MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless Review 0

MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless Review

Sensor & Performance »

Build Quality

Overall build quality is mostly 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 and requires moderate force. Lastly, accidental clicks when slamming down the mouse do not occur.

Buttons


Main buttons on the Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless are very good to excellent. Pre-travel is low and post-travel moderate to low, resulting in a firm and snappy button response. While the buttons are visually separated from the shell, lateral button movement is minimal even when provoked. Button stiffness is medium. A pair of Omron D2FC-F-K (60 M) (China) switches are used here.


Side buttons are very good. There is some pre and post-travel, but button response is pleasing all the same, and the pressure point is largely even across the entirety of these. However, due to the height of the mouse, the side buttons sit fairly high and therefore almost out of reach, and their triangular shape makes them stick out, which in turn creates a visible gap between the forward side and left main button in particular. A set of Huano switches (blue plunger) is used.

At the bottom of the mouse is a button for cycling through the set CPI levels, which works just fine. A seemingly unbranded tactile switch is used for this one. A slider switches between 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and off-state, which likewise works fine.

Scroll Wheel


The scroll wheel is good. Noise levels are elevated especially when scrolling down, but tactility is above average, providing decently separated steps and controlled scrolling. The encoder comes from CF (black) and has a height of 12 mm. The middle (scroll wheel) click requires medium force for actuation. A seemingly unbranded tactile switch is used for this one.

Surface

The Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless has a smooth matte surface at the top and textured pattern on the sides. Grip is fine, and neither surface attracts fingerprints or dirt too much. They are fairly 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 Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless is easy. First, all skates except the sensor ring and utmost rear skate need to be removed, along with the screws (Torx T6) beneath them. The rear is additionally secured by two clips, dislodging which is best done by wedging a credit card (or similar) in.

The internal design is moderately efficient. A large plastic assembly is erected above the sensor, which holds the battery, and around which an FFC (flat flexible cable) carrying the LEDs loops. The side buttons sit on their own PCB screwed to the top shell and are connected to the main PCB through a 3-pin connector. The main button switches, scroll wheel, and scroll wheel switch likewise sit on their own PCB, which is positioned above the main PCB at an offset, and slots into the main PCB. Two screws are used to affix the main-button PCB, two screws are used to affix the battery holder, and an additional two are used to affix the moderately thick main PCB to the bottom shell. The MCU is an Nordic nRF52833, whose datasheet can be found here.


As for the soldering and general quality of the PCB, I'm unable to find any noteworthy flaws.
Next Page »Sensor & Performance
View as single page
Dec 18th, 2024 09:40 EST change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts