Gaming mice need to stand out from the crowd, which usually means adding a novel, yet useful new feature. For the ROG Chakram mouse, Asus decided the best way to achieve that was by adding a programmable joystick.
As The Verge reports, Asus actually revealed the ROG Chakram last year, but didn't really kick off the marketing until CES. Now we've got the full details of what's possible with this gaming mouse, and if nothing else, Asus is demonstrating just how much tech you can fit inside such a tiny peripheral.
The ROG Chakram can be connected in three different ways: wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth. The optical sensor can be set at between 400 and 16,000dpi, and when used in wired or 2.4GHz wireless mode, the polling rate hits 1,000Hz. There's also two ways to recharge this mouse, either using a USB cable in wired mode or through Qi wireless charging. Using wired charging it's possible to get 12 hours of life from a 15 minute top-up, and on a full charge Asus claims you can get up to 79 hours of use.
Then we come on to the Chakram's most unusual feature: a programmable, removable joystick that can be personalized depending on the game being played. Both analog and digital modes are offered, with the joystick located to fall under your thumb (if you're right-handed). In analog mode, Asus says the joystick is best suited to flight sims and racing games because it "simulates a real analog stick or joypad thumb stick." In digital mode, there's four programmable directions allowing you to setup distinct actions such as reload, switch weapon, tilt, and talk in a first-person shooter, for example.
The joystick is customizable through the inclusion of both long and short joystick attachments to suit your hand shape. If you don't want to use the joystick there's also a socket cover with a flush finish. If you do use it, though, it will only function in wired and 2.4GHz wireless modes, not Bluetooth.
Further customization comes in the form of screw-less margnetic buttons allowing you to quickly change the switches, a screw-less magnetic cover, and a customizable badge allowing you to "make your ROG Chakram truly unique." And finally, there's AUra Sync RGB lighting to allow for unique coloring on the mouse and the Armoury II software where all settings can be tweaked and lighting effects defined.
If you want the Asus Rog Chakram mouse it's expected to go on sale before the end of January, but it will cost around $150.