MeinMMO has tested the “Sense Aimo” mousepad with RGB. In our test, you will learn why and for whom the RGB mousepad might be worthwhile, what we like and what we like less.
What is it about? Our article is about the “Sense Aimo” mousepad from manufacturer Roccat. Roccat focuses on a cloth mousepad with a rubberized back. The peculiarity here is that the edges are illuminated with RGB, which can be controlled via software. A similar approach is also taken by SteelSeries with its QcK Prism Cloth or Razer with its Firefly V2.
How well the mousepad performs in everyday use and gaming is explained to you by the test from MeinMMO.
How did we test?
We tested the mousepad for several days. This is how we proceeded:
- Three mice were used on the mousepad: The G300S from Logitech, the Naga Pro from Razer, and the Kone Aimo Remastered from Roccat.
- Overall, we used each mouse for several hours on the mousepad.
Features and technical details
| Dimensions | 350 mm x 250 mm x 3.5 mm and 900 mm x 400 mm x 3.5 mm |
| Material front side | Cloth |
| Material back side | Rubberized back |
| Special features | AIMO lighting system – RGB backlighting and LED light effects Detachable, cloth-covered micro-USB cable |
| Price (RRP) | €39.99 (small) and €59.99 (large) |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
Roccat Sense Aimo in detail
Design and shape: The mousepad is not completely square, but overall a bit longer. This mousepad is primarily suitable for gamers who move their mouse little and mainly stay in the same spot with their gaming mouse. For heavy gaming mice, like Roccat’s proprietary Kone Aimo Remastered, which MeinMMO also tested, this is an optimal condition on paper.
Furthermore, the mousepad is otherwise kept in simple black, with only the Roccat symbol visible at the top edge. The connection for the USB cable is at the top left and is also presented discreetly.
The mousepad is also available in two sizes:
- 350 mm x 250 mm x 3.5 mm
- 900 mm x 400 mm x 3.5 mm
However, the functions of both mousepads remain identical, with the larger variant costing around 20 euros more.
RGB feature: Roccat employs a light strip that is machine-sewn to the actual mousepad. For the mousepad to light up, it is connected to the PC via micro-USB. It is positively noted that this is a cloth-covered, but otherwise commercial micro-USB cable.
The lighting can then be configured via the software “Roccat Swarm” on the PC.
Roccat Sense Aimo Software: Roccat Swarm
What we like: Through the Roccat Swarm software, all Roccat devices can be controlled. As soon as we connect the mousepad to the PC, the mousepad is directly recognized by the installed software and downloads an update for the device itself. Subsequently, we can use the additional lighting effects. The lighting of the mousepad, however, generally also works completely without software.
The software itself presents itself tidily and clearly. Through a tab in the upper half, you can directly access the settings of the mousepad. Here we can choose the brightness of the lighting or how the Aimo devices react to each other. This is quite practical.
What is less successful: The Swarm software consists in some places of a jumble of German and English. While most texts are now in German, especially buttons in the menus are presented in English. Even the auto-updater only speaks English.
In practice
In the following section, we will show you how the mousepad performs in practical tests. We will address the surface, thickness, and the slip resistance of the mousepad.
Surface: Good gliding properties, but quick to get dirty
What we like: Roccat uses a cloth surface for its mousepad that is very finely processed. And this is positively noticeable when moving the mouse. The mouse glides quickly over the surface with little resistance.
This does not, however, prevent the mouse from moving involuntarily. Mousepads that use a coarser surface require a minimum effort for the mouse to move at all. This is not the case with the Sense Aimo.
The positioning of the logo at the top right also has its advantages: With Kanga, Roccat had previously placed a large rubberized inscription at the bottom right, which sometimes interfered with mouse movements. This is very well solved with the Sense Aimo.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ROCCAT Kanga - Choice Cloth Stoff Gaming Mauspad (320 x 270 x 2 mm) schwarz* | Zu Amazon |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
What is less successful: However, the surface also has a disadvantage: It gets dirty relatively easily and dirt remains visible. Additionally, due to the RGB feature, it is also difficult to clean the mousepad properly. Small contaminants can still be removed quite well with a damp cloth.
Thickness of the mousepad
What we like: The thickness of the mousepad is 3.5 mm, which is average compared to other mousepads. Thicker mousepads also make it harder to slip on different surfaces.
This is how the competition does it: Extremely thin is, for example, the Sphex V2 from Razer, which is only half a millimeter thick (0.5 mm). However, this must also be glued to the table and is, therefore, less flexible than a pad simply placed on the table.
Mousepad thickness in comparison:
| Mousepad | Thickness (in mm) |
|---|---|
| Razer Sphex V2 | 0.5 |
| Razer Firefly V2 | 3.0 |
| Roccat Sense Aimo | 3.5 |
| Speedlink Orios | 4.3 |
| Asus ROG Balteus | 7.9 |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
Back side and slip resistance
What we like: The thickness of 3.5 mm and the rubberized, rough back give the mousepad a secure hold on the desk. Whether on a glass surface or a regular table surface, the mousepad stays in place and does not slip even in fast fights. This holds true for the size 350 mm x 250 mm x 3.5 mm. We have not tested the larger version, but assume that it behaves similarly.
The RGB lighting: Not just an eye-catcher with Aimo devices
What we like: Through the software, you can configure the type of lighting as desired, including the color and rhythm of the colors. You can also set the brightness here.
If you use additional devices from Roccat with Aimo lighting, you can try out many RGB effects, as all Roccat devices that bear the addition “Aimo” can be synchronized with each other.
What is less successful: Roccat’s lighting system is not compatible with other systems. If you use mice from other manufacturers, you cannot synchronize them with the Aimo lighting. This is unfortunate but understandable.
Conclusion
For whom is the mousepad suitable? Those looking for a well-made, non-slip mousepad should take a look at the Sense Aimo from Roccat. The small variant with dimensions of 350 mm x 250 mm x 3.5 mm is especially suitable for players who game with high DPI settings and move their mouse little. For around 40 euros, the Roccat Sense Aimo is a successful alternative to other models. If you even own other Aimo-compatible devices like the Roccat Kone Remastered, then the purchase is also worthwhile.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
The larger variant with dimensions of 900 mm x 400 mm x 3.5 mm costs around 20 euros more and offers mainly more space. The other functions such as Aimo lighting remain unchanged.
Benedikt’s conclusion: Well-made RGB mousepad – even without Aimo device
With the Sense Aimo, Roccat delivers a robust mousepad with good gliding properties. Thanks to the rubberized back, the mousepad stays firmly on the desk. And the combination with multiple Aimo devices also works perfectly. In combination with the Kone Aimo Remastered, the mousepad delivers well-coordinated color effects.
It is annoying that the mousepad gets dirty quite easily and the cloth surface is not easy to clean. Here, mousepads with hard plastic or silicone coatings are significantly easier to maintain.
In direct comparison to RGB competitors such as the Speedlink ORIOS RGB or the SteelSeries QcK Prism Cloth, which also cost around 40 euros, the Sense Aimo does not need to hide at all.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Author at MeinMMO
Further recommendations around gaming
Are you still looking for further recommendations for your gaming setup? Here we present you the best gaming keyboards you can buy in 2020. Including a keyboard from Roccat, which for example matches the mousepad tested here. With Logitech, Razer, and Corsair, you will also find additional well-known manufacturers in our best list that produce peripherals.
