Introduction
Fnatic’s gear division has been on a roll recently (see our Fnatic x Lamzu Thorn review) so when the brand announced the release of two new premium mousepads, our interested was piqued. In our full Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX review, we’ll look at the control-oriented pad of the two, and we’ll go over everything you need to know about this mousepad.
At A Glance
Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX
The Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX is my new main mousepad, and I immediately ordered two extras to use at various other locations where I often play games.
Pros
- Premium stitching
- Good humidity resistance
- Soft and smooth surface
- Interesting glide properties
Cons
- Very strong smell for the first day or two
- Base might be slippery on some surfaces
Specs
| Height | 48cm |
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| Length | 40cm |
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| Thickness | 6mm |
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| Stitched edges | Yes |
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| Material | Cloth |
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| Glide | Control-Oriented |
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| Static Friction | 38.7 |
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| Static Friction Angle | 8.3 |
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| Glide Difference X/Y | 4.7 |
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| Dynamic Friction | 1.86 |
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First Impressions
The FOCUS3 MAX (I will sometimes refer to it as ‘FOCUS3’ throughout the review) comes rolled up in a very sturdy and spacious cardboard tube. This tube serves as a sort of carrying case, which is nice, but I still would’ve preferred to see flat packaging. Given the fact that this is a premium pad, I think that would’ve elevated the experience a bit further.
Upon opening the box, I immediately encountered a very strong ‘fabric’ smell (like that of clothing stores, but much more pungent) which took a day or two to completely disappear. That’s not a massive downside, but if you’re playing in a non-ventilated room then this can be important to know.
The pad itself is only available in one color right now, and that’s Fnatic orange. It’s striking and will make the pad easier to recognize on the desks of pro gamers, but I would love it if we’d also get a plain black version at some point in time, or at least something that looks a bit more neutral.
Update: Fnatic has reached out to me and let me know that future pads will be shipped in a box with ventilation holes and added wrapping around the pad to protect it during shipping. This should alleviate the smell issue.
Finish and Overall Quality
The Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX is without a doubt a high quality mousepad. The stitched edges have a sub-surface design, ensuring they cannot be felt when placing your arm on the pad. In addition to this, they’ve been done really well. The stitching is tight and -on my copy- completely flawless. This kind of stitching is a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario if you ask me; you get the added durability of a stitched mousepad but you cannot feel the stitches themselves when playing because they’re lower than the surface itself.
The rest of the pad also feels very premium. The surface is soft and consistent all throughout, and the soft, thick foam has no bubbling or air pockets.
All in all, the Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX is a premium mousepad that can proudly stand next to today’s top offerings when it comes to its overall finishing quality.
Glide
Thanks to the thickness of 6 millimeters, the Fnatic FOCUS3 has a very interesting glide. Looking at it in a ‘test lab vacuum’, it’s a pad with low static friction and high dynamic friction. There’s lots of stopping power when making big swipes and -provided you don’t put a lot of pressure on the pad- little resistance when making smaller moves.
This gives the mousepad a very interesting glide, which is only made better by the thick and cushy foam. That foam is the star of the show if you ask me.
6mm Foam
Not that you hear me complaining, but there are a ton of PORON mousepads coming out that are aimed at the upper tiers of the market nowadays, so Fnatic had to do something to make theirs stand out from the crowd. The thickness of 6 millimeters already makes this pad quite a bit different than most offerings (3-4mm is the standard) and then there’s also the fact that the foam is soft.
Applying even a little bit of force is enough to make the foam give way, and this makes for an extremely interesting overall glide. If you don’t apply a lot of pressure to your mouse, there’s not a lot of static friction at all. Once you do add some pressure, you get a very controlled experience. Just how controlled depends on your mouse feet (dot skates, for example, will dig in easier than large skates) but the foam plays a big part in how the pad feels.
I personally love this setup. The low static friction means that I can easily make smaller aiming movements and, when I need that extra touch of control or stability, I can just add pressure to my mouse. Combine that with the high dynamic friction making for easily controlled swipes and you’ve got a pad that feels great to use for tactical shooters and other ‘stability-focused’ games.
I am someone who adds extra pressure to the mouse in ‘precision scenarios’, so for me this pad feels extremely natural to use. The tensioning of the foam is just right for me, and the overall glide properties of the surface itself are right up my alley as well, so for me this pad is a fantastic match.
Pad Stability
The pad’s base consists of what Fnatic refers to as their ‘MAX foam’. It looks pretty cool with all the logos on there, but it’s not as sticky as it could be. I had some minor slippage issues when gaming on certain surfaces. While this never got outrageous (the pad moves about a centimeter per match at worst) I’d definitely focus on making the base a bit more stable on the next iteration if I were Fnatic.
The FOCUS3 MAX handles sweat and humidity really nicely. I’ve used the mousepad for multi-hour sessions on both hot and sweaty days as well as regular days, and I never felt like my sweat affected certain spots or anything like that. The pad feels consistent and reliable under all circumstances for me.
The surface is smooth and non-abrasive, and that combined with the below-surface stitching makes for a mousepad that’s extremely comfortable to use.
Alternatives
Fnatic FOCUS3 vs Lethal Gaming Gear Saturn Pro
The LGG Saturn Pro has a similar soft foam to the FOCUS3, but it has a higher static friction. In addition, the foam is also not as thick or soft as the foam on the FOCUS3, making it a bit less prone to ‘glide manipulation’ by adding more pressure. When it comes to the overall gameplay experience, both pads are similar though.
Quality-wise, both pads also feel similar, though the sub-surface stitching of the FOCUS3 makes it a bit more comfortable.
Read our Lethal Gaming Gear Saturn Pro review
Fnatic FOCUS3 vs SteelSeries QcK Heavy
Aside from the fact that both pads are very thick, there are very little similarities otherwise. The QcK’s foam lacks that ‘give’, resulting in a significantly different overall glide experience. Furthermore, the QcK is a cheaper pad, and doesn’t feel as premium as the FOCUS3.
Conclusion
The Fnatic FOCUS3 MAX is my new main mousepad, and I immediately ordered two extras to use at various other locations where I often play games.
It is a high quality PORON mousepad with top tier finishing across the board, but its most attractive feature is the thick and soft foam. This foam allows for a large degree of ‘friction customization’ since you can really dig in your mouse feet to get more resistance from the pad, and this is something that I personally really appreciate.
It’s an acquired taste though, and not everyone will love this. If you’re someone who wants a gaming surface that feels consistent at all times no matter how much pressure you’re applying, you should skip this pad. If you do like a soft foam, however, and you’re looking for a control pad, this mousepad comes very warmly recommended.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
Former semi-pro gamer turned writer, product reviewer, and community manager.
