ASUS RoG Gladius II Core Gaming Mouse Review

When it comes to PC gaming, ASUS and their Republic of Gamers division are one of the best in the business. If it says RoG on it, you know it's going to be a class-leading product, and that's true of their graphics cards, motherboards, and more. We've seen some incredible peripherals from RoG over the years, and while the Core edition of this mouse is designed to be a little more affordable, it's certainly not lacking in features. Plus, it's still got to live up to the premium expectations that come with a RoG product. ASUS RoG Gladius II Core Gaming Mouse Equipped with the fantastic PAW3327 "gaming-grade" optical sensor, the new RoG Gladius II Core can operate from 200 DPI all the way up to 6200 DPI. With the ability to track at up to 220 inches per second and with 30g acceleration, it should be pretty damn accurate and reliable, even in the hands of some of the most frantic gamers. Furthermore, ASUS has put the mouse on a diet, making it a whopping 20% lighter than the original Gladius. However, the best feature has to be the swappable switches. Want to change the click response or replace a tired switch? It's just pull, plug and play! Features Classic ROG Gladius ergonomics, with discrete left and right buttons, lightweight design and durable non-slip side grips etched with the iconic ROG totemGaming-grade PAW3327 optical sensor with up to 6200 DPI for fast, accurate trackingROG-exclusive push-fit switch-socket design to vary click resistance and extend the lifespan of the mouseIntuitive ASUS Armoury II software for easy customization of buttons, performance and lighting settings1 What ASUS Had to Say "ROG Gladius II Core channels the classic Gladius optical gaming mouse spirit into an accessible new form, sporting non-slip sides etched with the iconic ROG totem. Gladius II Core has a 6200-dpi optical sensor, and independent left and right buttons for accurate response and precise control. With right-handed ergonomics for extended comfort, a fatigue-preventing lightweight build, push-fit switch sockets and integrated Aura Sync illumination, Gladius II Core is primed for outstanding victories."- ASUS Packaging & Specifications The box is very compact for the ASUS RoG Gladius II Core, of course, it doesn't need to be a big box for a mouse, but it's still pretty small overall. There's a nice stylish picture of the mouse on the front, showing off the AURA lighting too. Around the back, all of the main features are detailed, such as the swappable switches, RGB lighting, and braided cable. The mouse is mounted in a carboard insert with a hard plastic top shell, so it's certainly well protected in there. In the box, you'll find the mouse (obviously), as well as the warranty card and quick-start guide. A Closer Look The Gladius II Core is a lovely looking mouse, and first impressions are really good. It has a premium quality look and feel to it. Of course, being an RoG product, it has to, as that is the premium line of products from ASUS. So on that front, you won't be disappointed. Little details go a long way to that too. Such as this lovely braided cable, which has a fairly smooth feel to it, so it shouldn't snag up on your desk edge. They've even given it a funky RoG Velcro strap. There's a custom moulded USB header too, which has the RoG eye design on there. Furthermore, the head is gold plated. Again, these are little details, but they all add up Down the left side of the mosue, you'll find a hard-plastic moulded design with a funky design in there too. It's lightly textured, but it's more aesthetic than anything. While it's not a grip panel, the overall shape of the mouse makes it extremely easy to get a firm grip anyway. The same goes for the top panel, it's a harder plastic finish, but it has a matte feel rather than a glossy feel; likely not the best mouse if you get very sweaty hands while gaming. A nice ASUS eye on the back, that'll be RGB lit once I power it up. One thing I REALLY like about this mouse are the buttons. The LMB and RMB are mounted on their own springs, so they're fully independent of each other. Furthermore, they're both heavily scooped, which promotes a much better finger resting position and ensures you get more optimal clicks. The mouse wheel is a good and large design, but it's heavily recessed into the body so it doesn't feel too oversized. It's got a good bearing too, which is easy to turn but still has a nicely defined bump at each step, but it's a pretty light wheel overall. There's also a DPI button behind it, but that can all be programmed in the software if you desire. Down the right side, there's more of that matte and gloss two-tone textured design too. The under side of the mouse features four slipmats, with one in each corner. Of course, this mouse is really lightweight too, so should glide really well. Performance There are four rubber screw guards on the base of this mouse. These can be picked out with a fingernail or your screwdriver. Then you can undo the four screws holding the mouse together. The top panel then easily lifts away. Now we can see the inner workings of the mouse. Actually, it's very clean and tidy in here. I suspect that's because consumers are meant to be opening it up, they don't want you damaging stuff, so they've covered up the main PCB hardware. Towards the front, you have the LMB and RMB switches. You can just pull them out with two fingers, it's pretty easy. These switches are Omron D2FC-F-K, rated at 50M clicks. Just grab some compatible switches from eBay or wherever really, they're really cheap, and drop them in and try them. It's that simple. The side nav buttons are Kailh switches, and have a nice and light click to them. While these ones aren't hot-swap switches, the little PCB lifts out and has very easily accessed solder points, so anyone with truly basic soldering skills can still change those too. RGB exposed! The RGB is kept pretty simple on this mouse, just the logo at the back and on the scroll wheel. However, it does look very nice, with really rich and vibrant colours. Of course, because it's AURA Sync you can match up the lighting with that of your PC hardware, other peripherals and more thanks to the easy to use AURA software. The grip on the mouse is really fantastic, but if you've used the old Gladius or any ASUS RoG mouse, you'll know they've always been pretty fantastic with ergonomics. I have quite large hands, but it still fits my palm really well. However, it's not a big mouse, and even my kids said it felt comfortable to use. There's a slight undercut towards the base, meaning you don't need to grip it too tight to pick it up, again, it just feels very natural in the hand. Plus, it's really light at just 92.5g (without cable), so making quick and twitchy movements in game is a breeze. The optical sensor is faultless, it tracks super smooth and accurately, with no jitter even at higher DPI settings. Admittedly, you have to try pretty hard to find a bad sensor these days, but this one is exceptionally good. The swappable switches is a fun gimmick, one that few will use, but I do like having the option to put in my favourite switches. Plus, the way the buttons are mounted means they respond well from both a fingertip grip at the back of the panel as well as a more relaxed palm rest position. Overall, this is a truly solid gaming mouse, I love it. How Much Does it Cost? Honestly, when I saw the price of this mouse, I thought it was in error. For some reason, this truly fantastic gaming mouse costs just £42.95 here in the UK. That's INSANE value for money for the features you get here. If you want something a little more RGB-riddled, with a more extreme DPI, you can get the Origin version for just £64.99. There's also a wireless version for £89.48. Overview ASUS makes some of the coolest gaming mice on the market today. While I find quite impressive, as they've got some serious competition from brands who put specialise in making mice, and ASUS can still go head to head with the best. I wouldn't say the Gladius II is the best gaming mouse out there, that alone is quite subjective. However, it's certainly competitive with anything else out there. What impressed me most about this mouse is the price. The features and performance of the mouse are good enough to compete with much more expensive models. I'm actually a little confused about how it's as affordable as it is. A good quality optical sensor, good quality mechanical switches with a hot-swap system, braided cable, RGB, it's all here. Admittedly, this is the Core model and the Origin model has more advanced RGB and an even better sensor, but that doesn't diminish the performance of the Core model one bit. If anything, it reinforces the Core, as this is all the gaming mouse most gamers will ever need. ASUS hasn't reinvented the mouse here, far from it. This is a very traditional gaming mouse. There's no million-button configuration, the RGB isn't in 21 zones, etc. It's just a really good ergonomic shape, lightweight, smooth tracking and that's about the end of it really. At this price, I'll be surprised if you can find anything as good. ASUS RoG Gladius II Core Gaming Mouse Review