Tt eSPORTS Azurues Mini Gaming Mouse

Introduction

In the current mouse market of “more is better” many consumers get lost in numbers. We see higher numbers and we assume that the product is better. We want more DPI, more buttons, more features, more complexity. But why? As we focus more on the exact feature set of a new mouse, we can often overlook how well the mouse actually performs in real life.

People seem to forget that numbers are just that, numbers. The real-world usefulness of a mouse can’t be measured by just a number. A good mouse is one that you don’t mind keeping your hand on for multiple hours at a time. A good mouse is one that you don’t notice while you are gaming because it is doing its job exactly as it should. The Tt eSPORTS Azurues Mini is a perfect example of a what I would consider a “good mouse”.

Features and Specs

Features:

• Powerful 1600 DPI optical engine – provides superb accuracy and precision.
• DPI adjustment – 400/800/1600 DPI allows for ideal speed in any situation.
• Full rubber coverage – ensures a strong, no-slip grip.
• Teflon feet – allows for minimal resistance and high durability.
• Pause-break lighting system – for a more engaging gaming atmosphere.
• Braided cable – reliable strength with high flexibility to avoid tangles.

Technical Specifications:

• 400/800/1600 DPI switchable optical sensor
• 500Hz / 2ms response
• 15G Acceleration
• 6400 fps
• 40 ips max speed
• 51mA Operating Current
• Gold-plated USB connector
• 1.8m braided fiber cable
• Approximate size: 114mm (length) x 62mm (width) x 37mm (height)

System Requirements:

• PC with USB port
• Windows® 7 / Windows Vista® / Windows® XP

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Packaging and Contents

Packaging: The Azurues Mini comes in a beautiful matte black box with powerful graphics that demand your attention. The front shows a few key features while the back lists a few more in multiple languages. The front cover of the box opens to reveal the mouse itself in its plastic packaging with the rest of the features and specs in the inside of the cover.

Contents: Inside of the box we find the standard mouse fare as well as a few goodies. It includes your typical user’s manual and install guide as well as warranty information. In addition to the standard fare, the mouse has a small velcro strap attached to the cord which when combined with the included carrying case allows for quick and easy transportation and screams lan party.

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Closer Look

Looks: The first thing you notice about this mouse is its appearance. It’s sleek, all-black look when not plugged in is classy and makes the mouse look high quality. When you get it plugged in is when it really shows off. The scroll wheel lights up a faint red while the Tt eSPORTS dragon logo on the back “breathes” from off to a powerful red. The red accents really compliment the black of the rest of the mouse and give it a fierce look that tells you this mouse is for one thing only, gaming. The lights allow it to stand out in a crowd without being gaudy or distracting. As far as shape goes, it looks like many of its competitors.

Feel: While appearance is important for gaming mice, the biggest factor for gamers is feel. The Azurues Mini really excels in this category. When you hold the mouse in your hand it has a good weight to it. It is heavy enough to not go flying at the slightest tap and to feel high quality, but is not so heavy that it is sluggish during fast movements. The contact points of the mouse (the back/top, buttons, sides and scroll wheel) are all coated in a smooth no-slip rubber while the rest is shiny black plastic for a sleek finish.

Grip: The shape of the mouse is comfortable for most hand sizes but isn’t very large and may seem a little cramped for someone with big hands. It seems suited for all grip styles though palm grip users may want something a little longer. For claw and fingertip users though, the shape and weight of the mouse allow for the quick and precise movements required for fps games.

Sound: Sound is often overlooked by many when looking for mice. The Azurues Mini has good actuation on the left and right buttons while staying fairly quiet. The scroll wheel is smooth with a distinct click for each notch. Every action on the mouse gives you enough feedback so that you know if you accidentally click a button but not so much that it becomes an annoyance.

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Layout and Customization

Layout: The Tt eSPORTS Azurues Mini as you have probably figured out by now is very simple. There is a left click button, a right click button, a scroll wheel, and a DPI adjustment switch. That is it. There are no fancy buttons on the sides or top to get in your way. The DPI switch allows you to mow down enemies with a twitch gaming style and then quickly drop the sensitivity for intense sniping or long-range kills.

Customization: The largest flaw with the Azurues Mini is also one of its strong points, it is not very customizable. There is no software for it to fine tune DPI or change button layout. The DPI switch on the bottom of the mouse is the only form of customization available. You may be thinking “how could this possibly be a good thing?” The thing is, these days people spend so much time worrying about changing their DPI in tiny increments or which button on their mouse does what that they are not paying as much attention to the game. By keeping it simple, Thermaltake keeps your attention on what is happening on screen rather than on your mouse.

Testing

Testing a mouse is a rather difficult thing to do because it is not an exact science. You can’t just run a benchmark on a mouse, everything is subjective. In my testing I tried to keep it as scientific as possible to give you an idea of what you can expect when you use it. My gaming test consisted of playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for a few hours. I also played a little flash game that tested mouse acceleration, speed, and precision as well as a little homemade benchmark to show off how DPI affects mouse movement on screen.

Surfaces: Before I begin with the actual benchmarks, I want to put a few words in about the surface you are using. Different mouse surfaces can cause huge differences in the way a mouse feels and reacts when you are playing with it. For example, on a wooden desk, a mouse may feel fast but rough, while a cloth mat is slower but smooth. Choosing the correct surface for your playing style, mouse, and even the game you are playing can have a large impact in the potential usefulness of the mouse. I tried a wood desk, a standard cloth mat, and a Razer eXactMat gaming mousepad. I decided on the cloth pad because it seemed to give the right balance of control and speed for this particular mouse. The wood felt rougher and less accurate while the eXactMat was just too slick on both sides which caused a loss of control.

DPI Benchmark: For this homemade benchmark I basically made a 12-inch ruler across my 22-inch 1080p screen. I then moved the mouse one inch over the table and recorded how much it moved over the screen. This is not a very exact benchmark because it will vary wildly with different screen sizes and resolutions, but it gives you a general idea of what each setting does.

400 DPI Test

800 DPI Test

1600 DPI Test

As you can see, one inch of mouse movement equates to huge variations of on-screen movement depending on which DPI you are using.

Flash Game Benchmark: The exact aiming game was able to show off the precision and click response, while the fast aiming game was all about acceleration and perfect precision. After playing both games a few times I was able to get a pretty good understanding of the mouse’s capabilities under extreme circumstances. The precision was spot on with the mouse never skipping a beat and going exactly where I pointed it. The acceleration was responsive though I would have liked to play with it a little and see if other settings were better. The mouse was too slow at 400 DPI and felt sluggish. At 800 DPI it was quick but controllable. At 1600 DPI it was extremely fast but not controllable.

BF:BC2: Bad Company 2 has a good mix of fast-paced twitch gaming and slower, more precise aiming. I found the DPI switch to be extremely useful depending on which kit I was playing. In mid-range kits such as assault, 800 DPI proved to be perfect. It gives a good balance of quick movement and precision. When sniping, 400 DPI gave me better control for more headshots while sacrificing speed. I found that 1600 DPI was uncomfortably fast for my playing style even when using close-range weapons such as the shotgun, though I’m sure with practice this could be remedied. The mouse gave no tracking problems and its simplicity kept me focused on the game in the heat of battle.

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Summary and Conclusion

Pros:

• Very nice looks
• Perfect weight
• Nice feel in hand
• Easy to adjust DPI

Cons:

• Only three buttons
• No software to make more precise adjustments

Overall, the Tt eSPORTS Azurues Mini is a solid little gaming mouse. The weight and overall feel of the mouse give excellent control and comfort. It looks aggressive yet classy and is able to stand out from its competitors without obnoxious LEDs in every direction. While I wish there was at least one more button that could be customized and maybe one more DPI setting between 800 and 1600, it is easy to live without. The precision and responsiveness are what we have come to expect from a gaming mouse. Although the Azurues Mini has a lot of competition out there, it holds its own, leaving me to say that it was a joy to use and that I would recommend it to anyone looking for a simple gaming mouse.