Gaming mice have come a long way over the years, and it feels like every month there’s a new contender claiming to be the “ultimate” mouse for gamers. But let’s be real—most of them look the same, feel the same, and promise the same things. That’s why when the Gravastar Mercury X PRO landed on my desk, it immediately stood out. With its futuristic, almost alien-like design, magnesium alloy body, and weight lighter than most snacks, it’s hard not to be intrigued. But here’s the big question: does it actually perform as well as it looks, or is it just another pretty face in the crowded world of gaming peripherals?
I’ve spent weeks putting this mouse through its paces—gaming, working, and even just admiring its glowing RGB bubble (yes, it has that). From its 8,000 Hz polling rate to its ultra-lightweight 49g build, the Gravastar Mercury X PRO promises a lot. But does it deliver? Is it worth the $140 price tag, or should you stick with the tried-and-true brands like Logitech or Razer?
Build Quality and Design
First off, the design. This thing looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. The magnesium alloy shell gives it this sleek, metallic finish that screams premium. But it’s not just about looks—the material is lightweight and durable, which is a big win for a gaming mouse. The entire body is covered in these intricate cutouts and vents, which not only add to the futuristic aesthetic but also help keep the weight down. And trust me, at 49 grams, this mouse is light. Like, “I had to double-check if it was actually in my hand” light.
The cutouts are a double-edged sword, though. On one hand, they make the mouse super lightweight and give it that unique, edgy look. On the other hand, if you hate holes in your mouse (looking at you, honeycomb haters), this might not be your cup of tea. Personally, I didn’t mind them, but I can see how some people might find them a bit distracting or uncomfortable, especially if you have a palm grip. The good news is Gravastar includes rubberized grips in the box, which you can stick on the sides to cover up the holes and give you a more solid feel. I ended up using them, and they made a noticeable difference in comfort.
Now, let’s talk about the RGB. Oh boy, the RGB. There’s a glowing bubble at the bottom of the mouse that lights up in all sorts of colors. It’s not just a gimmick—it actually looks really cool, especially in a dimly lit room. You can customize the lighting effects through the software, so if you’re someone who loves to match your setup, this mouse has you covered. The only downside? The RGB on the dongle is stuck on green, which feels like a missed opportunity for full customization.
As for the build quality, the Gravastar Mercury X PRO feels solid overall. The magnesium alloy shell is sturdy, and there’s very little flex, even when you press down hard on it. I did notice a tiny bit of give on the sides if you really squeeze them, but it’s nothing that affects performance or durability. The buttons are made of magnesium too, and they feel crisp and responsive. There’s a slight springiness after the click, which might bother some people, but it didn’t bother me during gameplay.
The scroll wheel is where things get a bit divisive. It’s thin and has a rubberized texture, which feels nice, but it’s not as wide as I’d like. There’s a lot of empty space around it, and it just feels like they could’ve made it bigger. That said, it’s smooth to scroll through, and the middle click is easy to spam, which is great for games that require a lot of quick inputs.
One thing I really appreciated was the side buttons. They’re bigger and more accessible than on the previous model, and they feel super clicky with minimal pre-travel. My only gripe is that they sit almost flush with the side grips, so if you’re using the grips, you might have to adjust your thumb position to hit them comfortably. Without the grips, though, they’re perfect.
Finally, let’s talk about the feet. The mouse comes with five small Teflon skates, and while they do the job, they’re not the best. If you’re using a softer mouse pad, you might feel a bit of drag, which can be annoying during fast-paced games. I think Gravastar could’ve gone with larger, more rounded feet to improve glide, but it’s not a dealbreaker. You can always swap them out for aftermarket skates if it bothers you.
Ergonomics and Shape
Now let’s talk about the shape. The Gravastar Mercury X PRO has what I’d call a medium-to-large size, and it’s designed to work with a variety of grip styles. If you’re a claw gripper like me, you’ll probably feel right at home. The mouse has a slightly flared back that fills out the base of your palm, giving you a nice anchor point for quick, precise movements. It’s not as aggressive as some other claw-grip-focused mice, but it’s comfortable enough for long gaming sessions.
For palm grippers, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The mouse is definitely usable for palm grip, especially if you have medium to large hands, but those cutouts on the back might get in the way. If you rest your palm fully on the mouse, you’ll feel those grooves and holes, which can be a bit annoying over time. That said, if you like a more relaxed palm grip (where your palm isn’t fully planted), you’ll probably be fine. The included side grips help a lot here, as they smooth out the edges and make the mouse feel more solid in your hand.
Now, if you’re a fingertip gripper, this mouse could work for you, but it’s not perfect. The lightweight design (just 49 grams) makes it easy to flick around, and the flatter sides give you plenty of room to grip. However, the front of the mouse is a bit narrow, so if you have larger hands, your fingers might feel a bit cramped. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to keep in mind.
One thing I really appreciated about the shape is how flat the sides are. Compared to the previous model, which had more aggressive curves, the Mercury X PRO feels much more natural to hold. Your fingers have plenty of room to rest comfortably, and the buttons are positioned in a way that makes them easy to reach without straining your thumb. Speaking of the sides, the texture is smooth but not slippery, thanks to the magnesium alloy. If you tend to sweat during intense gaming sessions, the included rubber grips are a lifesaver. They add just enough texture to keep your grip secure without feeling sticky or uncomfortable.
The hump of the mouse is positioned more toward the middle, which is great for claw and fingertip grips. It’s not too tall (about 40.5mm), so it doesn’t feel bulky, but it’s enough to give your hand some support. If you’re coming from a mouse with a more rearward hump (like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight), it might take a little getting used to, but I found it to be a nice balance between comfort and control.
Now, let’s talk about the weight distribution. This is where the Gravastar Mercury X PRO really shines. Unlike some lightweight mice that feel front-heavy or unbalanced, this mouse feels evenly weighted. The lightweight design also means you won’t get fatigued during long gaming sessions, which is a huge plus.
One thing to note is that the feet are on the smaller side, and they’re positioned close to the edges of the mouse. This isn’t a huge issue on hard pads, but if you’re using a softer pad, you might feel a bit of drag. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re used to mice with larger, more rounded feet.
In terms of comfort, I’d say the Mercury X PRO is a solid 8/10. It’s not the most ergonomic mouse out there—especially if you’re a die-hard palm gripper—but it’s versatile enough to work for most people. The lightweight design, flat sides, and balanced weight distribution make it a joy to use. And let’s be honest, the fact that it looks like a spaceship doesn’t hurt either.
So, who is this mouse for? If you’re a claw gripper with medium to large hands, you’ll probably love it. If you’re a fingertip gripper, it’s worth a try, but it might not be perfect. And if you’re a palm gripper, you’ll need to decide if you can live with the cutouts. Either way, the Gravastar Mercury X PRO is a unique mouse that offers a lot of comfort and control, wrapped up in a design that’s anything but ordinary.
Button and Scroll Wheel Performance
Main Buttons
The main left and right buttons on the Mercury X PRO are made of magnesium alloy, just like the rest of the shell. This gives them a solid, premium feel, and they’re incredibly responsive. When you click, there’s almost no pre-travel—meaning the button actuates almost instantly. This is great for fast-paced games where every millisecond counts. The switches themselves are Rrun mechanical switches, which are rated for 100 million clicks, so durability shouldn’t be an issue.
That said, there’s a bit of post-travel after the click. What does that mean? Well, after the button actuates, you can press it down a little further, and it kind of sinks into the shell. It’s not a huge deal, but if you’re someone who presses down hard on your mouse buttons, you might notice it. During gameplay, I didn’t find it to be a problem, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re super picky about button feel.
The buttons are also slightly curved, which helps your fingers rest naturally. They’re not as flat as some other mice, but I found them comfortable to use, even during long sessions. One thing to note is that the buttons are separated from the shell, which means there’s no accidental clicking if you rest your fingers lightly on them. That’s a nice touch, especially for games where you need to be precise.
Side Buttons
The side buttons on the Mercury X PRO are a huge improvement over the previous model. They’re larger and more accessible, which makes them easier to hit in the heat of battle. They’re also crispy and tactile, with minimal pre-travel and a satisfying click. I really appreciated how responsive they were—whether I was using them for weapon swaps in an FPS or quick actions in an MMO, they never let me down.
However, there’s one small issue: the side buttons sit almost flush with the side grips. If you’re using the included rubber grips (which I recommend), you might find yourself having to adjust your thumb position slightly to hit the buttons comfortably. Without the grips, they’re perfect, but with the grips, they’re just a tad harder to reach. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to keep in mind if you rely heavily on side buttons.
Scroll Wheel
The scroll wheel is where things get a bit divisive. It’s thin—like, really thin. There’s a lot of empty space around it, and it just feels like Gravastar could’ve made it wider. That said, it’s not all bad. The wheel itself is rubberized, which gives it a nice grip, and the steps are defined and tactile. Scrolling through menus or weapon cycles feels smooth and precise, which is exactly what you want in a gaming mouse.
The middle click is also worth mentioning. It’s light and easy to spam, which is great for games that require a lot of quick inputs (like MOBAs or MMOs). However, the thinness of the wheel might not be for everyone. If you’re used to chunkier scroll wheels, it might take some getting used to. Personally, I didn’t mind it, but I can see how some people might prefer something more substantial.
Sound Test
If you care about how your mouse sounds (and let’s be real, some of us do), the Mercury X PRO delivers. The main buttons have a crisp, satisfying click that’s not too loud or high-pitched. The side buttons are similarly clicky, with a slightly deeper tone. The scroll wheel has a soft, muted click that’s easy on the ears, even if you’re scrolling rapidly. Overall, the sound profile is solid—it’s not too loud, but it’s satisfying enough to let you know you’ve made an input.
Performance and Specifications
Sensor: PixArt PAW 3950
At the heart of the Gravastar Mercury X PRO is the PixArt PAW 3950 sensor, which is one of the best sensors on the market right now. This thing is a beast. It offers a maximum DPI of 32,000, which is way more than most people will ever need, but it’s nice to have the option if you’re into ultra-high sensitivity. More importantly, the sensor is accurate and consistent, with no noticeable jitter, acceleration, or smoothing.
The sensor also supports motion sync, which helps reduce latency and improve tracking accuracy. In real-world terms, this means your movements feel more in sync with what’s happening on-screen, which is a big deal for competitive gamers. I tested this mouse in a variety of games, from fast-paced shooters like Valorant to more methodical games like League of Legends, and it performed flawlessly every time.
Polling Rate: 8,000 Hz
One of the standout features of the Mercury X PRO is its 8,000 Hz polling rate. For those who don’t know, polling rate refers to how often the mouse reports its position to your computer. Most gaming mice max out at 1,000 Hz, which means they report their position every 1 millisecond. The Mercury X PRO, on the other hand, reports its position every 0.125 milliseconds at 8,000 Hz.
In practice, this makes the mouse feel incredibly responsive. Every movement feels instantaneous, and there’s no noticeable input lag. That said, to take full advantage of the 8,000 Hz polling rate, you’ll need a powerful PC and a high-refresh-rate monitor. If your setup isn’t top-tier, you might not notice a huge difference between 1,000 Hz and 8,000 Hz. But if you’re a competitive gamer with the hardware to back it up, this feature is a game-changer.
Switches: Rrun Mechanical Switches
The Gravastar Mercury X PRO uses Rrun mechanical switches for its main buttons, which are rated for 100 million clicks. That’s a lot of clicks—enough to last you years of intense gaming. The switches feel crisp and tactile, with a satisfying click that’s not too loud or mushy. They’re also consistent, so you don’t have to worry about one button feeling different from the other.
The side buttons use similar switches, and they’re just as responsive. The only minor gripe is that the side buttons sit a bit flush with the grips, which can make them slightly harder to reach, but that’s more of an ergonomic issue than a performance one.
Battery Life: 400mAh
The Mercury X PRO is a wireless mouse, and it’s powered by a 400mAh battery. With the RGB turned off and the polling rate set to 1,000 Hz, I got around 70 hours of use on a single charge. That’s pretty good for a lightweight gaming mouse, but if you crank up the polling rate to 8,000 Hz and keep the RGB on, the battery life drops significantly.
The good news is that the mouse charges quickly via the included USB-C cable, so even if you’re running low, a quick 10-minute charge can get you through a gaming session. Still, if you’re someone who forgets to charge their peripherals, you might want to keep the RGB off and stick to a lower polling rate to maximize battery life.
Wireless Performance
The Mercury X PRO supports both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.1, so you can use it with a variety of devices. I primarily tested it in 2.4GHz mode with the included dongle, and the connection was rock-solid. I didn’t experience any dropouts, lag, or interference, even in a crowded wireless environment. The dongle itself is compact and has a non-slip base, so it stays put on your desk.
One thing to note is that the 8,000 Hz polling rate is only available in 2.4GHz mode. If you switch to Bluetooth, the polling rate drops to 1,000 Hz, which is still plenty for most tasks but not ideal for competitive gaming.
Lift-Off Distance and Customization
The Gravastar Mercury X PRO allows you to adjust the lift-off distance (how high you can lift the mouse before it stops tracking) through the software. I kept mine at the default setting, which felt perfect for my playstyle. The software also lets you customize the DPI stages, polling rate, and debounce time, so you can fine-tune the mouse to your preferences.
Real-World Gaming Performance
So, how does all of this translate to actual gaming? In a word: fantastic. I tested the Mercury X PRO in a variety of games, and it performed exceptionally well across the board. In Valorant, the combination of the lightweight design, precise sensor, and high polling rate made flick shots and tracking feel effortless. In League of Legends, the responsive buttons and scroll wheel made it easy to execute quick actions and navigate the map. And in Apex Legends, the mouse’s balance and ergonomics kept me comfortable during long sessions.
The only minor issue I ran into was the feet. The small, dot-style feet can feel a bit draggy on softer mouse pads, which can be annoying during fast movements. If you’re using a hard pad or a hybrid pad, this won’t be an issue, but it’s something to keep in mind if you prefer softer surfaces.
Software and Customization
The Mercury X PRO uses a web-based software for customization, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, you don’t need to download and install any bulky software on your computer. Just open your browser, connect your mouse, and you’re good to go. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and works on pretty much any device with a browser.
That said, web-based software can sometimes feel a bit finicky, and the Mercury X PRO’s software is no exception. It can take a few seconds to load, and I did run into a couple of minor bugs during my testing. For example, the battery indicator sometimes showed the wrong percentage, and the DPI settings occasionally didn’t save correctly. These issues were rare and didn’t affect my overall experience, but they’re worth mentioning.
Button Customization
One of the first things you’ll want to do is remap the buttons, and the Mercury X PRO gives you plenty of options. You can assign different functions to the main buttons, side buttons, and even the DPI button. The macro editor is straightforward and intuitive. You can record your keystrokes, adjust the timing, and save them to specific buttons. It’s not the most advanced macro editor out there, but it gets the job done for most gamers.
DPI Settings
The Mercury X PRO lets you customize up to five DPI stages, ranging from 100 to 32,000 DPI. You can set each stage to your preferred sensitivity and cycle through them using the DPI button on the bottom of the mouse. The software also lets you adjust the polling rate, which can be set to 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, or 8,000 Hz.
One thing I appreciated is the ability to disable DPI stages you don’t need. If you only use two or three sensitivity settings, you can turn off the others to simplify your DPI cycling. It’s a small feature, but it’s nice to have.
RGB Customization
Let’s be honest, the RGB on the Mercury X PRO is one of its standout features. The glowing bubble at the bottom of the mouse looks incredible, and the software gives you plenty of options to customize it. You can choose from a variety of lighting effects, including static colors, breathing, rainbow, and more. You can also adjust the brightness, speed, and direction of the effects.
The only downside is that the RGB on the dongle is stuck on green. It would’ve been nice to customize the dongle’s lighting to match the mouse, but it’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things.
Debounce Time and Motion Sync
For the more advanced users, the Mercury X PRO’s software lets you adjust the debounce time, which is the delay between when you click and when the mouse registers the input. You can set it as low as 0 milliseconds, which is great for competitive gamers who want the fastest possible response times.
The software also includes options for motion sync and angle snapping. Motion sync helps reduce latency and improve tracking accuracy, while angle snapping adjusts your movements to make them more straight and precise. These features are turned off by default, but they’re there if you need them.
Lift-Off Distance and Sleep Timer
The Mercury X PRO lets you adjust the lift-off distance (how high you can lift the mouse before it stops tracking) through the software. I kept mine at the default setting, which felt perfect for my playstyle. You can also set a sleep timer to conserve battery life when the mouse isn’t in use. The timer can be set anywhere from 1 minute to 60 minutes, so you can customize it to your preferences.
Profiles
One of the most useful features of the software is the ability to save your settings to profiles. You can create different profiles for different games or tasks and switch between them with a few clicks. The profiles are stored on the mouse itself, so you can take your settings with you wherever you go.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Lightweight design (49g).
- High-performance sensor and 8,000 Hz polling rate.
- Unique, futuristic aesthetic.
- Improved side buttons and overall build quality.
- Cons:
- Slight flex in the sides under pressure.
- Thin scroll wheel may not appeal to everyone.
- Feet design could be improved for smoother gliding.
Final Verdict
The Gravastar Mercury X PRO comes in at $140 for the Pro version, which includes the 8,000 Hz polling rate and upgraded specs. A non-Pro version is available for $109, which maxes out at 1,000 Hz polling rate and has slightly different switches. So, is it worth the price?
The Gravastar Mercury X PRO is a standout gaming mouse in a crowded market. It combines top-tier performance with a unique, futuristic design that’s hard to ignore. The 8,000 Hz polling rate, PixArt PAW 3950 sensor, and 49g weight make it a dream for competitive gamers, while the magnesium alloy shell and RGB lighting add a premium touch that sets it apart from the competition.
Is it worth the $140 price tag? If you’re looking for a lightweight, high-performance mouse that doesn’t sacrifice style for substance, then absolutely. That said, if you’re on a tight budget or don’t need the 8,000 Hz polling rate, the non-Pro version at $109 is a great alternative. It still offers excellent performance and the same unique design, just without the ultra-high polling rate.
