Logitech Signature M650 L Review – A Quiet Operator with a Two-Year Battery

The Logitech brand continues to expand its range of peripherals. The brand continually aims to bring with it updated technologies to improve your overall experience, be it in the office, design work, or even gaming. A few weeks ago I reviewed the very impressive Logitech G502 X Plus gaming mouse. It came with a significant number of underlying features to improve your gaming. This time around, we have a more subtle approach in the form of the Logitech Signature M650L Wireless Mouse.

The Signature M650 range includes a few units in the catalog. There's the standard Signature M650 and the M650 L, which is a larger unit, and then both of those units also have Gauche units, for left-handed people. It's a completely different device from the G502

See also: Logitech G502 X Plus Review – A Smooth Gaming Mouse

Construction and design

Unboxing the Logitech Signature M650 L for the first time, you'll notice that it has a distinctly ambidextrous design. It is a mirror reflection on both sides with an hourglass shape. This includes the standard curved shape from back to front.

It has a very minimalist design with a one-piece top cover with buttons extending from it. The single cutout on the top houses the LED light, which turns on when the mouse is connected and turns off immediately after. In front of this light, we find the classic scroll wheel, known as the SmartWheel. Unlike the G502 X, it does not have the option to switch from click mode to free mode. The wheel is covered in rubber and acts as another button, which by default is set to scroll mode.

The sides add to the overall comfort of the unit. They have a rubber texture with grooves around the center for added grip. My right thumb and ring finger sit comfortably around this area and feel great in the hand.

The bottom of the device has rubberized feet, with two slots on the front and a wider coverage area on the back. The sensor is located on the right side below, with the power button below and the Bluetooth connectivity button above. A little higher there is another LED indicator. It also turns on when the device is turned on and dims after a few seconds. However, unlike the top LED light, it always lights up when the mouse is lifted, much like a power or sensor indicator.

With the two different variants of the device, there is a small and a large version. There is also a right-handed version and a left-handed version. Essentially, the default rewind and forward buttons are placed on the left side so right-handers can use their thumbs and vice versa for left-handers. This is a very nice addition for left-handed people who might have to buy a different device if it doesn't suit them.

There are three different colors for the Logitech Signature M650 series. These are Graphite, Rose and Off-White, which I received for review. The range has a subtle aesthetic, but it looks very good overall.

Connectivity and features

As with the G502 The 2.4Ghz USB dongle is housed in a slot under the case, which also houses the included battery.

In addition to this, you also have the option to connect via Bluetooth. This option is also easy to use: just long press the Bluetooth button to switch. The nice thing about this option is that it's built into Windows. So, as soon as you press the button and the light flashes, your Windows device will prompt you to log in. Once you click, you're good to go. Overall, the process is pretty smooth.

In terms of features, the M650 L has programmable buttons. This includes the two buttons on the left or right side and the scroll wheel button. That being said, I prefer to keep the side buttons as the ‘back' and ‘forward' buttons as it works well for navigation.

Another nice feature is sleep mode. Here, the mouse goes into sleep mode after a few seconds of inactivity. However, if left to sleep for 30 minutes, it goes into deep sleep mode, which effectively turns off the device until it detects new motion. This significantly improves battery life, which I'll talk about a little later.

There isn't a long list of features to show off from the M650 line. Instead, it does all the work internally to create smooth and quiet overall operation for your home or business use.

See also: Logitech MX Master 2S Review – Excellent Productivity Device

Performance and battery life

One of the main features of this device is its smooth and quiet operation. It makes almost no noise, whether you use the buttons, the scroll wheel, or even the toggles. Logitech refers to the left and right side buttons as using its SilentTouch feature. This is a pretty accurate description of this function. Logitech describes this feature as reducing click noise by around 90%. When using it, I almost never could hear it, and sometimes I had to hold the mouse to my ears and click before I could make out any clicking noise.

It’s a generally smooth-running mouse. Its rubber feet facilitate movement and are even softer when used on a mouse pad. The experience is excellent and, with the addition of your custom buttons and/or macros, it makes your daily tasks easier.

As mentioned earlier, there is no rechargeable option with the mouse. It has an AA battery slot underneath. After a period of more than two weeks, it still indicates that the battery is at 100%. According to Logitech, the lifespan of a standard AA battery is between 20 and 24 months. It's simply incredible. Two years of battery life is a long time no matter how you look at it.

One thing to note when the device goes into deep sleep after idling for 30 minutes is that it takes a few seconds to regain itself. Sometimes it connects immediately, but then it's choppy for a second or two. In other cases, it takes a few seconds before you can move the cursor. In all cases, waking up from deep sleep is not immediate.

Sustainability

In recent years, Logitech has devoted a lot of R&D to redesigning its devices and manufacturing processes. All this with the aim of creating more sustainable products. With the state of global warming and events, it is equally important for brands to offer these options to end users.

Logitech's Signature M650 line is no different in this regard. Logitech has designed a device that provides an excellent user experience while minimizing its ecological footprint. Thus, the device includes a percentage of parts made from recycled materials, including a large part of post-consumer plastic.

This percentage varies between different color options. Thus, 64% of the Graphite device is made from recycled materials, compared to 26% for the Off-White and Rose options.

Conclusion

The Logitech Signature M650 L is an excellent wireless mouse. It's not as extravagant or feature-rich as many other devices, but it gets the job done, and well. Its smooth operation makes your daily tasks very easy to manage. When you factor in the two-year battery life, you don't even have to think about it. It's fantastic.

With a retail price of R799, it's also a relatively affordable mouse with its set of features and performance. If you're currently in the market looking for a new mouse, the M650 series is right up there with many others.