ADATA XPG Alpha Assessment: An Ergonomic Gaming Mouse That Delivers

Adata lately launched its collection of XPG Alpha gaming mice, which are available each wired and wi-fi flavors. The modern and ergonomic mouse is designed to supply a mix of high-performance and gamer-centric options, with an array of customizable choices obtainable by way of the included XPG Prime software program.

The XPG Alpha gaming mouse is predicated on an industrial design language Adata XPG has dubbed its “Exoskeleton”. The main target of the design is a steadiness between type and performance. The XPG Alpha goals to offer an ergonomically sound and comfy mousing expertise, with out skimping on options meant for avid gamers.

XPG Alpha Gaming Mouse Specs

As we talked about earlier, the XPG Alpha is accessible in each wired and wi-fi variations. Bodily, each variations are practically an identical. Each measure on the similar top, width, and depth. Nevertheless, the wi-fi model weights in at 98 grams, whereas the wired model is available in at solely 78 grams (not together with the cable). Each variations could be related to a PC with the included USB to USB-C cable by way of a port on the entrance of the mouse, however the wi-fi model incorporates a battery and radio transceiver.

The one different noticeable distinction in look between the 2 is discovered on the underside of the units. The wi-fi model has a compartment that safely tucks away the USB dongle used for two.4G connectivity.

The XPG Alpha’s wi-fi connection could be made utilizing the included 2.4GHz USB dongle, or by way of Bluetooth. The two.4G mode permits for lower-latency and higher-performance, for the hardcore avid gamers on the market. Throw in the truth that the battery lasts roughly 60 hours (relying on utilization), and you’ve got a killer mixture for these lengthy gaming periods. If it’s worthwhile to save on battery life, you possibly can go for Bluetooth’s low-energy, battery-saving mode. Like most different wi-fi mice, you will have to plug the mouse in once in a while to cost the battery utilizing the included USB-C cable — there isn’t any wi-fi charging choice by a specialised mousepad.

XPG Alpha Gaming Mouse Options And Expertise

All the particulars we’ll current from hereon out could be utilized to each variations of the XPG Alpha, except in any other case famous. If you happen to peruse the spec desk above, you will see simply how related they’re.

The XPG Alpha makes use of high-quality Omron switches for its buttons. These Omron switches have an MTBF of over 60 million clicks. That ought to present for loads of headshots in your favourite shooter video games. Whereas utilizing the mouse throughout gaming periods, we discovered that the response time when clicking both the left or proper mouse buttons to be glorious, when in wired or wi-fi modes. We additionally didn’t expertise any mis-clicks and basically, the click-action simply feels superb.

Adata claims that the Pixart Paw 3335 sensor featured within the XPG Alpha is designed for each excessive efficiency and excessive precision. You’ll find six preset DPI settings baked into the mouse that may simply be switched between by way of the DPI button on the prime. The sensor helps a DPI vary from 100 to 16,000 (customizable utilizing the XPG Prime software program), and has a max acceleration of 40G and max pace of 400 IPS. The DPI button additionally serves as a standing indicator, with totally different colours indicating which DPI setting the mouse is presently utilizing.

On the left aspect of the mouse there are two buttons that may be programmed to carry out an unlimited array of actions, which will also be set within the XPG Prime software program. The 2 buttons are positioned properly and huge sufficient that you shouldn’t mistakenly click on the incorrect one within the warmth of battle.

Whereas I personally desire a mouse that has a bit extra top, general the XPG Alpha mouse was comfy to make use of for prolonged durations of time. I didn’t expertise any wrist fatigue or ache whereas utilizing it, and the prolonged pad on the left aspect of the mouse was huge sufficient to accommodate my giant thumb.

XPG Prime Software program Options

The XPG Prime software program included with the Alpha supplies a number of customization choices. Customers can select a customized lighting choices, set features for the six programmable buttons, select customized DPI settings, and regulate the facility standing indicator.

When it comes to its lighting choices, the XPG Prime software program supplies 9 choices, which might all be additional custom-made throughout the app. One additional customization that may be made is including an Impact Layer. This lets you primarily add one lighting impact that can run beneath the first one you have got chosen. Different changes that may be made are brightness, shade, width, angle, and the pace at which the impact operates.

Upon getting discovered the proper lighting mixture, you possibly can transfer on to programming any of the six buttons on the Alpha. There are eight choices to select from when assigning a operate to a specific button. These embrace, mouse features, keyboard features, media controls, window shortcut, launch program, textual content, macro, and disable. With every of these choices comes a plethora of further, associated choices, supplying you with an infinite sea of features to select from.

If you’re the sort that consistently modifications your DPI, XPG Prime has you lined underneath the efficiency tab. The software program permits you to assign any DPI from 400 to 16,000 for any of the six obtainable steps. So, if you’d like a slower DPI for taking part in your favourite shooter, you possibly can click on the DPI selector till it’s set to 400 DPI. Then in the event you change over to shopping the online, you possibly can as soon as once more click on by the DPI selector till you discover the proper pointer pace.

An alternative choice discovered underneath the efficiency tab is named Angle Snap. With Angle Snap, the mouse will attempt to predict the meant path of the pointer, and ignore a couple of levels of motion in different instructions that will stray from the inferred path — it successfully permits you to transfer the pointer in additional exact, straighter strains, that disregard unintended hand actions. Different customization choices on this tab give customers the power to change the debounce time, raise off distance, and USB polling fee.

The ultimate tab situated within the Prime software program is for the facility standing indicator, which is situated on the DPI button. Right here you possibly can change how lengthy it takes for the mouse to get up from sleep and regulate the brink for the batter-low warning indicator.

Situated on the backside proper of the software program is a macro choice menu. Right here, customers have the power to assign macros to the mouse buttons. After making a macro, you possibly can then assign it to bind to whichever button you like.

If you first start utilizing your mouse, it’s extremely instructed that you simply first obtain the XPG Prime software program. It is because you will have it so as to replace each the mouse and the USB dongle if in case you have chosen the wi-fi model. You’ll be able to entry the replace characteristic by clicking on the settings cog wheel within the prime left nook of the app. In case you have the wi-fi model, you need to begin by connecting the mouse by way of the USB-C cable and updating it first. After you have got up to date the mouse, you possibly can plug within the USB dongle and click on replace as soon as once more, and it’ll apply any updates to the dongle which may be obtainable.

XPG Alpha Gaming Mouse Conclusions

The XPG Alpha gaming mouse is a strong choice for any gamer in search of a extremely customizable mouse, that will probably be happy by the considerably conservative 6-button configuration. In our testing, the mouse’s response time was quick with no perceivable latency whether or not in in wired or wi-fi mode. The XPG Alpha’s buttons are additionally very tactile and accessible and we didn’t expertise any mis-clicks all through our time utilizing the mouse.

The flexibility to make use of the wi-fi model of the XPG Alpha by way of the two.4G USB dongle, Bluetooth, or USB-C cable makes it a perfect journey mate. The battery life is one other big plus, as it’s rated to last as long as 60 hours. Whereas testing we solely needed to cost the mouse as soon as, and that was after practically per week of fixed use. If you happen to do not want wi-fi operation, the wired XPG Alpha is functionally an identical, although it’s a few grams lighter.

The Adata XPG Alpha wired mouse has an MSRP of $43.99, whereas the wi-fi choice is available in at $69.99. Sadly, as of the day of publication, the XPG Alpha mouse was not but obtainable on-line. In accordance with Adata, nonetheless, they may each be made obtainable on Amazon within the very close to future.

	Snug, Nice Ergonomics Stable Switches Inexpensive Pricing Good Battery Life (wi-fi)	Unintuitive Software program Minimal Availability