By Meng Vang
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Product Name: ROG Spatha Wireless / Wired Gaming Mouse
Model Number: 90MP00A1-B0UA00
UPC: 889349249932
Price As Tested: $159.99 (Newegg | Amazon)Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by ASUS.
The ASUS ROG Spatha Wireless/ Wired gaming mouse brings wireless gaming to the desktop. It has an aggressive body design, six tactile side buttons, RGB lighting, and swappable left and right OMRON switches. The magnesium alloy chassis promotes durability and the sparkly steel-gray non-stick coating prevents the finish from wearing off after years of usage. Inside of the ROG Spatha is the 8200 DPI Avago 9800 laser sensor. When the mouse battery runs low, a provided micro-USB cable can be connected directly to the mouse to charge it as you play. A charging station/ wireless receiver is included in the box to charge and show off the mouse when it is not in use. At Benchmark Reviews, we will take a look at what the ROG Spatha has to offer over the competition.
- Programmable 12-button design optimized for MMO gaming
- Increased flexibility – play in wired or wireless modes
- Easy-swap switchable socket design for customizable click resistance
- Customizable RGB lighting effects across three areas
- Solidly-built magnesium alloy chassis
- Built-in flash memory to save your favorite profiles
- Exclusive ROG Armory interface for easy customization of buttons, performance, and light settings.
- 8200 DPI, 150 ips, 30g acceleration and 2000Hz USB polling rate supported in wired mode for pixel-precise mouse tracking
| Connectivity | Wireless RF 2.4GHz Wired via USB 2.0 |
| Tracking resolution | 8200DPI laser sensor |
| Tracking speed | 150 inches per second |
| Tracking acceleration | 30 g |
| Responsiveness | 2000Hz polling rate (in wired mode) 1000 Hz polling rate (in wireless mode) |
| Switch | OMRON® D2FC-F-7N(20M) with 20-million-click life span Additional OMRON® D2F-01F switches included*Compatible switches: OMRON® D2F Series switches: D2F, D2F-F, D2F-01, D2F-01F OMRON® D2FC Series switches: D2FC-3M, D2FC-F-7N, D2FC-F-7N(10M) , D2FC-F-7N(20M) |
| Cables | 2m braided USB cable 1m rubber USB cable |
| OS compatibility | Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 |
| Package contents | 1 x wireless receiver/ charging dock 1 x 2-meter braided USB cable 1 x 1-meter regular rubber USB cable 2 x Japanese-made Omron switches 1 x ROG hard carry case 2 x ROG logo stickers 1 x screwdriver User documentation |
| Size | 5.4 x 3.5 x 1.8 inch(137 x 89 x 45mm) |
| Weight | 6.1oz (175g) |
The ROG Spatha does well when it comes to performance. ASUS’s Avago 9800 laser sensor implementation worked just as well as other Avago 9800 laser sensors in other mice. It tracks accurately, but does suffer from minor acceleration and deceleration as expected. At the time of this review, wireless performance needs a lot of improvement. This mouse should have been great from the get go. I am giving ASUS a chance to see if they can make this happen. Once an update fixes these issues, I will come back and change my ratings.
In terms of just appearance, the ROG Spatha looks great with its aggressive body design. The three RGB LED lighting zones give the mouse some life and character. The sharp edges and angled side buttons give the mouse a modernized look and feel. RGB lighting is mostly accurate and the transitioning between different colors is very smooth.
The ROG Spatha has a durable magnesium alloy chassis with a sparkly steel-gray non-stick coating for the top cover. This should prevent the finish from wearing off after many years. The OMRON D2FC-F-7N and D2F-01F switches are rated at 20 million clicks, making this mouse well obsolete once the switches fail.
Even though it looks great and feels sturdy with its aggressive body design and magnesium alloy chassis, the shape of the ROG Spatha is not comfortable as there are too many curves and angles. With more curves and angles, the mouse becomes more difficult to grip. The ROG Spatha is just that, to be honest. It looks great, feels sturdy, has wireless capabilities, and has the option to swap out the OMRON switches. The charging station makes a very nice display of the mouse, too. But the mouse also comes with an uncomfortable shape, heavier body, and some performance problems when using the mouse in wireless mode.
As of August 2016, the ASUS ROG Spatha Wired/ Wireless gaming mouse is currently available online for $159.99 (Newegg | Amazon). To many people, this is a pretty hefty price. But remember, we need to think realistically about this. If you are looking at replacing your $60 gaming mouse with the ROG Spatha so you can get a better kill/ death ratio in a game, you may want to look for a cheaper alternative. Also note that a few mice under $60 do use the Avago 9800 laser sensor. If you want only the looks and the extra features not found in a $60 mouse, then give the ROG Spatha a go.
+ Good laser sensor
+ Five separate profiles
+ Excellent build quality
+ Good RGB color accuracy
+ Lots of buttons for customization
+ Swappable left and right switches
+ Looks great especially on the charging station
– Limited lighting options
– Expensive mousing product
– Uncomfortable body shape
– Performance issues in wireless mode
– Much heavier than most mice at 175g (although this can be a pro for some)
-
Performance: 6.50
-
Appearance: 9.00
-
Construction: 9.25
-
Functionality: 6.00
-
Value: 6.75
COMMENT QUESTION: What makes the perfect gaming mouse?
