Introduction
VAXEE’s NP-01 line of mice is one of their most successful ones, and with the release of the NP-01S Ergo, they’ve added even more appeal to their unique line of products. This new edition honors the original design, but puts an ergonomic twist on it. This comes in the form of a more noticeable hump and a tilted design. Everything else is what you’d expect from VAXEE: a performance-focused mouse meant for serious gamers. Is this version the ultimate marriage between ergonomic shapes and ambidextrous shapes? Read our full VAXEE NP-01S Ergo review to find out everything you’d want to know!
At A Glance
VAXEE NP-01S Ergo Blue
Used by 1 player ()
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Laz
All in all, this is quite simply one of the most interesting and well-executed gaming mice that you can buy today.
Pros
- Great build quality
- Great gaming performance
- Web-based driver is clean and easy to use
- Great mouse feet
- Fantastic and very unique shape
- Good scroll wheel
Cons
- Expensive
- Battery life could be better
- No extras (like grip tape or additional feet) in the box
- Side buttons could sit a bit higher
Specs
| Sensor | PAW3950 |
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| DPI | 3200, 400, 800, 1600 |
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| Polling Rate | 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 4000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | Huano |
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| Connection | Wireless |
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| Shape | Ergonomic |
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| Length | 11.8cm |
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| Height | 3.8cm |
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| Weight | 59g |
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| Width | 6.3cm |
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First Impressions
Packaging
VAXEE’s packaging is rather barebones. Inside the box, you get:
- A 4K receiver
- The mouse itself
- A USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- A QR code leading to a manual
That’s everything you need, obviously. But this mouse is being sold at a top-end price, so I’d love to see some additional mouse feet (and perhaps even grip tape) in the box.
The Mouse
As with all VAXEE mice, the NP-01S Ergo is available in multiple colors. Currently, those are White and Lake Green, but knowing VAXEE they’ll probably add more colors down the line. I got the Lake Green one for review, and I like it. The color is definitely bright and eye-catching, but it’s not gaudy. It’s not something I would personally pick if I were to order the mouse, but I don’t have any issues with it either.
Shape, Coating, and Mouse Feet
Shape
The NP-01 line is famous for its unique design that marries elements of ambidextrous mice with typical ergo design cues. What you’re getting here is a rather small mouse with quite a sudden and mostly rear-focused hump. The mouse also has a bit of a tilt to it. This tilt is mostly noticeable on the front portion of the mouse, and it’s by no means as pronounced as it is on dedicated ergonomic mice such as the ZOWIE EC line.
When looking purely at the sides, the front profile is pretty neutral, whereas the back has a substantial flare on the right side and a minor thumb indentation on the left side that moves into a modest flare at the back.
It’s quite a unique shape that is probably better explained in pictures, so I’ve done my best to take photos that emphasize its unique shell design.
In terms of in-hand feel, it offers a lovely ‘best of both worlds’ experience. The back portion feels distinctly like an ergonomic mouse (though not a very aggressively-shaped one) while the front feels more neutral like an ambi mouse. As such, you get stability at the back and a more nimble aiming experience towards the front, and this mouse performs amazingly well for me in both tracking and flicking scenarios.
The following is subjective, but I wish the mouse would be ever-so-slightly larger and the tilt aspect would be a bit more pronounced. If that were the case, this mouse would be scarily close to my endgame. But even with that out of the way, this is a top shape that I love using. It’s unique, extremely well thought-out, and quite simply one of the most interesting designs out there.
Shape vs the NP-01(S)
If you’re familiar with the regular NP-01, it’s probably handier if I compare the two mice to each other.
In essence, the NP-01S Ergo has the same size as the regular NP-01S, but it has more ergo mice features. By this I mean that it has a more pronounced hump (the normal NP-01 is quite flat) that fills the palm a bit better, and it has a slight tilt towards the front. The Ergo also has a more pronounced flare on the left front side.
This results in a mouse that feels a lot more secure in your hand. When I tried the NP-01S, I often felt like it was too small for its curvy features to really shine, but the Ergo version offers a new sense of stability and lock-in without eliminating the more nimble features that the regular version offered.
For me, this is absolutely an improvement over the regular version. I love the changes that they’ve made here.
Coating
VAXEE coatings are among the best in the business. This coating feels great under all circumstances, and the grip works just as well with dry hands as it does with wetter hands.
One thing I will say is that VAXEE’s coatings can show oils and fingerprints quite easily, but that’s not an issue with this colorway. Furthermore, the coating also never feels sticky or ‘sweaty’, even during intense sessions.
Mouse Feet
VAXEE’s new feet (these were first introduced on the XE V2 Wireless) are really good. In terms of speed, I’d say that they are balanced, as they don’t trend towards extreme speed nor outrageous control. The feet also feel extremely smooth and responsive on all types of surfaces.
I have absolutely no complaints here, and if I were to main this mouse (and I just might do that) then I would have no desire to change these whatsoever.
Recommended Grip Types
The NP-01S Ergo is a small mouse, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for palm-heavy grips. Aside from that, it works for pretty much anything, though. Claw grip feels great with this mouse, and even fingertip gripping can be done due to the small overall size.
Buttons and Scroll Wheel
Buttons
VAXEE has really tightened up their buttons on their last couple of releases. My only gripe with them is that they’re mechanical instead of optical, but that’s it.
In terms of feel and finish, the buttons on this mouse are top tier. The clicks are on the heavy side, but they offer a robust and tactile click that feels consistent at all times. Furthermore, pre- and post-travel are dialed in perfectly, and there’s pretty much no side movement whatsoever. Couple all of that with a complete lack of any switch grinding and you’re left with a set of main buttons that will satisfy pretty much everyone.
I haven’t always been a fan of VAXEE’s buttons in the past, but they really took feedback from reviewers and customers to heart to the point where these buttons are now among the best in the business.
Scroll Wheel
The wheel here is on the firmer and louder side. If you are planning on also using this mouse for productivity purposes and you need to scroll often, you may want to take note of this.
For gaming, however, it feels excellent. The steps are clearly defined without becoming arduous to scroll through for wheel jumpers, and the required force to press the wheel itself is dialed in perfectly. I had no issues with accidental presses when trying to scroll or vice-versa.
To top it all off, there’s a heavily textured rubberized coating on the entire length of the wheel, making it easy to use reliably in tense situations that require precision.
Side Buttons
Both side buttons give you a reassuring tactile click when they actuate, and the quite substantial gap between them makes it easy to tell them apart.
I should note that they’re positioned rather low, however. I had two instances where I accidentally pulled out a smoke grenade (which is bound to mouse 4) in CS2 when swinging and died in an awkward way as a consequence. This is something you get used to after a while and is arguably user error, but it does seem like there’s room to position these buttons just a bit higher.
While I’m nitpicking, I should also say that the side buttons exhibit a bit of a ‘pivot’ problem, where they travel into the shell a bit if you press them near the sides. That’s not a huge deal, but it is something that can be improved.
Build Quality
This NP-01S Ergo is one of the most solid mice I’ve ever held. It’s pretty much impossible to get the shell to flex at any point, and even when I’m violently shaking and tapping the mouse, there’s no noise whatsoever. The whole thing also feels extremely well-built and designed.
There is some flex on the bottom plate, but that’s a section of the mouse that never experiences any localized pressure, so it’s very much okay if brands make that plate a little bit bendier in order to save weight.
In terms of build quality, this is one of the most impressive releases I’ve held so far.
Sensor and Everyday Performance
Sensor
The PAW3950 (today’s top sensor) powers the NP-01S Ergo. VAXEE is a company that is constantly evaluating their performance, so this is a really well-implemented sensor. The only thing you can fault them for is the fact that the NP-01S ‘only’ goes up to 4000Hz instead of 8000Hz, but truth be told I always set my mice to 4000Hz because I don’t find the minimal performance gains of 8000Hz to be worth the added battery drain. With that said, it could be argued that a top-priced mouse like this one should at least offer the option.
In any case, the NP-01S is still a top performer, even at 4000Hz. The tracking and latency performance is great, and VAXEE even offers two different tracking modes for you to try: Smooth & Responsive, or Stable & Controlled. These two settings are different from Motion Sync (which is a separate setting) and are equal in the sense that one isn’t better than the other. You should experiment with both and see which one suits you best. For me, that was the Smooth & Responsive mode.
These things like different tracking modes are perhaps inconsequential for most people, but this is further evidence of VAXEE really going all out to offer their users the best experience that they can get.
Configuring the Mouse
Using a button and a set of indicator LEDs at the bottom, users can adjust the basic stuff. DPI, polling rate, and the button response times can be changed here.
For any further customization, you should head to the VAXEE control center. This is a web-based control program, and I love it. It’s sleek, functional, and easy to use, and it allows users to have finer control over their precise settings. Furthermore, it also allows for button rebinding. This lightweight web driver is something I’ve been requesting for a while now, so on a personal note it’s great to see that it’s now here.
I myself pretty much never rebind buttons, but having the option to do these things quite simply opens the mouse up to a lot more potential customers, which is always a win. Furthermore, it’s also very easy to quickly check the mouse’s battery status via this webpage.
I really love the fact that brands have been going for a web-based approach over heavy, downloadable drivers, so it’s good to see that VAXEE has followed suit here.
Battery Life
As is the case with all wireless VAXEE mice, the battery life isn’t very impressive. With 30 hours at 4000Hz and 38 hours at 1000Hz, you’re not exactly looking at an endurance monster here.
Luckily, it charges quite quickly. A little under 2 hours of juicing up is enough to charge it to the full 100%, which is a bonus.
The mouse also offers Standard Mode (a less competition-focused mode) which delivers around 110 hours at 1000Hz, so if you also use this mouse for work or something like that, you can quite easily switch.
Alternatives
Given how unique this shape is, I can’t really say that I’ve tried any other products that give you an experience that’s similar enough to call it an alternative. The normal NP-01 shapes have been copied by some Chinese manufacturers at a certain point, but this is a brand new shape with no real equal at this point in time.
Conclusion
The VAXEE NP-01S Ergo is a logical continuation of their popular line of mice. For me, it’s a straight hit. I love the shape and the stability that it brings. I also like the fact that it still feels nimble enough for precise aiming tasks. It’s a great marriage between two different worlds (ergo mice and ambi mice) and, in VAXEE tradition, they’ve nailed the shape.
Everything else is also great. The build quality is top notch. The buttons feel amazing. Things like the coating and scroll wheel are also fantastic. I could go on, but all in all, this is quite simply one of the most interesting and well-executed gaming mice that you can buy today. It comes at quite the cost (this mouse isn’t cheap, especially in the EU) but this is a very high-quality product.
In closing, I’ll say that I really like how VAXEE tweaks their products. Rather than starting from a blank slate, they tend to refine what they already have. That can lead to some true gems like this one. Shape is subjective of course, but if you even remotely like what you’re seeing or reading, you have to try this one.
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.
