Build Quality

Overall build quality is solid. There is no rattle when shaking the mouse. When applying lateral pressure, minor creaking but no flexing of the shell can be observed. Activating the side buttons by squeezing the sides is possible, but requires excessive force. Lastly, accidental clicks do not occur when slamming down the mouse, irrespective of what the debounce time is set to within the software.

Buttons

Main buttons on the T.G.A. Alpha are very good. There is quite a bit of pre-travel, but post-travel is low on both buttons, and the clicks feel firm, snappy, and highly satisfying. While the buttons are visually separated from the shell, lateral button movement is low, and needs to be provoked. Button stiffness is medium. Button spacers of various thickness are included in the box, which can be used to adjust the button response to personal preference. A pair of Kailh GM 8.0 (80 M) switches is used.


Side buttons are excellent. The back button has a bit of post-travel, but other than that, there is virtually no travel, and the click feel is firm and snappy. The pressure point is even across the entirety of these. Button size and placement are good, as actuation is possible rather easily by rolling one's thumb across. A set of Huano switches (green plunger) is used for these.

At the top of the mouse is a single button for cycling through the set CPI levels. Its click feel is good. A low-profile Huano switch (white plunger) is used for this one. A slider at the bottom allows switching between off-state, wireless with lighting enabled, and wireless with lighting disabled, which also works fine.

Scroll Wheel

The scroll wheel is very good. Noise levels are mostly under control, and tactility is great, providing clearly separated steps and controlled scrolling. The encoder comes from F-Switch (brown, green core) and has a height of 13 mm. The middle (scroll wheel) click requires medium to high force for actuation. Yet another Huano switch (green plunger) sees use here.

Surface

The T.G.A. Alpha has a smooth matte surface all over. Grip is fine, and it doesn't attract fingerprints or dirt too much. It is easy to clean, and there are no signs of wear left after doing so. All in all, excellent materials.

Button Sound Test

Disassembly

Disassembling the T.G.A. Alpha is easy. Remove the large rear skate and the two screws underneath. The front and sides are merely clipped in, but releasing those clips may require above average force. When doing so, make sure not to rip the cable connecting the battery as well as the side-button and main PCB.

Interestingly, the internal design differs quite a bit from the T.G.A. While the side buttons sit on their own PCB screwed into the top shell, which is connected to the main PCB through a 3-pin connector, the battery is stuck right next to it, also connected with a 3-pin connector. The main PCB is rather large yet thin, and has plenty of openings and several cutouts. Two screws and two pins are used to affix the main PCB to the bottom shell. The MCU is a CompX CX52850.


As for the soldering and general quality of the PCB, I'm unable to find any noteworthy flaws.