Mad Catz R.A.T Wireless Gaming Mouse Review

The R.A.T. has switched to a wireless system.  The latest R.A.T. has several handy features, including interchangeable side panels, multiple inputs, and an adjustable frame, but it isn’t yet as customizable as Mad Catz’s premier wired mouse. The Mad Catz R.A.T DWS effectively ends one of the most distinctive wireless gaming mouse, but it does have a few design flaws that cause you to think twice. Let’s read the detailed review:

Mad Catz R.A.T Wireless Gaming Mouse Review

Design

The R.A.T. DWS resembles the R.A.T. 8+ but is more elegant and physically muted. It’s broad and flat, measuring 1.44 by 3.41 by 4.44 inches (HWD), and it provides mediocre hand help except though appropriately balanced. With pointed corners, exposed screws, and twisty knobs, the black-and-silver, the right-handed style has a mechanical appearance. The idea that certain items are functional rather than decorative help sell the aesthetic. Rather than becoming a ridiculous and unnecessarily contrived gimmick, it’s an example of substance dictating shape. The mouse has many personalities, but it doesn’t have RGB lighting, which is likely a power-saving measure. As RGB illumination is turned on, most mice’s battery life is reduced in half.

In addition, the form contributes to weight. The R.A.T. DWS is one of the heaviest mice I’ve ever tested, weighing 4.80 ounces. This isn’t really a bad thing, but it does suggest that the architecture prioritizes extra inputs and customization over competitive results. It’s possible that this isn’t the ideal esports cursor.

Buttons

There are ten buttons and two scrolls on the R.A.T. DWS, not counting the control switch on the underside. Two press panels, a DPI cycling button just below the scroll wheel, and a profile cycle button on an angled panel are all located on the top. The scroll wheel adds three additional inputs: the standard click and two additional inputs for tilting the wheel left or right. The scroll wheel tilt inputs are one of my favorites since they are easy to use. The R.A.T. DWS’ inset scroll wheel, on the other hand, is rigid and shallow, making it less enjoyable to tilt than the Logitech G502 Lightspeed or Razer Basilisk.

On the mouse’s hand, there are three more buttons: The standard back and forward side buttons, which appear as small, hard plastic tabs, as well as a wide, circular “sniper” button that lowers the DPI when held to allow precise clicking. It’s at the front of the thumb pad, right where the tip of the thumb should be.

A second scroll wheel that travels left and right is hidden between the back and forward keys in a space in the mouse’s chassis. Unfortunately, using the secondary wheel on a PC requires pinching the thumb into space. Even then, it comes in handy when flipping across menus or spreadsheets.

The R.A.T. DWS, like the other R.A.T.s, has dynamic and/or replaceable parts. The palm rest, for example, slips over a rail, lengthening the cursor with the flick of a spring-loaded locking mechanism. The mouse comes with two odd-looking palm rests that can be swapped out on the run. They’re functionally similar but have different logos.

To unscrew and delete the mouse’s pinky-side panel, use the little hex key that came with the mouse. The R.A.T. DWS comes standard with a thumb wing on the left side and a smooth right hand, but it also has two alternative side panels that enable you to incorporate a grip-enhancing right side or a pinky wing. Each of the three has its own set of benefits. The sleek edge is the most appealing from a cosmetic standpoint. The grip makes it easier to handle the cursor. The pinky wing provides additional protection, depth, and weight.

It’s a fun and effective way to allow you more control of how you use the mouse. Modular hardware is just as hardcore as it comes if their improved configuration choices characterize gaming mice. Fortunately, extracting and repairing the panels is simple and requires little technological knowledge.

The modular components, on the other hand, make it a little more complicated. There are many valuable items to lose with three alternative sections and two instruments (the hex key and a mini brush). The alternative side panels are practically pointless if you lose the hex key. Worse still, if one of the screws holding the panels in position is off, you can have to purchase a new cursor. This is a concern for all R.A.T. mice, but the DWS is particularly vulnerable since it lacks built-in tool storage.

Furthermore, the wireless aspect of the mouse makes it possible to drop loose bits. Once you separate the cursor from the pieces, it’s just a matter of time before you lose sight of them, in my experience.

Crazy Catz also found it easy to unscrew the thumb sidebar, even though it isn’t reversible or removable, for purposes that are beyond comprehension. It’s a perplexing move since it raises the possibility of losing an important component. And when the panel is unscrewed, it stays attached, but the screw does not.

Customized App

For customizing the R.A.T. DWS parameters, Mad Catz built a bespoke setup software. The software, which looks almost similar to Mad Catz’s F.L.U.X. app for the R.A.T. 8+, allows you to remap 14 inputs. The remapping UI, which allows you to drag and drop action icons into slots that point to their inputs, is a little strange. You must be careful when adjusting configurations since some slots do not conform to the keys you might anticipate. Furthermore, the app does not show the default icons, making it impossible to move between default features.

You can also customize up to four DPI settings and the DPI monitoring for the sniper button. The R.A.T. DWS has onboard memory for up to four profiles and an infinite amount of local profiles. Four onboard profiles is a little less than normal for a top-tier gaming mouse, but it’s enough to preserve your most important settings.

Originally posted 2021-11-11 12:56:41.