Completely customizable clicker with a bright upside
Since they emerged from the damp, beige, angular swamp of the early ’90s, mice have—at least in comparison to the rest of the PC peripheral market—been objects of scant innovation. Mainly because, really, where is there to go? A thing that fits your hand, some buttons, a wheel, and a sensor that determines how you’re moving the thing. Those components are frequently refined, but where’s the next big change? What can make the mouse new again? Well, if you’re Asus, you’ll find at least some of that innovation inspiration both in the current trend of adding RGB LED lighting to absolutely everything, and beneath the chassis of the most pimped-out rides.
So, let’s begin with the Gladius II’s big shiny selling point, that RGB illumination, an upgrade from the primo Gladius’s plain old red wheel and palm light. It’s actually quite fun. As much as we’d like to give it a curmudgeonly dismissal, the LEDs— which hook up to Asus’s Aura Sync lighting protocol—look brilliant, the underlights projecting a halo on to your mousing surface in whatever color (or colors) you choose, pulsating or breathing if you wish, helping you pick out your mouse in darkened locations, and generally giving you the standard cheap thrill of RGB jollies.
That Aura Sync integration means you can, in theory, line up your mouse’s lighting with that of the rest of your components— as long as you’ve bought Asus, of course.
The other step up from Gladius the First is the addition of a thumb-seated resolution button which, if you’re running in high DPI mode, drops the res (thus slowing your mouse and increasing your accuracy) for as long as it’s depressed.
Having this function so close at hand is a bit of a double-edged sword. It’s easy to activate by accident, and for non-gamers, the space might well have been better served by a customizable button, but its position does mean that there’s no need to fumble around—it’s exactly where you need it in the middle of a virtual firefight.
Above the sniper button, there’s a pair of additional action buttons, quickly activated by sliding your thumb upward.
Waggle your middle finger sufficiently, and you’ll find a comfortably notched and rubberized wheel, behind which is a DPI toggle, which jumps between the mouse’s two modes.
Reasonably standard mouse stuff. The sensor, at 12,000 dpi, is ridiculously sensitive, as are the left and right buttons, at least by default. Included in the package is a pair of stiffer replacement Omron microswitches, easily substituted by unscrewing the mouse’s case, pulling out the old ones, and push-fitting the new—the alternatives are perfect for those of us with heavy fingers, and more Omron switches are available online.
Package deal Innovation being what it is, though, nothing here is actually brand new. Razer’s well-regarded DeathAdder Chroma, for example, has underlighting based on its own RGB protocol, while thumb-mounted DPI shifters are reasonably commonplace in gaming mice. Easily replaceable microswitches, at least those that don’t require solder, are significantly rarer, but not absolutely unknown. So we need to assess this based on the whole package, rather than any one of its individual features. And, as a whole, the Gladius II is pretty damn awesome.
It’s super-comfortable to hold in both palm and claw grips, aided by the pleasant textured rubberized edges. The combination of silicon pads and rubber bungs on the underside results in a slippery movement feel with satisfying bite. Everything is easy to reach, the locking detachable cable system works well, and despite testing it on a large number of potential mousing surfaces, we were unable to trip up the sensor even slightly. Fantastic.
Contents
ASUS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - ROG Strix Scope RX | USB 2.0...
- Product 1: PLAY AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT - Take on all comers with ROG Strix Scope RX, the RGB gaming mechanical keyboard featuring exclusive ROG RX Red Optical Mechanical Switches. These switches provide a 100-million-keystroke lifespan and offer consistent linear keystrokes with immediate response. In addition, each switch has a central RGB LED to give every key all-round lighting. Strix Scope RX also offers IP57 waterproof and dust resistance, an alloy top cover, and USB 2.0 passthrough. Like all Strix Scope series gaming keyboards, it has a wider Ctrl key and a Stealth key for FPS gamers. Go confidently into battle with ROG Strix Scope RX.
- Product 1: PLAY AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT - Take on all comers with ROG Strix Scope RX, the RGB gaming mechanical keyboard featuring exclusive ROG RX Red Optical Mechanical Switches. These switches provide a 100-million-keystroke lifespan and offer consistent linear keystrokes with immediate response. In addition, each switch has a central RGB LED to give every key all-round lighting. Strix Scope RX also offers IP57 waterproof and dust resistance, an alloy top cover, and USB 2.0 passthrough. Like all Strix Scope series gaming keyboards, it has a wider Ctrl key and a Stealth key for FPS gamers. Go confidently into battle with ROG Strix Scope RX.
- Product 1: ABOUT ROG RX RED SWITCH - Linear and Swift, ROG RX Red Optical Mechanical Switches are the first to be developed by ROG. Extensive research, testing and fine-tuning have resulted in switches with a 1.5mm actuation point for lightning-fast inputs. An initial force of 40g prevents accidental keystrokes, and goes all the way up to 55g for perfect rebound feedback. ROG RX Red switches provide a smooth and linear feel to give you near instantaneous response the moment you strike the key.
- Product 1: BUILT TO LAST - ROG Strix Scope RX gaming keyboard offers industry-leading IP57 waterproof and dust resistance, ensuring it’s well-protected from spills and dust. It also has a durable aluminum alloy top plate that provides structural rigidity to give you long-lasting and reliable performance.
- Product 1: INSTANT PRIVACY - Marked with an iconic cloaked-figure keycap, the Stealth key instantly hides all apps and mutes all audio, assuring instant privacy, whenever you need it. A simple tap engages it, and another tap brings apps and audio back up, as they were.
- Product 2: REVOLUTIONARY PERFORMANCE - With 19,000 dpi optical sensor the ROG Gladius III offers 1% deviation (tuned to 26,000 dpi) for near-zero latency and unrivaled precision. Comfortable for marathon gaming sessions with Push-Fit Switch Socket II design ensuring compatibility with both mechanical and Omron optical micro switches.
- Product 2: ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE - A high-end optical sensor delivers the accuracy and precision you need. Offering a range of 100 – 26,000 dpi (with class-leading 1% deviation), Gladius III mouse tracks flawlessly at up to 400 inches per second at 50 g acceleration. A 1000 Hz polling rate in both 2.4 GHz and wired modes offers lag-free response for instantaneous control.* ROG Gladius III features 19,000 dpi optical sensor that is specially tuned to 26,000 dpi.
- Product 2: INSTANT ACTUATION - ROG Gladius III has a unique pivoted button design with zero gap between the mouse button and switch to ensure instantaneous actuation. In addition, tuned firmware filters out unintended mouse clicks for both mechanical and optical micro switches to give gamers an edge in competitive gaming.
- Product 2: ROG MICRO SWITCH - The new ROG Micro Switches feature a 70-million-click lifespan and a gold-plated electro-junction to improve durability. Strict ROG manufacturing standards ensure that each individual switch is inspected and sorted, pairing left and right switches to keep force deviation within +/- 5 gram-force for a consistent click feel.
Is it fantastic enough to justify an MSRP, though? Well, it’s not lefty-compatible, the aforementioned DeathAdder Chroma can be had for a fair chunk less, and you could easily pick up an adequate, though not as luxurious, gaming mouse, so it depends on what price you put on such indulgence.
[Alex cox]
Badius Rather expensive; for righthanders only.
SPECIFICATIONS
sensor Optical
sensitivity 12,000 dpi
sensor Model PixArt PMW3360
Polling Rate 1,000Hz
Programmable Buttons 2
LEds RGB wheel, palm, base
Cable length 6.5ft
Weight 3.9oz
ASUS Optical Gaming Mouse - P502 ROG Gladius II | Ergonomic Grip Right | PC Gaming Mouse for FPS Games | Optical Sensor 12000 DPI | Omron Switch | 6 Buttons | Aura Sync RGB Lighting
Features
- ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting features an almost endless colour spectrum with the ability to synchronise effects over an ever-growing ecosystem of Aura Sync-enabled products
- Optical gaming mouse with USB cable, fits all handles with clickable scroll wheel, DPI switch and target button, as well as micro USB quick release
- Plug-in socket design for easy replacement of the durable 50 million click Omron switches
- DPI target button allows instant switching between high and low speeds
- Intuitive ROG Armoury software interface for easy adjustment of buttons, power and lighting settings
