So far as gaming peripherals go, I am a fan of a well-delivered gimmick. The market is so oversaturated with good gamer equipment that and not using a standout function many fade into the group. Some gimmicks are simply there for the headline, like a few of these offensively ugly mice (opens in new tab), however usually there are stable concepts hidden in there. It is only a disgrace that typically the ridiculous concepts are those that survive, whereas the nice ones are misplaced to time.
The one loss that has me questioning humanity is the wi-fi mouse charging pad. Mouse pads have been round ever since we wanted balls to roll round on them and have survived due to delivering clean and sure surfaces we will depend on. Not that way back, genius gaming peripheral innovators realised we may stick RGB lights in this stuff, and a few even went the additional mile so as to add charging amenities.
The dangerous nature of the gimmick makes it all of the extra pleasing when one in every of these little touches stands out, and truly seems like an enchancment over the usual type. Charging pads for wi-fi mice are a first-rate instance of this, an effective way to maintain mouse weight down and battery ranges up. So why is it that RGB-lit mouse mats are nonetheless rampant however none of them can cost my goddamned mouse?
As quickly because the tech in wi-fi mice managed to make practical latency a factor of the previous, I have been all in on these cableless cursor controllers. I like not having cable drag, or worrying about the place it will match on my desk and what I’d knock over. The one factor I do not love about wi-fi mice is having to cost them, as a result of I are inclined to overlook. However firms appear unwilling to return out with a brand new wi-fi mouse and charging mat answer.
That is why I am nonetheless utilizing a Razer Mamba and Firefly Hyperflux (opens in new tab) combo from what seems like an eternity in the past. The Firefly is the wired RGB-lit mousepad that powers the wi-fi Mamba mouse whereas it is in use. It means you all the time have to make use of the mouse on the pad, and might’t raise it off for too lengthy, however in ways in which nonetheless really feel very pure to me, and I’ve a mouse that I by no means should cost.
On the time this was one of many lightest wi-fi mice you would get due to this design, at round 90 grams. In 2023, Razer has simply introduced a brand new 49g Viper Mini (opens in new tab), which would be the firm’s lightest to this point. Full-sized wi-fi kings (opens in new tab) for the time being are nearer to the 60g mark, and although I’ve loved the levity of a few of them I nonetheless have not switched my day by day cursor-pusher due to the comfort of an all the time ready-to-go mouse.
Razer wasn’t the one firm dipping its toes into the charging pad recreation as soon as upon a time. I bear in mind drooling over Logitech’s PowerPlay (opens in new tab) mat that got here out across the similar time for its G sequence gaming mice. You possibly can nonetheless get them, however they’re $AUD230 and that is and not using a suitable mouse. On the time I consider the long run can be full of fantastic mousepad and wi-fi mice combos, however in recent times all I’ve heard was crickets.
HyperX a minimum of met me midway for a short while there, with among the model’s peripherals just like the Pulsefire Dart (opens in new tab) that includes QI wi-fi charging (opens in new tab). It is not fairly the identical however a minimum of I can simply go away them in the proper spot once I stroll away and know they’re more likely to have cost once I come again later. It additionally stops me needing cables to cost units which are wi-fi for a cause.
What’s worse is it seems like each model recently is keen to place out its personal mouse mat, usually in sizes greater than my desk (opens in new tab), full with full RGB lighting. These desk coverings are often product of the identical rubberish materials throughout the board, providing little in distinction and even usefulness. If you are going to make the damned issues, and go to the hassle of wiring them to mild up, then why not make them act as a powersource for my myriad wi-fi issues that might all sit on prime?