Many keyboard and mouse brands aim to create unique, personalized products within similar lines. Recently, top brands have been aggressively promoting their peripherals. Capitalizing on this trend, I reviewed the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX Tri-Mode Gaming Mouse from EPOMAKER. A high-performance gaming mouse needs a perfect balance of grip fit, precision, lightweight design, and battery life for stable and reliable performance.
The AJAZZ AJ159 Series features four models: AJ159, AJ159P, AJ159 Pro, and AJ159 APEX. The AJ159 APEX is notable as the first mouse with the new flagship PAW3950 sensor, while the other models use the PAW3395 sensor. Both the AJ159 Pro and AJ159 APEX offer an 8000Hz polling rate for ultra-low latency and include 8K return rate support with an 8K dongle. Additionally, the AJ159 APEX is enhanced with a premium Iris coating for a luxurious and smooth feel.
Overall, the AJAZZ AJ159 Series promises exceptional performance across all its variants. Let’s delve into the specifics and evaluate the performance of the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX Tri-Mode Gaming Mouse.
Unboxing
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX mouse features a new packaging style, combining a gray background with a trendy NACODEX anime drawing. The front cover is minimalistic, displaying only the model name, AJ159 APEX. On the side, the words “AJAZZ × NACODEX” indicate that this mouse is a co-branded model. The back of the box includes various certification barcodes and manufacturer information from AJAZZ.
When you open the package, you will find all the accessories: the mouse itself, a color screen magnetic charger and charging cable, competitive anti-slip stickers and foot stickers, and an instruction manual.
We received the black version of the mouse, but it is also available in white, blue, and orange, allowing you to choose a color that matches your personal preference.
Design
Mouse
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX mouse features a symmetrical design, making it suitable for both left and right-handed users. With dimensions of 118.1×63.1×37.7mm, it caters to those with small to medium-sized hands. Its design and size are reminiscent of classic models, offering a familiar feel. The sleek and elongated shape provides a comfortable and full grip, ensuring high adaptability and comfort during use.
The shell features a premium Iris ice-feel coating, ideal for users with sweaty hands, ensuring a secure grip during extended gaming sessions without any greasy sensation. This coating provides immediate comfort and prevents slippage. Moreover, the shell avoids a perforated design that can trap dirt, maintaining cleanliness. Weighing only 56 grams, it reduces wrist strain, making both office work and gaming more comfortable and efficient. Once you experience the convenience of this lightweight mouse, you’ll never want to return to a standard heavy mouse again.
The left and right buttons of this device are separately designed, featuring concave lines on both sides that add a sleek, design-conscious aesthetic. Equipped with Huanuo’s green-translucent white dot micro switch configuration, the buttons provide a crisp and clear clicking experience, enhancing game control. Each button has undergone over 100 million click tests to ensure wear resistance and stability.
At the center of the device is an indicator light, which flashes red to signal a low battery and remains solid red during charging. This straightforward visual cue allows users to easily monitor the device’s battery status. The scroll wheel is equipped with an F-Switch scroll wheel encoder that provides precise stepping. It boasts a lifespan of 2 million turns and features a moderate size with a non-slip silicone surface. This design ensures an excellent touch, moderate damping, and high operating precision.
There are two side buttons on the left side, featuring Huannuo micro switches that provide a crisp sound and a neat tactile feel. These side buttons are strategically positioned for easy access, particularly accommodating users with smaller hands. The AJAZZ logo is subtly understated, embodying a sense of low-key elegance.
At the bottom of the mouse, you’ll find a central laser head and three Teflon heat-treated foot pads, designed to minimize friction and wear, ensuring smooth operation. The mouse also includes a pair of replacement pads for future use. For charging, it features a pure copper magnetic port with a large contact area, facilitating easy charging on its base. Positioned near the mouse sensor are the control buttons for mouse switching (three-mode) and DPI adjustment. The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX incorporates a USB receiver storage compartment, a practical feature for use with the AJAZZ AJ159P base, although it currently does not house a receiver.
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX mouse features a Type-C port, allowing you to charge or connect it directly without needing to use the charging base.
Charging Base
The matching charging base and mouse share the same color tone, enhancing their overall coherence. When placed on the desktop, they catch the eye and add vibrancy to the workspace. The magnetic base features a bottom button for adjusting RGB lighting effects, complemented by an anti-slip pad for stable use.
The charging base for the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX mouse features RGB lighting effects and an LCD display screen, making it versatile for use as both an atmosphere light and a desktop decoration. However, the AJ159 APEX mouse itself does not offer RGB lighting effects; it sports a matte finish instead.
Features and Performance
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX emerges as a flagship gaming mouse, delivering exceptional performance across various metrics. At its heart, it features AJAZZ’s proprietary PAW3950 APEX optical sensor, recognized among the industry’s elite. Capable of achieving up to 30,000 DPI (with overclocking potential extending to 42,000 DPI), 750 inches per second (IPS) tracking speed, and 50G acceleration, the AJ159 APEX ensures unmatched accuracy and responsiveness.
In wireless mode, it operates at an impressive 8000Hz polling rate, transmitting up to 8000 data reports per second, thereby minimizing input lag to negligible levels. This makes it ideal for demanding gaming scenarios where split-second decisions can determine outcomes. Whether connected via wire at a standard 1000Hz polling rate or wirelessly at an elevated 8000Hz, the AJ159 APEX guarantees fluid and precise control, setting a new benchmark for gaming peripherals in its class.
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX stands out as a versatile choice with its support for three different connection modes: wired, 2.4G wireless, and Bluetooth 5.0. This flexibility caters to a wide range of users, from avid gamers to office professionals, ensuring seamless connectivity regardless of the environment or usage scenario. Gamers will appreciate the low-latency 2.4G wireless option, which provides stable performance crucial for intense gaming sessions.
On the other hand, office users benefit from the convenience of Bluetooth 5.0, allowing easy connection to multiple devices without the hassle of cables. The wired mode offers a reliable fallback for uninterrupted use, making the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX a versatile companion suitable for various computing needs.
The charging base of the mouse features innovative functions beyond mere charging. It integrates a vibrant full-color interactive screen capable of displaying various essential details like time, mouse parameters such as DPI and return rate, silent height adjustment, power status, and 2.4G connection status. Moreover, users can personalize the experience by uploading GIFs and custom animations through the driver software. The square screen on the front provides comprehensive information including date, time, and mouse settings, enhancing both practicality and user interaction.
The charging base features distinctive light strips on each side, offering four dynamic lighting effects including color variations and solid hues. Users can effortlessly toggle between these effects using the button located at the base. For those preferring a minimalist look, the lights can be easily switched off, providing flexibility in aesthetic preferences.
Software
The AJAZZ mouse stands out for its impressive software features, offering a clear and concise interface design with a rich array of button settings. Notably, the charging base screen can be customized through the AJAZZ driver and is available for download from the official website. This driver allows users to personalize the base screen with their own pictures or animations, which can be saved for future use, providing a highly customizable user experience.
The mouse boasts an impressive array of adjustable parameters, making it highly customizable for both gaming and design users. Key features include customizable button settings, key combinations, and button layer settings. The DPI is adjustable across eight levels, all of which can be manually configured. Users can also adjust the mouse return rate, ranging from 125Hz to 8000Hz.
Additional settings include silent height, straight-line correction, ripple correction, screen countdown, double-click interval, scroll wheel de-jitter, and scroll wheel simulation button de-jitter. The mouse also supports macro customization, parameter sharing with community users, driver upgrades, and language switching, providing a comprehensive suite of options for personalized use.
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX mouse stands out not just for its performance, but also for its innovative display features. Beyond the standard connection status, refresh, and DPI key information, the base display offers impressive customization options. Users can personalize the screen to show unique animated images, enhancing both the functionality and the aesthetic appeal of the mouse.
Battery
The AJAZZ AJ159 APEX boasts impressive battery life, thanks to its robust 400mAh large-capacity lithium battery. This ensures extended usage without frequent recharging. Additionally, the inclusion of a magnetic charging base further enhances convenience, allowing users to effortlessly charge the device whenever needed. This thoughtful design feature eliminates the common worry about battery life, ensuring that the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX remains powered and ready for use at all times.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX Tri-Mode Gaming Mouse stands out as a high-performance peripheral that excels in design, functionality, and user experience. Its innovative PAW3950 sensor and impressive 8000Hz polling rate ensure precision and responsiveness, making it a formidable choice for gamers. The mouse’s lightweight design, ergonomic grip, and advanced features such as customizable DPI settings and macro functions cater to a wide range of users, from gaming enthusiasts to office professionals. The inclusion of a versatile charging base with an interactive screen further enhances its appeal, offering both practicality and aesthetic customization.
Overall, the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX proves to be a well-rounded gaming mouse, combining cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design elements. Its multiple connection modes provide flexibility, while the premium Iris coating and robust build quality ensure comfort and durability. With its impressive battery life and seamless performance, the AJAZZ AJ159 APEX delivers an exceptional user experience, setting a new standard in the gaming peripheral market. Whether for intense gaming sessions or everyday tasks, this mouse offers a reliable and enjoyable experience, solidifying its position as a top-tier choice for discerning users.