Logitech Re-Launches ‘Legendary’ MX518 Mouse with 16,000 DPI Sensor
by Anton Shilov on February 21, 2019 7:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Logitech
- Mouse
- Logitech G
- MX518
Logitech this week introduced its all-new MX518 mouse, which incorporates its latest HERO sensor as well as a new SoC. The new mouse is designed to be better than its predecessor from 14 years ago in every aspect possible, but one of the things still remained intact: its ambidextrous shape that many consider an ideal shape for a gaming mouse.
New Sensor in Renowned Enclosure
The Logitech G MX518 is based on the company’s 32-bit ARM Cortex-M-based SoC, which offers a 1ms USB polling rate. It's paired with the company’s HERO sensor, which is tuned to provide an up to 16,000 DPI resolution (up from 1600 DPI on the original one from 2005). The company also rates its mouse for up to 40 G maximum acceleration as well as for up to 400 IPS (inches per minute) maximum acceleration, which is in-line with advanced wireless gaming mice available today. As for the weight, the new MX518 weighs 102 grams.
Being aimed primarily at experienced gamers with nostalgia about the good old days, the new G-series MX518 is wired, it supports a number of features found on modern mice, including eight programmable buttons (something that was implemented on the original one too) and five onboard memory profiles.
The same processor and sensor are used for Logitech’s G603, G305, and G Pro Wireless gaming mice, so we can say that the new Logitech G MX518 is based on a modern and already proven platform. Furthermore, the new MX518 adds Logitech’s premium “Nightfall” finish to give the mouse a high-end feel.
A Look Back
The year was 2005. The market of computer mice was already pretty much diverse, but the market for peripherals for gamers was still quite young. Logitech had introduced its premium MX-series lineup of products several years before that and the lineup was rather broad by the middle of the decade. The key selling points of the range topping MX mice (on the MX 1000 to be more precise) were ability to work on fancy surfaces like glass (which required usage of a laser sensor), precise ergonomics (yet mostly designed for the righties), and performance that was much higher when compared to mainstream mice from the times yet considerably below what was available from gamers-oriented mice, such as those from Razer.
Since it was pretty much obvious for everyone in the industry that hardware for gamers was set to become a multi-billion-dollar market, Logitech introduced its first premium G-series mice in 2005. Yet, its top-of-the-line offering for gamers, the MX518, formally belonged to the renowned MX family and in terms of performance actually outpaced the flagship MX1000 model.
Because the MX518 was one of the first gaming mice from Logitech, its shape was rather minimalistic, yet very comfortable to use, and which many believe was perfect. Furthermore, it MX518 supported multiple features that are standard on high-end gaming mice today, but which were quite innovative back then.
A Legend Returns
The relative simplicity, ergonomics, and cost were presumably the key reasons why Logitech decided to re-launch its MX518 with new internals. Given the nostalgia and pedigree that come with the name, the new MX518 has a good chance to become popular, and it makes a great bit of sense for Logitech to capitalize on that. The new Logitech G-series MX518 is already available directly from the manufacturer for $59.99.
Related Reading:
- Logitech Launches G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse with 16,000 DPI Sensor
- Logitech Unveils G305 Mouse with Lightspeed Wireless, ‘Hero’ 12,000 DPI Sensor
- Logitech Boosts Precision of G203 Prodigy Mouse to 8000 DPI via Firmware Update
Source: Logitech
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Safrout - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link
can you please give more info about such mod ?i have the mx518 and the G500
Arbie - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link
If you need to replace the left- or right-button switches; the one to get is the OMRON D2F-01F microswitch. This is made in Japan and noticeably better quality than the OMRON D2FC-F-7N switch made in China. You'll have to pull off the bottom slider feet to get at the screws to open the mouse; these slider feet will stick back on but replacements are (were) available. Be careful when opening the mouse, and make sure to note or get a picture of the springs around the wheel before they get dislodged. And of course you'll need some soldering skills to remove and replace the switches. There must be a Youtube video on this by now so look there.tamalero - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link
The best gaming mice by a large margin. The Microsoft Gaming laser mouse was amazing as well.Opencg - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link
yeah i like the zowie that emulates that shapenorazi - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link
I dont understand the MX518 hype... i had it when it came out and while the sensor was solid... the large Palm-type ergonomics were terrible for competitive FPS games. I recently got a G305 and IMHO, its the perfect mouse.SquarePeg - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link
Absolutely. I went through half a dozen mice over the last few years because I couldn't find one that felt just right for my style of finger tip grip. Then I ordered the wired (G203) version of this mouse and I can say it's the best feeling mouse I've ever tried.piroroadkill - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link
Palm? You can also finger-tip grip this shape. Either works.CU - Friday, February 22, 2019 - link
Love my MX518. I am on my second one. Glad they are remaking it. Wish it had the liquid metal like paint job the old one, but the new one looks good.I have always used a finger-tip grip and never had a problem. My palm doesn't touch the mouse when I move it around.
Manch - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Same. I don't rest my palm on it. I have the liquid metal paint job. The logo is a bit worn though. Would be cool if they put the old logo on. Maybe ill just switch the shells.Dragonstongue - Thursday, February 21, 2019 - link
My 518 has a marbley coating to its shell coloring and was the V1 of the product where there werefewer mouse skates beneath and laser was arranged more towards nose if I recall, this is part of the reason why I went to a coolermaster storm enforcer it lasted all of 9 mths before its usb card thing started acting up constantly, went to logitech G500s been with it since.
Two things I missed the most were that MX518 mouse I had, lasted probably a solid 10 years, replaced the skates once and finally laser called quits (countless tns thousand hours on/use)
I also miss my Ideazon Zboard Merc V1, the V2 worked quite well but the paintjob they used on the keys did not last near as long, more prone to fail, but if you liked them Zboards nothing like them, sadly they gone way of the past...so awesome they were, if they upped to cherry switches would have been kick ass.
Anyways, if they used the V1 of the MX518 with the better sensor etc with an even better height from desk (so not scrapping palm all day long, the 500s is slightly better in this regard) as well as more improved mouse skates the slidey parts under a mouse to help slide easy) not that they were not slick enough, but rather they really did not last all that long, maybe a teflon with some type of polymer fibre mixed into it to help increase ability to abrasion (instead of being super slick like mirror is micro bumps so wicked friction free ability and abrasion resistance)