If you remember, we recently played with the Mionix Keid 20 Gaming Headset from that new European gaming gear company known as Mionix. But that’s only one of the things they make for gamers. The other product they are known for is their NAOS 5000 Performance Gaming Mouse. After checking out their performance gaming headset, it was now time to see what they could do with a performance gaming mouse. Allow me to give you the full take on the NAOS 5000 and where it sits on the food chain of pwnage.
Features and Specifications
The NAOS 5000 Gaming Mouse offers many of the same features that other top gaming mice available on the market have. Things such as an ergonomic design augmented by a rubber coating are standard features these days. They make the rodent much easier to grip in those stressful run-and-gun situations.
To maximize the experience, Mionix engineers used a 5040 dpi laser sensor for optimal response time. The laser is supported by S.Q.A.T. which stands for “Surface Quality Analyzing Tool” and ensures maximum accuracy. Since it’s a wired mouse, the response rate is pretty near instant, or at least as fast as you can go. If you can wield your bada$$ sword in game, it’ll likely keep up better than you can.
There is 128KB of integrated memory that stores and manages 3 dpi in-game value settings, 7 programmable buttons, in-game profile switching, and adjustable polling rates on the fly. You can go from knife tossing spec ops to a deadly accurate sniper in just milliseconds.
If colors are your thing, you can choose any one of the six LED colors programmed in to the NAOS as well. That can be kind of cool if your well lit gaming case has a specific theme that you would want to coordinate with.
The NAOS 5000 Gaming Mouse Up Close
You know the saying: If you’ve seen one mouse, you’ve seen them all, right? Rarely do I get tired of seeing new mice or gaming peripherals. That doesn’t apply in this particular case either as the Mionix NAOS 5000 is a really, really nice looking mouse. That black rubber coating makes it appear almost completely smooth, almost in a stealth fighter sort of way. It has a nicely balanced ergonomic feel with accents to the casing that help you keep your grip in the heat of battle. The fingers also seem to naturally follow the contours of the main buttons and the casing.
All of the buttons are pretty much in the perfect spot given the shape of the mouse. Very little movement, or adjusting is needed to quickly find them with your finger tips. If anything, the mouse is so smooth, you almost have to make sure you are on the buttons. I would almost suggest some sort of “braille” to allow you to feel the buttons better. Otherwise, each button press is effortless.
Mionix opted to use a braided USB cable instead of the commonly found smooth cable which tends to get kinked, snagged, or cut up. This is similar to what company’s like RAZER have long been doing. The cord can take a beating for much longer and not look worn out in such a short amount of time. Little things like this are worth it and Mionix has you covered here.
A Rodent That Pumps Iron?
Like many other gaming mice on the market, the NAOS 5000 includes a nifty little aluminum, foam lined box with weights. Without the weights, the mouse is extremely light. If fact, out of the box, it is far too light for my particular tastes. It’s easier to add weight to a mouse than take it away.
Installing the weights is pretty simple, if you can get the little doors open. You have to give the little button latch a very firm push to get the little doors to pop up. Sometimes it didn’t pop up right away and required some coercion.
After a couple minutes of fiddling with it, the latch popped revealing two different chambers with four slots. The weights slide in very easily. I decided to use all the weights since I have big hands. For me, the mouse felt just about perfect. Closing the little door is much easier.
As far as any other setup goes, just install the included software, locate a USB port and read the manual if you want. You’re good to go.
The Head Shot Test
Do I really need to explain the “Head Shot” test and how it works? It’s simple.
Using the latest driver and firmware, the NAOS 5000 was tested under careful scrutiny while playing some Battlefield Bad Company 2. I was going to use Modern Warfare 2, but Infinity Ward ruined it for the planet earth. Nice going!
Thanks to the weights, the mouse glides smoothly and seems to make better contact with popular gaming mats like the Razer Destructor and Coolermaster Battle Storm gaming surfaces. This covers both hard and soft gaming surfaces for those that are curious.
The DPI selection was instant and makes sniping much easier at longer distances. You really have to fine tune your shots with the default weapons, so this worked out nicely. If you’ve ever wondered how the other guy made the shot you missed, it’s probably because he has a bad a$$ gaming mouse and a good mousing surface too.
Compared to the GIGABYTE GM-M8000, the two feel like very different mice. The GM-M8000 is only a 4000 dpi mouse with much more tactile corners, edges, and ridges. The NAOS 5000 has much smoother edges and buttons. It takes a little longer to get use to the fit and feel. But, it does fit more comfortably in your hand.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Mionix NAOS 5000 Performance Gaming Mouse boasts a really polished design that should please any elite gamer. It will definitely exceed any casual gamer’s requirements and expectations. Like any other gaming mouse, you’ll need a little time to get use to the very smooth surface feeling of the buttons on the side. Otherwise, the DPI is on point and really responsive on a good gaming surface. Because it’s so light, you’ll almost assuredly add some weights if you have big knuckles like me.
My reservations lay with the price point. If Mionix wants to compete in the U.S. market, they’re going to have to do something about the price. Currently, the NAOS carries a hefty $92.00 price tag making it more expensive than any other comparably equipped mouse. A good example is RAZER’s Imperator which will only set you back $79.00 US MSRP.
Hopefully, we’ll see some aggressive pricing on the street to round off such a high performance product. But if you can overlook the price premium over other substitutes, you shouldn’t regret picking one up.
Pros
- Great design and comfort
- Rubber coating adds control
- Programmable buttons
- On-the-fly DPI settings
- Clever little weights that don’t pop out
- High Head Shot rating
Cons
- Slightly troublesome weight chamber doors
- Price tag is higher than other competitors
- Not meant for really small hands
Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10.0
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