INTRODUCTION

   It's extremely rare for me to review the same product twice but when a manufacturer improves on a product via several firmware/software updates and component revisions then i think that it's quite reasonable and even expected to give it another spin. This of course applies for pretty much everything but it is even more valid when we are talking about peripheral devices such as speakers, keyboards and mice mainly because we can't really record their performance numbers in a chart (unlike for example drive performance). So today we will be taking a closer look at the latest revision of the already excellent Theron battle ready gaming mouse by our friends over at Tt eSPORTS.

   “Challenge is the game” highlights the philosophy to bring out gamers’ addiction in gaming and the ambition of reaching to the extreme. Tt eSPORTS, a gaming obsessed division from Thermaltake, is uniting gamers from all over the world in a unique & fascinating eSPORTS culture, inherited the spirits of Thermaltake, is an energetic, powerful, bold and intelligent challenger who never says “no” to the extreme competition. We do not only provide gamers the ultimate gaming gears but also fulfills the passion to achieve the ultimate success. Thermaltake has been a well-known brand in the gaming & DIY market for PC Chassis, Coolers and Power Supplies PSU for many years. The brand personality of unique, aggressive, vivid and stylish makes Thermaltake an expert in creating exciting things and fascinating environment for gamers and enthusiasts. Tt eSPORTS inherited the brand personality with unique and creative design by observing users’ behaviors and requirements. The fan cooling design on Tt eSPORTS Challenger keyboard demonstrate the brand spirit. It is the worldwide first keyboard with fan cooling function that could dry your hand sweats and blow tension away during cut-throat competition.

   The very first time i used the Theron was actually almost 16 months ago (on its launch date while at a previous publication) and the very first thing i noticed was its quite impressive design thanks to the several corners and an all-black cover featuring the usual rubber coating for superior handling. However back then unlike the 6500DPI gaming laser sensor Tt eSPORTS used in the Black Element the Theron was equipped with a rather slower 5600DPI laser sensor something which at first had me a bit puzzled. However after using it for almost two weeks it turned out to be a lot more accurate (even felt faster) compared to the Black Element largely thanks to its design and size. So when i learned that a new sample of the latest revision was about to hit our doorstep i was naturally curious as to what had changed since its launch.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The box is the same as back then so again at the front we see a large product image in front of an explosion and beneath that 4 images showcasing the main features of the unit.

Moving at the rear Tt eSPORTS has placed a few words by Softball, the professional gamer who helped with the design of the unit. The features list is once again placed at the rear in 15 languages.

The front opens up like a book revealing the Theron Gaming Mouse through a clear plastic window on the right and details about the unit and its features on the left.

Along with the Theron Gaming Mouse you will also get a cloth carrying bag, two dragon logo stickers, software CD, warranty policy leaflet and the quick installation guide.

THE THERON

The mid-sized Theron gaming mouse features an all-black rubber coated exterior housing.

Two long thumb buttons are placed at the left side of the unit and a LED is placed at the base right beneath them. The DPI indicator LED is placed at the rear left corner.

The Tt ESPORTS dragon logo is placed at the rear of the Theron.

One more LED is placed beneath the logo (although the logo is also illuminated).

Two DPI selection buttons are placed at the top of the Theron (usually we see a single one so that can come in handy).

The scroll wheel is much smoother and almost inaudible compared to the ones we've seen with other gaming mice (something i also liked back when i first used the Theron).

Aside the pinky button at the right side the Theron also has a special curve which actually helps especially in fast passed games and yet another LED.

These two large Teflon feet are responsible for near-excellent gliding.

There are two buttons placed around the 5600DPI gaming laser sensor and can be used to switch between stored profiles and polling rates.

The weight compartment along with the lock/unlock switch are placed at the rear end.

By default all of the weights are installed in the Theron.

The 5 available weights add a total of 22.5g.

Tt eSPORTS has used a 1.8m braided cable and a gold plated USB connector.

CONTROL PANEL

The latest revisions of the Theron come with a bundled software CD but if i were you i'd check the official support page for newer versions (compared to 16 months ago Tt eSPORTS has updated both the firmware and the software of the mouse several times).

You can control every single aspect of the Theron gaming mouse from the control panel from the battle mode which changes the illumination effects according to the frequency of your clicks, the color illumination of the available LEDs, the DPI, polling/double click/scroll speeds and of course you can add/edit/remove Macro commands. Once again however the DPI meter went up to 5700 and not 5600 as stated in the specifications table.

The illumination effects are very good and you can also select different colors for each one of the LEDs (zones).

CONCLUSION

   Now as many of you know things are somewhat slow when it comes to game titles lately (where's our copy of Metro Last Light?) but lucky enough for us Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, PlanetSide 2 and HAWKEN have been helping us test several gaming peripherals for the past week including the Theron battle ready gaming mouse. Now just like the first version i used 16 months ago it still features an excellent grip thanks to its design and rubber coating while the large Teflon feet give it a rather excellent gliding ability. Accuracy and speed are still right up there with the best gaming mice I’ve ever used but since it's been so long since i had the initial version in my hands i can't really comment on differences between them. The weight system is something some people will find useful and some will not, personally i was able to use the Theron just as good with and without weights but in the end that comes down to personal preference. The illumination effects are once again very good although the 7 available colors one can choose from are nowhere close to what many other gaming mice offer right now.

   The Theron currently retails for a price tag of USD59.66 inside the USA (Purchase Directly from Amazon.com) and for 55Euros inside the EU (Purchase Directly from Amazon.co.uk). Compared to 16 months ago right now the price tag of the Theron is extremely tempting and so because of its design and all of its features specifications i really think it's a steal especially since there aren't many gaming mice in the market currently that can offer the same (lightning fast speed, great grip, excellent gliding). Bottom line although 16 months have gone by since the Theron battle ready gaming mouse was introduced in the market it has once again proven to us that it has nothing to be jealous of other newer models and for that it receives our Golden award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design
- Accuracy/Grip (Rubber Coat)
- 5600DPI Laser Sensor
- 128kb Onboard Memory
- Up To 40 Macros In 5 Profiles
- Weight Adjustment System
- Illumination Control (3 Different Zones)
- Braided Cable With Gold Plated USB Connector
- Price 

CONS

- Only 7 Illumination Colors