Performance

To test the performance of a mouse mat I try to use it in a large variety of circumstances with a lot of different mice. I will be testing the SP at various sensitivities and with the following mice: Razer DeathAdder, Razer Diamondback 3G, Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0, Razer Lachesis, OCZ Equalizer gaming mouse.

To begin with I started CounterStrike:Source which is a fast paced first-person-shooter game. And the transition from my SteelSeries S&S to the SP was very fast because they both have a good balance between glide and control. When it came to low and medium sensitivity gaming this mat is a bit edgier than the S&S because the surface is a bit faster, but after a very short acclimatization period I began to reap the benefits of a faster surface. Tracking was spot on every time and the lift off distance with the DeathAdder was at a minimum throughout my tests. I think the SP is near perfect for low and medium sensitivity because the surface is fast and has a good balance between glide and control. The surface's finish was perfect and the glide was the same all over it. Another important aspect of its performance is that the colors and gradients in its graphics didn't affect the tracking performance of the mouse.

Both the optical and infrared mice performed brilliantly on this surface there is just one problem. Laser mice exhibit extremely erratic tracking on this surface. I have never seen anything like it. Even the Razer Lachesis which features a third generation laser sensor couldn’t make sense of the surface. So if you have a laser mouse you should look elsewhere. I think that the dotted surface along with the obscure surface upsets the laser sensor and makes it unable to get a coherent reflection from the surface.

The performance of the surface sets the benchmark for all other hard plastic mats and along with the rubber base makes it the perfect mat for low and medium sensitivity gamers. When it comes to high sensitivity this mat does alright, but is a bit too fast in my opinion even though I tried playing with a relatively high sensitivity I just couldn't keep up with the mat and I was constantly over shooting stuff.

I think that the surface has the perfect balance between glide and control and it's definitely the best mat I have ever tried.

The fact that this particular mat doesn't work with laser mice is a con, but since most people with laser mice generally prefer to use a high sensitivity it isn't really that big a loss for them. Since SteelSeries has focused all of their attention on producing the best mat for optical mice it's a truly extraordinary experience using this mat with one. It's superior to the SteelSeries S&S in all aspects except the lack of support for laser mice.

Comfort

Initially I thought that this mat would be a little bit less comfortable to use than my other slimmer hard mats, but I was in for a pleasant surprise. The SP is roughly 1-1.5mm higher than what I'm used to, but because of its rounded edges and ergonomically correct arched wrist line it's actually a pleasant experience using this mat for an extended period of time. I wasn't bothered with it being higher at all.

Durability

This mat is probably one of the most durable hard plastic mats on the market today. Both the surface and the rubber base are constructed in a very tough way. The thick rubber base is not only good at keeping the mat in place it's also way more durable than the sprayed rubber underneath a SteelSeries S&S mouse mat. Since the hard plastic used is quite thick I can't imagine how one could break it in the course of normal use or when traveling with it. The fact that you get a rubber bag to carry it around in means that it's less likely to be scratched when you are not using it. Besides that the surface seems to be nail scratch proof which is a definitive plus. Because the mat is made from hard plastic it can be cleaned with alcohol in case of spillage.