NZXT Avatar S: A Great Budget Gaming Mouse

Patrick Nosker October 20, 2011 0
NZXT Avatar S: A Great Budget Gaming Mouse
  • Overall
  • Value
  • Features
  • Tracking accuracy

When I visited NZXT this past summer I took a long look at their computer cases. Of course, that’s their bread and butter. They make good cases for a reasonable price. More recently they have moved into other PC gear such as power supplies, CPU Coolers, fans, and more. One of their latest peripherals is the Avatar S gaming mouse.

Like most gaming mice, the Avatar S has sleek movement. The bottom is strewn with Teflon coated feet for effortless gliding across a surface. You will immediately notice a difference if you’re coming from another non-gaming mouse such as a Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse which has uncoated plastic gliders. After a few weeks with a normal mouse, the feet will gum up and add significant friction.

Another benefit found, similar to most other gaming mice, is a laser sensor with much higher resolution than an optical mouse. This allows you to use the mouse on many more surfaces including reflective and glossy ones which may give optical mice some issues. Not only that, but it has driverless DPI switching which changes the resolution of the sensor and allows movement to be scaled differently. For example, on the most sensitive setting, moving 1 inch on your mousepad could move across your screen. On the least sensitive, it could move only 1/4 of your screen. This allows you to change the sensitivity on the fly– useful for games where you may be sniping and want high precision at times, and then want to be highly mobile while running. Or while doing digital media production moving pixel by pixel when necessary.

The DPI is indicated by the NZXT logo which lights up to indicate its setting. You can change this configuration along with several macros and button settings in the NZXT mouse interface and it is all stored inside the mouse’s included memory. Pretty nifty.

One feature missing from the Avatar S is custom weight management. Many top of the line gaming mice provide this feature allowing you to change the weight of the mouse depending on your preference. Instead, the Avatar S is stuck at being light weight. I don’t have a problem with that, but others might.

Either way, the Avatar S is an inexpensive mouse at $39.99. It provides a top of the line image sensor and has good customization potential.  It’s hard to knock its lack of weight control at this price, and for an ambidextrous mouse it’s extremely comfortable in both hands. You may be unhappy that it’s no 13-button Logitech G700. But it’s not meant to be. It’s a simple, functional mouse for about half as much money.

If you want a budget gaming mouse, you can’t go wrong with NZXT’s Avatar S.

NZXT Avatar S Gaming Mouse – $39.99

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