Logitech M720 Triathlon (Review)

By: AlanVAfter many years of service my venerable Logitech Marathon M705 mouse needed to be retired. I wanted something that would match its long battery life and delivered the same solid performance. After doing some research it seems as if the Logitech M720 Triathlon is the heir apparent, and so I decided to give it a shot.DesignThe M720 is a great looking mouse. It has a matte black finish that makes it easy for users to maintain their grip. The only downside is that it can start to look grimy quicker compared to the M705. Black is also the only color option, so those looking for something more colorful will be disappointed.The mouse has six usable buttons, with three of them being customizable. This is nice for users who want to assign buttons for specific tasks, such as backward and forward buttons for web browsing.The size of the mouse will please most people. I have large hands, and I did feel discomfort at times using the M720. However, it was nothing a shift in position couldn’t fix. I never felt the need to stop using the mouse because of comfort.FeaturesOne of the best features on this mouse, and the reason it’s named the Triathlon, is its ability to switch between three computers. This is something I didn’t have with the M705, and it’s a game changer for someone like myself who has multiple computers in one space. To be able to switch between them at the touch of a button makes my workflow easier to deal with. This works regardless of what operating system you have installed on the computers.It also has a feature Logitech calls Flow. This enables user to have their setup act as multi-monitor, even though they are different computers. It also allows the transfer of files because it works through Wi-Fi. This is a nice touch that reduces the friction of switching between computers even further. Although I didn’t feel the impact considering you can just hit the button on the mouse to switch, and everything in my setup is already networked.The long battery life is another feather in its cap. Logitech is claiming 24 months of battery life, and it’s not something that can be verified with a review such as this one. However, the M705 also made these claims and is able to live up to them. So there is no reason to doubt Logitech this time around.SoftwareWhile the mouse is plug-and-play, you need to get the Logitech Options software to get the most out of it. Fortunately, Logitech makes this software available to both Mac and Windows users. This support is one of the reasons I view Logitech as one of the best computer peripheral makers on the market.Logitech Options is well designed and simple to use. I was quickly able to setup and customize my mouse to what I needed. It even enables users to choose what each button does according to what application you’re using.Just be aware that if you have any other previous Logitech software on your computer it can cause conflicts. When I first got the mouse, I noticed a significant amount of lag and sluggishness when using it. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to uninstall the software I had from the M705 to get everything working smoothly.To me, this is the best mouse in Logitech’s lineup for everyday use. It has incredible battery life, plenty of buttons and wonderful software for customization. Moreover, the price tag is also reasonable, with an MSRP of $49.99. Although the mouse can be found on sale for $24.99, which makes it a no-brainer at that point. If you’re in the market for a mouse, definitely consider this one.