Sensei 310
STEELSERIES $50
The choice of left-handed champions
What’s a gaming mouse
roundup without the
Sensei? Incomplete,
that’s what. Steelseries is bringing
its A-game with the Sensei 310,
which appears to have already
gained the status of celebrated
classic in the esports and
competitive gaming world.
The Sensei brags a non-slip
plastic construction that not only
prevents accidental launches, but
also makes it one of the comfiest
mice around. It’s a snug fit for
your hand, too, with a contoured
yet simple shape that is agreeable
to both palm and claw grips. If you
want a design tailored to a right
hand, the exact samespecifications can be found on
the Rival 310’s spec sheet. But for
left-handed players, this mouse
comes as a godsend.
The TrueMove3 sensor at its
center is a custom endeavor in
partnership with PixArt, the
company responsible for a
number of the best gaming mice
sensors in the market today. Thus
ensuring that no matter how
much you throw this mouse
around, it’s sure not to get dizzy.Ambidextrous
Comfortable
Great value
SmallVERDICTSPECS DPI: 12,000 / SENSOR: OPTICAL / INTERFACE: USB / BUTTONS: 8 / SHAPE: AMBIDEXTROUS / WEIGHT: 92G6
Kone Pure Ultra
ROCCAT $70
Lightweight and modest
Unlike some of its
competitors, renowned
manufacturer Roccat
has instead chosen to keep its
lightweight gaming mouse
covered up. More than merely a
move towards modesty, the Kone
Pure Ultra shaves weight using a
weight-saving internal structure.
The impermeable exterior
saves you the hassle of reaching
for your compressed air every
week to give your mouse’s
innards a clear out, and the
bulbous and finely shaped
construction of the shell ensures
it’s comfortable over long
periods. It only tends to slip out of
your hands if you’re really sweaty.
At 66g, the Roccat Kone Pure
Ultra just goes to show you don’t
need to get too drastic with
weight-saving measures to create
a gaming mouse that’s plenty
light enough to give you the edge.
There are even a couple thumb
switches and easy-to-reach DPI
switchers to augment your game.
It’s also powered by Roccat’s
well-to-do Owl-Eye sensor, and
features a zero debounce mode
to increase responsiveness.Sturdy
Zero debounce mode
Lightweight
Slippery constructionVERDICTSPECS DPI: 16,000 / SENSOR: OPTICAL / INTERFACE: USB / BUTTONS: 7 / SHAPE: RIGHT-HANDED / WEIGHT: 66G
5
TECHIE TERMINOLOGY
We test gaming mice the only way we know
how: Spending hours playing a range of
videogames. Here are a few deliberately
obtuse terms to look out for when
researching your next mouse:Sensor—At the core of most gaming mice
is an optical sensor. Another common
variant is what’s known as a laser sensor.
These offer speed and flexibility across any
surface, however, you’ll not often find them
in modern gaming peripherals due to being
less accurate on the whole.CPI/DPI—Counts per inch / dots per inch.
CPI is the technically more accurate term,
and has given way to DPI. Both give an
indication of mouse sensitivity: How far the
on-screen cursor moves to an inch of
mouse movement. A mouse brandishing a
16,000 DPI may appear the best on paper,
but that’s not necessarily true.Lift-off distance—Not as exciting as it
sounds, lift-off distance refers to the height
a mouse can be lifted off a surface before
the sensor is unable to track its movement.
It is an important metric for professional
gamers, especially those with a proclivity
for rapid flick shots that require accuracy.456Group Test
HARDWARE