Mouse Review: MCHOSE - A7 V2 Pro+ (Patreon)

Overall Score: 9/10

Specification:

Size: 126 x 63 x 40mmWeight: 59g±2gMaterial: PlasticSensor: PixArt PAW3395MCU: RealtekPolling Rate: up to 8KMain Buttons: Omron Mechanical SwitchesEncoder: TTC GoldBattery: 500 mAh; Wireless Charging

Price: ¥249 RMB; $59 USD

Preface

This is actually the mouse that got me into the rabbit hole. In the past, I only bought mice to last until it breaks without giving a care about the different aspects of a mouse, such as the shape, switches, weight and sensor. Over the years, I've bought many different mice from many different brands; some notable mentions are the Logitech G Pro Wireless, Razer DeathAdder Elite, Glorious Model D, Zowie FK1, Rapoo VT9 pro and the VXE R1 Pro Max. With this in mind, let's take a look at how this mouse got me into this newly found obsession of mine. By the way, I forgot to take any pictures at the time, but I'll make sure to do that in the future.

Packaging

The Package comes with the mouse, a set of grip tapes, a Type-C charging cable, a wireless dongle/charging dock and a user manual. It didn't come with an extra set of replacement skates, but it doesn't really matter. The charging cable is braided, which adds to the durability, but it does lack flexibility. The grip tape included is cut according to the shape of the mouse, so it fits perfectly; 2 for the main buttons, 2 for the sides, and 2 for the rear. The dongle, which is also the wireless charging dock, has an LED bottom, which can be tuned in the driver app.

Shape - 10/10

The A7 V2 is a medium sized mouse with a symmetrical shape and a centered hump that gradually declines towards both end of the mouse. There is a very subtle groove on each side of the mouse, which provides a certain level of comfort for finger placement. I should also say that the A7 model is basically a GPX (Logitech G Pro X) clone. The shape and the dimension is pretty much the same between these 2 mice. So, usually we just call these type of mice "GPX Clone".

For reference, my hand size is 18 x 9.5cm. In my opinion, this shape fits extremely well in my hand. This is so far the most comfortable shape I've found in a mouse. I mostly use palm grip or relaxed claw when I'm holding a mouse, and the A7 is perfect for that. Since the middle hump provides a great support for the root of my fingers, it takes a very long time for my fingers to feel any fatigue in one gaming session. The height and width of the mouse also provides a comfortable platform for my finger placement. Since I use the 1-2-2 finger placement (thumb on left, index & middle fingers on main buttons, ring & pinky finger on right), sometimes it is really awkward for my pinky finger if the mouse is too small, because my pinky finger would accidentally drags over the mousepad as I move the mouse. With this mouse, I can comfortably rest my ring and pinky finger on the right side of the mouse, without dragging them over the mousepad. The rear of the mouse also provides good support to my palm, which gives me a lot more stability when I'm aiming.

Weight & Balance - 8/10

Weighing at 59g, this mouse is still pretty light considering it has wireless charging. In this day and age, people are always chasing lighter and lighter mice, and most would consider 59g as "heavy". However, I did not notice any significant effects resulted from the weight of this mouse. I would feel tired during a long aiming session just like I would with a lighter mouse. I think maybe because I don't use grip styles that rely heavily on finger movement such as aggressive claw grip and fingertip grip. I didn't try these other 2 grip styles because it doesn't feel comfortable with this shape.

The weight distribution is fairly even. I didn't feel like the front or the end of the mouse is heavier than the other.

Build Quality & Coating - 10/10

The build quality is surprising solid. You would imagine a mouse at this price point to have a few more trade-offs here and there, but overall, the quality is really good. There is no rattling when shaking the mouse. When applying pressure to the sides, there is subtle flexing of the shell but no creaking.

The A7 V2 has a matte coating that feels nice. It grips well with and without sweat. Although, I did put on the provided grip tapes for extra grip and better protection against wear and tear. I haven't noticed any discolouration or noticable spots on the coating after 3 months of daily use.

Buttons & Scroll Wheel - 8/10

The switches for the main buttons are custom Omron Mechanical Switches. It feels pretty good and responsive, but it does require more pressure to actuate. It doesn't feel mushy and it provides a good feedback on click. They have some pre and post-travel, but nothing too crazy.

The side buttons is, however, a little sub-par. They feel slightly mushy when pressed, which provides a less snappy response. Though, the position of the side buttons are placed at a rather comfortable position, meaning that I can reach it easily with my thumb but it isn't easy to actuate it accidentally.

The scroll wheel feels decent. The scrolling action is pretty smooth without much tactility and doesn't require much force to scroll. The encoder is TTC gold, and has some post travel when clicked. It does require a little more pressure to actuate, but not to a point where it's not spammable.

Sensor & Performance - 10/10

The A7 is equipped with the PixArt PAW3395 sensor and supports up 8K polling rate with an 8K dongle that needs to be bought separately (I didn't buy the 8K dongle). The sensor sits slightly forward, which is thought to provide better micro adjustment for grip styles that utilise fingertips. The mouse worked flawlessly during the 3 months that I've used it, so there isn't anything noticeable enough to mention. Using 1K polling rate and 1600 dpi, I find my experience to be really enjoyable.

Grip Tapes - 7/10

The grip tapes included in the package works well enough to provide an overall better grip. What I like about them is the sheer size of the tapes. They cover the sides and the main buttons like a perfectly sized glove, fitting it perfectly, leaving very little uncovered space. The extra tapes for the rear body of the mouse is also a nice addition if you want better grip for your palm. It's also pretty thick, which means it won't be easy to wear down. Aside from a better grip, I like putting on grip tapes on every mouse I own just to lower the potential wear and tear on the shell. One bad thing about the included tapes is that eventually, the adhesive will stick to the shell and leave a stain if you decide to take them off.

Skates - 7/10

The skates on the A7 is average. It's normal factory PTFE skates that you find on most mice. It provides a decent glide but nothing too impressive. For me, it feels smooth enough but not fast enough, so I swapped them with a few X-Raypad Obsidian Air dot skates.

Software - 10/10

The software for the A7, MCHOSE Hub, is pretty user-friendly and straightforward. It provides all the settings you may need, including key remapping, DPI, Polling rate, LOD, Motion Sync, Linear Correction, Waveform Control, Hibernation, Key Debounce and Sensor Angle Adjustment. I personally like the sensor angle adjustment very much, since the sensitivity I play at requires a lot of wrist movement. I set this to -1° and it gives a more horizontal line when moving the mouse from side to side with my wrist.

Battery - 10/10

With a 500 mAh battery, it can last me around 2 weeks before needing to charge. The charging is really easy though, I just pop it on the magnetic charging dock and let it sit overnight. Honestly, I think I would sacrifice weight for wireless charging any day. I just enjoy not having to plug the cable into the mouse every time I need to charge it.

Price - 10/10

Lastly, probably one of the most important thing to consider when buying anything. I bought this mouse for ¥249 RMB, which converts to roughly $36 USD. The international pricing for it is $59 USD, but I got it from TaoBao so it's cheaper. With a price like this, this mouse is an absolute steal in terms of price to performance.

Conclusion

Pros:

Light Weight

Decent Clicks

Good sensor performance

Good build quality

Safe shape for a variety of grip styles

Good software settings

Set of grip tape included

Very good battery life

Wireless Charging

Can be used in 2.4G/Wired/Bluetooth mode

Cheap price

Cons:

Slow factory skates

Mushy side buttons

Included grip tapes can leave adhesive residue on the shell

8K dongle needs to be bought separately

Cable lacks flexibility

At this price point, it is very hard to not consider the A7 V2 over the GPX. With the inherit shape of the GPX and excellent build quality, this mouse does everything you expect it to do, and does them well. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this mouse. Overall, I will give this mouse a 9/10.