ENDGAME’S XM1 lineup of mice has long
been a reliable peripheral to have beside
your keyboard as you prepare yourself to
head into battle. At the core of the XM1,
there is a performance-focused mouse
with few extra gimmicks. Of course, it
features an almost obligatory splash of
RGB, but not enough to distract you or
compromise your focus when gaming.
It’s clear that this mouse hasn't taken
many design cues from the Death Star's
command center and instead has opted
for a more basic approach. While there
is a huge catalog of games and software
that take advantage of a mouse with
customizable switches, and some mice
have screens and others have almost
as many features as your PC itself, the
XM1 tones things down and takes a more
simplistic route.
There is no revolutionary design here,
but that works in the XM1's favor—after
all, its purpose is to connect you with
your PC. But nor is this a basic mouse
that you can pick up for under $10 at your
local computer store. The XM1 features
a five-button layout typically found on
most gaming mice, which is all you really
need for most scenarios.
The XM1 comes in two color schemes,
black or white, and we feel the white
model that's on test here is the better
looking of the two. The main structure
of the mouse is white soft-touch plastic
with black side buttons and a scroll
wheel. There is a subtle amount of RGB
incorporated in the scroll wheel, the
Endgame logo, and around the bottom
edge of the mouse. It’s not revolutionary,
but its universal design means that it
should match most setups nicely.
The mouse is also super-lightweight,
weighing in at just 2.88oz (82g), as is the
braided black cable. This gives it the feel
of a wireless mouse and makes it easy to
glide and swipe across, perfect for highly
competitive gameplay situations.A fresh, crisp look
for the charming
XM1 mouse
Endgame
Gear XM1
RGB White
8
VERDICT Endgame Gear XM1 RGB WhiteGIMMICKS OUT Great sensor;
lightweight body and cable;
clean design.
FEW FEATURES No support for macro
or on-the-fly CPI adjustment; limiting
software.
$70, http://www.endgamegear.comSPECIFICATIONSSensor Pixart PMW3389 Optical
Max sensitivity 16,000cpiAcceleration 50G
Polling Rate 250Hz, 500Hz, 1,000Hz
(adjustable)
Weight 0.18lbsHelping your gameplay even further
is the awesome sensor in this mouse—
the Pixart PMW3389 sensor is one of
the best around. By default, it features
auto-smoothing and acceleration of
over 1,900cpi, however, this can be
altered using Endgame's software. It’s
a fairly light application but allows you
to reprogram the buttons and, more
importantly, turn off smoothing over
1,850cpi to reduce motion delay. The
sensitivity of the mouse can be changed
in increments of 50 between 50 and
1,600cpi, giving you a reasonable amount
of control over how it feels. There are
mice with better control, including
sensitivity control in single increments,
but the XM1 performs exactly how you
would want it to. It has a great gliding
motion, thanks to two low-friction wide
feet, one at the front and one at the back.
The Kailh GM 4.0 switches are equally
as nice. Both the two front clickers have
a small actuation to ensure a more rapid
click. That’s a consistent factor of this
mouse, its lightweight nature and fast
switches could give it the characteristics
of a budget mouse, but Endgame has
constructed it in such a way that these
elements aren’t present. It feels durable
and the clicks should last up to 60 million
presses—that’s a fair few rounds on Call
of Duty: World at War: Zombies.
The side buttons are also satisfying
and easy to press, again with a quick
actuation, but deep enough travel.
Unfortunately, the scroll wheel doesn't
follow suit— the click is a little too
shallow and there's not quite the same
satisfying appeal. The actual scroll
ability redeems itself though. Coatedin a grippy rubber with deeper grooves,
the XM1 provides plenty of grip, even in
more intense games after a few hours of
playing. It’s also easy to scroll slowly due
to the distinct increments in the wheel.
Overall, Endgame has produced a
great device that focuses its attention on
the main purpose of a mouse, which is its
performance. The XM1 largely avoids the
gimmicky nature of other products and
connects you to the game with not much
else getting in the way.
Its lightweight nature, easy gliding,
durable cable, and the great sensor inside
all help to create a well-rounded mouse.
It is no head-turner and the software is
basic, but if you are in the market for a
solid mouse, the XM1 is a good place to
start your search. –SAM LEWISFEB 2022 MAXIMU MPC 85