INTRODUCTION
Whether we're talking about car manufacturers, software developers or in our case electronics and PC hardware/peripherals manufacturers there have been plenty of times when we've seen many of them release the same product they had in the past with just minor improvements (facelifts and slightly improved specs for cars for example) which most of the time are not really that crucial to warrant the introduction of a brand new product/model. Personally i never liked that kind of business since in a way means that the previous owners of the same pretty much product paid the same amount of money to get something inferior (even if just by little) than what others have now. I am fine however when sometimes (although not very often) we get to see the introduction of an improved product version which sits on top of a particular line (such as factory OC’ed cards and fast car editions) and the latest gaming mouse by SteelSeries called the Sensei MLG (Major League Gaming) is exactly that.
From day one, SteelSeries has been focused on making professional gaming gear that provide meaningful benefits to gamers of all skill-level, with the most demanding being those gamers whose lively hood depends on the performance of our products. We believe, as most gamers do, in winning, not trying! What originally began as a small two-person operation in Copenhagen back in 2001 has become a global leader in professional gaming products. SteelSeries recognized the need for superior, high-quality professional gaming gear that would give players a competitive edge. Fast-forward to today, and we've come a long way since our first glass mousepad. We have global offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing an integrated portfolio of products designed specifically for gaming. Fueling our growth is you, the gamer!
The Sensei MLG gaming mouse which got its name from Major League Gaming (online media) is entirely based on the original Sensei released last year and although that was (and still is) already one of the fastest and best units around (11400 DCPI) SteelSeries decided to take things a step further by placing an ridiculously fast 16400 DCPI laser sensor under its hood. However that's just about the only real difference between both units and so the new laser sensor used in the Sensei MLG shares the same specifications as the one in the original Sensei gaming mouse including 12000 FPS (frames per second), 10.8 MP (megapixel) and 150 IPS (inches per second). With such specifications there's really no doubt that the Sensei MLG by SteelSeries is currently the fastest gaming mouse out there but the real question is just how well it feels and that's what we're here to find out.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS
A large product picture along with the SteelSeries and MLG logos is placed at the front of the box.
On both sides of the box we see side pictures of the Sensei MLG gaming mouse.
At the top of the box we can see the gaming teams that helped with product development and testing.
All of the unit’s specifications and features are listed and explained at the rear in 4 different languages.
Much like most gaming units in the market the front of the box opens up to reveal the unit itself, some of its features and a few words about it once again in 4 languages.
Inside the box you will find the Sensei MLG pro grade laser mouse, user's manual, case sticker and a product catalog.
THE SENSEI MLG
The dark grey body of the Sensei MLG looks and feels quite well especially since it's less reflective than that of its predecessor.
Here we have the original silver Sensei placed right next to the dark grey MLG version.
Two adjustable thumb buttons are available at the left side.
This time over at the rear of the unit we see the MLG logo (red illumination when the unit is powered).
Moving over the MLG logo we see the profile selection button and the profile LED.
As expected two pinky buttons are available at the right side of the Sensei MLG.
The clickable scroll wheel is also the same as the one found in the original Sensei and it feels great thanks to its soft rubber coating (also quite inaudible).
Turning the Sensei MLG over we see three large white UPE feet which according to SteelSeries cover 16% of the total bottom surface.
The 8200CPI/16400DCPI, 10.8MP, 12000fps pro grade laser sensor is as always placed at the center of the base.
The LCD screen is perhaps the only thing i didn't enjoy much with the XAI and the Sensei so i still don't with the Sensei MLG. Sure it can come in handy (especially for professional gamers) but it would make a lot more sense if it was visible at all times.
As you can see the Sensei MLG pro grade laser mouse comes with a 2 meter long cable with the MLG colors (red/blue), however it is double braided so not very easy to handle.
Of course the USB connector is gold plated to ensure perfect data transmission.
USING THE SENSEI MLG
Before actually using the Sensei MLG i really suggest heading over to the official SteelSeries support page to download the latest product drivers and firmware update (you can skip the drivers part if used at another computer once you have stored profiles onto the device itself).
SteelSeries also gives you the option to design your own logo which will in turn be displayed on the bottom LCD.
The firmware update tool is unified to include updates for many devices and not just the one for the Sensei MLG.
Once you plug the unit into your computer the MLG logo, profile LED and scroll wheel light up blue and red.
The bottom LCD screen also turns on and displays the MLG logo.
The control panel allows you to adjust many things so you can remap all 7 available buttons, create and save up to 5 profiles on the onboard memory, adjust the CPI/DCPI speed, adjust the ExactTech features (ExactLift/ExactAccel/ExactAim), set the polling rate, adjust the brightness of the LCD and its contrast, configure the illumination colors, set various profile triggers when you load specific games and also comes with the same statistics page we've seen in the past with which you can keep track of how many times you've pressed each button.
CONCLUSION
I've been using the original Sensei for almost a year now so when i started testing the MLG version almost a week ago it felt right at home. The size of the unit is perfect (unless you have small hands), the grip is also excellent (despite the rather glossy exterior) and the ExactTech features you can adjust inside the control panel really make a difference (ExactLift and ExactAim mostly) especially when playing online games. However unlike the original Sensei the thumb and pinky buttons are way more sensitive in the MLG version (at least in the sample i got) and so i found myself pressing the pinky buttons all the time when playing something which can get somewhat annoying until you get used to it. Also even though i use a 30" LCD with my primary system i found that it's almost impossible to use the Sensei MLG at its full 16400 DCPI no matter how much you play with the ExactTech features. As a matter of fact it's very hard to use it with anything over 7000 CPI (but I’m not a pro gamer so perhaps they can adjust better) but still it's good to have the extra speed if you happen to play games using multiple screens.
Since the original Sensei gaming mouse is amongst the most expensive gaming mice even as we speak it's quite natural that the new and supercharged MLG version will be even higher and with a price tag currently set at USD99.99 inside the USA (Amazon) and at around 100Euros inside the EU it really is. Of course we're talking about a peripheral aimed at people who really want/need the extra edge in games (online games mostly) and are willing to pay the premium to get it such as pro gamers and not casual gamers (even the quite cheaper XAI is more than enough for such use). Overall if speed and grip are the two things you look when buying a gaming mouse and you care not about how much it will cost you then the Sensei MLG pro grade laser mouse is a one way and that's why it gets our Platinum award.
PROS
- Build Quality
- Design (Grip/ Ambidextrous)
- 8200CPI-16400DCPI/ 10.8MP/ 12000FPS Pro Grade Laser Sensor
- ExactTech Features
- Control Panel
- Bottom LCD Screen
- Illumination Controls
- Double Braided Cable/ Gold Plated USB Connector
CONS
- Price (For Some)