Endgame Gear OP1 8k review: simple but highly effective

Endgame Gear is much from the most important identify in gaming peripherals, however its first mouse, the XM1, was a strong entry into the market, and its newest addition, the Endgame Gear OP1 8k, has quietly satisfied us it’s one of many best gaming rodents on the planet. Its mixture of simple customization with a easy, snug design, nice construct high quality, and incredible efficiency means it doesn’t put a foot unsuitable.

With reward like this, it’s no shock Endgame Gear‘s newest has earned a spot on our greatest gaming mouse information. It’s not an inexpensive possibility nevertheless it’s aggressive with similarly-specced options and the non-8k model is significantly extra inexpensive with out dropping any options aside from the excessive polling fee.

Specs

Options

On the floor, the OP1 and OP1 8k don’t look like overflowing with options. They’re easy, ambidextrous-shaped, wired mice with 5 prime buttons, they usually’re out there in black or white. Underneath the hood, you get a tried, examined, and triumphant PixArt PAW 3395 sensor, and the 2 major buttons use well-regarded Kailh GX switches.

The primary differentiator between the 8k and non-8k is using a barely completely different microcontroller, with the previous’s Nuvoton M483 controller in a position to output as much as an 8kHz polling fee, whereas the non-8k’s ST ARM Cortex M4 controller is proscribed to 1kHz polling.

All these specs are to not be sniffed at and will surely make this mouse very succesful, however in addition to the design and form of this mouse, it’s the little extras that impress.

Within the field, you get a tiny screwdriver that you should utilize to take away the bottom of the mouse – with the screws accessible with out having to take away the glide pads/skates/ft – and entry the principle switches. These switches can then be unplugged, unscrewed, and swapped for various ones.

Sadly, swapping switches isn’t fairly so simple as dropping in any previous change purchased from any retailer – such switches would in all probability work however you’ll must solder them into place. As an alternative, Endgame Gear sells change packs that include the change pre-mounted on a tiny PCB and able to plug into the mouse. They value simply $7.99 per pack, which we expect is incredible worth.

Substitute skates/ft are additionally included within the field, which can be utilized as spares or to swap out for the default ft. The default ones are fairly small, whereas the replacements are bigger, so once more in principle you’ve acquired some customization choices. I’ve actually by no means definitively determined if I want small or giant ft on mice, however right here you get the choice to check again to again. Additional units of skates that embody a set of small and enormous pads may be purchased for $9.99.

One remaining addition – aside from the rubber cable tie – is a pack of stick-on rubber grips. These may be affixed to the perimeters of the mouse and supply a really agency grip in your fingers. Oddly, no major button grips are included, however these may be purchased individually as a part of a pack of facet and button grips costing $9.99.

On the underside of the mouse is an additional button for switching the DPI (referred to as CPI in Endgame Gear’s configuration software program) settings. The button cycles via nonetheless many DPI settings you’ve configured, with the quantity and stage of those settings configurable within the software program (as much as 4 settings). A bit RGB LED on the underside signifies the present setting, and the operate of this button can’t be reprogrammed.

In Endgame Gear’s software program, you too can set lift-off distance (1mm or 2mm), the polling fee, change to left-hand mode, reprogram the opposite major buttons, and even set the mouse to set off a click on when the switches are solely barely pressed, which we’ll clarify extra within the efficiency part.

The DPI ranges will also be set with impartial X and Y axes. Endgame Gear’s software program isn’t a everlasting driver however a standalone configuration app for simply this mouse. You open it, configure the settings as you want and that’s it, the settings are then saved on the mouse.

Design

The OP1 is the utmost in simplicity with regards to design. The black model is sort of solely devoid of any notable styling aptitude. It simply has a matte black generic ambidextrous mouse form, with a really refined Endgame Gear brand on the entrance left facet of the mouse.

Nevertheless, not solely does the white model combine up the appears to be like simply sufficient to be attention-grabbing, however the general aesthetic of each mice is interesting in its simplicity. The Razer DeathAdder could also be extra aggressive trying, and the Corsair M75 Air may look extra futuristic and modern, however the Endgame Gear OP1 simply appears to be like comfortably unassuming. Maybe solely the Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2 can rival its steadiness of mundane appears to be like and deadly energy.

The OP1 8k isn’t only a clean face both, as there’s refined perfection in its form, which improves significantly on the XM1. The moderately flat sides the place you grip the mouse guarantee your fingers don’t have a tendency to slip up or down however as a substitute keep in place. The again additionally flares out barely to fill below your palm somewhat, however with out solely getting in the best way for fingertip customers who like loads of mouse-moving area below their palm.

In the meantime, the profile of the mouse has a (moderately) middle-positioned hump, however with an honest quantity of rear chunk to assist claw grip. All in all, it feels considerably like a cross between the marginally pointier M75 Air and the rounder, flatter-sided Superlight 2.

I want to have seen extra of a pronounced finger groove in every of the principle buttons, although. There’s a really slight dip in them to assist heart your fingers, nevertheless it provides nowhere close to the secure-feeling pronounced grooves of the Cherry Xtrfy MZ1, as an illustration.

All advised, although, I discovered that my 20cm-long fingers (base of wrist to finish of center finger) discovered this mouse wonderful for fingertip grip and usable for palm and claw grip, although it’s a contact on the small facet for the latter two. The matte “dry grip coating” floor of the mouse additionally felt nice in each heat and humid and chilly and dry situations, offering first rate grip all through. The general construct of the mouse may be very strong too, with no flex or creaking, regardless of its very low 50.5g weight.

As for the cable, it’s a light-weight, braided kind that’s completely fastened to the entrance of the mouse. I want to see a detachable cable right here, because it means a damaged cable is simple to exchange, however most wired mice nonetheless have fastened cables so it’s not a significant draw back.

What’s extra, on the plus facet, the cable right here has one good little addition that places it far above most others. As an alternative of pointing immediately out the entrance of the mouse, it factors upwards barely. This in flip ensures the cable doesn’t make contact along with your desk/mouse pad till 15cm alongside its size. As compared, mice with flat cables have the cable make contact as little as 5cm from the tip of the mouse. This additional air time reduces the drag of the cable, and it’s actually efficient.

Efficiency

As ever with trendy gaming mice, I discovered the monitoring efficiency of the OP2 8k’s sensor to be primarily flawless, maintaining with all my actions, whether or not throughout ultrafast flicks enjoying Apex Legends or sluggish and exact tracing work in Photoshop. The one slight draw back was the shortage of a prime DPI button, which I do often use when one is offered. With solely an underside DPI button, you actually have to want to change the DPI to hassle lifting the mouse and making the change.

In relation to the 8k polling fee, as I’ve usually discovered, cranking this all the best way to 8kHz made my PC stutter as a result of excessive load this locations in your CPU. Nevertheless, dropping to 4kHz meant this mouse labored a attraction.

What’s extra, exams carried out with a USB protocol analyzer report that this mouse has an exceptionally low click on latency of simply 0.6ms. This ensures you get the minimal attainable delay between considering to press a button and getting a response on the display.

In actual fact, not solely does this mouse have quick electrical latency, however you too can cut back efficient latency additional by participating SPDT GX Velocity Mode within the software program. This implies the change doesn’t register a click on when the spring contact touches the contact pad, however when the spring leaves its resting level. This protects over 1ms of bodily latency and makes for a lighter, extra responsive really feel.

As talked about above, the upwards-pointing cable can also be such a terrific addition with regards to general efficiency, because it subtly reduces any common cable pushback and interference. It additionally helps that the cable doesn’t arrive kinked and crooked, so it neatly factors backward, reasonably than veering off in an annoying path.

For many avid gamers, we’d nonetheless advocate a wi-fi mouse for the comfort and lack of cables that they supply, however a wire means there’s no battery stress and, if you would like 4kHz or 8kHz polling, you will get that right here with out it draining battery life in a day, because it does on wi-fi 8kHz mice.

That stated, I’ve typically discovered that polling charges larger than 1kHz haven’t resulted in a large influence on my gaming efficiency. In remoted exams, I could make out the additional smoothness nevertheless it’s not important – I’d be tempted to get the non-8k model of this mouse for $50 as a substitute.

In the meantime, the principle buttons right here really feel excellent, with a taut however gentle response. I wouldn’t really feel the necessity to change the switches, nevertheless it’s nice you could swap them out and take a look at as much as seven different change varieties.

Worth

The Endgame Gear OP1 8k worth is $75, which is a contact costly for a wired gaming mouse, and it exposes this mouse to competitors from a number of succesful wi-fi choices. Nevertheless, the efficiency of the 8kHz mannequin is unsurpassed and nonetheless cheaper than nearly all of 8kHz wi-fi fashions. In the meantime, the 1kHz possibility will get you many of the advantages of this mouse for a way more aggressive $50 worth.

Verdict

As a high-end wired mouse with efficiency and customization aimed squarely at fanatics, the Endgame Gear OP1 8k isn’t probably the most universally recommendable gaming mouse out there. For a lot of customers, a wi-fi possibility will merely be extra handy whereas delivering many of the uncooked efficiency you want.

Nevertheless, so far as top-tier wired gaming mice go, this one is within the elite. Its form is incredible, offering consolation for all kinds of grip kinds and hand sizes, whereas its construct high quality is incredible too.

Its efficiency can also be second to none, with flawless monitoring and class-leading low latency. Refined tweaks, such because the upwards-slanting wire, notably grippy matte coating, and the power to activate an ultra-fast change response mode, all push this mouse additional up our rankings.

The ultimate side I actually like about this mouse is its customization. In addition to having the ability to mess around with the response of the switches, you too can bodily swap them out simply, with Endgame Gear offering a screwdriver to open up the mouse, and affordably-priced change kits to strive completely different switches. You additionally get alternative glide pads within the field, together with facet grips, and once more Endgame gear makes it simple to purchase extra for a low worth.

All of it provides as much as this being our favourite wired gaming mouse you could purchase proper now. What’s extra, should you don’t suppose you want the ultra-fast 8kHz polling fee of the $75 OP1 8k, it can save you $25 and get the non-8k OP1 as a substitute.

Options

Razer Viper 8KHz

Should you’re on the lookout for a top-tier, symmetrical gaming mouse, however don’t wish to spend as a lot as $75, the Razer Viper 8KHz is a superb possibility. It supplies an 8kHz polling fee, and it’s a snug, light-weight mouse to make use of as effectively, even when it’s a contact on the small facet. Today it’s additionally usually discounted to round $55, down from its authentic $80 MSRP.

Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed

Should you’re seeking to spend an analogous quantity of round $75 on a compact, symmetrical gaming mouse, however had been hoping for a wi-fi possibility as a substitute, the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed needs to be your first port of name. It solely hits a 4kHz polling fee, and its AA battery means it’s not tremendous gentle, nevertheless it provides a terrific form and wonderful general efficiency for simply $70.

Learn our Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed assessment for extra info.