New Logitech Powerplay 2 strips away great features, but at least it’s cheaper

The reveal of the Powerplay 2 from Logitech jogs my memory of the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.” Sadly, Logitech hasn’t taken this method. The unique Powerplay charging mouse mat was an progressive gaming peripheral, however its successor pulls again on most of its options, seemingly all within the identify of price. Fortunately, the core precept of with the ability to perpetually cost a Logitech gaming mouse stays and it’s nonetheless the one product providing such expertise at the moment.

We’ve the unique Logitech Powerplay picked out as among the best gaming mouse pads, particularly as a premium choice given its $120 value. The Powerplay 2, nonetheless, will retail for $99.99 (£89.99) when it releases on March 11, 2025.

Beginning with the enhancements Logitech’s Powerplay 2 brings to your desktop, this new model is thinner at 3.5mm in comparison with the 4mm thickness of the unique. Regardless of measuring smaller than the OG Powerplay, at 344 x 284mm versus the 321 x 344mm of the unique, the charging space is marketed as 15% bigger.

The Powerplay 2 will even retail for $20 lower than the unique, beginning at simply $99 versus $119.99. That, sadly, seems to be the place the enhancements cease.

Logitech has eliminated the USB mouse receiver from the ability unit on the Powerplay 2, and somewhat than shifting from micro USB to USB-C to energy the mat, it now has a set USB cable that means you’ll need two free USB-A ports to function the it. The cable size can be 0.03mm shorter, however it will be pedantic to spotlight this as a step backward.

RGB has been faraway from the emblem on the mat, that means it might now not be set as much as coordinate along with your Lightsync settings ought to you may have different suitable Logitech gear. Whereas this may also look like a minor loss, the RGB gentle on the unique Powerplay would act as an indicator to point out that your mouse is linked, this has as a substitute been changed with a small white LED indicator on the ability unit.

Lastly, somewhat than getting one delicate material and one laborious floor to make use of with the Powerplay 2, you at the moment are caught with simply the fabric choice. Finally, you lose quite a bit for a $20 value drop and the unique Powerplay has seemingly been pulled from sale on the US Logitech retailer, though models nonetheless stay on the UK website and are decreased to £99.

For a better have a look at a few of Logitech’s most up-to-date releases, you may learn our G502 X Plus evaluation and G Professional X 60 Lightspeed evaluation to see if both is value including to your gaming setup.

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