Introduction
When Lethal Gaming Gear released their own line of mousepads some years ago, they quickly became extremely popular in both the pro scene as well as the casual scene. At the end of last year, the brand merged with Pulsar, placing all their products under the umbrella of the South Korean brand. As such, we felt it was high time to check out another pad to see if the quality is still up to par. Read all about it in our full Pulsar eS Jupiter Pro review!
At A Glance
Pulsar eS Jupiter Pro
Used by 5 players ()
The Pulsar eS Jupiter Pro is a niche pad. It’s made for extreme control, and it delivers exactly that. Every move that you make on this pad, no matter how light or small, will be met with resistance.
Pros
- Well-executed, high-quality pad
- Extremely controlled glide makes this different from most other pads
- Available as an extended pad (which is uncommon with high-tier mousepads)
Cons
- Glide can be inconsistent due to how slow it is
| Height |
49 |
| Length |
40 |
| Thickness |
4 |
| Stitched edges |
Yes |
| Material |
Cloth |
| Overall Glide |
Control |
| Foam Firmness |
N/A |
| Static Friction |
Very High |
| Glide Difference X/Y |
9.2 |
| Dynamic Friction |
Very High |
First Impressions
The Lethal Gaming Gear pads were praised for their overall quality and design back when they came out. So naturally, I was curious to see if they would still deliver the same experience now that they’ve been folded into Pulsar’s portfolio.
And luckily, they do. I tried out different versions and sizes, and they were all nicely finished and felt consistent. They also come flat-packed, with the exception of the XXL (extended) version, which comes rolled.
Currently, there are two colors to choose from, namely Onyx Black and Spirit Silver. Interestingly, there are also multiple sizes and multiple foam firmness levels to choose from. The XSOFT and SOFT versions can be bought as 42 x 33, 49 x 42, 50 x 50, and 100 x 50 cm pads. The MID version does not have an XXL (100 x 50 cm) version.
Personally, I love this. I’m all for giving customers options, and you certainly get options here. I also really like the fact that you can get an extended version. This is a rarity in the realm of esports mousepads, but I know a lot of people who love their extended pads, so this is a major boon if you ask me.
In short: the Jupiter Pro line impresses on all fronts, from the amount of choices you get to the quality of the products.
Finish and Overall Quality
In order to fully test out the pads, I also requested an XXL version. The reason a lot of companies don’t make these is because it costs more money and because it’s more difficult to make a consistent, esports-ready pad at that size. But Pulsar pulled it off. Even the XXL version feels consistent across the board, which is a testament to how well-made these pads are.
The stitching is also very, very consistent. It’s not quite subsurface, and as such it feels slightly less premium than what some other brands are offering at the moment, but I had no complaints, nor any comfort issues.
These are quality pads that you can often find at a lower price than what many competitors are asking for pads of similar quality. In this sense, the Pulsar pads certainly honor the legacy of the Lethal Gaming Gear pads.
Performance
Glide
On their website, Pulsar says that the Jupiter Pro is engineered for heavy stopping power and a controlled glide. And that is exactly what it offers. This is by far the slowest, most controlling pad I’ve tried in recent times.
I am a control pad enjoyer, but even I sometimes felt like it was a bit too slow with certain mice. Granted, that probably has more to do with the subpar feet on those mice than with the pad itself, but it’s an illustration of just how much resistance this mousepad offers.
Playing on the Jupiter Pro is a special experience. It has a very smooth surface (for a control pad) and yet it seems like it fights you every time you make a move. Even small movements with a light touch feel like they require extra effort.
This results in a glide that heavily depends on how much control you have over your mouse. If you’re completely locked-in and stopping precisely where you want to, it will feel amazing. Almost as if the mousepad is grabbing onto your mouse and stopping it right where you’re attempting to land that flick, with no accidental movement afterwards.
But there is another side to the coin. If you’re having an off-day, it can feel very punishing. That’s because those quick, super small micro-corrections that you do after missing a flick by a couple of pixels can feel very difficult to do. Tracking is another thing that can feel overly cumbersome here.
Knowing all that, I’d say this is a pad that seems tailor-made for tactical FPS players who enjoy a super controlled glide. I’m normally not someone who places pads in specific ‘genre categories’ but I really can’t see most BR players who are constantly tracking targets and moving their mouse enjoying this type of glide.
Base
Pulsar is now calling their base the SlimFlex base, which is another word for PORON. This performs extremely well. Slippage issues are non-existent, and the pad can be used on a wide variety of surfaces without issues.
In terms of the foam, there are three options available: XSOFT, SOFT, and FIRM. I tried out the SOFT, and found that it has a nice spring to it where I can dig in a bit to get some extra control, without the mousepad devouring my mouse feet if I don’t want it to. A nice balance for me personally.
Given how extremely controlling the surface is, I would recommend most people to steer clear of the XSOFT version, as that will increase the drag even more. The FIRM version is just what it says: firm. There’s little to no give on FIRM Pulsar pads, which gives you the most consistent glide, but without the option of ‘modulating’ the control by applying or reducing pressure on the mouse.
On my units, the foam and base were both very consistent. There were no softer or firmer pockets on the pads that I tried, which is what you’d expect from a premium esports pad.
Everyday Usage
Due to the smooth surface, the pad feels surprisingly comfortable for such a heavy control pad. As such, if you’re looking for a (heavy) control pad that doesn’t have that sandpaper-like texture that a lot of control pads have, this could be a great option.
The stitching, as mentioned, is also done really well. All of this leads to a mousepad that’s comfy to use for extended sessions.
Lastly, the humidity resistance is okay. If you sweat a lot, you might notice some slightly slower spots during very long sessions, but it’s not especially bad on the Jupiter Pro.
Alternatives
Given how this pad is so extremely controlling, I would not really consider there to be any 1:1 alternatives. The ZOWIE G-SR might feel like a logical alternative given its reputation, but recent versions of that pad have been getting slightly faster, so it definitely won’t feel the same. ZOWIE’s G-TR is a closer alternative, but even then I’d say the Pulsar is slower.
In terms of mainstream pads, the Type-99 by Artisan is perhaps the closest competitor. Even then, I’d say that the Jupiter Pro is slower.
Conclusion
The Pulsar eS Jupiter Pro is a niche pad. It’s made for extreme control, and it delivers exactly that. Every move that you make on this pad, no matter how light or small, will be met with resistance. This means that it can also feel slightly inconsistent due to how unforgiving it is. Miss a flick, and making a micro-correction can feel harder than it perhaps should be, for example.
In any case, the target audience for this type of pad is extremely small. I see this as an excellent option for tactical FPS players who want a pad that reigns them in as much as possible and who know that they want a super controlling surface. That doesn’t mean that other types of gamers can’t enjoy this mousepad, but you should know what you’re getting into if you’re considering this. It’s slow, it’s muddy, and it offers resistance at all times.
But all of the above isn’t meant to be taken negatively. I applaud brands that put out more focused, niche products. Not every gaming peripheral needs to appeal to as many people as possible. And this is a very well-executed, focused product. It’s not for everyone, but those who are looking for this type of ultra-restrained experience will probably love it.
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.
