Powerplay 2: Logitech Lowers Price of Its Magic Mousepad Without Enhancements

Logitech has created an impressive product called the Powerplay Wireless Charging System, which I have been using for more than three years. I can honestly say it has made charging my wireless mouse completely effortless. The simplicity of not having to think about charging is almost magical, but I do wish it were more affordable since it costs around $120.

Fortunately, Logitech is set to release a new version called Powerplay 2, priced at $100, which will be available in March. Setting it up is straightforward: you connect the mouse pad, attach a small “Charging Coin” to the base of your mouse, and then rest the mouse on the pad for continuous charging.

However, while the new model is $20 cheaper, it doesn’t feel like it brings a significant reduction in value compared to the original. The new mouse pad does have some enhancements worth noting. For example, it features a 15% larger charging area and is thinner, measuring just 3.5mm in thickness. With this setup, as long as any part of my G502 Lightspeed mouse touches the pad, the charging light turns on, which is a nice upgrade from the previous version.

Despite these updates, I measured the charging base and found that it remains the same thickness as before. The old pad was only slightly thicker, measuring 4.3mm compared to the new 3.5mm. In practice, this difference is hardly noticeable. Over three years, I’ve never had to reposition my mouse to ensure it charges; I just place it down when I’m done using it, and it always charges without issue.

There are some downsides to the Powerplay 2. First, while the new version has moved away from the older micro-USB cable, it does not feature a USB-C connection as some might hope. Instead, it comes with a fixed cable. This makes it less convenient if I want to move the pad for more desk space.

Another drawback is that the wireless mouse receiver is no longer built into the mouse pad, which means that my mouse now needs two USB ports instead of one. I can’t leave the dongle inside the mouse for easy travel, nor can I switch between different computers as easily anymore.

Additionally, the Powerplay 2 removes the programmable RGB lighting in the Logitech logo. While I don’t necessarily miss it, I feel the absence makes the mouse pad look less appealing and somewhat cheaper. The RGB lighting used to indicate that the pad was receiving power and was ready to go.

The new Powerplay 2 features only one mouse pad, unlike the original, which came with both a hard and a cloth option. The new pad does seem to be better made, potentially allowing it to last longer without peeling away from its backing. However, it is worth noting that the new charging coin is not compatible with the old mouse pad, so you can’t mix and match parts from the two versions.

I tried to find more advantages to the new model because I genuinely like the original. It would be great if Logitech eventually offered discounts or bundles at launch. Although the new charging area is larger, allowing for maybe better compatibility with future mouse models, Logitech hasn’t provided any promises about that yet.

Logitech has confirmed that the original Powerplay is no longer available at major retailers, and I imagine it will soon sell for higher prices on sites like eBay. Nevertheless, the Powerplay 2 looks like a solid product and seems to fulfill the main purpose well. It’s possible that we might find a good bundle offer around Black Friday, allowing us to buy it along with a compatible mouse for under $100.

You can expect the Powerplay 2 to be available on Amazon and Logitech’s official website starting March 11th.