Tt eSPORTS Ventus Z Gaming Mouse Review

By Meng Vang

Manufacturer: Thermaltake (USA) Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product Name: Ventus Z Gaming Mouse
Model Number: MO-VEZ-WDLOBK-01
UPC: 841163063897
Price As Tested: $59.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Thermaltake.

Designed for long gaming sessions, the Ventus Z gaming mouse comes with a standard body design with a bit of an aggressive feel to it along with its aerodynamic engineered air-through ventilation system. The ventilation system helps reduce sweaty palms in order to increase comfort. On top of that, the Ventus Z includes five separate profiles, 10 programmable buttons, RGB lighting, a weight system, and of course, the Avago 9500 11000 DPI laser sensor. Benchmark Reviews is excited to review the Tt eSPORTS Ventus Z gaming mouse. Let’s go ahead and take a look at a quick overview of this product.

The Avago 9500 laser sensor works and tracks well, but does suffer from a bit of acceleration. It feels somewhat similar to the more popular Avago 9800 laser sensor. An optical sensor, like the PixArt PMW3310 or the PixArt PMW3360, would have been a better choice. The polling rate averages out at 1000 Hz, which is exactly as advertised. Lift-off distance, angle snapping, and button response time can all be adjusted in the software to customize the performance of the mouse.

The Ventus Z looks better than expected when I removed it from its box. Its body shape is pretty standard yet comfortable with two additional buttons at the front and the ventilation system at the rear. The two buttons at the front next to the left click are large enough for easier access. Using the software, the LED’s can be customized to have different lighting effects. Its smooth matte coating looks great and should also help prevent the surface from wearing off after extended use. One thing I did not like was the glossy finish on the scroll wheel as it attracts dust, finger prints, and it can also be scratched easily.

In terms of construction, the Ventus Z feels very durable even with a plastic body structure. I do not notice any sensor rattle, but the side buttons do feel a bit mushy compared to the left and right clicks. The weights can be installed at the rear of the mouse, making it back heavy when lifting it up. I would personally prefer a weight system where the weights go around the sensor to balance the center of gravity.

When it comes to functionality, the mouse does everything it was advertised to do. It performs well and the software is simple enough to use even for a beginner. The aerodynamic engineered air-through ventilation system seems gimmicky at first, but it does help to reduce the amount of sweat on my palm during long gaming sessions.

As of July 2016, the Tt eSPORTS Ventus Z gaming mouse is currently available online for $59.99 (Amazon | Newegg). This puts it next to the Cooler Master Sentinel III, Corsair M65 PRO RGB, and the Razer Deathadder Chroma gaming mice. The Ventus Z does allow up to 50 different macros with a built-in ventilation system. I do not see many gamers needing that many macros. The ventilation system is good to have, but the Avago 9500 laser sensor does not seem to justify the price in my opinion. An optical sensor would have been a better choice especially since the competition is moving towards optical sensors. But if you are a gamer who just needs a lot of macros for any reason, then settle down with the Ventus Z and call it good.
+ Excellent build quality
+ Dedicated sniper button
+ Built-in ventilation system
+ Good RGB color accuracy
+ 10 programmable buttons
+ Weight adjustment system
+ Ability to store up to 50 programmable macros
– Avago 9500 laser sensor does show some acceleration
– Rear becomes heavier than the front with weights installed

• Performance: 8.75
• Appearance: 9.00
• Construction: 8.50
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 8.50

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

COMMENT QUESTION: What do you look for when shopping for a gaming mouse?