With the ROG Chakram X, Asus wants to deliver a mouse that can do almost everything. The manufacturer promises precise sensors with a query rate of 8,000 Hertz, an analog stick, socketed switches, 2.4 GHz radio, Bluetooth and a comparatively long battery life. That weighs heavily – and not only in terms of price.
A completely new sensor! … or not?
To get it out of the way right at the beginning: Of course, no one needs the 36,000 cpi that Asus promises for the ROG AimPoint sensor, which was specially developed according to the manufacturer. However, the number is still interesting, because so far not a single mouse sensor has offered such a high resolution. Not even PixArt's current top model, the PAW-3950 in the Viper V2 Pro (test), developed in cooperation with Razer, which comes to an equally obsolete high 30,000 cpi. The data communicated by Asus on the maximum measurable speed and acceleration – it's about 16.5 m/s and 490 m/s² respectively – again correspond exactly to the values of a PAW-3399 or PAW-3395; the maximum deviation of less than one percent is also identical.
This ultimately leads to the conclusion that the ROG AimPoint is not actually a completely new Asus sensor – as the manufacturer wants to believe in its press release – but only a derivative of those two PixArt sensors. After all, it would by no means be the first time that a mouse manufacturer has tried to propagate a unique, superior sensor system under a new name, which – suggested by the supposed in-house development – no other manufacturer can fall back on. It's much more likely that PixArt re-released the PAW-3399 specifically for Asus at absurdly high resolution. Or that the ROG Chakram X does not offer the upper resolution spectrum natively at all, but only interpolates it.
Mechanics in the base and an analog stick on the side
But enough about the sensor, because the other specifications of the ROG Chakram X also make you sit up and take notice. Mechanical switches are used as the primary button in Asus' Push-Fit II socket for use. Users can swap out the magnetically fixed buttons for other 3-pin or 5-pin opto-mechanical microswitches at will. In addition, the mouse has five additional keys on its left side; on the underside there is another button for sequentially switching through the sensor resolution. A special feature is the analog stick on the left, which is also replaceable. However, since most games do not provide analog mouse inputs, the stick can alternatively be configured as a digital four-way button.
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Connected via the two meter long, according to Asus, flexibly wrapped USB-A to USB-C cable, the USB query rate is up to 8,000 Hertz. With a wireless connection via 2.4 GHz radio, 1,000 Hertz remain, while the polling rate with an alternative Bluetooth connection – as usual – even drops to 125 Hertz. The manufacturer promises a battery life of up to 114 hours. However, it remains unclear to which of the two radio modes the value refers and the three-zone RGB lighting was active during the measurement. The ROG Chakram X is charged via cable in 15 minutes for up to 25 hours of running time, inductive charging according to the QI standard is also possible.
About Asus' Armory Crate program, the sensor parameters, the key assignment and the RGB lighting can be adjusted and saved in five profiles. All of these can be found on the internal memory of the ROG Chakram X. Aside from the mouse, the input device comes with two replacement mechanical switches, an alternative analog stick, an analog stick cover, a USB adapter for the wireless dongle, a carrying case, and a customizable logo for the back of the mouse.
The big feature package weighs twice as much
With its specifications, Asus' latest mouse to be a tool for all cases – but that costs elsewhere. On the one hand, the mouse weighs above average with a mass of 127 grams and is thus complementary to the current trend. On the other hand, the suggested retail price of the ROG Chakram X is very high at around 169 euros. Apart from the handcrafted Zaunkoenig M2K (test), no other gaming mouse is currently more expensive.
Asus ROG Chakram X Ergonomics: Right-handed Sensor: ?
Optical Resolution: 100-36,000 CPI
5 levels Speed: 16.5 m/s Acceleration: 490 m/s² USB polling rate: 8,000 Hz Primary switch: ROG Micro Switch, 70 million Clicks
socket buttons Number of keys: 9
Top: 3 Bottom: 1
Left side: 5 special keys: mouse wheel
cpi switch, analog stick Software: 5 profiles
fully programmable
macro recording< br>Internal memory: 5 profiles Lighting: Color: RGB, 3 addressable zones
Modes: Breathing, waves, color loop Case: 133 × 77 × 43 mm
Hard plastic
Sliding feet: PTFE (pure) Weight: 127 Grams (without cable) Connection: USB-A to USB-C cable, 2.00 m, wrapped
Radio: 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth
proprietary battery, 114 h runtime
Charging: cable, induction (QI) Price: from €183