If you are looking for a wireless gaming headset that will not burn a big hole in your pocket, you can consider the Logitech G435 LightSpeed.
Despite being priced at only S$109, the G435 comes with 40mm drivers that are said to deliver carefully-balanced and high-fidelity audio. The headset connects to your PC and PlayStation 4 or 5 via Logitech’s LightSpeed wireless connection as well as other mobile devices via Bluetooth.
SPECS
PRICE: $109, available in Lazada and Shopee
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth, LightSpeed Wireless
COMPATIBILITY: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.14 or later, PlayStation4 and PlayStation 5
WEIGHT: 165g
In addition, Logitech says that the G435 is the company’s most sustainable wireless headset as it is certified to be carbon neutral.
DESIGN
Out of the box, you get the G435 headset, the LightSpeed wireless USB dongle and a USB-A-to-USB-C cable. It is a basic wireless gaming headset without any RGB lighting, 7.1 surround sound or other bells and whistles.
But the G435 is probably one of the more colourful gaming headsets from Logitech. It is available in three colour variations of black/yellow, blue/raspberry and white/lilac (version reviewed). So, this might be the gaming headset for you if you are tired of PC gaming industry’s obsession with black.
Design wise, the G435 looks like a scaled-down version of Logitech’s gaming headset offerings like G355 or G733. But it does not come with any RGB lighting. All the buttons, including power button, volume rocker and microphone mute button, as well as the USB-C charging port are on the left ear cup.
Unlike many other gaming headsets, the G435 lacks a boom microphone. Instead, its microphone is said to use beamforming technology to pick up your voice.
Tipping the scales at only 165g, the G435 is really lightweight. As such, it does not weigh down on your head when wearing it. It is very comfortable to wear over long periods as a result.
But being lightweight comes at the cost of build quality. The G435 is essentially all plastic with ear cup cushions and a mesh for its headband. It does not feel sturdy or strong.
PERFORMANCE
The build of the G435 might be a tad suspect, but there is no suspecting its audio quality. In fact, the audio performance is superb for its price tag.
You can hear every bullet shriek, incoming shells and the battle cries of your enemies during virtual battles in games like Far Cry 6. You can also sense which direction and how far enemies are closing in by listening to the footsteps and their voices.
While it is great for gaming, it is not as good for listening to music. There are some details, especially in the highs, that the G435 might not be able to reproduce.
FOR
+ Great sound quality performance
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Colourful design
+ Affordable
AGAINST
– Plastic build
– No wired connection option
– Microphone pick-up a tad soft
In addition, without a boom microphone, the pick up of my voice sounds a tad soft. Other parties in a call say that my voice sounded “distant”. And during virtual battles, some say I can’t be heard at times.
Furthermore, despite having a USB-C port and included cable, the G435 does not work the wired way. It only works via Bluetooth or the LightSpeed wireless dongle.
As you might expect, the G435 works flawlessly on PC and PS5 via LightSpeed. It also connects to my iMac rather seamlessly, but it cannot connect to my Android smartphone, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch via Bluetooth. This is when a wired connection would have come in handy.
BATTERY LIFE
The G435 is rated at 18 hours of playback. Frankly speaking, I did not play games that long to find out.
But after playing for 4 hours with the volume at 75 per cent and on LightSpeed connection, I found the battery level of the G435 dipping by only 20 per cent. So, the battery life is much as advertised.
VERDICT
As long as you are not too particular with build quality, the Logitech G435 LightSpeed is an affordable and comfortable wireless gaming headset with great audio performance.
RATINGS
FEATURES: 7/10
DESIGN: 7/10
PERFORMANCE: 8/10
BATTERY LIFE: 8/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 8/10
OVERALL: 7.5/10
