Hard or soft?: testing the new joystick gaming mouse, the ROG Chakram
16.4.2020
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The Chakram Wireless Gaming Mouse doesn't just have a good sensor, a customizable LED logo, and an interchangeable 360° joystick. ROG also includes two additional switches with the mouse – allowing you to fully customize your DPI.
Attaching a joystick to a mouse. Sounds good. Not only can you theoretically play jump'n'run games with one hand, but you can also use it to rotate the camera angle or trigger any action. However, will we stop using WASD for shooters in future? Doesn't sound likely.
Technical details:
- Optical sensor: 100 to 16,000 dpi.
- Wireless operation with 2.4 GHz dongle or Bluetooth, wired operation via USB-C.
- 1000 Hz sampling rate at 2.4 GHz and wired operation.
- Interchangeable Omron switches to adjust the intensity of right and left mouse clicks.
- Left and right mouse button, side buttons, segmented scroll wheel with button function, buttons for pairing and DPI as well as radio mode controls on bottom.
- Analogue interchangeable joystick below the side buttons.
- Supports the Qi standard for wireless charging and Quick Charge via USB 3.0.
- Up to 79 hours of battery light with the 2.4 GHz dongle (LEDs off).
- Right-handed design with magnetic cover and buttons as well as three RGB zones.
- Dimensions: 132.7 x 76.6 x 42.8 mm.
- Weight: 121.6 g (without cable).
- Packaging: ROG Chakram mouse, USB dongle, USB extender, USB cable (1.8 m), accessory box with alternative Omron switches and alternative joystick attachments, cloth bag, logo template, user manual, ROG sticker.
Design and customization options
The Asus ROG Chakram doesn't just grab attention thanks to its freely definable LED features. The 360° joystick below the side buttons appears particularly interesting.
The joystick doesn't protrude far out of the housing and can be replaced with a slightly larger joystick or housing cover that is included. Behind the joystick, i.e. underneath the side buttons, the mouse is ribbed for a better thumb grip. The right side of the mouse also has a ribbed surface. The back of the mouse and the mouse buttons are kept in dark, semi-transparent plastic and can be easily removed thanks to magnets.
Beneath the back cover of the mouse there's space to store the USB dongle and an LED with the ROG logo.
The logo can be removed just as easily as the cover and replaced with a homemade logo if necessary. A small white stencil is enclosed for this. Grab a felt-tip pen and let your imagination go wild. Or you can make a logo out of cardboard and put it on the back.
Under the mouse buttons, the key switches become visible. The switches installed on delivery are Made in China and are easier to click than those found in the accessory box. The optional ones are made in Japan. I personally don't care where either were made, but I find the Japanese ones more pleasant. When pulling the trigger in a shooter, I definitely prefer greater resistance. The weaker switches are comparable to the mouse buttons of a Razer Mamba, which I've been using for quite some time. Only a little pressure is needed to release them, but still enough not to release them by accident.
Something I don't like about the underside is the DPI switch. It's functional: it allows you to select between four programmed DPI values. But why is it attached to the bottom? This is rather impractical if you want to change settings while playing. The radio mode control and pairing buttons, on the other hand, aren't to be sniffed at.
Handling and haptics
My hand fits perfectly around the ergonomically shaped Chakram. The buttons as well as the joystick are easily accessible. Unfortunately, the mouse doesn't have additional weights. Not tragic in my case, because at 121.6 grams, the mouse is neither a light nor a heavy weight – just how I like it. The mouse glides smoothly over the mousepad, useful when precisely navigating the pointer. This, combined with the harder Japanese switches, conjures up a smile.
At the start, the joystick needs getting used to. The sequence of movement when activating it differs from a normal gamepad. My thumb enters new territory and uses tendons and muscles that are otherwise only lightly strained. But keeping at it is worthwhile, the component has potential. The joystick can detect 256 levels of motion and can be used digitally or analogously:
- The digital mode offers a simple two-axis cross, which can provide four additional hotkeys during gaming.
- In analogue mode, the joystick acts like a conventional console controller. You get a joystick with eight-axis movement and varying intensity. This enables precise aiming or varying degrees of throttling. With a lot of practice, the mouse can be used like a gamepad. A shame that the mouse has too few keys to pass as a conventional gamepad. Apart from that, a normal gamepad is much more accurate to use.
To be honest: while gaming, I've practically only used the joystick as a two-axis cross and to call up the map with a new hotkey or change my weapon. Outside games, I use it to operate the media player. That's an asset. But I'm not good at steering or aiming with a joystick. After a few weeks of testing, I lack the patience to get used to new things, as well as the belief that I could ever be more accurate.
The mouse settings are made in the Armoury Crate Software and can be saved in three profiles. In addition to key assignment, the software also determines the four values for the DPI key. Furthermore, the polling rate (sampling frequency), a six-step key response speed, angle detection (mouse correction), lift-off distance (distance of the sensor to the ground) and a few more, such as LED lighting or energy options, can be set.
By the way, I can't see any difference in response between wired mode and wireless mode. It seems to work latency-free at 2.4 GHz.
Conclusion: great gaming mouse with a limited joystick
The ROG Chakram feels comfortable when holding, is precise and individually adjustable. Even the key switches can be replaced. Two Omron switches are included for the hard mouse click. Freedom of use is also a given. It can be operated via cable, USB dongle or Bluetooth. In addition to wireless operation, thanks to the Qi standard, it can also be loaded wirelessly if required. And if you need a quick top up, you can get another twelve hours of wired clicking fun within 15 minutes thanks to Quick Charge. This mouse and its setting options hardly let me miss anything.
The joystick also manages to add value. However, it's not the same as the real deal. I use it as a two-axis cross and get four more assignable keys in-game. If I use the joystick classically, I unfortunately can't manage to use it more precisely than with the given control possibilities without a joystick mouse. Maybe that'll come with time. Or I'm just not cut out for it. If you, as a reader, have had some experience with this mouse , please write a short comment about how well you mastered the joystick.
The only thing that really bothers me about the mouse is the positioning of the DPI key. If you want to quickly adjust the DPI value while aiming, sorry, that's impossible. The button is located at the bottom of the mouse. If that doesn't bother you, you need a new mouse and your budget is sufficient, I can recommend the Chakram.
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
13 comments
later