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.

Price: $119 (AUD) or $77 (USD)

Design & Build

The Razer Lancehead (TE) has a sleek, ambidextrous design with a matte black finish that not only looks good but feels good. So good, in fact, that I now prefer a matte finish over a glossy finish, something I grew to prefer on mices such as the SteelSeries Sensei Pro (Link: Here). The mouse sat well in my hand and the added texture increased my grip, something that’s a downfall of a glossy finish. The matte finish also acted to counteract sweat after a long period of gameplay, with the finish allowing my hand to breathe.

It’s also surprisingly durable with a month worth of gameplay barely showing a blemish on the matte finish. The ambidextrous design is also a nice addition to Razers line up which continues to grow to suit just about any gamer’s preference. I typically use a palm grip when browsing the web and a claw grip when gaming. The design excels in the aggressive claw grip but works fine for either.

One of my main gripes with the design of the mouse is the rubber grips on the side. Razer has opted for what they describe as “enhanced rubber side grips”. In reality, their slated side grips look great, but they take some serious getting used to. Compared to the SteelSeries Rival 700, or even the Lancehead’s younger brother, the Deathadder, the Lancehead grips are just plain uncomfortable. I think Razer has opted for this design so your hand stays cool during long gaming sessions but I would sacrifice this for the Deathadder’s meshed rubber sides.

The sensitivity quick-switch button is also poorly positioned. I often found myself bumping the switch (especially when using a claw grip), either dropping my sensitivity or increasing it two-fold. Not a great premise in the middle of a gun fight on Dust 2, but if you’re playing something that requires a bit more patience and accuracy, the ability to switch during gameplay might be to your benefit. I ended up changing the sensitivity switch to be my preferred sensitivity so even if I accidentally bumped it, my sensitivity would stay the same. Of course, you can program this button to be something else, or turn it off completely, but then the switch just feels redundant. Despite this, their bottom profile quick switch is a nice edition giving you an LED colour to signify what profile your mouse is set to.

The mice’s dimensions are 117mm (length) x 71mm (width) x 38 mm (height) (104g). This makes it similar in size to the Zowie FK1 (Zowie FK1 Review: Link) which measures in at 128mm x 37mm x 60mm (90g) but weighing in at 14 grams heavier than the Zowie. I tend to prefer lightweight mice but by no means is this a Razer Ouroboros, which weighs a whopping 135g.

For those of you looking for a bit of a colour change up, it does come in white and pink variants. I have seen pictures of a gun metal grey version but can’t find it for sale.

RGB

In typical 2017 style, the mouse offers four RBG lighting zones, two on the side, the logo on the back and the mouse wheel. Despite the RBG zone at the back feeling redundant during gameplay, the addition of the side and scroll wheel lights add a nice flair to the overall look of the mouse. This really comes into its own in conjunction with Razer’s chroma workshop, perhaps one of the most advanced RGB lighting software I have seen to date. You have several well-thought up and interesting colour schemes which go way past the stock-standard wave and strobe effects found in other gaming software. My personal favourite is the flame effect which makes the lights down the side flicker, emulating a flame. If you prefer something a bit flashier, they definitely have an option that will suit you.

Razer Chroma Studio

The Cable

Razer has opted for a sleek, braided cable that ends in a USB 3.0 connector and sports a green USB tongue. The tongue is usually something that identifies what type of USB you’re using (blue = 3.0, black = 2.0), but I think Gamers will like the nod and attention to detail, knowing they are on the green team, even when plugging their new mouse in.

What annoys me most about the cable is that it’s not detachable. Barely any Razer mice out of the realms of their wireless mice have the option of a detachable cable and it’s a shame that the Lancehead didn’t follow the same suit. Being under the badge ‘Tournament Edition’, you would expect them to give players potentially heading to LANs the ability to take that cable off and wrap it up. Instead, you need to wrap it around the mouse, creating a tangled nightmare when you get it out of your bag. This also means that if your cable breaks, your mouse is dead, and you better hope you have a spare one or you’re out of the ‘tournament’. It does boast a sturdy looking cable protector on either end which should extend the lifespan of the product, but who doesn’t love the ability to swap between braided and plastic for added modularity.

The Sensor

The sensor is where this mouse shows its true colours. The mouse boasts a true 16,000 DPI optical sensor, the same sensor as in the Deathadder Elite. With a polling rate of 1,000 Hz it competes with the upper end of both Logitech and SteelSeries ranges. A live test in games such as PUBG and CS:GO would also back up this claim, keeping up with my style of gameplay-with-ease.

The mouse is also rated to handle acceleration up to 50G, which you are unlikely to ever hit unless you snap your hand off with a ‘flick of the wrist’. This is mostly marketing but you know you can throw anything at it and it will perform. For those interested in why a mouse needs an acceleration rating, it is the maximum speed at which the mouse can accurately track movement across a surface.

The mouse also has what Razer calls a hybrid on-board and cloud storage system for the mouse’s profiles. This means that the mouse has a small portion of internal storage, like many other mice, which you can store your sensitivity preferences on but also allows you to store your profiles on Razer Cloud using Razer Synapse. It’s a nice addition, however, you are unlikely to want to install Razer Synapse during a LAN or when playing on someone else’s computer. The quick switch for profiles is located out of reach during gameplay, ensuring you won’t bump it during gameplay.

Switches

Razer is one of the very few companies that opt to build their own proprietary switches, albeit still through Omron. They give a response in-between the loud snappy Japanese Omron switches and the softer Chinese made Omron switches. These switches are rated at 50 million clicks and claim to be highly durable. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to hit the 50 million click mark but I can vouch for their reliability after a month of gameplay. Lastly, the scroll wheel gives a nice level of feedback when scrolling and has a textured feel that distinguishes it from the left and right clicks.

Software

The Lancehead’s software is very good despite Razer’s cheesy Gamer branding. The software has four tabs: customise, performance, lighting and calibration. The tabs are well thought-out and have rich content that will let you customise just about anything on the mouse itself.

The main screen allowing you to customise the buttons

The performance tab of the Razer Synapse Software

My main issue with the software is the fact that you need to sign up to access the mouse’s features. This means that you will need to give Razer access to your email address and other personal information to change your sensitivity and macro settings. Razer really needs to listen to their community and the fact that people don’t want to give away their personal information (Reddit Link: Here). Razer say this is so that you can access your profiles from any computer at any time using their cloud, but many gamers, and especially those going to tournaments, don’t want to install the Razer Synapse. Luckily, Razer has provided some internal storage for this specific mouse but it doesn’t take away from the fact you will need an account to set up these profiles, meaning that Razer will have access to your personal information.

Verdict/Bottom Line

The Razer Lancehead (TE) is a solid mouse and should be in any gamers’ mind when selecting a new mouse. Its ambidextrous design and matte finish help it maintain comfort for long gaming sessions. Despite this, the mouse does not live up to the company’s new ‘Tournament Edition’ badge, with Razer forgetting the little things that make going to tournaments easier. This includes the lack of a detachable cable and carry pouch that would bump this mouse’s rating up.

Pro

✔ Ambidextrous
✔ Great software
✔ Matte finish is comfortable even for extended periods of time
✔ Extremely accurate sensor
✔ Innovative RGB lighting effects

Con

✖ Rubber finger grips can be annoying
✖ No removable cable
✖ Sensitivity button poorly placed and easy to bump
✖ Would expect them to gie a carry bag for tounament edition mouse
✖ Requires you to sign up to change mouse settings

Rate: 4/5

What’s in the Box?

– Razer Lancehead Tournament Edition Mouse
– Quick Start Guide
– Razer Marketing Material

Performance

When a friend asks me what mouse they should buy, the Zowie FK1 is my go to recommendation if they are an FPS player (or have a preference for light mice). Weighing in at just 90g it puts the user in complete control over every movement with the super accurate 3310 optical sensor backing up the light weight. It’s perfect for both a claw or palm grip and I often find myself swapping between the two depending on what I’m doing.

The design of the FK1 is stunning and will fit just about every gamer’s desk/setup. It comes in matte black and is adorned with the new red zowie logo towards the back of the mouse which looks nice. The side buttons are positioned perfectly and despite being close to your thumb position I don’t find that I accidently click it even when in an intense gun fight. The mouse wheel matches the rest of the mouse in a matte black and sits at a low profile just like the rest of the mouse.

As for the size of the  FK1 it’s about 60mm in width at the smallest point and about 67mm at the largest point. Its 128mm in length and the height ranges from 37mm in the middle and 27mm at the front. Check out the diagram from Benq’s webpage below.
The Zowie range is powered by the super accurate 3310 optical sensor which operates at a set range of 400/800/1600/3200 DPI and a polling rate between 125/500/1000hz. Possibly one of the only downfalls of this mouse is the fact that you can only use the on-board sensitivity stages that Benq provides to you. This can be solved in-game via mouse sensitivity options but it can get a bit annoying having to adjust the mouse to your preference in every game you play (if you want something outside of their set DPI sensitivities). On the plus side these are controlled at the bottom of your mouse and can be done on the fly with a handy LED light ensuring you know what DPI profile you are on.

The switches are the huano switches, they are fairly firm in their presentation and make an audible click but perhaps less satisfying than the omron switches that other competing brands boast. This will be up to personal preference so nothing to complain about here but definitely nothing out of the ordinary.

You may have never heard of the brand Zowie before Benq’s acquisition in 2016 but they have a long reputation of producing competitive gaming mice. Benq is a company that has never attempted to enter the peripheral market but through Zowie they are pushing a new breed of gaming peripherals targeted towards just about every end user. This is an in-depth look into the rebrand of one of their most popular competitive mice; the Benq Zowie FK1.

Pro:

✔Lightweight design makes it perfect for FPS
✔‘Plug and Play’
✔On the fly DPI switch
✔Super accurate 3310 Optical Sensor
✔Nice color scheme
✔No Software
✔Side buttons are well placed

Con:

✖Can only choose between 400/800/1600/3200 DPI settings
✖No detachable cable, cable is also plastic (I normally prefer braided)
✖No RGB
✖No Macros
✖Side Buttons are not programmable and are limited to either the left or the right being on at one time

RATE : 5/5

Read more details about this review please click HERE