After a total of three iterations of the XM1, the XM2w is expected to follow in May 2022, the long-awaited wireless version of the shooter mouse for fingertip grip and especially claw grip -Player. Aside from the wireless technology, there are other improvements, but the special shape remains the same.
A long-awaited wireless adaptation
In late summer 2019, the German start-up Endgame Gear surprised with an extremely successful debut: The XM1 (test) fitted almost seamlessly into the existing structure of current shooter mouse recommendations. A few months later, a second edition with a more flexible cable dispelled any remaining doubts. Mouse enthusiasts called for a wireless adaptation early on, but in the genre of wireless lightweights, at the end of 2019 there were only Logitech's G Pro Wireless (test) and Razer's Viper Ultimate (test) to choose from at high costs. But Endgame Gear has so far only followed two other wired XM1 variants: The again improved and illuminated XM1 RGB (test) and at the end of 2020 the more functional XM1r with a newer sensor.
Endgame Gear often indicated that a wireless adaptation was being worked on. And always with the comment that good things take time. It's not quite there yet, but at least official specifications and an approximate date are provided by the manufacturer. And the recommended retail price is also available: The XM2w is said to cost around 110 euros and can be pre-ordered now.
Originally the plan was to ship the first units in March [or] April, but we are currently expecting to ship in May as we had to do another round of tooling revisions […].
Endgame Gear
New features for the sensor and the additional buttons
Aside from the integration of the 2.4 GHz radio, there are a few other adjustments to the inner workings. The PMW-3370 working in the XM1r is replaced by a derivative of PixArt's most modern gaming mouse sensor, the PAW-3395. Previously, the optical sensor developed in cooperation with Razer as the PMW-3399 was found exclusively in Razer mice, before it also appeared in Corsair's Saber Wireless (test). Apart from increased marketing key figures, the new sensor is accompanied by some improvements in the latency of the signal processing – Endgame Gear also speaks of “MotionSync” in this context – as well as an increased internal frame rate, which has at least brought measurable advantages in previous tests. The PAW-3395 is consequently paired with a more powerful microcontroller; Endgame Gear relies on the dual-core STM32. According to Endgame Gear, one core takes care of sensors, the second one takes care of wireless data transmission.
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Endgame Gear XM2w (Image: Endgame Gear)
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Endgame Gear XM2w (Image: Endgame Gear)
The selected Kailh GM 8.0, already known from the XM1r, are used as mechanical primary buttons, which are somewhat smoother compared to the Kailh GM 4.0 found in the XM1 RGB. Once again, Endgame Gear's latency-reducing analog polling is included; According to the manufacturer, unwanted double clicks should also be avoided in this way. The mouse wheel encoder is from TTC, while the mouse wheel click and modifier keys are Kailh's GM 2.0. Compared to the conventional side buttons of well-known mice, this was accompanied by “a crisp[er] click feel and significantly improved durability,” according to Endgame Gear.
Same shape is lighter despite battery
There is a surprise when it comes to weight: With a mass of just 63 grams, the XM2w is extremely light for a wireless mouse, only Logitech's G Pro X Superlight (test) plays marginally lighter in the same performance class. Razer's Viper Ultimate (test), on the other hand, weighs around 10 grams more, but according to current rumors, it will receive an adapted successor in the next few months. The comparison with the XM1r is also interesting, which weighs around 70 grams but does not have the radio technology and the 335 mAh battery of the XM2w. Endgame Gear has achieved the weight reduction by optimizing the internal structure, without compromising the robustness of the mouse. Meanwhile, elements made of pure PTFE are used for the mouse feet – not surprisingly. Mouse buyers can choose between two included sets as shown in the pictures.
If there is no information, there is an associated software. Corresponding configuration programs exist for the previous Endgame Gear mice, but the software for the XM1r is still not available for download on the manufacturer's website more than a year after the market launch. Instead, there are only beta versions via detours. To what extent this problem will also be an issue with the XM2w cannot be assessed at this time.
Endgame Gear XM2w Endgame Gear XM1 RGB ✔Endgame Gear XM1r ✔Endgame Gear XM2w ✔Glorious PC Gaming Race Model O WirelessLogitech G Pro X SuperlightRazer Viper Ultimate Endgame Gear XM1 RGB Endgame Gear XM1 RGB ✔Endgame Gear XM1r ✔Endgame Gear XM2w ✔Glorious PC Gaming Race Model O WirelessLogitech G Pro X SuperlightRazer Viper Ultimate Endgame Gear XM1r Endgame Gear XM1 RGB ✔Endgame Gear XM1r ✔Endgame Gear XM2w ✔Glorious PC Gaming Race Model O WirelessLogitech G Pro X SuperlightRazer Viper Ultimate Ergonomics: Symmetrical (Ambidextrous) Symmetrical (Right-handed) Sensor: PixArt PAW-3395
Optical
Lift-Off Distance: 1.0-2.0mm PixArt PMW-3389
Optical
Lift-Off Distance: 2.0-3.0mm PixArt PAW-3370
Optical
Lift-Off-Distance: 1.0-2.0 mm Resolution: 50-26,000 CPI
5 levels 50-16,000 CPI
4 levels 50-19,000 CPI< br>4 levels Speed: 16.5 m/s 11.4 m/s 10.2 m/s Acceleration: 490 m/s² USB polling rate: 1,000 Hz Primary button: Kailh GM 8.0, 80 million Clicks Kailh GM 4.0, 60 million Clicks Kailh GM 8.0, 80 million Clicks Number of keys: 6
Top: 3 Bottom: 1
Left side: 2 special keys: mouse wheel
cpi switch software: – 5 profiles
partially programmable
Internal memory: 1 profile Illumination: – Colour: RGB, 3 addressable zones
Modes: Breathing, color loop
cpi indicator cpi indicator Housing: 122 × 66 × 39 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Gliding feet: PTFE (pure) 122 × 66 × 38 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Gliding feet: PTFE (pure) Variant 122 × 66 × 38 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Glossy elements
Gliding feet: PTFE ( pure) 122 × 66 × 38 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Sliding feet: PTFE (pure) Variant 122 × 66 × 38 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Glossy elements
Sliding feet: PTFE (pure) Weight: 63 grams (without cable) 82 grams (without cable) Variant78 grams (without cable) 70 grams (without cable) Connection: USB-A to USB-C cable, 1.80 m, wrapped
Wireless: 2.4 GHz
Proprietary battery
Charging: Cable USB-A cable, 1.80 m, coiled Price: €110 from €70/from €70/from €66/from €70 from €60 €/from 60 €/from 59 €/from 60 € Update 06/23/2022 4:32 p.m >
After the planned availability of the XM2w was initially postponed from March and April 2022 to May, but the mouse has still not appeared, Endgame Gear is now admitting another delay on Reddit. The manufacturer cites difficulties with suppliers and contract manufacturers as well as lockdowns in China as the reason. Endgame Gear does not name a new release period, but promises to submit an updated schedule in a timely manner. Dealer Caseking is now assuming delivery in the third quarter of 2022 and cites tooling revisions as the cause of the renewed delay.
Even though we have been trying our best to get XM2w into your hands as soon as possible, we sadly will have to push back the release date. Due to external parties not meeting deadlines (even with a buffer added), we won't be able to start shipping out mice as planned in our (preliminary) schedule. In combination with (localized) lockdowns in China, missing these deadlines pushed back changes that still had to be made even further. One of those was an EMI issue, which we thought would be fixable via firmware but required us to make a hardware change instead, adding a few more weeks of delay on top of that. […]
In hindsight, it would have been better to release the specifications of the mouse in March and open pre-orders once we were close to receiving stock. Considering how far along we were with the project back then, we were confident that a release in May was realistic, and the amount of bad luck delaying everything was not foreseeable.
We are aware of how disappointing and frustrating this is and we are really sorry for the delay. Being gamers and hardware enthusiasts ourselves, just like you, we love how passionate you are about the XM2w – there is nothing more exciting for us than getting the mouse into your hands and showing you how awesome it is. What matters most to us is that we make a great product that is as close to perfection as can be.
Endgame Gear