How many of you playing Battlefield V or Grand Theft Auto V have been forced to immediately switch between mouse and keyboard and pad in order to better fly helicopters? Let's face it, although the mouse and keyboard are much more precise and faster controllers, in some types of games the pad is more comfortable, especially when we have to drive aircraft in the games mentioned above. To compensate for this stressful change, Asus has decided to revolutionize the way of conceiving the mouse. The Taiwanese house has indeed presented Asus ROG Chakram, or the first mouse in the world also equipped with an analog stick on the left dorsal, or where we will go to rest the thumb if we are right.
The packaging that encloses the mouse is typical of any Asus ROG branded product, with black and red being the predominant colors. On the front we find an image of the mouse, its name, the iconic ROG eye and some brief info, such as the presence of dual connectivity, namely bluetooth and 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi.
On the back we find other information, such as the presence of a 16.000 DPI optical sensor, several programmable keys and the list of the package contents. Inside the box we find everything and more, even spare switches. Specifically we find: 1 x ROG Chakram, 1 x USB dongle, 1 x USB extender, 1 x 1.8m USB cable, 1 x accessory box, 2 x Japanese-made Omron switches, 1 x long joystick, 1 x joystick socket cover, 1 x switch tweezer, 1 x ROG sticker, 1 x travel pouch, 1 x customizable badge and finally the user manual.
When the mouse is off, it turns out to be quite anonymous, but once the power button is pressed we will see all the ROG DNA scroll inside Chakram, especially thanks to the RGB LEDs present inside it. The shell is made entirely of aluminum, while the rest is in semi-transparent black plastic, able to show us everything that is below it.
The mouse does not have any type of screws and all parts are connected to each other by magnets, which will facilitate disassembly if we need to change a switch. As already specified, once accessed ASUS ROG Chakram gives its best due to the presence of RGB LEDs compatible with the proprietary Aura Sync lighting system. In the upper part we find both the illuminated wheel and the lower end: in the latter there will be the iconic ROG eye, a timeless symbol of Asus' enthusiast product series.
However, this will be possible to modify it to our liking through the secondary badge that we will find inside the package, it will be enough to work a little and we can apply any logo we want, even that of Epic Videogames Guide. We also find other RGB LEDs on the front of the mouse, where there is also the USB type-C connector to connect Asus ROG Chakram via cable in order to recharge it or use it in wired mode. When the remaining power of the mouse drops below 25%, the LEDs will start flashing red, to indicate the low autonomy left.
In the left dorsal we find the real novelty introduced by Asus inside ROG Chakram, or the fully programmable joystick. We can use it as we like, either as a directional key to improve our flight sessions, or program it to create four different macros, or use it as if they were four distinct buttons. We can also completely exclude it using the lid present in the package, or change joystick using the longer one according to our personal tastes, in practice we can use it as we like and like it in order to make it 100% perform during our gaming sessions.
There are also two other physical buttons above the joystick, both programmable and usable at our complete discretion. On the right dorsal we find nothing, except for a knurling in the mouse shake in order to increase its grip. On the back of the mouse we find three buttons: one to set the number of DPI, even if the position is quite uncomfortable, one to pair via bluetooth and a selector to turn it on and select the operating mode, then Wi-Fi or bluetooth. To change the DPI Asus ROG Chakram presents a pleasant novelty, namely the DPI On-The-Scroll function. This allows you to adjust the accuracy easily, without the need for software. Just hold down the DPI button and then roll the scroll wheel to freely set the sensitivity. Alternatively, simply click the button to cycle through four different DPI levels.
Asus ROG Chakram is completely removable thanks to the magnet system adopted by the Taiwanese house. The top is completely removable and once pulled away we find the USB dongle to use the mouse in Wi-Fi mode with minimal input lag.
We can also remove the buttons, in order to change the Omron Switches if they wear out. Inside the package we find in fact a practical box where there are everything necessary to make the change, that is a set of pliers and two other switches. A shorter stroke means a faster click, which is why Asus engineers have equipped ROG Chakram with rotating buttons. The mechanism uses springs and metal hinges to balance the keys and minimize the distance between the keys and switches. The result is minimal travel and quick rebound, which ensures excellent speed, responsiveness and consistency with every click.
Asus ROGG Chakram is able to provide an autonomy of about 79 hours in 2,4 Ghz mode if you do not use Aura RGB lighting, while if you use it the autonomy is destined to drop dramatically. In our tests, after about 30 hours of use from full charge, we still had 30% autonomy, obviously with active RGB. If we find ourselves with the mouse unloaded, thanks to fast charging, with only 15 minutes of charge we will have about 12 hours of autonomy: to do this we will need to connect the mouse to a USB 3.0 port. Asus ROG Chakram also offers Wireless Qi charging, so if we have a mouse pad compatible with this technology, we will have our mouse always charged and ready for action.
Asus ROG Chakram looks great, with all things in place, but how does it work in the operational field? The mouse has proved to be extremely precise and reliable in every area thanks to the excellent sensor, able to easily adapt to any game and program. The Side Joystick proved extremely useful, not only in flight sessions during Battlefield V matches, but also in other games thanks to the extreme customization. In programs that we use often like Adobe Premiere, we have been able to set up quick macros of the commands we use most often, so that we always have them at hand. On the battery front, nothing to say: Asus ROG Chakram offers an extremely long-lasting autonomy, well above that of the competitors. Thanks to fast charging, with only 15 minutes of charge we can extend our sessions for several hours. Furthermore, thanks to the three types of connection, we can switch from one PC to another without having to disconnect the dongle. In fact, we were able to switch from the gaming PC, connected via Wi-Fi 2,4 Ghz, to the Mac, connected via bluetooth, by simply pressing the button on the back.
The dimensions of 132.7 x 76.6 x 42.8 mm for a weight of 126 grams, make it a mouse not suitable for everyone, since in the last period the trend is to create ultra-light cursors and the least bulky possible. Despite this, Asus ROG Chakram is a mouse that adapts well to any handle, with a well-balanced weight and that will hardly tire our wrist even after hours of use.
Asus with its new ROG Chakram has managed to revolutionize the concept of gaming mouse taking it to new levels. The fully programmable joystick is able to open new frontiers during our games and beyond, in fact it is possible to adapt it to any situation and program, even in the workplace. The excellent optical sensor that we find on board make it extremely precise and fast. The battery is able to give us many hours of autonomy and the multiconnectivity allows us to use it on two PCs by pressing a single button.
If you are an ethusiast gamer and want to buy a mouse with infinite potential, you can buy Asus ROG Chakram on the Asus store on Yeppon at a price of around € 160.
