Quick navigation
Introduction
This month, NZXT released two mousepads. There’s the more premium Zone Elite, and then there is this regular Zone. Coming in at just $14.99 for the regular (40×40 cm) size, this is one to keep an eye on for people who are looking for a budget pad. In our NZXT Zone review, we will explore if this pad is worth it or if you should look towards other options.
At A Glance
NZXT Zone
The NZXT Zone is a very well-done budget pad. It definitely won’t shake the mousepad scene to its core, but if you’re looking for a well-made speedy cloth pad that costs under $20 you should take a look at this one.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Liquid-resistance surface is a nice extra
- Consistent foam
Cons
- Takes a day or two to lay flat
- Some minor inconsistencies with the stitching
Specs
| Height | 49 |
|---|---|
| Length | 40 |
| Thickness | 3mm |
| Stitched edges | Yes |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Glide | Speed |
| Static Friction | 39.4 |
| Static Friction Angle | 6.49 |
| Glide Difference X/Y | 30 |
| Dynamic Friction | 1.15 |
First Impressions
The NZXT Zone is available in three different sizes: large (40×40 cm), XL (75×40 cm), and XXL (90×40 cm). I have tested the XL version for this review, but all sizes have the same surface and thickness.
With this being a budget pad (the one I tested sells for $24.99) there’s not a ton to notice. NZXT has stayed true to their design principles and went for a sleek look here, with just a small and barely visible NZXT logo in the corner of the pad. Aside from that, you get stitched edges and a purple textured rubber base.
It should be noted that the white version appears more grey or off-white look in person. If you’re looking for a snow white pad, you might want to reconsider your options.
Finish and Overall Quality
Materials and Smoothness
The NZXT Zone has a micro-weave surface. This is quite a bit coarser than the nano-knit polyester surface that the Elite version offers, but I wouldn’t say that it’s annoyingly rough. You do feel the texturing when you glide your hand across the surface but the weave isn’t sharp or anything like that.
The stitching is generally done well, though it’s not perfectly consistent. There’s a small section that looks and feels thicker than the rest, but it’s on the side of the pad so it doesn’t get in the way when gaming. The stitching also isn’t low-profile like on the more expensive Elite version. For me, it feels comfy and unbothersome but I’ve never minded (well-done) stitched edges. If you’re someone who can’t stand them, you should know that you can feel these stitches if you’re playing with your arms bare.
The mousepad laid flat fairly well in the center, but the edges remained slightly curved for a day or two before fully settling. This slight curvature was noticeable when moving the mouse over those edges, so if you use a gentle grip when playing, be sure to give the pad enough time to flatten completely.
Liquid-Resistant
The NZXT Zone is liquid-resistant, which is good news for the clumsy gamers among us. Any liquid that’s spilled on the surface beads up and stays like that for a long time. I didn’t exactly time it, but there’s plenty of time to finish a round, grab some towels, and gently dab the liquid off of the pad.
For me personally, a pad being liquid-resistant isn’t a must but it’s good to know that it can survive a whole bunch of unruly gaming nights if it has to.
Performance
Glide
In my testing, the NZXT Zone is a fast pad. The static friction is on the lower side, and that coupled with the low dynamic friction makes for a mousepad that’s faster than a lot of the usual suspects in the budget range.
Once you get to gaming, it feels a bit more balanced, and that might have something to do with the X/Y axis glide. I do not know if NZXT did this on purpose, but the Y axis is noticeably slower than the X axis. The difference in my testing was 30%, and that’s a lot.
This leads to an interesting glide. If you need to make a big flick in CS2, for example (where horizontal movements are most often employed) you can do this with ease while your mouse stays ‘locked in’ at headshot height on the Y axis. During my testing, this has helped me hit some pretty satisfying Deagle flicks.
With that said: it’s still a pretty fast pad. Those who want a controlled experience or a ‘mud pad’ (I say this lovingly, as I mostly use mud pads myself) will want to steer clear of the NZXT Zone. The pad doesn’t do a whole lot to restrain you when doing micro aiming movements, and the stopping power is definitely on the lower side.
For me, the pad is simply too fast/slick. However, I do find the glide to be very interesting. Those who play games where movement is all over the place might find the slower Y axis to be annoying after some time, but if you mainly play tac shooters this could be a very interesting choice.
Base and Softness
The NZXT Zone uses a regular rubber base. This base is textured and does a pretty decent job at keeping the pad in place. I had no slippage issues during my testing.
As far as the foam softness goes, I can be short: it’s not there. The foam is very rigid, meaning that you can’t ‘dig in’ the mouse feet by applying pressure. To be clear: that’s not a con. Whether you like that or not comes down to personal preference. However, with so many mousepads these days offering multiple foam options I feel like it’s important to mention how the foam of a pad feels in reviews.
Everyday Usage
The pad is liquid-resistant so you’d expect it to handle moisture well. Luckily, that’s the case. Consistent swiping with a sweaty hand may slow the pad slightly, but this is common with many cloth pads. Overall, the moisture handling of the NZXT Zone is decent.
Alternatives
NZXT Zone vs Razer Gigantus V2 Custom
In terms of overall glide, the Razer Gigantus V2 custom edition comes quite close. Do note that this is not the same as the regular Razer Gigantus V2. The custom versions of that pad are printed and coated and are quite a bit faster than the regular black version.
NZXT Zone vs Endgame Gear MPC
The Endgame Gear MPC offers a similar glide experience, but it is faster and slicker than the NZXT Zone. It also has a water-repellant surface.
In terms of price, the NZXT Zone is far more affordable than the Endgame Gear MPC, but the MPC has a slightly smoother surface and more premium finishing.
Read our full Endgame Gear MPC review
Conclusion
The NZXT Zone is a very well-done budget pad. It definitely won’t shake the mousepad scene to its core, but if you’re looking for a well-made speedy cloth pad that costs under $20 you should take a look at this one.
It’s on the faster side, but the interesting X/Y glide difference makes for a rather unique gliding experience. Whether this difference was implemented on purpose or not is a question I can’t answer. I do know that I like the way this pad turned out though.
If you like faster or slicker pads and/or you’re looking to buy your first gaming mousepad, you cannot go wrong with this one. For the price of a McDonald’s visit, you get plenty of quality in return.
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.
