As part of its brand ROG (Republic of Gamers), ASUS offers several gaming mice for different tastes and “grip.” Today we are reviewing – the third version in the Gladius line, ASUS ROG Gladius III, and in two versions at once, wired and wireless.
What’s inside the box?
The delivery set for both models is similar: in the box, you can find the manipulator itself, technical documentation, interchangeable legs, and additional switches with a clip for removing them. The wireless model additionally comes with a USB Type-C cable, USB receiver, and a USB Type-C to full-size USB adapter.
Design
In terms of design, ASUS ROG Gladius III repeats the style of other mice from ASUS: ergonomic shape for the right hand, black matte plastic case, RGB-backlight. There are no complaints about the assembly, nothing creaks or staggers in hand.
The shape of the new product is quite similar to the ROG Gladius II. The differences are very insignificant. So, the rubberized side inserts were replaced with the same plastic as the rest of the case elements, the additional side button under the thumb, which was introduced in the ROG Gladius II, is a thing of the past, as well as the RGB-backlighting of the lower panel border – it is now highlighted instead part of the pattern on the side panel, where the oblique lines go into the brand name. In addition, the wheel is now fully illuminated, not just its rim, as it was in the previous model.
ROG Gladius III and Gladius III Wireless are identical in shape, differ only in weight, as well as in the presence of the second model with a USB Type-C port for connecting a cable and additional controls on the bottom panel (a switch for the type of connection to a PC and a Pair button).
Ergonomics
As mentioned above, the ASUS ROG Gladius III is an ergonomic right-handed mouse with a medium-sized body that fits well in a small to medium palm. In terms of dimensions, the mouse turns out to be about the same as that of the Gladius II. Still, the weight of the new products has decreased dramatically: if the wired version of the second “gladius” weighed 110 g, and the wireless version weighed as much as 124 g, then the ROG Gladius III has only 79 g and 89 g, respectively.
The manufacturer claims that the body of the novelty is equally good for any grip – “palm,” “claw,” and “fingers.” It seemed to us that the ROG Gladius III is better suited for the first two grips, but it is also quite convenient to hold the mouse with one finger, despite the large and very wide “backside” – thanks to the meager weight even in the wireless model.
Functionality and Sensors
At the moment, the manufacturer does not disclose which sensor is used in the ROG Gladius III. It is only known that this is a “completely new” model of an optical sensor with a resolution of 19,000 DPI (in the previous model, the resolution was “only” 12,000 DPI), the maximum acceleration is 50g … We had no complaints about his work, he worked stably and without disruptions. The resolution change button on the body switches the sensitivity between 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 DPI. You can change these values in the proprietary utility.
In total, ASUS ROG Gladius III has six programmable buttons, including a wheel and a profile switch button on the bottom panel, which cannot be changed. The scroll wheel rotates moderately easily and silently. The click is light and very quiet.
As before, the ROG Gladius III features swappable switches underneath the main keys. To do this, it is enough to unscrew the 2 screws on the bottom, which are located under the rubber plugs, and detach the upper part of the case. The switches themselves are easily removed from their sockets, and new ones are installed instead of the old ones. Out of the box, the mouse has branded “red” switches with the ROG logo. Instead of them, you can put OMRON D2FP-FN switches – they have a clearer and easier stroke and a distinct click, while the “native” switches work out a little softer and noticeably quieter.
USB cable is 205 cm long, with a very soft cloth braid. In ROG Gladius III Wireless, it is removable. The mouse can not only be charged via the cable but also work as a wired mouse. In addition, this model has two options for wireless connection – by radio (2.4 GHz, in this case, the declared delay is less than 1 ms) or Bluetooth 5.1 LE, with memory for three “linked” computers. When connecting via the radio, we did not notice any difference with the wired connection. A slight delay was still noted via Bluetooth – however, it turns out to be low enough so that this option can be used in Windows and not the most dynamic games.
ASUS ROG Gladius III Software
To fine-tune the mouse, use proprietary utility Armory Crate. With it, you can change the values of the buttons, record a macro, adjust the operation of RGB backlighting, use Aura Sync to synchronize it with other ASUS devices, change the sensitivity, create additional profiles and save them to the internal memory of the mouse (up to 5 profiles are supported in total), update firmware, etc.
Pros:
Good ergonomics; markedly reduced weight; responsive work without delays on the radio on the ROG Gladius III Wireless; additional switches with different characteristics; long soft cable; spare legs included
Cons:
No particular deficiencies identified
Conclusion: Should you buy ASUS ROG Gladius III and Gladius III Wireless?
ASUS ROG Gladius III is a great lineup update; Compared to the previous version, both wired and wireless models have significantly reduced weight and an updated sensor. Other advantages – first of all, good ergonomics, high responsiveness, and the ability to replace switches – also did not disappear.
ASUS ROG Gladius III and Gladius III Wireless Specifications
Type | Mouse |
Appointment | for desktop/gaming |
Connection | Wired |
PC communication interface | USB |
Body-color | Black |
Body design | Ergonomic |
Sensor type | Optic |
Resolution, dpi | 19000 (26000) |
Number of buttons | 6 |
2 scroll wheels | – |
Horizontal scrolling rocker | – |
Additionally | AURA Sync backlight, ROG Micro Switch, 1000Hz response speed, 400 IPS max speed |
Dimensions, mm | 123 x 68 x 44 |
Weight, g | 89 |