It is a commonly shared notion that subjectively enjoying something despite its objective flaws is at least possible. The Dream Machines DM6 Holey Duo fits that description, but as much as I liked using it, I cannot look past its objective shortcomings.

Let's talk value first. Priced at $49.99, the DM6 Holey Duo offers near unprecedented value in its class. The flexible charging cable enables one to use the DM6 Holey Duo as if it were a wired mouse just fine, the 700 mAh battery provides above average battery life, and even a wireless extender is included, which isn't the norm on even $100 wireless mice. In part due to the wireless extender, wireless performance of PixArt's PAW3335 is surprisingly good: An isolated wireless delay of 1 ms is top-tier, and while there is minor motion delay at the onset of motion, overall responsiveness is highly respectable. The only flaws I could find is that 125 Hz polling is not stable in wireless mode, and there is massive CPI deviation, which sadly seems to be the de-facto standard on most PAW3335 implementations. Still, the DM6 Holey Duo definitely punches above its weight and really shines when used wirelessly. The fact that the battery is charged at virtually unrivaled speed is also worth mentioning.

The DM6 Holey Duo uses the same shell and switches as the DM6 Holey and Holey S. At 79 g, it's not crazy light, but considering its size and battery capacity, the weight is perfectly fine. Button quality is high across the board, including for the main buttons, which provide a pleasant and snappy click response. Build quality, on the other hand, is a mixed bag on my copy: While a fairly solid construction overall since the side buttons only actuate when squeezing the sides with excessive force, some loose parts do cause a rattle, including the completely loose sensor lens on my unit. That having been said, an earlier prototype didn't suffer from this issue, so it's most likely a one-off occurrence. Mouse feet are decent, and I definitely appreciate the inclusion of a spare set in the box. While the coating provides good grip, it's still a fingerprint and oil mark magnet—no matter how much one takes care of it, merely touching the surface will leave permanent marks.

The one thing that truly brings the mouse down, however, is the click delay. At roughly 16 ms, click latency on the DM6 Holey Duo is simply not competitive. It's a real shame as Dream Machines got a lot right on the DM6 Holey Duo, especially when considering the price point. If Dream Machines finds a way to either lower click latency in the firmware or provide a suitable slider within the software, I'd happily award the DM6 Holey Duo our Recommended award, as it deserves it otherwise. Speaking of which, the software includes the usual customization options while being pleasantly light on resources. The only thing I missed was a less basic battery life indicator. Despite its objective flaws, I think the DM6 Holey Duo is at least worth a look if in the market for an affordable wireless mouse, especially if on a tight budget. Accordingly, the DM6 Holey Duo does get our Budget award from me.