MCHOSE AX5 Pro Max Review
A magnesium alloy 8K small GPX you’ve been waiting for?
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight emerged in 2020 as a revolution in gaming peripherals, boasting an ultra-lightweight design that captivated gamers globally. Its introduction marked a significant shift towards lighter, more agile gaming mice, setting a new benchmark for performance and ergonomics in the competitive gaming scene.
At the heart of the GPX’s success is its “safe potato shape” (not loved by everyone though) aimed at reducing weight without compromising performance. This philosophy not only enhances a player’s speed and endurance but also reflects a growing industry trend towards lightweight gaming accessories. Professional gamers and eSports athletes have lauded the GPX for its positive impact on their gameplay, attributing increased reaction times and decreased fatigue to its feather-light design. The GPX not only led this trend but also became a symbol of the ultimate tool for competitive gaming, demonstrating the critical role of equipment weight in high-stakes environments. The shift from Zowie’s EC mice to GPX didn’t go unnoticed.
Despite the GPX’s acclaim, a significant community segment voiced a strong desire for a smaller variant, emphasizing preferences for more compact and agile mice. This feedback represented a substantial market demand that Logitech seemingly overlooked, leading to a sense of neglect within the community. The persistent calls for a “baby GPX” underscored the importance of manufacturer responsiveness to user feedback, pointing to a missed opportunity by Logitech to cater to a wider audience.
Enter the Mchose AX5 Pro Max
First, some real pictures and stuff:
Sensor and Software
Starting with the essentials, this device is equipped with the PixArt 3395 sensor alongside the Nordic 52840 8k, which is currently the gold standard in the industry. Its performance is very reliable, living up to expectations without any significant issues. It comes with features like Motion Sync, Ripple effect, and angle snapping, all customizable via software. Throughout my gaming experiences, I encountered no tracking errors or sudden sensor failures. Additionally, the Mchose software allows for adjustments in click debounce time, enhancing speed and minimizing the risk of unintentional double-clicks. This sensor is soo good that even Zowie turned to it with its latest Zowie U2 ;).
There is one thing I’d love to see in the software though — percentage of the battery. As of now, we see only a better life indicator. Also, I wish the software would allow me to evaluate how much time left I have when the mouse starts blinking red. Warning: you have around 30 mins of time left if you see that, so be quick to charge it up.
Buttons, Switches, Skates, Battery Life, Size and Weight.
The device incorporates TTC Silent switches (100 mln clicks according to Mchose), which are optical. They offer a quiet and tactile response, ensuring clicks are felt without being overly aggressive. The switches are remarkably quiet, exhibiting no unnecessary movement or noise, and there’s no risk of accidental double clicks. Interestingly, optical switches are not a necessity for quality performance. The main buttons are well-designed without any excess travel, the side buttons feel also crisp and very responsive. The mouse scroll wheel (TTC Gold Wheel Roller), on the other hand, is excellently defined and operates smoothly and also quite silently. Overall mouse click experience is top-notch.
Measuring 121.6*61.5*37.7mm, the mouse weighs in at 56 grams, offering a well-balanced weight, however, slightly front heavy (due to the large battery) if you come to think of it. While it’s not the lightest mouse available, it strikes a comfortable balance, feeling substantial without being burdensome.
How does it compare to GPX2? Well, it’s lighter, smaller, shorter, narrower. Looks like a baby GPX, doesn’t it? If you come to think of it, it’s like a Viper Mini and GPX2 had a baby — the hump is much less agressive, the shape for myself is finally the one I can feel comfortable with. To my amazement, my big 21x12 cm hands feel great with this mouse. I started to think that I have been wrong the whole time and the small mice are the way to go. Weird, huh?
Here is a short diagram of different Mchose variants, AX5 Pro Max being the best one when it comes to technology:
Notice that the high speed dongles are INCLUDED for the price asked (79-99 USD).
The skates are black teflon feet (the bottom one is easily removable to store a dongle), they glide extremely well on my Cerapad Kin v2 and I couldn’t care less for replacing them.
The battery life is actually incredible. The manufacturer declares up to 170 hrs battery life at 8k. I’ve been maining this mouse for over a month now (playtime around a few hours each day) and I’ve had to charge it up three times so far. All times exclusively at 8k polling rate! Razer doesn’t even come close with their degrading batteries. Mchose has the best battery (500 mAh) I’ve seen in a gaming mouse, hands down.
Coating and Build Quality
The mouse features a magnesium coating with a smooth texture that provides an excellent grip without attracting dirt or fingerprints, also it gives you a nice cool feel to your hand. However, with extensive usage, there’s a slight wear visible on the areas frequently touched by fingers.
The construction of this mouse is impressively sturdy as for a magnesium mouse with heoneycomb design, particularly for a product manufactured in China. It exhibits no instability or odd sounds, no rattle, no sideplay, no flex, no creaking. The buttons operate smoothly without any problems related to travel. The grippy coating enhances the mouse’s holdability (you can enhance it with the included mouse grips), Additionally, the packaging is designed to be visually decent, however, I wish they added some spare skates in the box, not only the grips.
In-game feeling
I call it “the GPX mini”, whether you like it or not, and indeed, it shares its ambidextrous design but offers a slightly different and more comfortable feel. The dimensions — width, depth, and height — are smaller but not to the degree you cannot exactly match it with your hand, making it feel like a distant relative; familiar, yet distinct. If the GPX’s shape was just too big for you but you liked it overall, this model might just be your perfect match.
In my gaming trials, I experienced a unique blend of being securely “locked-in” while also retaining the finesse for micro-adjustments in vertical aiming — a rare find among gaming mice, to be honest. The tracking with its grip was extraordinary to me, especially with the stock feet on my Cerapad Kin v2 (review coming soon). The coating also never let me down, providing a cool feel even during long gaming sessions.
Regarding ergonomics: with hand measurements of 21x12 cm and a preference for a relaxed claw or fingertip grip, I cannot confidently say this mouse is well-suited for larger hands but, to my surprise, it works great for my big hands. Before Mchose, I wanted to try out Lamzu Maya/Tachi but this mouse turned out to be a real banger for me and could really be my Holy Grail, especially with the latest mouse pad and some tweaks to my gaming config.
Bullet points before you buy
- sensor performance is flawless
- weight and build quality is near perfect, no major QC issues either
- cool to the touch, feels great in hand
- glides really well on stock skates on control glass pads
- very affordable, 8k dongle included
- incredible battery life
- silent clicks that are very crispy
- a bit front heavy weight distribution due to the battery size
- honeycomb magnesium alloy design could attract some dirt and dust into the mouse
- software could still be improved
- no discord community for Mchose as of now
- somehow it feels premium, even for 99 USD
I got “the GPX mini” but should you too?
The Mchose AX5 Pro Max (weird name, huh?) is stepping into the ring and it’s not pulling any punches, especially when it comes to giving Logitech a run for its money. This mouse is the answer to every gamer’s wish for a “GPX mini” but with even better tech and solid build quality to boot. Mchose is diving headfirst into the gaming scene with this bad boy, and let me tell you, they’re off to a stellar start with promises of more cool stuff on the way.
For anyone who’s been griping about those bulky “potato shape” mice, the AX5 Pro Max is your new best friend. It’s tailor-made for the lightning-fast action in games like QuakeWorld, fitting snugly in your hand without cramping your style.
In short, Mchose is entering the game and with its debut, Mchose isn’t just saying hello to the gaming world; they’re letting us know they’re here to stay and shake things up. So, if you’re all about upping your game with gear that gets you, keep your eyes on Mchose.
👊And if you are ready to try this GPX mini out, use the code QUAKEWORLD at checkout to claim your small % discount!👊
If you don’t like it, it’s fine, you can always use fresh links as the direct link to the MechKeys website is HERE.
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!