Tech Olive

With my short history of Razer products, I have never been disappointed with the overall quality and performance. This is to be expected when you consider the price of most of their products. Not overly expensive, but just enough to make you wonder if it really is that much better than the cheaper, generic alternatives. In this case, I am going the other way. I was skeptical about the Sphex, not because of the high price, but because of the low price! We’ve all learned by now that Razer products carry a high price tag, but we’ve also learned that with the price tag, you get a high quality product and great support. What would you be sacrificing if you buy a cheap Razer product?

The short answer is nothing. When comparing my previous mouse pad (the Razer eXactMat, which I paid just over $30 for) with the Sphex, all it would take is $15. That’s all. Sure, you’ll run the cost of shipping; a minimum of $5, but still, a brand new Razer mouse pad for $20. One of the Sphex’s largest downfalls is also one of its features. For a lot of gamers, it would be hard to rely on such a seemingly flimsy mouse pad. Sure, it’s portable, light and versatile, but it doesn’t have the reliable, hefty feel. While I can’t comfort you by saying that it will last as long as the eXactMat (which features an aluminum core), I can tell you that it is not shaped with all kinds of strange angles like other Razer mouse pads. Instead it is shaped in a nice rectangle. This is one of the reasons I prefer the Sphex to the eXactMat.

*The above pic is width comparison; Razer eXactMat (left) and the Razer Sphex (right)*

Somehow Razer managed to get a great quality gaming surface with the Sphex all while keeping it about as thick as one or two sheets of standard printer paper. Because it is so thin, Razer opted for a type of adhesive pad on the bottom, rather than the standard non-slip rubber pads. A strange choice but it gets the job done. The only problem I have with this design is the fact that if you don’t have a desk that’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom on which to place the Sphex, you will hear almost constant crackling as the adhesive tries to keep hold, but fails. After a few days, the mat settles in and the crackling is less noticeable, but still very much there in my case.

*We do not suggest using a baby’s bottom as your desk, this is merely used as an example and your results are not guaranteed. We neither admit or deny the accusation of inappropriate use of a baby’s bottom during the course of this review.

With the adhesive bottom comes a slew of questions and I’ll try to address at least the ones that plagued my mind. First of all, yes, it does collect bits of debris on the adhesive pad, but Razer has said that this is completely washable and just a simple rinse in warm water should clear all the debris. Well, this is not completely untrue, but mine took a little bit of scrubbing. Another concern is that it might leave adhesive residue on your desk. I’m sure most of you are expecting basically a sticker that you place on your desk of choice. While that is not too far from the reality, it is much more portable than I expected, but still manages to hold its ground in the heat of battle. Oh, and I’m sorry, but this is not a “desk skin.” No, we call these “mouse pads.”

Scores

- Price: 9
When compared to the rest of Razer’s products, you’ll wonder what is wrong with the Sphex to make it so cheap. But instead of worrying, you’ll go out and buy some sugary treats with the money you saved.

- Setup/Install: N/A
Place the Sphex upon your desk’s surface. Reward thy self with something sugary that you purchased previously.

- Ease of Use: N/A
Once you have applied said mouse pad to your desk (and consumed aforementioned sugary treat), you may then place your mouse atop the sheet of gaming goodness.

- Performance: 9
I actually prefer this mouse pad to the eXactMat, I prefer the “speed” side of the eXactMat and this offers an even smoother and faster surface.

- Features: N/A
Erm…it’s a mouse pad…I think that pretty much covers it.

Overall: 9 Olives