Previously entering the peripheral scene with its Aurora and Venator mice, British manufacturer Ninox has once again graced the scene with its Astrum model. Dubbed the “world’s lightest fully modular gaming mouse” at below 80 grams, the Astrum offers users 13 different mice in one, with the ability to add your own 3D printed attachments.
The Astrum takes on one of three main shapes, allowing the user to include both sets of side buttons on the left and right, choose just one side or remove them entirely for a completely ambidextrous design. Ninox includes 3D CAD templates, allowing creative users to make their own shells and share them with the community at large, possibly allowing for an aftermarket.
Both the infrared optical microswitches and the optical scroll wheel remain constant, rated at 90 million clicks and 50 million scrolls respectively. The optical microswitches are faster than their mechanical counterparts, with a significant drop in error checking delay. The optical scroll wheel is married to RGB lighting, controlled through the Astrum software.
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Packing a Pixart PMW-3360 Sensor, capable of 12,000 DPI and 6.5 meters per second tracking speed, the Astrum isn’t skimping on the internals. The sensor can even be adjusted in height by loosening two screws on the underside of the mouse. DPI can be switched effortlessly without the use of software, however the utility does offer more customisability in the form of setting default DPI profiles, key binds and macros.
Although Ninox has a tried and tested prototype of the Astrum, it has opted to fund manufacturing and distribution through crowdfunding. The end result will see the mouse coming in five special colours, including Infinity Black, Nebula blue, Black Knight silver, Plutonium green, Luna, Silithium purple, Redshift and Pure White, most of which will remain exclusive to backers of the Indiegogo campaign.
Ninox is crowdfunding internationally, meaning that its pricing is cemented in US dollars. The standard Astrum will cost $69 (£52), with backers getting a 20 percent discount that drives the price down to $55 (£41.50). Those interested in a Special Coloured variant will have to pay a little more, as the mice will retail at $89 (£67) each, but early backers will once again be getting a launch discount totalling $71 (£53) each. This does not include shipping, which adds anywhere between $5 to $15 depending on the order destination.
KitGuru Says: I’ve always been a fan of customisability ever since I owned a Mad Catz R.A.T. M.M.O. 7. The Astrum looks a lot less like a transformer and is significantly easier to type, so it has me interested. Do you like the look of the Ninox Astrum modular mouse?