The VAXEE PB was released for the first time around two years ago, but it lived a short life before being discontinued due to QC issues. Refunds were issued to existing customers, and the pad was shelved. Today, the PB is once again ready to be released to the public. This new version should have no QC issues, so we’ve sent one over to our reviewer to see if this pad is worth your time and money. Read our full VAXEE PB review to find out whether or not this is a worthy addition to the growing world of control-focused mousepads!
At A Glance
VAXEE PB
Used by 12 players ()-
cadiaN
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cauanzin
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Starry
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Magisk
The VAXEE PB is a rather interesting control pad. It sets itself apart from the other options in this space with its thick and rigid foam. That, combined with the rather low amount of dynamic friction (when compared to other control pads) makes it a fun addition to the scene.
Pros
- Comes flat-packed in a nice pouch
- Very consistent finishing and surface
- Very rigid foam makes for an interesting user experience
Cons
- Rather expensive
Specs
| Height | 39 |
|---|---|
| Length | 47 |
| Thickness | 4.8mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Material | Cloth |
| Glide | Control |
| Static Friction | 42.7 |
| Static Friction Angle | 7 |
| Glide Difference X/Y | 11.11 |
| Dynamic Friction | 1.53 |
First Impressions
The VAXEE PB arrives in a flat box and comes in a black carrying bag. It’s a rather thick and heavy mousepad with a plain black finish and a golden logo on the bottom. This logo is on the larger side and it does influence the glide, so if you’re someone who tends to use every inch of their mousepad this could be something to note.
All in all, there’s not much about the VAXEE PB that stands out at first sight. It’s a simple black mousepad that focuses on performance. Other than on the PA pads (see our VAXEE PA review) there are no printed designs available. You can only get the PB in plain black.
Another difference lies in the price. The PA can be bought for around 30 bucks, whereas the PB will cost almost double that. That’s interesting to me, since VAXEE says that the PB has the exact same surface as the PA black. It’s all about that silicone base and the firm foam, then. These things can obviously influence the overall feeling of a mousepad to a significant extent, but I was very curious to see if this warrants the price difference.
Quick disclaimer: the VAXEE PB can technically be rolled up. VAXEE explicitly discourages this, however. If you must transport the pad, you should slightly bend it (into a ‘U’ shape) at most. Rolling the pad can permanently damage its surface.
Finish and Overall Quality
The VAXEE PB has no stitched edges. That is a bit of a bummer for a pad that’s priced in the premium tier, but I can see why VAXEE has done without it. The foam of this pad is very stiff and if you combine that with a thickness of ~5mm then stitching could get annoying for low sensitivity players.
Stitching aside, the VAXEE PB feels well-made. The foam and surface is incredibly consistent, and there’s a thick layer of silicone on the bottom that does a good job at keeping the pad exactly where you’ve placed it. The weight of over 500 grams also helps here, as its heft makes it harder to move. For reference: a VAXEE PA weighs around 250 grams.
The surface itself feels smooth for a control pad. There’s no gritty, sandpaper-like feeling here if you ask me. Obviously it’s not as smooth as a slick speed pad, but I don’t think anyone will have issues using the VAXEE PB for extended periods of time.
The thickness of the pad could annoy some people, though. The difference between 4 and 5 millimeters might not seem that big, but the higher edge can be felt when using the mousepad. Whether you like thick pads or not mostly comes down to personal preference however, so this isn’t an objectively judgeable aspect.
Performance
Glide
The VAXEE PB is a control pad, but with a twist. There’s a lot of static friction, giving you plenty of resistance when making smaller movements with your mouse. Once you get going, however, the PB speeds up quite significantly. The dynamic friction is on the lower side so if you like a lot of resistance when micro aiming but you don’t want your pad to hold you back then this could be it.
There are a lot of pads that offer that type of glide these days, but the PB sets itself apart a bit due to the fact that the dynamic friction is really rather low for a dedicated control pad. For reference: imagine a VAXEE PA’s gliding speed, combined with a ZOWIE G-SR II’s static friction. It still can’t be considered fast on any front, but it’s not as slow as dedicated control pads. This makes it a rather interesting addition to the ever-growing world of control-focused mousepads, but perhaps the most interesting aspect of the PB is its base.
Related: ZOWIE G-SR II Review
Base and Softness
As I’ve mentioned before, the VAXEE PB has an incredibly dense and rigid foam. This gives it an interesting glide experience, as there’s basically no way for you to dig in your mouse to get a little bit of extra control. If you use dot skates and apply a ton of pressure you may get some digging action but otherwise you can forget about it.
This leads to a mousepad that’s incredibly consistent. No matter what situation you’re in, it’ll deliver the same response. This is something that sets it apart from most other control pads I’ve tested in recent times, as most of those have a slightly softer surface.
Because of the fact that there’s no give to the foam, the pad can also feel a bit faster than other products in its category. Especially if you’re someone who applies more pressure in tense scenarios (micro adjusting, spray control, …) this can be felt when gaming.
Humidity Resistance
The VAXEE PB handles humidity well. Water sinks into the surface pretty quickly and there’s no big influence on the glide of the mouse. The more humid spots on the pad do of course feel different to the touch, but that’s something that’s unavoidable in a cloth pad. Unless you’re playing in an very humid space, the VAXEE PB should hold up well on this front.
VAXEE PB Alternatives
The VAXEE PB is a control pad, and those are all the rage right now. As such, there are a number of alternatives if you’re looking for a controlling cloth mousepad.
VAXEE PB vs Lethal Gaming Gear Saturn Pro
The Saturn Pro has a slightly higher amount of static friction than the VAXEE PB. Its dynamic friction is a lot higher, though. As a consequence of this, the VAXEE feels faster when gliding than the Saturn Pro.
The foam on the Saturn Pro is also a lot softer, which means that users can influence the glide somewhat by applying more (or less) pressure on their mouse.
Lethal Gaming Gear Saturn Pro Review
VAXEE PB vs ZOWIE G-SR II
The most similar recent pad to the VAXEE PB is, in my opinion, the ZOWIE G-SR II. It has a very similar amount of static friction, though there’s slightly more resistance when gliding on the G-SR II.
Despite the fact that both feel similar on the surface, the G-SR II is thinner and has stitched edges. Its foam is also slightly more flexible, which gives the G-SR II a distinctly different feeling when using it.
VAXEE PB vs Endgame Gear EM-C
The Endgame Gear EM-C has a higher amount of static friction and a higher amount of dynamic friction than the VAXEE PB. This makes it a more controlling-feeling pad than the EM-C, even though it’s a bit easier to start a glide on the EM-C than it is on the PB.
The EM-C is also a lot thinner and has stitched edges.
Conclusion
The VAXEE PB is a rather interesting control pad. It sets itself apart from the other options in this space with its thick and rigid foam. That, combined with the rather low amount of dynamic friction (when compared to other control pads) makes it a fun addition to the scene. It also comes flat-packed and with a nice bag, so that’s a plus.
It does come at quite a price premium, however, and I’m not entirely sure if it warrants that, bag or not. VAXEE says that its manufacturing and QC process is a lot more stringent than on their PA mousepads, but I’m not sure if I’d call this mousepad that much more premium-feeling than a regular ol’ VAXEE PA.
If the glide and the foam material and thickness sound like a good deal to you then this is a good pad to get. If you’re just looking for a controlling surface then there are more affordable alternatives out there though, as most of the premium in this pad seems to come from the foam and base.
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.
