I’m a easy man, susceptible to having fun with the easy pleasures in life corresponding to a pleasant glide over a high quality mouse pad. These new SteelSeries QcK efficiency mouse pads are tailor-made to somebody like me, from their neoprene base to cleanly stitched edges, densely fibred surfaces, and plain black design.
SteelSeries expressed to me all of the stuff that one may anticipate an organization to say—that these are fine-tuned for aggressive gaming and really feel nice because of a “specialised mix of supplies” which have been meticulously adjusted with the assistance of execs for efficiency and luxury. However the factor is, after utilizing these pads for some time, I consider them.
These actually are premium mouse pads, and in my view are a real enchancment over the unique QcK fashions. However they’re additionally considerably dearer at $40/£40 for Massive (490 x 420 mm) or $50/£45 for Additional Massive (900 x 400 mm).
There are three variations to think about: Pace, Steadiness, and Management. All of them promise barely completely different textures and feels, although let’s begin with what’s frequent to all three variations.
QcK Efficiency specs
Dimensions: 490 x 420 mm (Massive), 900 x 400 mm (Additional Massive)
Edging: Low-profile stitching
Floor: Easy nylon (Easy), easy however considerably textured polyester (Steadiness), very textured polyester (Management)
Worth: $40 / £40 (Massive), $50 / £45 (Additional Massive)
The very first thing I observed was they’re barely squidgey and stretchy whenever you maintain them, not like your commonplace rubber-and-cloth mouse pad. That is as a result of the bottom is neoprene foam reasonably than rubber, which works very properly for each stability and cushioning.
Phrase of warning: As a result of neoprene is squishy, if you happen to put one thing heavy on high of the mouse pad it could possibly depart indents in it for some time, identical to reminiscence foam. My heavy keyboard’s ft left small indents, as an example, however they got here out after a number of hours.
The subsequent factor I observed is the stitching. The principle downside with the unique QcK mouse pads, in my view, was their lack of edge stitching. However then again, many mouse pads’ stitching is uncomfortable. Edge stitching prevents fraying and floor lift-off over time, however it could possibly additionally dig into your arm or wrist.
Not so with the brand new QcK efficiency mats, as a result of these have low-profile stitching which is definitely rather less raised than the floor of the pad (which is 3.5 mm thick—thicker than the usual QcK however thinner than the QcK Heavy, after all).
The remainder of the design is your commonplace SteelSeries affair: plain black with the emblem on the bottom-right. Pretty. Besides there’s additionally a colored tag that claims ‘QcK’ plus ‘Pace’, ‘Steadiness’, or ‘Management’ relying in your model. This tag is a improbable little little bit of aptitude that basically fits the general look, which is in any other case a fairly commonplace black mouse pad.
Mix the densely packed fibres with the low profile stitching and neoprene base and you’ve got a mouse pad that feels fantastic and presumably well worth the excessive price ticket (we’ll get to that later).
Then there’s the pads’ efficiency, and I am bought on this entrance, too—particularly the Management model.
One factor to notice, although, is that you just most likely should not purchase into all the hype SteelSeries may spout about them. For example, the corporate says the mouse pad “has all however been forgotten or uncared for with regards to pure efficiency and playstyle for over 20 years.”
That is positively an exaggeration. Maybe you are not getting a large efficiency focus from the massive manufacturers, however there is definitely nonetheless a wholesome marketplace for it. You’ve the Esports Tiger EBA that always will get really useful, as an example. Or (one which I all the time wished however by no means acquired my palms on) an Artisan Raiden—I feel it is the Raiden V2 now, although. And I might assume pads just like the Raiden V2 can be quicker than the QcK Efficiency Pace, too, although I am unable to say for certain not having examined the previous myself.
There’s additionally the truth that the entire pace vs management factor has been finished earlier than. I do know this as a result of I keep in mind completely loving the (now seemingly discontinued) Razer Goliathus Management mouse pad, which stood in opposition to the Razer Goliathus pace (the Management really supplied extra glide than the Pace, although… go determine).
The SteelSeries QcK Efficiency pads appear to get the Pace vs Management distinction proper, although, and completely nail each ends of the spectrum. The Goliathus ones, in my view, did not try this.
I spent quite a lot of time reigniting my dampened flame for aggressive shooters whereas testing these mouse pads, and I discovered myself clicking heads very quickly with the QcK Efficiency Management.
This pad is a bit of roughly textured (however nonetheless has respectable glide) and I discovered it to have significantly better stopping energy than different mouse pads I’ve used, together with the one I beforehand used essentially the most, the Logitech G840. There is not any overshooting with the Management, not like with the Pace, which I did discover myself overshooting on typically.
The Pace model has its makes use of although, primarily for flickshots. It may also be good for easy monitoring, for instance utilizing a lightning gun in Quake or an SMG in Apex Legends.
I attempted out some monitoring gameplay within the Diabotical purpose coach, and unusually discovered my accuracy outcomes with the Pace to be the worst of the three, however I reckon that is simply because a glide-y mouse pad requires a bit of extra time to get used to. When you’re used to it, I reckon there’s higher potential for monitoring gameplay with the Pace than with the Management or Steadiness.
The Steadiness model lies between the 2, and feels the closest to an ‘extraordinary’ mouse pad like those from the unique QcK line-up. It is essentially the most acquainted.
I spent a good period of time attempting to determine what I felt the distinction to be between the Steadiness pad and the unique (non-Efficiency) QcK. I reckon the Steadiness feels a bit of smoother than the unique, and it is a bit of spongier because of the neoprene base, which ought to, I suppose, in concept make it simpler to manage if you happen to apply a bit of strain. Regardless of the case, it simply feels… higher.
Purchase if…
✅ You need a aggressive FPS edge: The Management model of this QcK Efficiency mouse pad is the very best I’ve tried from any mainstream model for accuracy and stopping energy.
Do not buy if…
❌ You are an off-the-cuff gamer: As designated by the ‘Efficiency’ moniker, this pad is focused at aggressive gaming, and possibly is not well worth the worth if that is not what you are going for.
If stellar mouse pads did not name me so strongly in the direction of aggressive shooters like CS2 and quake (or quake-likes), although, I might most likely go for the Pace model. Heck, I am tempted to stay with the Pace model even now, regardless of discovering I carry out a bit of worse in distance accuracy or monitoring situations with Pace reasonably than management.
That is as a result of it is enjoyable. I all the time used to love actually glide-y mouse pads. They could require extra follow to good your management over stopping that crosshair on enemies, however for easy motion, flickshots, and desktop use (which should not be neglected), the QcK Pace is the place it is at.
So then we come to pricing. At $40 (for Massive) I feel certainly one of these is value it offered you are a aggressive FPS gamer. Should you’re simply doing a little informal gaming, a less expensive one corresponding to an authentic QcK for $15 or a Logitech G240 for $10 will serve you simply positive. However for aggressive shooters I can wholeheartedly advocate the QcK Efficiency Management for $40, or the Pace if you happen to play video games that require that.
Steadiness… not a lot. I really feel you may as properly use a less expensive commonplace mouse pad if that is what you are going for. Until you may have cash to spare and simply need one thing that appears and feels prefer it has that additional degree of high quality.
And that is all there may be to it, actually. These pads really feel higher than some other mainstream pad I’ve used. They even really feel extra pleasing to choose up and shimmy round on my desk when wanted because of the fascinating neoprene base and stitched edges. The road-up appears like a particular all-round improve over the unique QcK line-ups. Costly, however value it for aggressive gaming.
