A mouse pad isn’t just a mouse pad anymore. For years special companies have designed gamers pads to specifically help gamers to get the best out of their game and abilities. But choosing the right pad isn’t an easy job. Today there are multiple companies producing multiple pads. So...
A mouse pad isn’t just a mouse pad anymore. For years special companies have designed gamers pads to specifically help gamers to get the best out of their game and abilities. But choosing the right pad isn’t an easy job. Today there are multiple companies producing multiple pads. So which one should you buy? And which pad shouldn’t you buy? In this review I will look at the QPAD’s XT-R, the company’s first hard surface mouse pad and will see how well it performs.
Specifications:
Until recently QPAD was known for cloth mouse pads. These pads were famous among the gaming community for being very precise. But the XT-R QPAD comes with a hard surface pad. The hard surface consists of Carbytek™ and has a very fine texture. I couldn’t find any info about the Carbytek™ material. But it looks like it is synthetic material just like the materials used in most other hard surface mouse pads.
* = 35 x 26cm 13.7 x 10.2 inch
The Package:
The XT-R is shipped in a very neat and solid looking metal case. This case makes sure you receive your pad in one piece. The inside of the case is filled with foam like material which absorbs shocks and other threads. This foam feels very firm and will most definitely make sure your XT-R is undamaged during transport.
Next to the pad and case you will receive two case badges and mouse glides. As you can see one square badge and one round badge is included. These badges look very good and are of good quality. The QPAD Glidz are pre-cut for Logitech and Microsoft mice. Unfortunately no Glidz for Razer mice were included. But on the other hand that might be unnecessary since Razer includes their own Teflon mouse feet.
Design:
As you can see the QPAD XT-R has a different form than other QPAD mouse pads. The XT-R has a design similar to the Steelpad 4D/4S. This improves the effective usable surface because the distal half of the pad is wider than the proximal half. Easier said: there is more surface where you need it and there is less where you don’t need it.
Looking at the print it is clear that QPAD has chosen for a less busy and “high-tech†print. The two Q logos visible at the XT-R’s surface are very peaceful. I personally prefer a peaceful print/design over a very busy print.
When looking at the bottom of the pad the big Q is once again clearly visible. This time it is part of a rubber foot. The rubber feet not only support the pad but also make sure the pad stays at its exact position. When looking at the other rubber feet I noticed a smart feature of these feet. There are eight rubber feet in total. Two feet are positioned vertically, two horizontal and four diagonal. All of these feet have little rubber stripes, because the feet are positioned in all possible directions you’ve got maximum friction.
Another interesting part of the design, are the rounded edges. In the past sharp/straight edges caused problems. Even today I can clearly feel the edge of my Steelpad S&S. With the XT-R being 4 times higher, straight edges would have been terrible for your wrists.
Until recently QPAD was known for cloth mouse pads. These pads were famous among the gaming community for being very precise. But the XT-R QPAD comes with a hard surface pad. The hard surface consists of Carbytek™ and has a very fine texture. I couldn’t find any info about the Carbytek™ material. But it looks like it is synthetic material just like the materials used in most other hard surface mouse pads.
| Some specifications: | |
| Size: | Large* |
| Thickness: | 4 mm |
| Color: | Black |
The Package:
The XT-R is shipped in a very neat and solid looking metal case. This case makes sure you receive your pad in one piece. The inside of the case is filled with foam like material which absorbs shocks and other threads. This foam feels very firm and will most definitely make sure your XT-R is undamaged during transport.
Next to the pad and case you will receive two case badges and mouse glides. As you can see one square badge and one round badge is included. These badges look very good and are of good quality. The QPAD Glidz are pre-cut for Logitech and Microsoft mice. Unfortunately no Glidz for Razer mice were included. But on the other hand that might be unnecessary since Razer includes their own Teflon mouse feet.
Design:
As you can see the QPAD XT-R has a different form than other QPAD mouse pads. The XT-R has a design similar to the Steelpad 4D/4S. This improves the effective usable surface because the distal half of the pad is wider than the proximal half. Easier said: there is more surface where you need it and there is less where you don’t need it.
Looking at the print it is clear that QPAD has chosen for a less busy and “high-tech†print. The two Q logos visible at the XT-R’s surface are very peaceful. I personally prefer a peaceful print/design over a very busy print.
When looking at the bottom of the pad the big Q is once again clearly visible. This time it is part of a rubber foot. The rubber feet not only support the pad but also make sure the pad stays at its exact position. When looking at the other rubber feet I noticed a smart feature of these feet. There are eight rubber feet in total. Two feet are positioned vertically, two horizontal and four diagonal. All of these feet have little rubber stripes, because the feet are positioned in all possible directions you’ve got maximum friction.
Another interesting part of the design, are the rounded edges. In the past sharp/straight edges caused problems. Even today I can clearly feel the edge of my Steelpad S&S. With the XT-R being 4 times higher, straight edges would have been terrible for your wrists.
Personal experience:
A gamers mouse pad should be tested in-game. So for a couple of weeks now I have used the QPAD XT-R to see how the pad feels while playing games. To compare the mouse pad I also used the Steelpad S&S and the Everglide Titan as comparison.
When looking at the texture of the XT-R compared to the Steelpad S&S it’s obvious that the XT-R is much finer (see picture below). I was afraid that this would cause less friction and maybe less precision. But when I set my Razer Copperhead at 2000 dpi I was really surprised. Even though the pads are both very precise the XT-R seems just a little bit precise.
But as I said, the texture is very fine. This fine texture makes sure you can use your mouse as fast as possible. The level of friction is (almost) perfect which makes it a perfect mouse for fast games.
QPAD classes the pad as “largeâ€. But compared to mouse pads like the Everglide Titan the XT-R is far from large. I personally am a high sensitivity player and for me the XT-R had more than enough surface. But if you are a very low sensitive player the pad could be a little bit too small.
The XT-R has a height of 4 mm. This was the only thing I didn’t like with the XT-R. With a pad 4 mm I feel that I lift off the mouse a bit while gaming instead of holding it horizontal. After playing for a few hours I started to feel my wrists a bit. But of course this is pure personal and depends on your way of using a mouse.
When it comes to durability the XT-R is very solid. I tried to break the mouse pad but (luckily) I failed. To see if the pad is easily cleanable I took some honey, mayonnaise and hair gel and placed it on the pad. After 10 minutes I took some toilet paper and managed to clean the pad easily within a few minutes. The Honey was, as expected, pretty sticky but with the help of a little bit of water I managed to clean the pad completely within 4 minutes. So if ever end up at a LAN event and need a plate to eat from… the XT-R can even do that job.
General Thoughts:
According to the QPAD website the XT-R has a price tag of 47€. This could be the most important decisive factor for a lot of gamers. During most of the time I was playing with this pad I asked myself: is this pad worth 47€. Of course this pad is very good, but there are a lot cheaper alternatives.
When I used the XT-R for gaming activities, it proved to be an excellent choice for competitive gamers. It is extremely accurate, is fast and has a beautiful design. The price factor will be different for everybody. I think you will have to ask yourself: do I want to spend 47€ on a mouse pad? If you answer yes to that question the XT-R won’t let you down…
EDIT: see post script!
Pros:
- Very nice design
- Extremely accurate, fast and comfortable
- Enough friction to keep it at its place
- Easy cleanable
Cons:
- Pricy (but, see post script)
- Too small for low sense players
Final score out of five: 4.0
25/06/06 Post Script:
In the comments I got notified that other websites than the official QPAD website sell the pad much cheaper (see comments). A price of 29.50 euro is almost 40 percent cheaper than the official website and an ideal price for the mouse pad.
A gamers mouse pad should be tested in-game. So for a couple of weeks now I have used the QPAD XT-R to see how the pad feels while playing games. To compare the mouse pad I also used the Steelpad S&S and the Everglide Titan as comparison.
When looking at the texture of the XT-R compared to the Steelpad S&S it’s obvious that the XT-R is much finer (see picture below). I was afraid that this would cause less friction and maybe less precision. But when I set my Razer Copperhead at 2000 dpi I was really surprised. Even though the pads are both very precise the XT-R seems just a little bit precise.
But as I said, the texture is very fine. This fine texture makes sure you can use your mouse as fast as possible. The level of friction is (almost) perfect which makes it a perfect mouse for fast games.
QPAD classes the pad as “largeâ€. But compared to mouse pads like the Everglide Titan the XT-R is far from large. I personally am a high sensitivity player and for me the XT-R had more than enough surface. But if you are a very low sensitive player the pad could be a little bit too small.
The XT-R has a height of 4 mm. This was the only thing I didn’t like with the XT-R. With a pad 4 mm I feel that I lift off the mouse a bit while gaming instead of holding it horizontal. After playing for a few hours I started to feel my wrists a bit. But of course this is pure personal and depends on your way of using a mouse.
When it comes to durability the XT-R is very solid. I tried to break the mouse pad but (luckily) I failed. To see if the pad is easily cleanable I took some honey, mayonnaise and hair gel and placed it on the pad. After 10 minutes I took some toilet paper and managed to clean the pad easily within a few minutes. The Honey was, as expected, pretty sticky but with the help of a little bit of water I managed to clean the pad completely within 4 minutes. So if ever end up at a LAN event and need a plate to eat from… the XT-R can even do that job.
General Thoughts:
According to the QPAD website the XT-R has a price tag of 47€. This could be the most important decisive factor for a lot of gamers. During most of the time I was playing with this pad I asked myself: is this pad worth 47€. Of course this pad is very good, but there are a lot cheaper alternatives.
When I used the XT-R for gaming activities, it proved to be an excellent choice for competitive gamers. It is extremely accurate, is fast and has a beautiful design. The price factor will be different for everybody. I think you will have to ask yourself: do I want to spend 47€ on a mouse pad? If you answer yes to that question the XT-R won’t let you down…
EDIT: see post script!
Pros:
- Very nice design
- Extremely accurate, fast and comfortable
- Enough friction to keep it at its place
- Easy cleanable
Cons:
- Pricy (but, see post script)
- Too small for low sense players
Final score out of five: 4.0
25/06/06 Post Script:
In the comments I got notified that other websites than the official QPAD website sell the pad much cheaper (see comments). A price of 29.50 euro is almost 40 percent cheaper than the official website and an ideal price for the mouse pad.
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