MIONIX Naos 8200 Laser PC USB Gaming Mouse

The  Mionix Naos 3200  has topped the Custom PC Elite list on and off for several years, so the Naos 8200 has a lot to live up to. The new mouse doesn’t look notably different to its predecessor, but there are some big changes inside. Mionix has locked and loaded a new sensor into the 8200; as its name suggests, this is capable of handling a resolution of 8,200dpi.

This is the same headline figure as three other mice on test, although even the twitchiest of gamers won’t need to head above 4,000dpi.

By default, 4,000dpi is the Naos 8200’s middle sensitivity setting – two other levels are set at 2,000dpi increments in either direction. And, if none of these settings suits, the software enables easy customisation of each level, alongside independent adjustment of the X and Y axes.

Physically, the Naos 8200 shares much of its design with the 3200. It’s still clad in soft-touch plastic that’s easy to grip, and its comfortable shape is suited to both palm and fingertip users, as it has a longer tail than the  Corsair M65  . The Mionix weighs just 151g, which puts its weight in the middle of this group – even with three weights installed, the Corsair is 16g lighter.

There are LEDs in the scroll wheel, logo and sensitivity indicators, which are green by default . Customisation is possible in software, though, with the whole RGB gamut available, alongside different blinking or glowing patterns.

Meanwhile, the software offers the usual options. Five profiles can be modified, with settings to adjust the button mapping, click rate, scroll speed and point acceleration.  Sensor performance, lift distance, LED colours and macro recording can also be handled independently in each profile.

Cursor action is unfailingly smooth, and the four Teflon pads on the underside provide frictionless movement. Meanwhile, the two thumb buttons remain easily accessible, and the main buttons are consistently fast and responsive.Unlike many overburdened fancy gaming mice, the Naos 8200 has a refreshingly clean design, but it’s missing a few features. There are no weights, nor a sniper button to quickly change the resolution for extra precision. However, its performance is superb.

Interestingly, the scroll wheel is sunk into the 8200’s facade, so it doesn’t protrude as much as the Corsair M65’s wheel, which can make it trickier to grip at first, but its rubber finish makes it easy to move. It has more pronounced notches than the Corsair’s wheel too.

CONCLUSION
The  Mionix Naos 8200  costs £15 more than the Corsair M65  , but the Mionix (just) comes out on top. We love its smooth, fast and responsive movement, and its body is well built, attractive, and works equally well for both fingertip and palm users. When it has the basics so well covered, we can ignore the lack of a sniper button and its slightly higher price.