Even though 8000 Hz polling can even be found on wireless mice these days, there are still good reasons to opt for a wired 8000 Hz mouse instead. For one, battery life is not a concern, and the connection will invariably be more stable as well. Besides, if a wired 8000 Hz mouse is of such impeccably high quality as the OP1 8K, then there is even greater reason to consider one.

Much like previous releases from Endgame Gear, the OP1 8K first and foremost impresses with its build quality. At 49 g, it is exceptionally light, though largely in line with the competition such as the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2, which is larger and weighs 53 g. The build quality on my sample is flawless: there is no rattle when shaking, no creaking or flexing of the shell when applying lateral pressure, and activating the side buttons by pressing below them is plain impossible. Furthermore, the cable is just as flexible as the one found on the XM1r, which is noteworthy in that 8000 Hz mice have higher requirements in regard to cable shielding, to ensure signal integrity. In fact, the cable is flexible to where one may consider it too floppy even; in my case, I had to reduce cable slack to make sure the cable wouldn't get under the mouse. In any case, the cable is just as flexible as a mouse of this size and weight requires. The feet are the same ones previously encountered on the OP1we, including their hybrid design. That is, the feet recessions are larger than they need to be, so instead of the smaller skates installed by default, one can opt for the larger set likewise included in the box, or completely different feet of a different size and shape. By default, the screws are also readily exposed, facilitating easy modding such as switch replacement. More specifically, the main button switches sit on their own PCBs, allowing one to easily replace them with a different set of switches, many of which are offered by Endgame Gear themselves for purchase.

Whether one would want to change the default main button switches is a different question, however, for multiple reasons. Endgame Gear has partnered up with Kailh to create a new switch specifically for the OP1 8K (and subsequent releases) going by the name GX. This switch is a so-called SPDT switch, which means that instead of a single bottom contact, it also has a top contact that can be used for various things. One possible use is to employ this contact as an additional layer of hardware debouncing, in that a click will only be registered if the bottom contact is closed and the top contact not closed. Another and arguably the more thrilling use case is the so-called GX Speed mode, by virtue of which a click will be registered already when the top contact is no longer closed instead of waiting for the bottom contact to close, reducing physical latency in the process. In my testing, enabling GX Speed Mode reduces click latency by 1.4 ms compared to non-Speed modes, which is a highly substantial reduction.

In terms of feel, the GX switches are also great. Actuation is very firm and snappy, although also on the stiffer side, despite the actuation force rating of 55-60 gf. The button design likewise is sound, as lateral movement is minimal even when provoked, pre-travel is low to moderate, and post-travel moderate. For the side buttons, another set of switches from Kailh is used, although these are GM 2.0. Pre and post-travel are low, actuation is even, and button response is highly pleasing. For the scroll wheel, a TTC Silver encoder sees use, which is also familiar from the OP1we, and which impresses with very nicely defined steps, allowing for controlled scrolling, even though noise levels are somewhat elevated. In summary, buttons on the OP1 8K are plain excellent, and leave a quality impression through and through.

Performance on the OP1 8K is stellar. The only thing approaching a flaw is the above average CPI deviation, though this is easily corrected in the software and thus may be considered negligible. General tracking is great, polling stable all the way to 8000 Hz, and smoothing disabled by default, such that motion delay is the same across the entire CPI range. Speaking of, as long as MotionSync stays disabled, motion delay will be the same regardless of polling rate, sitting at a fantastic 1.2 ms advantage over the Logitech G403 (control subject). Enabling MotionSync adds motion delay of various degrees depending on polling rate, with 1000 Hz having the highest negative impact and 8000 Hz the lowest. Click latency likewise is unaffected by polling rate and comes out at an average of 0.1 ms, which is on par with the 8000 Hz wired offerings from Razer (DeathAdder V3/Viper 8K) or Zaunkoenig (M2K). Do keep in mind, however, that this number only accounts for firmware-level latency, as by enabling GX Speed mode, physical latency can be lowered by another 1.4 ms, placing the OP1 8K far ahead of the competition. In fact, I'm positive that the OP1 8K delivers by far the lowest click latency of any mouse released at this point.

The software is another strong point of the OP1 8K. Not only does it utilize no more than 2 MB of RAM, which in itself is a masterclass in efficient coding, it also doesn't require installation, all while having all the necessary options included. In fact, the range of settings goes beyond the standard, as one can also define the minimum click duration, which can be useful when trying to maximize CPS (clicks per second) for games such as Minecraft. In addition, CPI values can be set for x and y-values independently, and the slam-click filter, which prevents inadvertent clicks upon resetting the mouse, may be turned off as well.

In short, I have a hard time finding anything to criticize about the OP1 8K. The only thing passing for a negative may be the coating, which, while grippy, is rather susceptible to fingerprints, at least on the black colorway. This, however, can easily be circumvented by opting for the white coating, which isn't necessarily less susceptible to fingerprints, but won't show them as easily at least, though yellowing over time is another possible concern of course. This criticism aside, the OP1 8K is simply an excellent release, and fairly priced at $74.99, too. The only actual competition is either somewhat outdated by now (Razer Viper 8K) or not even in the same ballpark in regard to click latency (HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2). As such, the OP1 8K earns our Editor's Choice, along with our Innovation award for its novel switch design.