Our Tenta-x series is drawing to a close. As the last pad, we are introducing the ‘Octo Grip,’ a mousepad featuring a sleek, conservative design but a beautiful purple color again. Tenta-X continues its assault on the market, targeting the Artisan brand (this time Raiden) with top-tier quality and refined aesthetics, all while keeping prices refreshingly affordable. As an owner of two Artisan Raiden pads, I will check how Jinsoku stacks up against its great Japanese rival.
Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me for testing purposes, though Tenta-X had no sway over the contents of this review.
Testing Scenarios
Testing period: 5 weeks in total
Gaming Sleeve was not used.
Break-in period: no noticeable break-in.
Mice used: Zaopin Z1 Pro (stock skates), RAWM ES21-Pro (stock skates), Akko Pulse O1 (stock skates), Waizowl Cloud XS (stock skates)
Games played: QuakeWorld, Battlefield 1 and V, Doom Eternal.
Temperature and humidity: 19–22 degrees, 50–65% humidity
Specs (according to the brand)
Control Surface: Low initial friction, Low dynamic friction, Low stopping power.
Base: ApexGrip Tech (Poron-Like), soft.
Stitching: Below-surface stitching.
Bottom line? I agree with low initial/dynamic friction but stopping power is moderate.
Unboxing and first impressions video
Base and Stitching
Like with Octo Grip, the Jinsoku mousepad features Tenta-X’s exclusive “ApexGrip Tech” base, which is similar to Poron material. Crafted for uniform thickness and plush softness, it delivers a great combo of cushioned comfort and precise control. Its secure grip ensures stability on different desk surfaces — once placed, it stays firmly in position. There was no sliding and no shifting when I tested it.
I’m pretty confident that the high-quality, low-profile stitching will enhance durability while maintaining a smooth edge that won’t disrupt your mouse movements. So far, no signs of fraying in my time with the Jinsoku.
Bottom line? Jinsoku stays firmly in place, with firm stitching that sits slightly below the surface.
Surface
The surface is the most important part of every pad. It’s a very tight surface, you can almost hear your pad swipe across it as it reminds me a bit of one of Artisan Raiden MID. It is smooth, uncoated, knitted, and a bit of synthetic fabric and feels a bit like sportswear but you can feel that slight texture on your fingers and it gives you as much speed as it can, no tugging or anything holding you back. Great for moving your mouse from a static point and great for flicking as there’s nothing to hold you back. The surface has also a bit of plushness (but not too much) which can slightly help you with stopping your mouse where you want it to stop because the foam rebounds quickly. With gamers who have good static aiming skills, this pad can also be used in slower games but this surface will shine in fast-paced games where a lot of target switching and tracking happen.
Bottom line? Tenta-x made a great decision to go with this, underused, surface. It’s similar to Raiden but just better.
Humidity and Maintenance
I’ve tested the Jinsoku for a few weeks, and the temperature and humidity remained mostly within the norm, so the real test will likely come at the peak of summer if your room is not air-conditioned. That said, throughout winter and spring, I had no problems with glide, stopping power, or stickiness, regardless of environmental changes.
When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, I asked Tenta-X for guidance, as I was hesitant to fully wash the mousepad. The company explained that the surface is crafted using special weaving techniques and low-temperature thermal transfer technology. For maintenance, they recommend simply wiping it down with a damp towel if required.
However, I decided to test my method and gave it a gentle clean wash.
How to clean your @TentaX_Official mousepad?
1: Use hand soap, a very mild one only.
2: lukewarm water over the pad in the shower
3: lightly scrub to the sides so that the soap will be squeezed out (repeat a few times, don’t let the soap soak into the pad)
4: rinse all soap out, repeat a few times
5: leave it out to dry for a day or so (NEVER place it on a radiator nor leave it in the sun)
Result? Excellent, no sign of slowdown or loss of texture, nor feeling.
Bottom line? No humidity-related issues so far, and upkeep is effortless, so signs of slowing down, but no slow/mud spots.
Static/Dynamic Friction and Stopping Power
The Jinsoku delivers a very low (but not the glass pad level low) level of static friction due to its specific synthetic-like surface. The pad is very airy and open on its initial move, making a swift start without effort. This can of course be affected by the type of skates you are using and the weight of your mouse, but that’s the general rule of thumb.
When It comes to dynamic friction, this pad also excels — the movement is really fast, not hindered by any means, and it’s smooth, reliable, and consistent. As far as the stopping power is concerned, the brand declares it’s low, but I wouldn’t entirely agree with that as Jinsoku offers some pretty significant stopping power as long as you can get used to the pad and try out different skate solutions. This is pretty unique to me the huge majority of mousepads are either speedy, controlled or moderate in these categories but very rarely combine two different directions and Jinsoku is pretty successful at that if you ask me.
This is also very different from Artisan Raiden, which, I have to say, developed mud spots and was pretty inconsistent after quite a short time. Not sure why that happened, maybe some humidity issues, but I’ve owned two of them and had to sell them both eventually.
Bottom line? Fast and open on static, fast and consistent on dynamic, and pretty satisfactory on stopping power. Very consistent!
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Tenta-x Jinsoku blew me out of the water — in the best possible way. It genuinely feels like a significant step forward from the Artisan Raiden, with noticeably improved glide that’s smoother yet still manageable to control. The friction, both initial and dynamic, is impressively low, while still letting you stop accurately when you need to. Build quality is high-end, and the consistent, uncoated surface hasn’t shown any slowdown or muddy spots — even after extended use and that’s what set Jinsoku apart from the Raiden. Additionally, it holds up remarkably well against humidity and can handle gentle cleaning and washing without trouble. And visually, that purple shade just looks fantastic on any desk. Given its surprisingly affordable price, I honestly have no idea why more people aren’t talking about this pad. It deserves more attention and is my favorite Tenta-x mousepad of the all ones that I’ve tested and reviewed.
Bullet Points
- Jinsoku is what Artisan Raiden should be
- no slowing down, no slow/mud spots after quite some time
- affordable
- pretty fast, a bit synthetic surface, very open, with a decent amount of stopping power, especially with bigger and thicker feet
- beautiful and mesmerizing purple beauty of color
- washing is possible but use it with caution and proceed according to my guidelines
- Jinsoku characteristics are a bit different than those advertised by Tenta-x
- with slow/controlled skates, this pad can show some pretty good stopping power for a speedy pad
Get this pad from the official website (no affiliation)
Disclaimer
this review is not a paid endorsement. I want to ensure transparency and let you know that I am not receiving any monetary or otherwise compensation for evaluating or discussing this tech product.
