Asus ROG Chakram X review: A joystick on a mouse?

The perfect gaming mouse varies from individual to individual. One particular person may go for higher battery life, whereas another person prefers a excessive polling price. Nonetheless, what about the one who needs one thing completely different, like a joystick and the flexibility to hot-swap switches? That particular person now has a solution: The Asus ROG Chakram X.

The Asus ROG is an ergonomic mouse that contains a silhouette much like a Logitech G502, however the customization of the Strix Flare II Animate. Oh, and it has a joystick, a 8,000Hz polling price, and a max DPI of 36,000. 

With so many options, although, additionally comes a heavy weight of 127 grams and a good heftier price ticket of $160. 

Design and luxury

This mouse instantly jogged my memory of a ghost from Halo — particularly once you take a look at the thumb relaxation. I obtained extraterrestrial vibes from this mouse, particularly with the quantity of RGB and smoky shell.

The very first thing I seen with the Asus ROG Chakram X was its cumbersome, ergonomic design that resembles the Logitech G502 with its thumb relaxation. Nonetheless, the Chakram X has many distinctive design options, like a most DPI of 36,000, 4 facet buttons, a detachable magnetic shell, an 8,000Hz polling price, wi-fi charging (to a level), and naturally, the push-fit swap sockets and the analog stick.

Whereas all of those options are cool, don’t count on lightness as this mouse weighs in at 127g. That’s seven grams heavier than the Razer Naga Trinity — and that has devoted macro keys. Nonetheless, the load of the Chakram X is balanced out very properly, and lightness was by no means how this mouse was marketed.

The PTFE toes beneath the mouse helped transfer the Chakram throughout my desk, too. They’re slick like those included on Roccat Burst Professional Air. Additionally beneath the mouse are two buttons, one which adjusts DPI and one other to pair the Chakram X together with your PC. There’s additionally a slider that allows you to toggle between 2.4 GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth, or wired mode.

The Chakram X has the whole lot most wi-fi gaming mice do these days, like a small 2.4 GHz dongle, a paracord cable, fast cost. and a boatload of RGB. Nonetheless, the Chakram X options hot-swap swap sockets and a joystick on the left facet. Accessing the switches may be very simple — simply carry the magnetic shell and left and proper buttons.

This isn’t the primary time Asus launched a mouse with hot-swap sockets, because it was obtainable on the earlier model of the Chakram and the ROG Gladius III. As a mechanical keyboard fanatic with shut to twenty units of switches, I like the concept of getting hot-swap compatibility on a mouse as a result of mice switches are low-cost and provide a ton of customization. 

The smartest characteristic in regards to the Chakram X is its analog stick on the facet, which is alleged to supply a gamepad-like degree of management. The factor is, it’s extremely awkward and uncomfortable to make use of. The analog stick feels very stiff in comparison with a standard gamepad stick and, though the Chakram X comes with a taller one, that didn’t assist issues. Thankfully, the Chakram X comes with a joystick cowl that means that you can shed the stick totally, which was most snug for me.

The variety of facet buttons on the Chakram X are plentiful, as you get 4 to reprogram to your coronary heart’s want. I’m not an enormous fan of the 4 facet buttons on this mouse as a result of the ahead and again buttons are too far aside and the opposite two facet buttons are too skinny for my liking. 

I’m an enormous fan of the RGB on the Chakram X as a result of you’ll be able to truly see it when utilizing the mouse. The entrance of the Chakram lights up the scroll wheel and the ROG brand, however that’s clearly coated by your hand. The ROG brand will be eliminated in place to your personal brand or design in the event you’re artful sufficient. In entrance of the Chakram is a USB-C connector, which not solely provides your25 hours of battery life in simply quarter-hour of charging, however bumps the polling price as much as 8,000Hz.

For those who plan on using the entire RGB whereas going wi-fi, you’ll need to preserve your USB-C cable shut as you’re solely getting 59 hours of use in between fees. Nonetheless, when you’ve got some spare cash in your pocket, you’ll be able to choose up the Asus ROG Balteus Qi RGB mouse pad, which permits wi-fi charging.

Software program

I encountered some issues with the included Armoury Crate software program. Upon set up, it greeted me with a loading display screen that seemingly by no means ended.

After I did lastly obtained into Armoury Crate for the primary time, I used to be pressured to replace the Chakram X’s firmware and restart my PC. Oof. I haven’t run into an utility this irritating to get stepping into a very long time.

Ultimately, after quite a few makes an attempt, I used to be in a position to get into the software program once more to set my most well-liked DPI and RGB. 

Regardless of its flaws, Armoury Crate bodes properly for the Chakram X, because it means that you can modify the DPI utilizing the scroll wheel. Inside Armoury Crate, you’ll be able to toggle digital mode, which cuts the joystick’s rotations down to simply 4, permitting for extra exact actions, like tools altering in-game. After all, you continue to get the standard remapping choices, too.

Sensors and switches

The good half in regards to the Chakram X is its push-fit swap socket design, which lets you swap switches with ease. In contrast to mechanical keyboards, mechanical mice switches are grime low-cost and the push-fit sockets even welcome optical switches, so the customization is limitless.

Whereas the Chakram X welcomes overseas mouse switches, the inventory ones are nice and can final. The included switches are ROG’s micro switches, that are rated for 70-million clicks and have a very satisfying tactile bump and muted sound profile.

Asus has outfitted the Chakram X with its new AimPoint optical sensor and it’s speedy. The AimPoint optical sensor contains a DPI as much as 36,000 and a polling price of 8,000Hz when related through USB-C. 

Gaming expertise

In an effort to get the most effective gaming expertise with the Chakram X, I knew that I wanted to make use of it in wired mode, because it permits the 8,000Hz polling. I bear in mind a couple of years in the past, when ROG first introduced the Chakram, that one of many issues that the corporate talked about was the flexibility to remove the necessity for a controller when flying in a recreation like Grand Theft Auto.

I believed it’d be enjoyable to load up Rockstar Video games’ prized possession and provides flying an opportunity, and it was fairly enjoyable. Nonetheless, truly utilizing the thumbstick to fly simply didn’t really feel pure. Even after a few hours of use, I stored eyeing my $20 knock-off Xbox controller I obtained off of Amazon. That’s not a superb signal.

The entire objective of a joystick is to be extra exact by providing 360 levels of rotation. Nonetheless, as a result of the thumbstick is positioned on the facet of the mouse, your full vary of circulation feels restricted. The maneuvers this thumbstick pressured my hand into simply by no means felt proper.

Although I didn’t take pleasure in utilizing the joystick, I did take pleasure in utilizing the Chakram X like another mouse as a result of it’s nonetheless speedy. Let’s not overlook that the Chakram X has a polling price and DPI which are by means of the roof, so it’s nonetheless very aggressive.

Our take

It’s unhappy to say that I got here away dissatisfied with the Asus ROG Chakram X. Don’t get me fallacious, I recognize how properly the load is distributed, the hot-swap sockets, and wicked-fast sensor. However that’s it. The analog stick feels impractical and area of interest, particularly for a mouse of this value.

Are there options?

For those who love the concept of a gaming mouse with its personal analog stick, that is it.

Nonetheless, if you need hot-swap sockets, then I’d level you towards the Asus ROG Gladius III Wi-fi or the Spatha X in the event you’re searching for a ton of buttons and the swap swapping. With out the joystick and hot-swap sockets, this appears like a barely quicker Logitech G502.

How lengthy will it final?

The ROG Chakram X contains a guarantee of 1 12 months, nonetheless, except you intend on slamming this mouse round, I can guarantee you it’ll final a few years — particularly given the truth that you’ll be able to swap the switches out immediately.

Do you have to purchase it?

No, not for most individuals. The Chakram X separates itself from virtually another gaming mouse in the marketplace due to the joystick. Until you’re actually enthusiastic about that characteristic, although, the Chakram X finally ends up being too costly for what it’s.

Editors’ Selection