FINALMOUSE KILLERS - Buy these mice instead!!
Over the past few years, Final Mouse has been considered the pinnacle of gaming mouse innovation. However, more and more companies are slowly pushing their way onto the scene, making me question: does Final Mouse still have the grip on the market it once did, or is it being carried by the name associated with the product? Arbiter Studio and WL Mouse are two of these companies. The Akitsu (which I have here) and the Beast (which I have here) take a similar shape to the Final Mouse ULX and put their own spin on the formula that has been so successful for the ULX over the years.
Shape and Sizes
These mice all have a very similar shape. The Akitsu only comes in one size, whereas the ULX and the Beast both come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The Akitsu sits somewhere between the small and medium versions of the other two mice. The Final Mouse is the lightest, ranging from 31 to 37g, while the WL Mouse ranges from 34 to 42g, and the Akitsu weighs in at 38g. At these weights, it is arguable whether or not these weight differences are noticeable, but what does make a small difference is the material and feel of the mice, as well as how the weight is distributed.
Weight Distribution
In the ULX, the weight sits slightly back, so if you hold it in the middle, it tilts back slightly. This is due to most of the PCB being centered around the middle, with the battery pack sitting at the rear end. For the other mice, the PCB is centered more at the front with the battery pack at the back, so when you hold it in the middle, it feels a bit more balanced.
Materials and Build Quality
In terms of material, the ULX and the Akitsu both have a carbon fiber composite material. However, the Akitsu is much sturdier and thicker, which contributes to its additional weight. The ULX, on the other hand, feels softer and almost plasticky in hand. Some areas on the shell are easy to push in, like the back of the mouse, which is intentionally made flexible to reduce weight in certain areas. That said, you wouldn’t feel these flexes during normal gameplay unless you deliberately try to push the shell in.
In terms of coating, the Final Mouse has a more plasticky feel compared to the Akitsu and Beast, which have a much more metallic, sturdy feel. Despite the numerous holes in the Beast X Max, the magnesium alloy makes it incredibly sturdy. I’ve tried to push into it as hard as I can, and I simply can’t get any flex out of it. The Akitsu has a similar build quality, feeling premium and solid in hand.
Button Feel and Switches
The Beast X and the Akitsu both have firm, satisfying clicks. The Beast X comes with two different switch options: Rron opticals or TTC Nills, while the ULX uses Rron switches and the Akitsu uses Hanano switches.
Pricing and Availability
Here’s where Final Mouse has some significant issues. Final Mouse is known for being very difficult to get, with limited-time drops that sell out incredibly quickly. The MSRP for one of these mice is $189, compared to $140 for the Akitsu and $145 for the Beast X. The Akitsu is also not always easy to get, as it has more frequent drops but still requires you to catch the website at the right time. The Beast X, however, is almost always available in several different colors, though some colors might be sold out at certain times. It’s definitely the easiest of these mice to buy.
Performance
All of these mice perform exceptionally well, as you’d expect from products at this price point. They all feature 8K Hz polling, with the Final Mouse and the Arbiter both using the Pixart 3395 sensor, while the Beast X Max uses the Pixart 33950 sensor. All of them use Nordic MCUs and perform incredibly well.
Battery Life
Both the Akitsu and the Final Mouse offer impressive battery life, easily lasting for hours, especially if you’re not using them at 8K Hz polling the entire time. The Beast X, however, has had some issues with battery life, though a recent firmware update has significantly improved this. It still lags behind the other two, so that’s something to bear in mind.
Design and Cutouts
Both the ULX and the Akitsu have similar cutouts, while the Beast X has more aggressive cutouts that extend onto the sides. I’ve applied grip tape to my Beast X to mitigate this, but even through the tape, you can still feel the aggressive cutouts. This is something that many users have found uncomfortable, so it’s something to consider if you plan to purchase this mouse.
The Akitsu also features a very unique dragonfly design at the bottom, which looks incredibly cool. However, I’ve encountered some problems with it. If my mouse skates wear down, I’ve noticed that the sensor at the bottom of the dragonfly design scrapes across the mousepad, especially on glass pads. This results in some scratching if the skates are worn down too much, so keep an eye on that.
Additional Features
One unique feature of the Arbiter is its USB dongle for 8K Hz polling, which lights up with information about polling rate, battery life, and other metrics. This makes managing the battery life much easier compared to the other two mice, where you need to check web-based software.
Final Thoughts
There are many similarities between these mice, and it’s clear that both Arbiter Studio and WL Mouse have taken inspiration from Final Mouse’s innovations. However, I feel that they’ve managed to take what Final Mouse has done and package it into a more enjoyable and more obtainable experience. If you want a Final Mouse for the name, go for it, but if you’re looking for purely performance, I simply cannot justify picking it over the Beast X or the Akitsu, which in my mind are as close to perfect as you’ll get for this mouse shape.
Alrighty guys, I hope you all enjoyed this comparison between the Final Mouse ULX, the Arbiter, and the Vancer Studios Akitsu and Beast X Max. If you have any suggestions for future content, please leave them in the comments below. Have a fantastic day, and see you guys next time!
