Mionix Naos 5000 Review

Full, detailed review of the new, improved, high-end gaming mouse by Mionix - review by www.hackersmalta.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
• Truly ergonomic design
• Grip friendly rubber coating
• 7 buttons (7 programmable)
• 3 steps in-game dpi adjustment
• In-game profile switch
• Configurable dpi up to 5040 dpi
• 6 integrated LEDs
• Adjustable polling rate
• 128 kb built-in memory
• Large teflon feets
• Balanced weight tuning system (up to 40 gr)
• Gold-plated USB connection
• Full speed USB 2.0 with Plug n Play
• Cable length: 2 m (braided for durability)
• Compatible with all kinds of surfaces

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
130.84x84.72x38.67 mm / 5.15x3.33x1.52 in
Netto (w/o cable): 106 gr
Netto (cable incl.): 158 gr
Weight tuning: up to 40 gr


SENSOR SPECIFICATION
• 5040 dpi gaming laser sensor
• S.Q.A.T - Surface Quality Analyzer Tool
• Adjustable lift distance
• 1 ms response time
• 12 000 frames/sec
• Tracking speed: 5.1 m/sec (200 ips)
• 10.6 megapixels/sec image processing
• Acceleration: 30 g
• 40 000 Hz sampling rate
• True 16-bit data path

Aesthetics & Ergonomics

As with their fellow Nordics Steelseries, Mionix have a knack for a neat and stylish presentation. The NAOS 5000 comes in a matt black box, with the branded green as contrast. The back of said box gives a thorough overview of the specifications, together with a diagram of the NAOS 5000, making sure that the customer is aware of what he is getting.

Upon folding upon the box, one finds a card detailing the derivation of the name of the mouse. Such 'lore' has become somewhat iconic for MIONIX, and gives their products a certain identity, and a certain reassurances that a certain love and dedication was put in the production of this equipment.

Apart from the mouse, one can also find a very neat steel box within which one will find 8 neatly packed 5 gram weights which can be placed inside the mouse.

The mouse itself is jaw-droppingly sexy. The NAOS comes in the traditional matt black coating, together with 6 LEDs which glow green in default, but which can be made to shine in a variety colour through the software, including different shades of green, blue, yellow, pink, red, purple, cyan and more. Unlike the Saiph, the Naos' LEDs are not limited to the mouse wheel and the logo; the buttons used to change sensitivity light up, as do three LEDs on the side which indicate the level of sensitivity being used.

I had criticised the mousewheel of the Saiph, and Mionix have seemingly took notice, and designed a whole new stylish wheel for the Naos, which is ribbed in a certain way as well as having a particular design allowing your preferred LED colour to shine through.

The mouse is wider than the Saiph, and is comparable to the larger mice such as Logitech G9. Whilst the Saiph allowed the hand to sort of curl around the mouse, the Naos allows for the palm to gently rest over the mouse, particularly as regards the little finger. The mouse is coated with the same rubbery material as with the Saiph, granting the user increased grip. Large buttons also add to the ergonomic design, reasserting and even surpassing the high ergonomic value of the Saiph. Mionix expertise does not end with design; it is clear that they invested a lot of time and energy in making sure the mouse is comfortable to the user.

Functionality

One of the aims of MIONIX in designing the Naos was in creating a personalised mouse, and they managed to do so in a variety of ways, other than the extensive lighting choices. On the fly DPI change, adjustable weights, a sufficient number of extra buttons, and an extensive software with which one can meddle around polling rate and DPI, storing settings in up to five different profiles.

As stated earlier, the mouse comes with a set of eight 5 gram weights which can be inserted from the underside of the mouse. Said slots have to be unlocked by sliding downwards, hence the weights will not fall out accidentally in the middle of frantic mouse wavering. Having two slots instead of one allows for a more balances overall distribution, unlike in other mice, where the weights are inserted just in the centre of the mouse.

As with their other previous mice, the NAOS boasts very large teflon feet which are durable and aid in smooth gliding; a feature which is essential for a gaming mouse.

The customisation for programmable buttons has been improved from its predecessors, with the NAOS now having seven programmable buttons with a wider variety of attributable commands.

The NAOS sports a titan laser sensor with 5040 DPI, which is also adjustable, as is the lift distance, 1ms response time and a tracking speed of 5.1m/sec.

Whilst you can simply utilise the Naos 5000 in plug and play fashion, Mionix developed a very intricate software which one can download from their website. Said software provides high levels of customisation for almost all aspects immaginable of the mouse including response rate, double click speed, scroll speed, pointer accelaration, the 7-button configuration, sensor performace, lift distance, DPI, profile configurations, colour lighting amongst other things.

As stated in my preview, the NAOS also has the nifty and innovative software known as the Surface Quality Analyser Tool (SQAT), which basically analysis the quality of your mousemat, and displaying the results on a scale from poor to excellent.

Testing

People may find numbers nice and all, but its about time we come down to the nitty gritty and do some testing. So after setting the LEDs to light in pink, added a couple of weights, and toned down the DPI, I employed the services of the NAOS 5000 to help me finish off my fourth run of Mass Effect. Difficulty of the game was on hardcore, so as to make it a bit of a challenge in hitting enemies 7 times in a row with the ultra-jerky sniper rifle for a measly kill. I made good progress however, and the NAOS served me well in the first test.

Off to some multiplayer testing, I lent the mouse over to my brother to play Heroes of Newerth, and in no time, he was hoarding up levels and gold with a carefully microed Electrician.

I decided to go for some whacking myself, and launched Modern Warfare 2; now I have only played the game on a couple occasions but the NAOS aided me in placing the crosshair and ironsights of my SMG upon the enemy; fragging was surprisingly easy.

The NAOS gets a thumbs up from me as regards stability, smoothness and accuracy.

I also decided to field test the Surface Quality Analyser Tool; When I first heard of it, I thought it was quite a quirk, and it does work perfectly, but it dislikes cloth mats, and my beloved Everglide Titan, and even the new Mionix Sargas, both being cloth mats, didn't get far beyond 'acceptable' quality. Mousemats should not be entirely graded by how silky smooth the surface is, but in how they perform.

Conclusion

I could not find any proper fault with the NAOS 5000; it is truly ironed out. It has the looks, and it has tons of features, whistles and bells of all sorts. It is highly customisable and highly ergonomic, also durable and of very good make. However I did find one flaw outside of this all, and this is in its price. At over 70 EUR, this mouse is expensive, restricted to those elite who can actually afford proper luxury.

Pros:

Aesthetically pleasing

Large Teflon Feet

Rubber Coating

Weights

Highly programmable software

Ergonomic

Accurate, sensitive

Cons:

Expensive

If you are the 'money no problem' type of guy, then I highly recommend this mouse, also for those who want to go for a worthwhile investment, however, it is not a mouse for those who are on a budget.

my verdict: 8.5