Sandberg Blast Mouse – Hardware Review
It’s no secret that we are often looking to present our readers with new brands who have original hardware, be it performance wise or because of its remarkable appearance, and with the maelstrom of brands out there, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. That being said, today we will be able to introduce you to Sandberg’s very spiffy looking mouse, with perhaps a fairly modest, simple name, namely the ‘Blast Mouse’. We were quite curious to see what this chrome-finished device had up its sleeves.
Design
It’s been a while since we last saw an open design in a gaming mouse, and thus we were happy to finally be able to compare. Unlike Mad Catz’ R.A.T.1, the Blast Mouse fills up the gaps with a lot of chrome-ish influences, such as springs, an engine-like contraption and led lighting, making this open design feel rather full and complete. A small feature that this device also has are the wings on the mouse buttons, albeit in a much smaller proportion than the R.A.T.1.
The mouse itself is a mélange of rubbery black, metallic grey and hot red buttons, which all come together to form one badass piece of hardware. The chrome and red flow perfectly into the black portions, which you will rest your palm and fingers on. The only disadvantage of the soft black substance is that it gets dirty easily and is rather hard to clean. Nonetheless, if you make sure you do a regular upkeep of this nifty looking device, it’s still manageable to keep it clean as a whistle.
We can’t stress enough how the metallic pieces make this device stand out and mold it into a very original gaming peripheral. It’s clear that this device was designed with care and an eye to detail, creating a perfect harmony between the different components, while combining different looks into one piece of hardware.
Comfort
Let us start out by saying that the device is very comfortable, but we also want to state that the metal influences of this mouse may be extremely cool, they also come at a cost which translates itself in the weight of the device. Those who are used to working with lighter devices will need some time to properly adjust to the weight of the Blast Mouse, and it might take a tad longer than you’d like or expect. That being said, it’s certainly worth the wait if you decide to do so.
People with smaller hands will be able to access all buttons properly, except for the one on the left-hand side, that runs beneath the left mouse button. Nonetheless, it’s still doable with some practice on how to move your hand on the device itself. If you have slightly smaller hands, your thumb will end up in the small dent in which the screw, that connects one of the springs of the open part with the body, finds itself. This is actually a very pleasant rest for your thumb, making it feel as if you’re rather softly gripping the device, improving the comfort factor of this device just that little bit.
Perhaps a bit silly to put this in the comfort section, but still one of the nicest ‘comfort’ touches is the button on the bottom, which allows you to turn off the lighting. If this sounds like something negligible, think about the last time you were watching a movie in the dark, with or without company, while getting bothered by the LED light making a rather bright impression.
Specs
- Weight: 140g
- Built-in heavy iron plate
- USB cable 2 meters
- Up to 4000 dpi
- 10 programmable buttons
- Multi-color LED lights
Overview
As is common nowadays, the Blast Mouse is another plug and play device, which allows you to use the mouse properly, without having to install any additional software. Nonetheless, if you want to start tweaking the settings of your newly acquired gaming partner, you should opt to install the software that comes with the hardware. The software can be installed with the disc that comes with the box, or online via the product page. When opening up the software for the first time, experienced users will notice that the overall tweaking options are fairly simple, as you can’t properly pinpoint your dpi settings, forcing you to choose preset settings that go in leaps and bounds of a few 100 dpi, rather than being able to enter the number of your liking. You’ll be up and running in a matter of minutes, which shows that the software is certainly beginner-friendly.
The dpi range of this device might not be the highest, but with a maximum of 4000, you will pretty much satisfy all your gaming needs. If you really need higher than that, we reckon you’re already gaming at an extremely high level, with several paychecks at the end of the month. Even though we have many games under our belt, we can pretty much manage everything very comfortably within the range that this mouse offers. The only disadvantage is that, as mentioned above, you can also select presets that have a 250 – 500 dpi difference between them.
As this mouse comes with six (seven if you count the RGB button) extra buttons, it’s interesting to know if you’re able to customize them. If you’re planning on using the software, the answer is an easy yes, if not, you’re stuck with the basic settings the developer has chosen for you. Nonetheless, changing the functions of the buttons is as simple as selecting a function from a dropdown list for the desired button. You can of course also alter the function of the RGB button, but seeing it’s on the bottom of the mouse, it would be pointless to change its current, very useful, function.
Another sign of quality is the cable that has a length of two meters and is fully braided, which means that it will not break as easily. It also means you have a fairly comfortable playing range, as you’ll have plenty of space to move around.
Conclusion
Sandberg has crafted a beautiful piece of hardware, albeit slightly heavier than many other gaming mice on the market. You’ll be treated to a sturdy device, with great performance, well within an affordable price range. If you’re looking for something a tad heavier, with a great design, which doesn’t cave in the overall performance, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Sandberg Blast Mouse - Hardware Review,
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