Asus ROG Pugio Review

Written by Dave Alcock

July 7, 2017 | 17:20

Tags: #mouse #optical #rog

Companies: #asus #omron

Asus products use its Armoury software which seems to advance every time we use it, so don't be put off by your experience of earlier versions.

The Armoury software is very powerful when used with hardware that requires it. You may remember that we said that it wasn't really worth installing for the ROG Impact, as there weren't enough buttons to utilise it. With the Pugio, it is a completely different story. There are many programmable buttons which can increase productivity and functionality.

The buttons are very simple to program, simply click on the one you wish to change then select a function from the drop down box. You can create macros, start programs, control media, and more.

We went with adding a macro. Recording a macro is easy and you have a lot of features that enable you to edit and control the macros; you can delete and edit the delays and more. We made a simple macro to type www.bit-tech.net when it is pressed, and it worked flawlessly.

You can also access the multiple options via the software; you can increase acceleration, angle snapping, and even change button response. You can also change the lighting options as well as increasing or decreasing the brightness. You can also sync the Pugio to work in sync with other Asus products, much like you can with Corsair, SteelSeries, and Razer. The difference here is that Asus also makes hardware such as GPUs and motherboards, meaning even your computer can be incorporated with the lighting effects.

Although we didn't have any problems with the mouse tracking, if you do, you can calibrate the mouse to the surface you are using. There are a number of preset options already incorporated, but manual configuration allows you to calibrate to your specific surface. We have had to do this with other mice on occasion, and it is surprising the difference it can make - not just a gimmick, or at least not always. Finally, there is a stats page which records the amount of left and right clicks as well as your actions per minute and the distance your mouse has been moved. This will only be active if you want it to be, so make sure you hit the 'record' button if you want to use this feature.

Conclusion

Overall, this is the mouse the Impact should have been. In fact, I don't see much of a market for the Impact now. Okay, the Pugio isn't cheap, but it is Asus ROG; the logo usually adds £20 to a product, so it comes as no surprise that it is expensive. It still needs to justify that, though, and thankfully the Pugio is a great ambidextrous mouse. The Impact is £40 with no side buttons and limited functionality; the Pugio is just under £70, but it has a far better set of features. It is like the Gladius II had some "special alone time" with the ROG Impact, and this is the end result. It is actually a mouse that ambidextrous people will be able to use with just as many functions as a normal mouse!

The comfort is great; you can use palm, claw, and fingertip grip with no problems, although if you do use a palm grip, it is worth noting that it may take a little time to get used to it. The symmetrical shape means that left- and right-handed users get the exact same experience, which is great to see. The switches are all of good quality, and having the ability to change them not only enables you to get the feel you want, but it also ensures the longevity of the mouse. If your main switches get faulty, simply swap them out. 

The software is powerful and works very well. We have had problems in the past with the ROG Armoury, but it seems that it is being worked on often to ensure issues are patched out. We were able to do everything we wanted now, and using it is instinctive; you don't need any instructions or help.

There are a few small niggles: For the price, it would have been nice to see a more advanced sensor, but let's face it, the PWM3330 is perfectly fine for gamers and workaholics alike. It just feels that for £70 we should just get a little more for our money here, but again: 'ROG Tax'.

I am actually going to give the Pugio our Exceptional award. There are very few ambidextrous gaming mice on the market that have so many features and a good software suite to back it up and the Pugio ticks these boxes. It would have been nice to see it priced a little cheaper, but pricing doesn't change how good a product is. If you are looking for an Asus mouse and want something ambidextrous, leave the Impact alone and spend the extra on this.


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