This time, the Keris mouse focuses on a lightweight design, with no external holes but honeycomb support inside to reduce the weight, and a sensor fitted with a maximum of 16,000 dpi and a 1000Hz polling rate. It also inherits the same interchangeable Micro switch design(push-fit switch sockets) as the Gladius II series, and the interchangeable magnetic side buttons allow for more personalisation of the mouse. The mouse comes with RGB lighting effects and supports Asus AURA Sync. The included cable uses a Type-C connector and the Asus’ own ultra-soft ‘Paracord'(similar to Razer’s SpeedFlex cable).

So, let’s dig into the detail!

Package Appearance
The outside packaging
New mouse features are printed on the back of the packaging

The inside packaging

The mouse, connection cable and the replacement side buttons

Instructions menu, ROG stickers, replacement feet pads and Omron switches

Product Analysis
In terms of size, this mouse is a medium-small, mid-rear bulge setting and is only suitable for right-handed grips, which will take some time to get used to in larger hands

In terms of materials, the mouse has a zoned setting, with a matte finish on the PBT polymer buttons and left/right side grips and a smooth surface on the rest of the mouse

The scroll wheel is made of translucent plastic and the RGB light effect can be projected directly through the wheel

The ROG logo on the back has the same effect and brightness is guaranteed

The mouse feet pads have a novel design, with a triangular design spread over the four corners, the reflective prism is in the middle, the DPI toggle button on the upper left and the pairing button is next to it; the switch on the right is responsible for switching between wireless and Bluetooth modes, at the bottom is the USB receiver storage slot, a very thoughtful design

The front looking – Cable connection with Type-C connector

The back looking

The side-looking
The included side keys have a black translucent design and are magnetically replaceable. But the keys feel very loose in the hand

The interchangeable side keys are available in two colours: grey and pink

The weight of the mouse is 115g with cable, the weight of the mouse itself is only 81g

Software Analysis
The ROG products are now managed by Armoury Crate
Button settings

Performance settings
Users can change the 4 DPIs up to 16000, Polling rate, Button response time and turn Angle snapping on/off

Lightning settings
The mouse supports ASUS AURA SYNC and the brightness can be adjusted here

Calibration settings
This setting allows users to calibrate the lift gap between mouse and mousepad

Power settings
This allows users to monitor the battery level and set up the power saving profile

Firmware update
this allows users to keep the latest firmware of this mouse

Performance Test
The Teflon footpad provides an ultra-smooth feeling, but they are not as comfortable to use as the larger ones, and had it not been for the included set of replacements, we would have thought for a moment that this was the result of Asus saving cost.

We have tested the mouse on the most popular mouse pads: Fine coated pad, aluminium, soft silicone pad, fine fabric cloths thin/thick pad and coarse fabric cloths thin pad.

The tests are based on the mouse’s start, Smoothness, Brake, and Transparency.

Fine coated pad
Start: Medium level on both Static friction and dynamic friction
Smoothness: Very smooth
Brake: Very easy to brake and good positioning accuracy
Transparency: Very good contact, no heightened sense of passage that results in misalignment on the Z-axis

Aluminium pad
Start: Very low level on both Static friction and dynamic friction
Smoothness: Extremely smooth, but the maintenance is relatively difficult. The Teflon feet skates will be frayed quickly by the aluminium surface
Brake: Very easy to brake and good positioning accuracy
Transparency: Very good contact, no heightened sense of passage that results in misalignment on the Z-axis

Soft silicone pad
Start: This textured pad makes the higher static and dynamic friction feeling
Smoothness: Very smooth
Brake: Very easy to brake and good positioning accuracy
Transparency: a relatively thin thickness of the cushion, the material is quite solid and the permeability is good

Fine fabric cloths thin pad
Start: Low static friction and very high dynamic friction
Smoothness: Extremely smooth
Brake: Very easy to brake and good positioning accuracy
Transparency: A thin pad with soft material and good permeability

Fine fabric cloths thick pad
Start: Very low level on both Static friction and dynamic friction
Smoothness: Very smooth
Brake: Easy to brake, positioning is accurate after calibration, the resistance is light. Muscle memory is easier to form and more friendly for novices
Transparency: A thick pad with soft material and good permeability

Coarse fabric cloths thin pad
Start: Very low level on both Static friction and dynamic friction
Smoothness: Extremely smooth
Brake: Easy to brake and relatively accurate positioning
Transparency: A thin pad with soft material and good permeability

This mouse is powered by the PAW3335 optical engine, still one of the mainstream solutions in wireless gaming mouse today, and it also has the ability to compete with Logitech’s HERO 12K. Some may question why the PAW3399 was not used, after all, Logitech’s HERO and Razer’s FOCUS+ series use the PAW3399 as a custom engine with 20,000 ultra-high DPI which is not that particularly practical.

Disassembling Analysis
The backplate is locked with only two screws to reduce weight, under the round rubber plugs on each side

The inside looking of this mouse

The mouse bottom case & inside after decomposition

The main left/right button switch board

Microswitch
The two main buttons are using the ROG Micro Switch which has a 70 million click lifespan with a gold-coated mechanical structure, this micro switch comes in a cool red translucent case with the ROG logo on it. The sound is crisp and clean with a clear sense of passage and great feedback from the switch bounce.

The interchangeable design

The complimentary interchangeable microswitch from Omron

The mainboard with side button micro switches
The 2 blue-dots microswitches used by the side buttons are from Kailh, the model is ‘CMI126603D09’ with 30 million click lifespan and 60 ± 15 gf operation force

The roller encoder comes from Kailh’s 12mm series (CEN981212R01), 10-25 gf.cm, 800,000 lifecycles

The roller

The sensor is PAW3335 from PixArt, which has 16000 cpi, 400 IPS and 40 G acceleration speed

The ultra-low-power microcontroller chip STM32L412 from STI

The CC2640 SimpleLink Bluetooth Wireless MCU from Texas Instruments

Usability Analysis
To test the line correction, frame loss, and smoothness, we are using the mouse test from Areson

This mouse without line correction function enabled

This mouse with line correction function enabled

The Frame loss control and the smoothness control are also quite good

Enotus Mouse Test

Finally, we are using the powerful MouseTester v1.5
By using its powerful plot function, we are tested several mouse performances

xCounts vs Time
While the average line is smoother, which means it’s more linear on the mouse track movement; while the points of the counts are much closer to the line, which means the jitter of the engine is lower. As the graph shows, the result of this performance is acceptable in different CPIs

1600 cpi is under a normal use level, jitter is not large and relatively stable

800 cpi, jitter is low

800 cpi, jitter is low

1600 cpi, jitter is a little bit unstable

3200 cpi, jitter is average

6400 cpi, jitter is under control

12800 cpi, jitter is surprisingly under control

16000 cpi, jitter is still under control

X vs Y
This function is to detect mouse frame loss, As the graph shows, the result of this performance is good

xyVelocity vs Time
The unit of velocity is m/s. This test is mainly to look at the acceleration of the mouse. As the graph shows, the point of ROG Aeris is better for curve fitting, which means the jumped-like rapid acceleration rarely appears, The line of fit is coherent and also has a dense distribution

If there is a good device that allows the mouse to move at a constant speed, in this case, the speed line is straight, if the engine has acceleration, it will fluctuate, so this is the most ideal test method. The result of this performance is quite good

Summary
As a mid-sized wireless gaming mouse, the Keris Wireless is more suitable for FPS design type games. The lightweight design and excellent hardware quality bring players a very smooth and comfortable experience, and the interchangeable micro-action design can meet the different needs of users. The Bluetooth and wireless connections are responsive and stable, and the battery life, while slightly lower than the official claims, is still reasonable.

Pricing is a little on the expensive side for a mid-sized mouse at AU$139 – after all, the Glorious Model O Wireless is only AU$129 in Australia at 69g – and gamers may prefer to spend a little more on a larger, two-handed mouse like the Logitech G Pro wireless or Razer Viper Ultimate.

In terms of overall quality, the Keris wireless has improved the internal structure of the buttons to avoid the springing sound caused by reverse vibration, removed the non-slip rubber pads like the Gladius II which were very prone to ageing and breaking on the left and right sides, and replaced them with a frosted PBT design to reduce the likelihood of oiling. These details really bring this mouse to the next level of quality.

For a more detailed hands-on experience with this mouse, check out our review video below

EPIC PC RATE SCORE: 91.5/100

EPIC REWARD: EPIC DESIGN AWARD

ASUS ROG AERIS WIRELESS GAMING MOUSE OFFICIAL WEBSITE: HERE

We’ve got the latest wireless gaming mouse — The ROG Keris from Asus, what new features does this mouse bring to the table? Let’s check out the video below! Please ‘like’ and subscribe to my channel, and don’t forget to click the ‘bell’ icon to get the latest video updates.

The SteelSeries Sensei Pro was released into the market as a high performance, accurate, professional grade gaming mouse. Designed in collaboration with competitive teams such as Na’Vi and Fnatic this mouse is targeted at both competitive players and amateur players looking to get the edge over their opponents in high intensity FPS and MOBA battles. As expected, the Sensei boasts an array of features that we’ve come to expect from the Danish peripheral powerhouse and with a name that conjures up images of an ancient Japanese sword master, we expect the absolute best. Its high quality laser, on board processor and robust design makes this gaming mouse a must have despite being designed over 6 years ago. But at a price tag far higher than other competitors, is this still the king of the competitive mice? Here is my take on the SteelSeries Sensei.

Sensor

There is always a lot of controversy surrounding the sensors used in gaming mice. For most users this conversation is fruitless and the difference between optical and laser sensors is miniscule, but we are talking about a pro grade gaming mouse here. Generally optical mice have a lower DPI sensor and work on a wider range of surfaces. Lasers on the other hand have much higher DPI sensors and are generally regarded to be more precise when compared to optical. The SteelsSeries Sensei boasts an extremely accurate laser, so accurate that it even detects how far away the surface is from the laser. The Sensei’s supports up to 11400 DPI which should be more than enough (even if you want to hit that 1080 no-scope off Favela). The laser sensor has a polling rate of 1000Hz (which means the data is sent 1000 times per second to the computer) and has a 1ms delay. Despite being released in 2011 the SteelSeries Sensei still stands up to the performance of mice in the market today, even at its high price point.

CPU & Onboard Memory

Another dominant feature is the on board 32-bit ARM CPU which means the Sensei has even more sensor-based customisation. Yes… you read it right, this mouse has a processor in it. The onboard processor allows the mouse to compute the sensor information and relay it back to the computer. In practice this allows users to bump up the sensitivity from 5,700 CPI/DPI to 11,400 CPI/DPI. With its on-board memory your settings can be replicated without having to manually configure it on a new computer. All you need to do is install the SteelSeries engine software. This model allows you to store up to 5 profiles, which is extremely useful when setting up for a LAN event. Each profile can have 2 different DPI settings which can be changed by the DPI button and each profile can have different macros for all 7 buttons (DPI switch cannot be changed). To select your desired profile all you need to do is hold down the DPI button for 3 seconds, then use the scroll wheel to select the profile you want, the names will be displayed on the bottom LCD screen. You can also configure the Sensei for different types of surfaces, for instance on a cloth, rubber or metal mousepad.

Switches

The Sensei’s mechanical switches are custom made by SteelSeries and are rated to withstand 30 million clicks. The click has quite a nice haptic effect it doesn’t make too much noise (The Zowie FK1 makes more).

RGB

The software allows the user to integrate their own customisation. This ranges from the sensor settings to the colour of the lights. The RGB has three dedicated areas; the SteelSeries logo towards the back of the mouse as well as the scroll wheel and DPI switch supports full spectrum RGB. Even though the Sensei’s release date was 5+ years ago, the RGB lighting is still up to the same standard as the more recent (2018) peripherals.

Design<

The Steelseries Sensei is a well-designed mouse. This mouse is the perfect mix of simplicity and low-profile design that is ideal for either claw or palm grip. Its sleek silver colour makes it home to just about any set-up from red/black to white/blue while having just enough customisation with 2 dedicated RGB spots. I would guage my use of this mouse at 1000+ and the mouse has understandably become worn and now is shiny chrome with some slight chipping in the paint. Nothing to really complain about here and this sort of wear is consistent with this amount of usage. Another huge benefit from the simplistic design is that it is ambidextrous even the side buttons are in the same symmetrical positions. This is a mouse that most people should be comfortable to use; it accommodates people that have any of the main mouse grips (claw, palm and fingertip). It comes in at 102g which sounds like a lot but considering decent amount of low friction surface on the bottom such as the SteelSeries DEX, this shouldn’t cause a problem. The cable is braided and sturdy, barely developing any wear over its lifetime.

Durability

Typically, this wouldn’t even be a section in my review. In fact, I wouldn’t have put this in if it wasn’t such a consistent problem for this mouse. I have personally had 2 of these mice. One lasted around a year before the switches died and the mouse was rendered useless without a left click. The second lasted a similar amount of time and completely died, no USB recognition, no lights turning on. My friend also had this mouse and it died after 2 years. That makes the survival rate of these mice around 25% with one sticking through for this review. ¼ isn’t a good hit rate for a mouse that costs over $100 AUD. If you want a mouse that’s going to stick with you time and time again, this is not it. We reviewed this product for a very long time and so many other reviewers haven’t reported these issues, so perhaps I just got unlucky but from a test group of 4 mice, this really isn’t good enough from SteelSeries. The warranty is a year on this product for the Asia/American market, and two years for the European market. SteelSeries support is good so if it breaks within the one year period (for Australia). You should expect a full refund, a new product or at least a repair.

Software

I have personally owned a few Steelseries products as you can tell by our review backlog and they integrate easily with the software. The software is laid out well, it is simple and there is more information readily available for those who are having trouble.

Below is my default profile which allows me to quickly edit the DPI settings. On the top right are two dials one for CP1 and one for CP2 these buttons can be seen on the diagram, I have set mine to different colours, so I know which one is active when quick switching in game. Below the DPI settings there are the acceleration settings. Exact lift enables you to decide how far down the laser sensor will read, with this setting you can increase the accuracy of the laser sensor on soft surfaces and how your mouse responds when you lift it in games. Free move is a great setting if the mouse is used on a family computer, it just makes your mouse cursor easier to move and assists by snapping to certain things. This setting can be used to make your mouse movements more fluid but isn’t recommend in games as it impacts accuracy. Finally, the polling rate, this is best left at 1000Hz, there isn’t much point in decreasing it.

After customising your profile, you then can save it to the onboard profiles, once enabled it can be put into another computer and all the profiles can be accessed. This makes the mouse plug and play when attending LAN’s or when changing computers. Now you have your own customised profiles, you can allow them to automatically activate when opening the game/application. You can also add other SteelSeries devices, so they will all change once the game/application opens. Once again this is easy to do thanks to the well-designed UI. All you need to do is add the application you want, find the exe and then add the device. Once this is done you can select the profiles that you want the mouse to use when the game starts, and you are good to go.

Verdict/Bottom Line

If SteelSeries has any intention of discontinuing a product, then it shouldn’t be this one. Despite being 6 years old the SteelSeries stands up to the big boys today. If SteelSeries focused on their quality control, the value of this mouse would sky rocket and I would have no problem in giving it 5/5. In its current form it’s a killer competitive mouse with stunning software to go along with it.

Pro

✔ Low profile, simple design
✔ On-Board Profiles
✔ Unrivalled Laser Sensor Quality
✔ 2 Dedicated RGB Areas
✔ Great shape and feel
✔ Switches are crisp and responsive

Con

✖ Price
✖ Durability
✖ Display underneath feels redundant

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