The LED lighting on the Anker 8200 DPI is quite stunning. It allows you to use up to 16 million colors.I recently reached out to Anker to have a look at their 8200 DPI gaming mouse. As this mouse has gained a lot of popularity over the last 18 months, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what all of the hype is about.
First of all I would place this mouse in the “budget” gaming mouse category or under $50. In that space it’s competing with a wide array of good gaming mice that hold appeal to gamers in a variety of genres. Other gaming mice I really like in the space include the G9X, the DeathAdder, and the G500.
Design, Fit, and Ergonomics:
There’s a lot that can be said about the Anker Gaming Mouse’s Design and features. Some that I really like and a few that need some improvement. That being said I can’t name one gaming mouse that is perfect for everyone.
Size:
In the picture below you can see how the Anker mouse stacks up against the competition.
Compared to the Logitech G500 and the Razer DeathAdder I’d consider the Anker 8200DPI gaming mouse similar in size although a bit longer and a tad bit taller as well. Gamers with medium to large-sized hands will like the overall feel and ergonomic design. While I wouldn’t particularly recommend to those of you with small hands that may vary based upon how you hold it.
The shape of this mouse should appeal mostly to palm grippers; however, there are a few claw grippers who may appreciate the length of the chassis as well.
Weight Tuning:
Underneath the Anker gaming mouse is a removable plate cover where you can insert additional weight. Included with the mouse are 8 2.5 gram cylinders for a total of 20 grams of additional weight. Before adding this weight I’d put the Anker mouse on the heavier side at 140 grams. That being said if you really like to add additional weight for the precision, then it’s nice to know that this mouse can go up to 160 grams.
The weights themselves and the plate cover aren’t built quite as nicely as others I’ve come across, but it does the job just fine. Adding a tray here, like that found on the G500, might be undesirable for Anker as it would certainly increase the mouse’s overall build cost.
Grip and Feel:
If you play long gaming sessions like I do, then you know just how important a grip is over time. The grip of this mouse is one of the nicer that I’ve had the chance of using. On the top there’s a felt-like feel that adds just enough texture to keep your grip. On the side there’s a thumb rest that has a plastic built-in grid.
Underneath the mouse are anti slip grips/feet that give the mouse a nearly perfect glide over the cloth-like surfaces most commonly used among gamers.
Aesthetics
No doubt about it this is a great looking gaming mouse. My favorite feature is the easy to adjust LED lighting that allows you to display pretty much any color on both the Anker Logo and the scroll wheel. That allowed me to match the mouse to my gaming rig and mechanical keyboard.
The mouse also has a nicely done braided cable that helps you to avoid tangles and a gold-plated USB that may prevent corrosion but is more for looks than anything else.
Programmable Buttons:
This mouse has 9 programmable buttons. That’s just enough to add all the macros you want to it in-game as well. With a second profile you can also add browsing macros. I added my regulars on my browsing profile including, back, forward, and escape. If I had one gripe about the buttons it wouldn’t be their location but rather that the side buttons above the thumb rest protrude a little bit farther than I like and have a plastic rather than rubberized feel to them.
Internal Specifications:
Sensor
The Avago ADNS-9800 sensor fuels this 8200 DPI gaming mouse. This is a laser sensor that’s fairly accurate. The software includes the ability to adjust acceleration and pretty much eliminate most of that. It does feel like there is a bit of prediction built in to the mouse which, in my opinion, makes it a more viable option for games like Starcraft II and Diablo 3 where this is can be desirable.
That being said I’d prefer an Optical LED sensor like the DeathAdder’s Avag0 S3988 for FPS-type games. Many may not be able to tell the difference.
Omron Switches:
This mouse uses Omron switches which not only have a satisfying easy-to-click feel to them, but also the durability they need to last the lifetime of the mouse. It’s actually more likely that something else will wear out first. Either way Anker includes an 18 month warranty with their product – 6 months more than the industry average.
Software
The software is simple and intuitive. This makes it easy to adjust your DPI (which I tweaked heavily), programmable buttons, acceleration, polling rate, and profiles. You can also adjust the breathing speed, brightness, and color of the LED lighting on the mouse. I like the overall simplicity of it.
Final Thoughts on the Avago 8200DPI Gaming Mouse:
What I Would Change:
Like every mouse on the market I do have few things I would change with this mouse. First off, I’d lose just a tad bit of the height, weight, and length. Doing so would make the weight tuning feel more meaningful. In addition, I’d add an alternative option with an optical LED sensor for those gamers who would prefer that. These changes might increase the cost of the mouse a little bit overall. Most, including myself, would be willing to pay for the difference.
Overall:
I’m a bit of a self-proclaimed mouse fanatic that honestly has a low opinion of many of the gaming mice on the market. That being said I find the Anker 8200 gaming mouse to be a good overall value for the money and recommend it in the $30 to $40 price range. As I said previously I’d recommend it for those with medium to large-sized hands and ARPG as well as RTS gamers.
Video Review of the AVAGO 8200 DPI Gaming Mouse