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 with out 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 easy and sure surfaces we are able to depend on. Not that way back, genius gaming peripheral innovators realised we might 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 appears like an enchancment over the usual kind. Charging pads for wi-fi mice are a chief 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 useful 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’s going to 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 likely to neglect. However firms appear unwilling to return out with a brand new wi-fi mouse and charging mat resolution.
That is why I am nonetheless utilizing a Razer Mamba and Firefly Hyperflux (opens in new tab) combo from what appears 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 may’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 need to 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 up to now. Full-sized wi-fi kings (opens in new tab) in the meanwhile are nearer to the 60g mark, and although I’ve loved the levity of a few of them I nonetheless have not switched my each 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 sport as soon as upon a time. I keep in mind drooling over Logitech’s PowerPlay (opens in new tab) mat that got here out across the identical time for its G collection gaming mice. You may nonetheless get them, however they’re $AUD230 and that is with out a appropriate mouse. On the time I consider the longer term could be full of fantastic mousepad and wi-fi mice combos, however lately all I’ve heard was crickets.
HyperX no less than met me midway for a short time there, with a number of the model’s peripherals just like the Pulsefire Dart (opens in new tab) that includes QI wi-fi charging (opens in new tab). It isn’t fairly the identical however no less than I can simply depart them in the precise 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 motive.
What’s worse is it appears like each model recently is prepared 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 normally fabricated from 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 trouble of wiring them to gentle up, then why not make them act as a powersource for my myriad wi-fi issues that might all sit on high?