Ozone Neon 3K Optical Gaming Mouse Review

There are plenty of cheap gaming mice out there, which colourfully boast ‘amazing ergonomics’ and ‘extreme precision’. A trained eye in the world of PC gaming would now to avoid most of these products. Yet, Ozone tests the water, carefully creating the Neon 3K Optical Gaming Mouse to stand out. But does it? Look through this review to discover the answer.

The mouse is housed in a stiff box, cleverly designed so one views the product like a glorious ring in a case. Picked up for the very first time, one can tell that this is a lightweight mouse weighing a mere 110 grams not including the cable. Also in the box, hidden behind a wall of thin cardboard is a quick guide with an Ozone sticker. Looking back at the mouse, a symmetrical look establishes an ambidextrous style splitting apart equally four side buttons for each thumb. Above the line splitting the primary buttons is the DPI toggle and the grooved scroll wheel. Ozone does attempt to prop up some finger grooves at the front edge but, quite frankly, it’s not too noticeable. At the subtly curved palm rest lays an Ozone logo, which will light up to uphold the neon name. A short glance at the bottom reveals two large glide pads at both ends with the sensor roughly in the middle. Stemming off from the product, measuring 125 x 65 x 36.8 mm, is a 1.8m braided cable finished off by a gold plated connection. How will the simple yet stylish mouse fare when connection is settled?

As your hand creeps over the mouse, pleasant textures befriend the sense of touch and elevate the experience. The top surface is a soft touch rubber finished in matte black, a luxurious material which does invite oils in the long run. Below, split by a little line, is a grippy brushed plastic which ensures that a tight grasp is ensued. Scrolling through webpages is facilitated by the scroll wheel, sporting a reliable resistance and a solid programmable click if needed. The DPI toggle is pre- set with 750/1500 dpi but more on that later. Main buttons have a perfect travel and made by Omron, meaning a great life expectancy. Side buttons are also very responsive with a beautiful tactile feel; however, it’s necessary to state that the side buttons opposite to one’s thumb will be hard to reach with speed. Personally, I left them to the volume adjustment function.

Being of moderate proportion, medium sized hands will feel at home exercising any of the three positions; claw, palm or fingertips. Ergonomics are super. Throwing the fixed weight across a mouse mat is met with intense accuracy. Ozone keenly states that ‘accuracy’s back again’ with the optical sensor; I fail to disagree. The PixArt PMW-3320 sensor is a popular choice which reaches up to 3000 dpi, thus the ‘3K’ naming. Polling rate sits in a pool with 125 Hz at one end and 1000Hz at the other. Recognise the intervals I am mentioning, since the software will grant this customisation. Returning to the sensor, it’s practically Ozone’s way of telling everyone that optical sensors are here to stay, giving a little extra height accuracy and a red colour. Lifting the mouse slightly will display the red Ozone logo onto any surface, which is a nice touch.

Now we may plunge into the software, downloadable through Ozone’s official webpage and compatible with all Windows. It’s straightforward and everything is visible in one look. Through this software, one may modify DPI for both settings, response rate and polling rate The last two are proportional to one another and not initially at best values for gamers. Adjusting DPI is not as accurate as it could be, however, with it only being possible to change in increments of 250 dpi. So if one plays at, for example, 1900dpi, this exact number is not possible. Macros also find themselves in the software, slightly difficult to master but I got the hang of it soon enough. When you’re done carefully toying with numbers, go on and play with the lighting effects available. The Ozone logo and DPI toggle are victims to your colourful choices, from the 6 colours given. Effects are, honestly, rather boring with heartbeat, blink and breathe practically carrying identical actions and the common static. A small transition effect between the limited colours wouldn’t have been too hard to create, but it isn’t offered. Colours are bright and saturated, verifying the name. Obviously, there is the option to disable all lighting for those who fancy. 5 profiles grant plenty of space for different settings and customisation, all of which is saved onto the 128kb of internal memory inside the mouse. Though colour effects may seem underwhelming, a simple person will appreciate the unexciting effects and be grateful for the intense potential for change in the performance. Any colours are covered by the hand anyway.

By now you’re probably thinking that it’s a pretty decent mouse, but it’s about to get even better due to its shockingly low €30 price. Read that part a few times to let it settle in. Outstanding high-grade materials, deadly precision, much customisation, delightful ergonomics, a handsome design and programmable buttons for €30. The Ozone Neon 3K is an exceptional mouse which will definitely cure the anxiety of budget gamers, fearful of wasting any money and determined to trade every penny for the best performance possible.

Who it’s for;

• Budget gamers who need best performance
• People who don’t care too much for full RGB
• People looking to save money
• Serious gamers who need precision and buttons
• Casual users who may need the gaming specs at times
• Those who won’t mind ambidextrous design and fixed weight

Who it’s not for;

• Those with a much higher budget
• RGB enthusiasts
• Those who much prefer right handed mice
• MOBA players who need more programmable buttons
• Those who need to adjust weight of mouse
• Those who would rather not use optical sensor

Get yours now from The Gamers Lounge ; http://shop.gamers.com.mt/product/310/ozone-neon-3k-gaming-mouse