ASUS ROG SPATHA X, a big mouse or a big mouse?
– Reviews News
The gaming mouse market is a constantly active volcano and even if in the end it is a simple peripheral which must fulfill a basic function and which does not know too many variations, each manufacturer releases different products each year for tackle all possible market segments. In the 2000s there was the race for PPE, favored by the increase in screen resolution, while in the last decade the path of aesthetics and practicality was more fought, on the wave of mode of RGB LEDs and wireless connections. .
At this point, however, we are almost at the peak state of these devices and innovating and delivering something new or something really useful is really difficult. And in fact it is not uncommon for manufacturers to again offer updated versions of the successful products of the past: we saw it with the MX 518 from Logitech without forgetting the incessant reissues of Razer mice. ASUS ROG is doing the same today with the ROG Spatha X, refresh of the first edition 2016, to which it adds the X to justify the many updates.
An overview of the technical characteristics, compared to the previous model.
The new version takes the design, shape and approach of the old one almost to the letter, so the dimensions are really important, as well as the weight and the number of keys (12 programmable). It's actually one of the largest and heaviest mice we've ever tested. In addition to a record length, we have two side bases to rest the thumb on the left and the ring finger on the right. It goes without saying that this is a right-handed mouse. The hard plastics are satiny and well-made, but pick up fingerprints easily. The thumb rest has a rubberized texture which increases grip and the base has a metal plate which gives it strength but contributes a lot to the overall weight.
The mouse can operate in two modes: wireless with the base acting as a 2,4 GHz WiFi transmitter and charging, or wired via the ROG Paracord 2-meter USB-AC cable, a patented, flexible and lightweight cable that minimizes resistance. The beating heart of the mouse is the 19 DPI PixArt 000 sensor, top of the line as far as ROG is concerned (it's the same as the Gladius III) and a lavish upgrade from the old Spatha's 3370. It is a precise and reliable sensor but it will hardly be possible to exploit down to the last DPI: unless you have an ultrawide configuration or three 8k or 200K screens, it is really difficult to go beyond beyond 2K DPI without losing sight of the cursor. . Not bad though, as this is a mouse designed for MOBAs and MMORPGs, since the exceptional weight of 4gr makes it too slow and tiring for hectic online FPS sessions.
The trailer for the ROG Spatha X, wireless gaming mouse for MMO.
The updates are also coming to the front of the switches, where the old Omron models guaranteed for 20 million activations are being replaced by the 70 million Micro Switches. In addition, in the package we find two identical switches and the tools to carry out a possible replacement in case of need. The battery is also boosted and now the manufacturer indicates an autonomy of 66 hours with average use, therefore more than double compared to the predecessor. In any case, the mouse will return to the base at the end of the day or it will recharge if used in USB mode, so it is unlikely that you will not be able to use it.
The weight also sees an improvement, with a reduction of ten grams compared to the previous model. It's not so much and it's hard to notice, but it's still something in the face of the many improvements included on board. It also increases the maximum lateral acceleration, now tolerable up to 50g with 400 IPS. Overall improvements then? Not really. The polling rate is strangely downgraded: the old model could operate at 1000 Hz wirelessly and go up to 2000 Hz by cable. Here however, everything is standardized at the lowest value but it should also be remembered that 2000 Hz requires considerable CPU power which could in some cases cause dropped frames in games.
Placed on the charging base, it makes a good impression in our station.
As for the keys, in addition to the three fundamental ones (left, right and wheel), we have two keys next to the left arranged longitudinally which are defined by default for web browsing, a DPI selector placed under the wheel and six keys placed in the side shell and accessible by thumb. The latter are very beautiful because they make up the shape of the ROG logo with their layout and are illuminated by an LED strip, which together with that in the wheel and that of the logo on the base make up the trio of RGB strips. A truly impressive solution.
However, in our experience of use, we have found the ones closest to the base difficult to use with the palm of the hand, as they require an unnatural inward twisting of the thumb and, in the long run, can cause discomfort or worse inflammation of the tendons. An odd choice given the abundance of space given by the mouse's long length. The same goes for the two keys located at the top left of the upper shell, which are difficult to reach for those who do not have long fingers.
The switches are now more durable and we find two more spare ones.
Needless to deny it: the Spatha X, like its predecessor, is a huge mouse and is therefore above all suitable for those with large hands. Clicking the left or right mouse buttons isn't inherently difficult for a small hand using a claw or finger, but accessing all the side buttons becomes difficult when playing fast-paced titles. Basically, for those with small or medium hands it is not impossible to use this mouse, but you will have to change the handle from time to time to reach all the keys and it is certainly not ideal.
In the games we tested, we found Spatha X particularly effective in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, New World, and Blade & Souls, but it's also perfect for RTS games like Ashes of the Singularity and Age of Empires, or MOBA like LoL. The more reasonable pace of these games and the presence of twelve keys that can be used without using the keyboard make it a faithful combat companion. Definitely less suitable, on the contrary, for ultra-fast titles like Doom Eternal and CoD Vanguard, which forced us in desperation to switch to more compact solutions, with a clear gain in relaxation but also in combat efficiency.
The look is aggressive and the LEDs do their thing on both the base and the mouse.
The Armory Crate software is a necessary step to get the most out of this peripheral, as it allows you to adjust various aspects such as DPI calibration, softkey assignment, RGB effects adjustment, as well as updating the firmware. We have repeatedly criticized this software, which in the past has caused us several problems of instability, peripheral recognition or even the impossibility of installation. After a period of utter neglect of feedback, Asus ROG seems to have finally learned its lesson: now the software is much more streamlined and stable, even if it requires constant and diverse updates for its individual components and that could be annoying, also because they are mandatory to continue using the program.
In summary, this ROG Spatha X is definitely a niche mouse. In addition to the large dimensions which put off a certain number of users due to difficulties in handling and poor performance in FPS, the price is undoubtedly an additional obstacle. For 159 euros, it's a product not really suitable for everyone and all types of video games and many will end up throwing it away. However, if you have big hands and MMORPGs, Moba and strategy are your bread and butter and maybe you can afford to use more mice depending on the scenario, then this ROG Spatha X will hardly find any rivals to its height, at least in a precise selection. kinds of video games. . However, it will have to win stiff competition from rivals such as the Razer Naga Pro or the Corsair Scimitar Elite, which come equipped with similar features but often come at lower prices.
SOURCE: Reviews News
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