audio, visuals, streaming, and other technology has made them a top choice for PC gamers. This willingness to test, adapt, and change direction has helped the company thrive for almost forty years. Every sub-brand, product line, and initiative is meant to help the rest push the boundaries of what is possible, and it shows.
What is Razer?
Razer started as an American subsidiary of a Japanese manufacturer in 1998. It hasn’t been around as long as Logitech, but it had a similar start focusing on computer mice.
After falling into dire financial straits in early 2000, Razer revitalized its brand and quickly carved out a name for itself as one of the go-to options for gaming peripherals. They did so not only by creating high-quality peripherals, but by developing a lifestyle around their brand. The mice, keyboards, mousepads, and microphones took on sleeker designs that effectively tied performance and style together for the first time.
Not content to stick to just peripherals, Razer launched their gaming laptop lineup in 2013. Sticking to Razer’s design principles, these laptops were developed as high-end PCs that functioned as well as (and sometimes even better than) traditional PCs. That innovative mindset wouldn’t translate to success with their console launch in 2017, but it still showcased the company’s desire to push the envelope.
They continue to expand, now offering their own internationally accepted digital currency, console and streaming peripherals, as well as chairs and apparel. They’ve established the visual look for gaming devices and the general culture of the gaming community, which is all wrapped around high-quality products.
Why are Razer and Logitech Often Compared?
Their legacies have been very different, but Razer and Logitech embody two similar principles: quality and innovation. Both brands avoid selling low-quality, low-cost products, and both have storied histories of pursuing innovation at almost any cost. As of today, this places them both as top-tier peripheral manufacturers, with similar product offerings that fall within comparable price ranges.
This fact alone often causes gamers and customers to group the two brands together. Aesthetically, the two couldn’t be more different, but the quality and features are almost frustratingly similar. It takes comparing each product line to fully understand what makes both brands different and what truly informs their core design principles.
Logitech vs. Razer: A Comprehensive Guide
Let’s take a look at each category and try to compare the Logitech and Razer lineups side-by-side. These won’t be detailed product reviews, but will hopefully give you a glimpse of what makes Logitech and Razer so similar and so different, as well as which option is better in certain cases.
Logitech vs. Razer Software
Both Razer and Logitech have a single application to help manage your peripherals. These apps cover their entire library of products, providing technical customization without the need to download separate services. Unlike some gaming customization software, the apps are regularly updated and often see holistic refreshes with the launch of a new product line.
Both Logitech’s G Hub and Razer’s Synapse software perform the same basic functions, including:
- Programming buttons
- Recording macros
- Customizing the color scheme
- Recording usage statistics
- Managing your full profile
Where they begin to differ is how they actually handle these functions.
Keybind Shortcuts and Profiles
Customizing and saving multiple key profiles is a simple process with both software packages. You can set up multiple profiles and switch them when running specific applications. This, however, is where we begin to see the differences emerge.
Due to Logitech having such a wide range of gaming and non-gaming peripherals, any keybinds you create become universal. This means that not only will it be available to use if you switch keyboards, it will also create a blank layout for any other devices you may be using. For example, if you only personalize your mouse buttons for Fortnite, a generic keyboard profile will also be created and connected to that profile.
This is a great feature if you’re using multiple Logitech devices, as it helps avoid any potential issues with incompatible shortcuts. Razer, on the other hand, requires that you create individual setups for every device. That means you would need to create shortcuts on your keyboard and mouse for Fortnite upfront. If one is left out, Razer automatically reverts to the last auto-detected profile you used, which can be frustrating if you’ve jumped from an FPS to a platformer.
You’ll more than likely be creating different profiles for every device and application anyway, so take this comparison with a grain of salt. Having unified profiles is helpful, but it probably won’t break your experience if it isn’t present.
Features
Since Logitech is not exclusively a gaming company, their key customization and software features encompass a wider range of use cases. They are far more compatible with external media sources and allow you to create word processing shortcuts and easily manage video and audio sources. That said, their in-game customization is a bit more limited and focused more on general profile creation linked to uniform settings.
Razer, on the other hand, is far more gaming-focused. You won’t have the same level of web-based customization or compatibility with non-gaming platforms, but you will have more control over how you play. You can create and switch between multiple profiles for a single game on the fly, edit those shortcuts while playing, and easily communicate those changes with your other devices.
Interface and Storage
Objectively, both the G Hub and Synapse provide fairly intuitive UI. The profile organization, peripheral management, and editing tools are all refined and intuitive to use. Any decision will likely come down to your personal tastes.
G Hub opts for a focused approach that highlights which peripheral you’re using and outlining the exact buttons you can change during the editing process. Razer, on the other hand, allows for a broader approach that requires you to actively select and change the peripheral you’re working on. There’s less guidance in the UI itself, so it can be confusing to unravel the first few times you use it.
This same methodology extends to how they both approach profile storage and management. Logitech again opts for convenience, allowing a limited number of profiles to be stored on a single peripheral and a larger number within the software itself. Razer prefers to use an account-based sync. This expands the number of profiles available for each device, but requires you to use Razer’s proprietary service to hold all of your profiles.
Customization
The lighting customization options will vary between each device. Typically, the newer or more expensive peripherals will have more RGB refinement than outdated or cheaper models. Both brands provide robust customization options, but you’ll likely notice that the function falls perfectly in line with the design of the rest of their software.
Logitech is once again all about simplicity. You pick a color, pick a key or multiple keys, and view the updates in real-time. There are plenty of preprogrammed effects as well as larger customization options known as “lighting zones” that allow you to quickly edit a group of keys.
Razer goes a bit deeper by using a separate app known as Chroma Configurator, which (like their other software) is potentially more powerful but far more complex. There are more colors, a wider range of presets, and the ability to layer key effects on top of or around each other. If you’re keen on customization and don’t mind a semi-steep learning curve, Razer has you covered.
Verdict
The differences between each software package are incredibly nuanced. They both perform virtually the same functions but make concessions based on their core focus. Logitech is all about minimalism, ease of use, and a uniform experience across devices. Razer, while more complicated, provides more robust and personalized customization that links to a broader cloud experience.
Neither is inherently better. It ultimately depends on your preferences and needs to determine which will provide the best experience for you.
Logitech vs. Razer Mouse
A great mouse perfectly combines comfort and performance. The design is typically ergonomic or includes ergonomic features, and the aesthetic is sleek, minimal, and refined. For performance, you’ll typically be looking at switch types, DPI range, adjustable DPI availability, button count, and customization options.
The actual materials that most modern mice are made of is fairly consistent across all brands. It will typically be a solid plastic blend, with a handful of premium options throwing aluminum or metal frames into the mix. For Logitech and Razer, you can count on high-end plastics with rubberized grip (depending on the model).
Logitech Mice
The lack of focus on gaming is most evident in Logitech’s mouse designs. The customization is somewhat limited, the style and form factor is relatively basic, and the overall build is meant to balance professional and gaming use. The DPI range, sensor accuracy, and lightweight shell make them easy and consistent to use but difficult to adjust to specific gaming scenarios.
Where Logitech shines is with its wireless models, specifically the G502 Lightspeed. These are far and above the most refined and accurate tetherless options on the market, thanks mainly to their experimentation and progression with infrared and laser sensors. While they don’t fix much of the customization issues present in their corded mice, they are the best option if you want to stay competitive but go wireless.
Razer Mice
Razer mice tend to be more expensive, but for good reason. They feel like a natural extension of your hand and provide little to no latency between actions. They don’t really do anything spectacular, but they will refine and elevate the basic functions of what makes a good mouse.
This is readily present in the Deathadder V2. The button size and curvature feel comfortable and accurate to use, and the shape allows for a natural spot for the thumb to wrap around the side. Under the hood, it has a 20,000 DPI sensor and on-the-fly DPI adjustments present on the mouse, with the ability to personalize even further with Razer’s software. For wired mice, Razer sticks with what works and continues to tweak and refine the form factor, upgrading the internal components with each new model.
Verdict
You can’t go wrong with either a Logitech or Razer mouse, but some models are obviously better than others. If you want to go for a wireless mouse, Logitech is the best choice. Razer sticks with the tried and true wired models, incrementally refining the frame, materials, and internal components to make them some of the most accurate mice available.
Logitech vs. Razer Keyboards
Keyboards, even more so than mice, differ on a model-by-model basis. The more expensive you go, the better performance and more features you can typically expect. When it comes to distinct differences between the two brands, it really comes down to the key switches. Both Logitech and Razer use proprietary switches that focus on very different things.
Key Switches
Logitech provides a few different variations in their Low Profile and Romer-G Switches. These mechanical designs range from extremely tactile and clicky to quiet and nonresistant, with the range and presence of each key type depending on the section of the keyboard and the model itself. In all honesty, they’re relatively similar to Cherry keys and provide a range of tactile feedback and noise reduction.
Razer also provides different key switch variations (Green, Orange, and Yellow), which are present in various combinations across their keyboard lineup. You’ll typically have the option to choose your key type when purchasing and can always replace them down the line as needed.
The core difference between the two is that Razer built its key design from the ground up. They’re noticeably different and provide comparable (if not better) performance over the industry-standard Cherry switches. Logitech has proprietary switch options in name alone and doesn’t really alter the core Cherry design.
That’s not necessarily a problem, but it again brings up the difference in these companies’ goals. Razer works within a gaming-first mindset, while Logitech is about bridging the gap between productivity and gaming. Their switch choices exemplify this, with Razer’s proprietary option more directly influencing your style of play and Logitech’s often being noted as too shallow and lacking in tactile function in comparison.
Logitech vs. Razer Headsets
Logitech has noticeably invested more in the speaker quality of their headsets. The noise isolation is crisp and clear, the bass brings up a resoundingly low bellow, and the overall shell design seemingly wraps your ears in a bowl of sound. Their microphones provide clear audio delivery, and the adjustable headbands are known to be comfortable for people of all head shapes and sizes.
Razer makes fairly comparable headsets, but it’s somewhat apparent that these peripherals haven’t been their focus until recently. The overall design is often a bit clunkier, the bass a bit punchier, and (depending on the model you purchase) they can unfortunately feel somewhat cheap. That said, there are some benefits that it has over Logitech.
The price point is typically $20 to $30 cheaper, and the sound quality is far more consistent between devices, showcasing Razer’s focus on gaming compatibility once again. However, Logitech’s devices may be worth spending a few dollars more. The refined comfort in the headband and shells, more robust customization, and high-quality build materials make their headsets great for gaming, entertainment, and chatting.
Like everything in this exploration, it ultimately comes down to your preferences. If you’re an audiophile, a high-end Logitech headset is probably right for you. If you just need a reliable mid-tier headset that can easily switch between devices, Razer is likely the best option.
Logitech for Work & Gaming | Razer for Pure Gaming
Both brands produce high-quality and forward-thinking devices. Each new model provides refined iterations on what came before, and the two are actively pushing each other to create better machines. It’s difficult to say which brand is truly the best — as we’ve said before, it honestly comes down to your personal needs.
If you’re looking for a bit of direction, we can confidently say that Logitech peripherals and software are built for those that need to bounce between work and gaming. Razer is made exclusively for gaming, meaning that their features and updates are all about refined control in-game. You really can’t go wrong with either option, and it may just take some testing to find what’s best for you.
Happy gaming!
Further Reading
- Logitech G PRO X Wireless Headset Review
- Best Ergonomic Gaming Mice
- Best Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboards
- Gaming Headset Vs. Headphones
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