“My ability has certainly improved recently, and nothing else has changed…”
Having had my eye on it for some time on Amazon, I was thrilled recently when Aukey approached us to review their large size gaming mouse pad. As a gamer with an ultrawide monitor and one who likes to rest their arms on the desk when they play, a large size mouse mat has been very much on the cards for me for some time. Replacing my unorthodox combination of a Sandberg and an Element Gaming pad who have done me great service side by side for some time, the Aukey pad had a lot to live up to. I am pleased to say that, for the most part, it has done a sterling job so far…
The Aukey pad measures in at a hefty 900x400x4mm, filling the majority of the front two thirds of my desk and just over half of it length ways. In simpler terms, it covers plenty of surface area for both your mouse and keyboard, and quite frankly then some. It also boasts a wealth of key features which are a must for any gamer; water resistance, a non-slip base and a soft textured surface being at the top of that list. Add to those technical features a clean black look with mid-to-low branding and a decent, clean-stitched trim for your money, and the Aukey pad certainly makes sense in theory, especially at a sweet £12.99 (on Amazon.co.uk at the time or writing). Evidently this mat is a clear competitor for a place on any gamer’s shortlist.
In terms of initial reactions out of the box, which I hasten to add are based on a number of personal preferences, I felt the mat looked a little on the cheap side. The packaging itself is minimal and professional, going above and beyond the call of duty considering the product’s price point. Upon sliding the mat out of its box, the green under-side was not such a pleasant sight to behold. Thankfully, however, this is of little consequence once the peripheral is in use. The branding of a scorpion in the top-left corner looks a little cheesy, not to mention feeling like a low-quality print. It is a little raised on the surface, almost as if it were stuck on after production. It doesn’t do much for me in terms of style, but thankfully I have fixed this personal gripe by covering the symbol with my Razer Wildcat controller when not in use. The Aukey branding in the bottom-right corner is thankfully much more subtle, but still suffers from the unpleasant raised printing issue that its scorpion brother demonstrated. The edge stitching, although well finished, also looks a little wobbly on close inspection. This was not the case with the previous mats I had used.
Despite the aesthetical issues I have with the pad however, its performance is actually the best I have experienced to date. The main surface is fantastic for fluid mouse-play, and seeing as my main game of choice is Rainbow Six Siege, the benefits this brings to the shooter are thus far unmatched. My ability has certainly improved recently, and nothing else has changed, so logic would dictate that a significant difference has been made as a result of the Aukey surface being introduced to my setup. Either that, or Ubisoft are actually fixing the game now, but frankly any Siege fan will know that that is pretty darn unlikely. In any case, since having the new Aukey mat my gaming experience has been far more enjoyable because of my improved gameplay experience, and that has to factor in to this review.
Would I recommend the Aukey Large Size Gaming Mouse Pad? Absolutely. If you have the desk space for it, I don’t think you can do much better for the price. Sure, it isn’t the nicest looking bit of kit on the market, but given the superb quality of its performance as a peripheral for gaming and its delightfully low price point, it cannot be discredited on aesthetic grounds alone. You get what you pay for and then some with this fine bit of budget gaming kit, and its customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk reflect that fact too. If you are looking to improve your setup without breaking the bank, the Aukey Large Size Gaming Mouse Pad will certainly not disappoint.
