The Package

The new SteelSeries SP comes in a smart zip tie bag that protects the mat from scratches and dirt during transportation. Unlike the S&S the SP seems far more durable mainly because it's thicker, but also because it still retains a certain amount of flexibility.


The zip tie bag is made of quite thick plastic and is the perfect way to keep the mat safe during transport.


The bundle that comes with the SP is actually pretty nice and usable unlike that from many other mouse mat companies. Beside some information about other SteelSeries products and a sticker you get five patches of high quality Teflon precut to fit Microsoft mice. The Teflon is some of the best I have ever tried because it features the correct balance between glide and durability.

Closer Examination

The SteelSeries SP looks really nice, it's held mainly in three tones of gray with various gradients. The graphics look really cool without being too flashy. Since the surface has a really strange holographic effect depending on what angle you look at it you get different perception of the surface's looks. The SP is exactly the same shape and size as both the SteelSeries S&S and the SX. The only aspect of its design that differs is the height of the mat. The SP is 3mm high whereas the S&S is only 2mm high. The difference in height isn't all that noticeable because the edges of the SP are rounded and are very easy on the wrist.


The only part of the graphics on this mat that is easily seen from a distance is the SteelSeries logo at the bottom left corner of the mat. Unlike the logo on the SX the SteelSeries logo on the SP isn't a sticker which means that you can use the logo area just like the rest of the mat. Since the background of the SP isn't a solid color I was a bit scared that the tracking with optical mice might differ a bit across the mat, but to my surprise the tracking remained the same even though the color of the surface changed. I guess this is a result of the unique dotted surface.


One of the things you got to appreciate about this new mat is the fact that SteelSeries has reused their base design from the SX on it. The brilliant rubber base that we first saw on the SX is now featured on the SP as well meaning that the mat will stay in place almost regardless of what surface you have placed it on. The rubber base is by far the best mouse pad base I have ever seen used on any kind of hard mat. Not only does it stay in place it's also very durable which is more than you can say about the old art stucco sprayed rubber base of the SteelSeries S&S.


With this mat it seems that SteelSeries have been very through in the way they shaped it. The edges of the pad have a uniform round profile which means that it is very comfortable to use and that combined with the height of only 3mm you are looking at a very comfortable hard plastic gaming surface.


On the picture above you can see how the mat is created. From the bottom up we have the following components: rubber base, plastic layer, gray and black dotted paint layer, approximately 1.5mm of solid plastic, macroscopic surface. The whole construction of the mat is somewhat complicated, but each layer has its own properties. All that added up should create one awesome mat. The dotted middle layer I think is made so that traditional optical mice can easily establish the directional movement. And the surface of course is what provides the glide and control.