Build Quality

Overall build quality is solid. When shaking the mouse, a rattle comes from the top CPI buttons. When applying lateral pressure, no creaking or flexing of the shell can be observed. Activating the side buttons by squeezing the sides is impossible. Lastly, accidental clicks when slamming down the mouse do not occur regardless of the set debounce time.

Buttons

Main buttons on the Makalu Max are very good. There is some pre-travel, and post-travel is low (right button) to moderate (left button), but button response is firm and snappy nevertheless, though button feedback isn't entirely uniform between the left and right buttons. While the buttons are visually separated from the shell, lateral button movement is minimal and needs to be provoked. Button stiffness is medium. A pair of Kailh GM 8.0 (80 M) switches are used.


Side buttons are good to very good. Both buttons have some pre-travel, but post-travel is low on the forward button and moderate on the back button, resulting in a pleasing button response. That said, the pressure point isn't entirely even, in particular across the back button. Button placement is good as actuation is possible quite easily by rolling one's thumb across. A set of Huano switches (blue plunger) is used for these.

An additional ("sniper") button is located offset below the forward button. It has high pre but low post-travel, and is noticeably stiff to press. In terms of placement, this one is virtually ideal, as it is readily within reach yet doesn't get in the way during normal use. Another Huano switch (blue plunger) is used for this one.

At the top of the mouse are two additional buttons, which cycle up and down through the set CPI levels. While the "up" button is fine, the "down" button is loose and has significant pre-travel. Two seemingly unbranded tactile switches are used for these. The slider at the bottom switches between 2.4 GHz mode and off-state, and works just fine.

Scroll Wheel

The scroll wheel is good. Noise levels are low, but tactility is somewhat lacking, as the steps don't have much separation, resulting in overly smooth and light scrolling. The encoder comes from TTC (red) and has a height of 9 mm. Actuating the middle (scroll wheel) click requires medium to high force. Yet another Huano switch (blue plunger) is used here.

Surface

The Makalu Max 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, very good materials.

Button Sound Test

Disassembly

Disassembling the Makalu Max is reasonably easy. First, the two large skates and screws beneath them need to be removed. The top shell will readily come off, but some caution is advised to avoid ripping the FFC going from bottom to top.

The internal design is fairly complex. A dual-PCB design is used, with the lower one extending almost across the entire bottom and holding the MCU, sensor, right main button, and sniper button. Two screws also keeping the battery holder in place are used to affix this PCB to the bottom. The upper PCB holds the left main button, scroll wheel, scroll wheel switch, and top CPI buttons, and is connected to the lower one through a ribbon cable. Three screws in total are used to keep this PCB in place. All PCBs are very thin. The MCU is an STM32F103T6U6A, whose datasheet can be found here. In addition, a Texas Instruments CC2640R2F is used, whose datasheet can be found here and whose Bluetooth capability remains unused. Production date for the upper PCB is the 25th week of 2022.


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