Today, I’m diving deep into the Zaopin ZPW MAX gaming mouse. You might have heard whispers that this one shares a similar shape to the Steelseries Prime, and I’m here to break down my experience with it. My goal is to give you all the details, compare it to some other popular options, and hopefully help you figure out if the Zaopin ZPW could be your next go-to gaming mouse.
What’s Inside the Zaopin ZPW Box?
Opening up the package, you’re greeted with a pretty comprehensive set of accessories. Of course, you get the mouse itself. Along with that, there’s a user manual to get you started and a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and wired mode. If you opt for the Max version, like the one I have, it also includes a wireless 8K receiver, which is a nice touch for those chasing peak performance.
Zaopin didn’t stop there. They’ve also thrown in a set of dot skates if you prefer that style, an extra set of their larger PTFE skates (which come pre-applied and feel fantastic, by the way), and two sets of mouse grips – one in white and one in black. These grips feel surprisingly good, quite similar in texture to something like Pulsar Supergrips. To round it all off, there’s a soft, velvet-feeling storage bag to keep your mouse protected.
A Closer Look at the Zaopin ZPW Design
I’m not entirely sure if more colorways are planned, but I got to check out two distinct versions. There’s a clean white and orange model, and then there’s this striking blue and neon-looking yellow one, which I have to say, I really dig.
The build on the Zaopin ZPW feels really solid so far. I haven’t noticed any major bending or creaking during my use. If you really press hard in the middle, you might get a tiny bit of flex due to its slightly thinner shell (which contributes to its lightweight nature), but it’s nothing concerning and the mouse still feels robust.
You might notice some of the fingerprints on the surface – that’s because this mouse has a pretty grippy coating. It does a good job of keeping the mouse secure in your hand, even during intense gaming sessions.
Flipping the blue ZPW over, the bottom layout is thoughtfully designed. You’ve got a switch for Bluetooth at the top, 2.4GHz at the bottom, and an off position in the middle. There’s also a dedicated DPI button. A standout feature for me is the large PTFE skate design; the stock skates on this mouse glide beautifully.
It’s good to see that Zaopin opted for a 300mAh battery in this mouse. This decision contributes to a really well-balanced feel. Dropping it on my scale, with the larger skates installed, the blue ZPW comes in at approximately 49.2 grams. This puts it firmly in the lightweight category, making it easy to flick around.
Switches, Clicks, and Scrolls
For the main mouse buttons, Zaopin has equipped the ZPW MAX with Omron Optical switches, which happen to be some of my favorites on the market right now. The click implementation here feels pretty solid. There isn’t a whole lot of noticeable pre-travel. You do get a little bit of post-travel when you push down fully, and a tiny bit of side-to-side play if you’re looking for it, but it’s minimal. The clicks themselves feel a tad different from other Omron Optical implementations, possibly because the switch plungers on these specific buttons are a bit narrower. This results in a slightly clickier and more spammable feel, which I quite like. It does get a little heavier feeling towards the back of the button, but up front, it’s nice and responsive.
The scroll wheel features a nice, grippy, rubberized ring. The steps are lightly defined, offering a good balance. There’s decent tensioning, and the center scroll click, while a little on the heavier side, is still quite spammable.
One of the most impressive aspects for me is the side buttons. Even if you click them from the very rear, there’s hardly any noticeable play; it goes straight into a click. They are lightweight, and the post-travel hits a solid wall with no significant rocking. Zaopin has definitely listened to feedback and improved here, as I’ve been critical of side buttons on their previous releases.
Shape, Ergonomics, and Comparisons
As mentioned, the Zaopin ZPW MAX is designed to be a clone of the Steelseries Prime or Prime Mini. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Prime on hand for a direct side-by-side. But can use EloShapes.com to be able to get precise 3D comparisons.
If you’ve never used a shape like this, it’s an ergonomic design. The thumb groove on the left side is quite pronounced, curving significantly from top to bottom. This aggressive curve makes the mouse feel narrower in the front. Personally, I’ve really enjoyed this shape; it has felt great in my hand during use.
To give you some visual context, let’s put it next to a couple of other ergo mice. First, against the Lamzu Thorn (Aurora). Looking at them from the bottom, the ZPW appears a little longer. However, the ZPW has a slightly narrower grip width down at the base compared to the Thorn. The curve profile from the top-left down to the right side is also distinct between the two.
Software and Customization
The Zaopin ZPW MAX uses a software interface that might look familiar if you’ve used other mice with similar OEM solutions. On the main screen, you can adjust the debounce time for the clicks, taking it all the way down to 0ms. The next page allows you to tweak your DPI stages and polling rate – and yes, the Max version supports up to 8000Hz with the included 8K receiver.
You can also adjust sensor settings like Lift-Off Distance (LOD), toggle Peak Performance mode, and enable Motion Sync. A pro tip: head over to the settings tab and enable “long distance” mode. This is an advanced setting that helps ensure you’re getting the strongest and most stable wireless signal possible.
Final Thoughts on the Zaopin ZPW MAX
Wrapping things up for the Zaopin ZPW MAX, this is genuinely their best mouse to date, and it’s truly impressive. I’m struggling to find anything to really critique. The Omron Optical switches are excellent, the skate design and the stock PTFE skates themselves offer a fantastic glide, the coating feels secure, the build quality is solid, the weight is competitive, and those side buttons are a huge improvement.
If this particular ergonomic shape looks appealing to you, then I can absolutely recommend checking out the Zaopin ZPW MAX. They’ve really nailed a lot of the important aspects with this release.
Got any more questions, or feel like I missed something? Please let me know down in the comments! If you enjoyed this deep dive and want to see more reviews like this.
