Computer Shopper - UK (2019-10)

ISSUE 380|COMPUTER SHOPPER|OCTOBER 2019 79

ŠREËEĦĦM$EAREamixed blessing. The
lack of acable makes them highly portable,
and even if you’re always at the same desk
there’s an argument to be made in favour of
cutting cables. At the same time,the risk of
running out of battery in the middle of an
important task is real, and if the mouse runs
on AA or AAA batteries instead of being
rechargeable,you have to factor in additional
running costs. The slight delayinsending and
receiving aBluetooth or radio signal also
means wireless mice aren’t as suited for
competitive gaming as their wired equivalents.
The Rapoo MT550 doesn’t escape these
weaknesses, but is very clever in playing to its
strengths. Forinstance,while it isn’t designed
and pitched specifically as atravel mouse,itis
tight and compact, with asurprisingly robust
build quality forthe price.Asaresult, it’s easy
to drop in abag, and without the worry that
it’s going to come out in pieces.
Sure,it’smostlyplastic,butthere’saweight
and rigidity to the whole thing that’s all too
often missing on small mice.Most of the top
shell has alovely soft-touch finish that’s
extremelyeasyonthehand,andeventheparts
that don’t –mainly the left- and right-click
buttons on the underside –are nicely smooth.

SHAPING UP NICELY

It’s pretty good ergonomically,too.It’s too
small to get aproper palm grip going, but it
is quitetall, so if you preferlaying the full
length of your fingers down, it’s possible to
do so with the MT550’s peak nestled
comfortably beneath the knuckle joints.
Claw-style and fingertip grips are easy,too,
and there’s even amodest thumb rest.
We complained that the Asus TUF Gaming
M5’s compact size made it less comfortable,
and despitebeing even shorter,the MT550
helps show where it went wrong. Here,the top
curve is further forward, supporting the
fingers in place of being able to support the
palm; on the TUF Gaming M5, the curve is in
between the fingers and the palm, not really a
good resting point foreither.Next, whereas
Asus’smouseiscontentto letyourthumbdrag
across the desk, the MT550 gives it aplace to
sit, adding comfort and making it easier to
spring intoaction foraside button press. It’s a
great demonstration of why amore portable
form factor doesn’t have to mean an
uncomfortable mouse,and the MT550 has a
nicer finish and more solid construction, too.
If we had to find something to criticise,
we’d saythe scroll wheel can feel somewhat
light, at least next to the heavy-duty wheels
of more expensive gaming mice.There’s still

RAPOO MT550

★★★★★

£30•From http://www.argos.co.uk

VERDICT

TheMT550impresseswithproficientdesignand
theabilityto controlupto fourdevicesatonce

asufficiently tactile bumping sensation

when it’s turning, however,soit’s easy

enough to maintain precise scrolling.

MULTI-TALENTED

The other wayinwhich the MT550 takes full

advantage of its compact wireless nature is by

attempting to get involved with as many of

your PCs and devices as possible.While it

includes a2.4GHz USB receiver,this isn’t the

only wayitcan connect: it also supports

both Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 at once,

and can pair with up to three additional

devices all at the same time,with the 2.4GHz

receiver accounting forafourth.

Once two,three or four devices are all

connected, you can then cycle through them

using abutton on the underside,potentially

creating alittle battle station with multiple

screens and asingle mouse controlling it all.

Switching is instant, although there is adelay

in the sense that you need to pick up the

mouse every time you want to change;

having the button on the side or on top

would have made more sense.

Even so,it’s afantastic feature forjuggling

laptops, or even unlikely combinations such as

adesktop PC and an Android tablet; if you’ve

never used amouse with Android, the UI stays

the same but you get alittle cursor to click

what you’d normally tap.Its usefulness is

obvious in cases where you might have two

computers on the go,but not enough desk

space to use two separatemice at once.

Indeed, we often run intothis problem when

working in theShopperlabs. Having Bluetooth

capability in addition to 2.4GHz also means

you don’t need afull-size USB port to hold a

receiver; most wireless mice give you the

binary choice of Bluetooth or radio,but this

allows you to be flexible.

Connection quality has been fine

throughout the full duration of our testing,

and to help avoid confusion about which

device you’re connected to,aset of three

indicator lights next to the side buttons

provides some extra clarity.

BLIP FEED

There’s no extensively featured desktop

software forthe MT550, so customisation is

limited, but you can flick between four dpi

settings using the button on top. These range

from 600dpi to 1,600dpi, which isn’t as wide a

range as that of the ROG Gladius or Cooler

Master MM830, but the highest setting is fine

forfast movement around a3,200x1,800

display. Youwill have to be attentive when you

change it, however,asthere’s no permanently

visible indicator as to which setting is active;

instead, you need to watch forasingle,small

LED that flashes with each button press. One

flash equals 600dpi, two flashes is 1,000dpi,

three is 1,300dpi and four is 1,600dpi.

Outside of the misplaced wireless

switching button, there’s very little to dislike

about the MT550. It’s absolutely worth

considering if you don’t need fancy gaming

features, but you want aquality wireless

office mouse foravery fair price.

MICE

Oncetwo,three or four devices areall connected, youcan

cycle through them using abuttononthe underside