Esptiger CHENGYING 3mm Resin Mousepad — when you look for hard pad consistency
I’ve been hunting for the perfect mousepad for what feels like forever now. I want something that’ll stay consistent no matter what — a pad that doesn’t get worn down, doesn’t chew up my mouse skates, and won’t freak out if there’s a little humidity, dust, or even some oil from my hands. It’s been a long search, and honestly, I’m starting to think the ideal pad just doesn’t exist. But every so often, I stumble across a new contender that claims to be “the one,” and I can’t resist giving it a shot. That’s how I ended up trying out the Esptiger CHENGYING 3mm Resin Mousepad. Let’s see if this thing finally checks all the boxes.
Disclaimer: this pad was delivered by Mechkeys for reviewing purposed, however, the opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone. Use code QUAKEWORLD for additional discount!
In this review, I will also compare it a few time to Cerapad Kin v2.
Mice used: RAWM SH-01 Pro (black teflon stock skates), Rapoo VT1 Pro Max (Plastix Dots from TJExclusives), Incott Ghero Pro (pure white PTFE skates), Mchose AX5 Pro Max (black teflon stock skates).
Gaming Sleeve was used.
Break-in period: no noticeable break-in
Temperature and humidity: 21–24 degrees C, humidity 55–65%
Specs
Material: Photolithographic resin
Bottom adhesive: PU
Thickness: 3mm
Sizes: 480mmx400mm, 400mmx320mm
Foldable: Not foldable
The ChengYing comes in two sizes, each with its own unique pattern. Other than size and design, both versions feature the same smooth texture. The regular ChengYing measures 480mm x 400mm, while the ChengYing S is a bit smaller at 400mm x 320mm.
Packaging
The Esptiger CHENGYING comes in a sleek black box that really catches your eye. It’s wrapped in a cardboard sleeve that gives you a little preview of what’s inside. When you open it up, you’ll find a stat card for the pad, along with a protective layer of white cardboard. Behind that, the Esptiger CHENGYING is safely nestled in a tidy plastic sleeve. The whole unboxing experience feels high-quality and super satisfying. Overall, EspTigers come always well packed and secured.
Surface and Base
The surface of ChengYing is made from photolithographic resin, giving it a smooth, even texture that feels high-quality. This is the first time I see something like this used in a mousepad. The surface is pretty rough (but not abrasive to the skin), and you can see it right below:
According to EspTiger (hard to check it myself because I can’t disassemble the pad), ChengYing is put together with a 5-layer process. The top layer is a photolithographic resin that works great with all kinds of mouse sensors, and it’s true. Next, there’s a high-fidelity print layer that adds to the look, affecting the pad design. The third layer is a soft polyurethane foam that gives a bit of cushion and keeps things quiet when you lift and place the mouse — I’d say the mousepad is pretty hard and there’s almost no give when you press it down. Under that, there’s a PVC layer for solid support, and finally, the bottom layer is made from hexagonal PU material, which gives it good grip so it won’t slide around. Take a look at the base:
Edges and stitching
Even though it’s not a cloth pad, ChengYing’s edges are rounded and fine to the touch, finished with oil edge sealing, making it feel nice and smooth on your wrist and arm. Not the type of edges you will find on clots, but not annoying at all. Stitching is not present here for obvious reasons. See below:
Static Friction
I’d tend to say that the static friction is pretty high with this pad. You really need to use some mechanic muscle force of your hand to start it up. That’s a good thing to me as I’ve been on a quest for a hard pad that is consistent and doesn’t wear down over time. Compared to Cerapad Kin v2, the static friction is a tad lower though.
Dynamic Friction
The glide when the mouse is moving is pretty consistent once you make the mouse to move. However, you really feel that you’re not on ice this time! You feel the grain texture of the pad, the rough surface really lets you feel it! But here’s the kicker — micro adjustments are quite easy to do on this resin pad. I don’t know how EspTiger managed to do it, but it works. So you have a pad with a high friction on dynamic that’s quite easy to adjust on the fly when you’re hunting those fast-moving targets. Impressive. Compared to Cerapad Kin v2, that’s an improvement.
Stopping Power
Probably due to the rough and very specific resin surface, the stopping power is a bit lower and less controllable than the one in Cerapad Kin v2. You might get the feeling that sometimes your hand slightly overshoots targets when you wanna abruptly stop the movement. Obviously, it depends also on skates but I will address that later as well. Don’t get me wrong, ChengYing is still superb in this field, but not the best in my opinion. Am I already nitpicking?
Consistency and Maintenance
This pad is consistent. Period. I haven’t experience any break-in or slowdown periods. Not affected by humidity is another advantage of it. For maximum performance though, you might wanna use a gaming sleeve as sometimes your skin could stick to the surface, especially in more humid environment. But that’s not due to any flaw of this pad.
Maintenance? Very easy and straightforward — you just use a soft dry cloth or a damp, wet one. Everything will work fine and the pad will dry out pretty quickly. Most importantly, ChengYing doesn’t share the biggest flaw of Cerapad Kin v2 — it doesn’t leave any mud/dirt spots on the surface that either piss you off, destroy your performance or are hard to clean. That’s a blast, really.
Performance
Gaming on the Esptiger CHENGYING really depends on the skates you’re using. Generally, the thinner and smaller the skates, the more glide you’ll get — meaning you sacrifice a bit of control. So, if you’re finding yourself frustrated with any mousepad, keep that in mind! With dot skates, the glide was a lot faster but way less controlled; I often found myself overshooting targets and struggling to keep the mouse steady. On the other hand, when I used slow, thick stock skates, the performance on the Esptiger CHENGYING was fantastic. The rough texture paired perfectly with those slower skates, giving me that ideal mix of control and precision I look for in hard or glass pads. Overall, it performed similarly to the Cerapad Kin v2, with some subtle differences in stopping power that made it a solid choice for controlled movements. Mind you, you need to be also aware of the fact that axes X and Y are a bit different — the X asis is a bit smoother and faster than the Y axis and the static friction is also lower there. The difference is subtle though.
Closing Thoughts
To wrap things up, my only small gripe with the ChengYing is the design — it may not appeal to everyone, especially if you’re like me and prefer a more static, uniform look. But honestly, that’s a pretty minor issue. What I really appreciate is how much the performance depends on the skates you’re using, which actually opens it up to a wider range of users. With thinner skates, you get more glide; with thicker ones, you get more control. It’s all about how you want to play, and I think that flexibility is a big plus.
In terms of consistency and reliability, this mousepad is a winner. It’s very stable, unaffected by humidity, and super easy to maintain. And what’s even better is that the texture doesn’t change over time — no speeding up or slowing down, just reliable performance. In my opinion, this pad easily earns a spot in the top two for slow hard/glass mousepads with excellent control. If you’re looking for a quality mousepad that gives you solid control and adapts well to different skates, the ChengYing is definitely worth considering.
I personally love slow/controlled hard pads, and I can’t wait to check more of them in the future. Stay tuned folks!
Bullet Points
- very consistent performance, not affected by humidity
- 2nd slowest hard pad I’ve used (only after Cerapad Kin v2)
- no break-in period, no slowdown over time
- the X axis is a bit smoother/faster (static friction as well) than the Y axis
- very affordable price
- artistic design, however, I’d prefer more static and uniform designs and colours
- quite affordable
- cool to the touch, you might wanna wear a gaming sleeve
- very easy to maintain
Disclaimer: And remember, this is just one gamer’s point of view — no sponsorships, no ads, just straight talk from someone who’s been in the QuakeWorld trenches. This was my own opinion and the manufacturer didn’t influcence me in any way. Your mileage may vary, so take my words as a starting point, not gospel. Happy gaming!