ThermalTake’s partnership with BMW Designs has been for the most part met with mixed reactions ranging from the first ever Level10 chassis. ThermalTake knew they had a formula for both attention and class and didn’t hold back expanding the Level10 branding and we’ve come a long way since then. One of the many expansions of the Level10 brand is within ThermalTake’s peripheral lines, notably Tt eSports and what we have today: the Level10M Wireless Gaming Mouse.
A good year or so, we’ve already taken a look at the Level 10M Gaming Mouse. We noted that it looks unique and it has some interesting properties but it was not without fault and needed some refining. The design is very outlandish but ultimately subjective. Now Thermaltake is back with the design but has improved the feature set to include wireless functionality above all else.
Features & Specifications
COLOR | DIAMOND BLACK |
DPI | 8200 |
SENSOR TYPE | LASER |
WIRED MODE | VIA USB CABLE |
WIRELESS MODE | VIA 5.8G & USB DONGLE |
WIRELESS RANGE | 10 M |
BATTERY LIFE (IN-USE) | 15 HOURS |
BATTERY CHARGE TIME | 4 HOURS |
BATTERY TYPE | BUILT-IN LITHIUM ION |
GAME GENRE | RTS, MMORPG, MOBA, FPS |
MEMORY SIZE | 128KB |
NO. OF MACRO KEYS | 9 |
NO. OF GAME PROFILES | 5 |
PULSE LIGHTING | YES |
PAUSE-BREAK EFFECT | YES |
COLOR OPTIONS | RGB |
USB CABLE LENGTH | 1.8M |
WEIGHT-IN DESIGN | NO |
GRAPHICAL UI | YES |
COATING / FINISH | INDUSTRIAL RUBBER (MATTE) |
GOLD-PLATED USB | YES |
DONGLE | USB 5.8G RECEIVER DONGLE FOR PC |
CABLES | WIRED CABLE, WIRELESS CAP |
Closer Look
The Level 10M Hybrid mouse is encased in a new packaging which has the main mouse showing through. This is in contrast to the original’s flip-open design. Going back to the new Level 10M Wireless, the sides feature details regarding the mouse with the back focusing on the specifics.
Included in the package is the Level 10M Wireless mouse, an extension core for the included dongle, a braided wired cable, an adjustment tool and some documentation.
The Level 10M Wireless still uses the original Level 10M mouse design. It has a vented left corner with a LED-lit Dragon logo showing through. An adjustment point is in the middle of the palm contour. Underneath is the unibody metal base which houses the laser sensor.
The side profiles feature extra buttons on the thumb grip while the right features an ergonomic contour for the ring and pinky fingers. Adjustment scales are also present on the butt of the Level 10M Wireless with the adjustment for height suspension on the sides.
To switch between modes, you need to lift up the hooked USB cord cap and insert the wire USB cord and reattach it. Time-consuming and ultimately tedious for spontaneous needs for changing modes like when you get a dead-battery mid-game.
User Experience & Conclusion
We have reviewed the Tt eSports Level 10M Wired Gaming Mouse before and we will be reusing parts of that review here as the mouse still retains the same overall qualities as its predecessor.
When we reviewed the original Level 10M, we got the white version with a glossy finish. It was ok to grip but ended up slippery when sweat starts forming. The black version is matte and bears a more gripping texture that has a better anti-slip potential than the white version. Judging from images, the military camo version would also bear the same flat coating. Overall though, not much has changed and the design still bears everything from the original Level10M: adjustable centermass and height, thumbstick for DPI control and programmable lighting. What has change is that you’re not tied down to wired mode with a full wireless mode allowing much more movement freedom.
Performance-wise, the Tt eSports Level 10M Wireless mouse is alright. It is precise and fast but the problem here is that the mouse is ridiculously bottom-heavy that lifting it up will occasionally end in a slam rather than a quick swipe. The metal base is strong enough to endure punishment but the experience itself is quite distracting. We’re not sure if Thermaltake improved the button but the left and right click buttons are now much more lighter and don’t creak when pressed. As for battery life, there’s plenty of juice here with Thermaltake rating the Level 10M Wireless for 10 hours operation running off the battery. Our experience was just a bit under period with over 8 hours of intense gaming which is reasonable.
The Tt eSports Level 10M Wireless Gaming Mouse feels like a good improvement over the original wired version. While the improvement may be minimal, they do impact the overall experience largely. As for the new wireless feature, its a good implementation but swapping out between wired and wireless mode isn’t as quick as 1,2,3 hence you need to be sure you’re on wireless mode when in competitive scenarios or risk losing when your battery goes flat.
Overall, the Tt eSports Level 10M Wireless Gaming Mouse is a good desk piece but for competitive gamers, we highly recommend other options like Tt eSports other lines. Still, the aesthetics along with the good-enough performance make this mouse a good choice if you want to show-off your choice of gear but at $109, its still got a premium over the competition. If this sits well with you, you’re getting a unique mouse with wireless capabilities with solid build construction. Its a good mouse with great build and looks exquisite sitting pretty in a battlestation.
Thermaltake backs the Tt eSports Level 10M Wireless Gaming Mouse with a 2-year warranty.