Logitech today announced a new G Pro X 2 Lightspeed gaming headset with graphene audio drivers. You’ve probably heard of graphene, the miracle form of carbon that has been promised by many over the last 20 years to change the world of technology. While graphene hasn’t yet been used to make space elevators or speed up the internet, Logitech is using it to make headphone drivers that are lightweight.
“Our use of graphene allows us to create a driver that is both incredibly stiff and almost impossibly light at the same time,” said Chris Pate, lead product manager for the Logitech G Pro family of products. “This delivers hi-fi sound with extremely low distortion, giving professionals the performance they need to reach their maximum potential.”
Logitech uses a 50mm graphene diaphragm for the audio driver in the G Pro X 2. It’s designed to make the sound more immersive in addition to a 25g weight reduction compared to the original Pro X. I tested the G Pro X 2 headset over the past few days, and while the sound reproduction is great in games, I haven’t noticed a huge difference from my everyday SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro.
That said, the surround sound support and DTS sounds fantastic in first-person shooter games where you need to hear footsteps clearly, and I’ve certainly found it easier for me to hear which direction a grenade is being thrown or the sound of a weapon .
Logitech believes this implementation of graphene should result in more accurate decision making for professional gamers and give them a competitive edge. Since I’m 39 years old and still trying to compete in first-person shooters, I think I lost my competitive edge almost 20 years ago, so all that can help is music (or gunfire) to my ears.
Besides the graphene, what I really like here is that Logitech has added Bluetooth support and even 3.5mm aux wired connectivity. Bluetooth is great if you want to connect this gaming headset to your phone on the go or if you put the headset away and forget about the dongle that powers the Lightspeed wireless connection.
Logitech also more than doubled the battery life of the original Pro X gaming headset. It now lasts up to 50 hours on a single charge over USB-C. That’s more than the 20 hours on the original X Pro, and I haven’t yet had to charge the Pro X 2 after a few days of hands-on testing.
There are also some subtle and welcome changes to the design of the Pro X 2. Rotating hinges have been added for comfort or just making it easier to hang around your neck. I’ve been using the Pro X 2 for over eight hours a day and they’ve been super comfortable for the duration. There are interchangeable leatherette or velor ear cushions depending on what you prefer. Both come in the box alongside a simple carrying case and the detachable microphone.
The microphone hasn’t changed at all from the original Pro X, which is rather disappointing. I’m not a fan of headset microphones anyway, so I’ve mostly used the Pro X 2 paired with an XLR microphone instead.
Logitech’s move to DTS surround sound audio on the Pro X 2 over Microsoft’s Windows Sonic surround is certainly welcome. You can set the multi-channel surround modes to be optimized for gaming, entertainment or sports, and each virtual surround sound element can also be individually controlled with an overall bass level.
However, Logitech’s G Hub is pretty basic for audio controls. The equalizer is super basic, and while there are options to create new EQ presets, it lacks the customization found in the SteelSeries Sonar features.
Logitech will start selling the G Pro X 2 gaming headset on May 30 for $249 in the US and €269 across Europe. That’s $20 more than the original G Pro X, but it’s probably worth the extra coin for the much-improved battery life alone, in addition to the lighter frame, rotating ear cups, and the ability to confuse or impress your friends on Discord by telling them your headset is powered by graphene.