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Introduction
Mouse skates are becoming an increasingly relevant part of a gaming setup. And, just like in other parts of the peripherals scene, we see trends come (and go). Glass skates have been trending for quite some time now, and today we’re taking a look at a relatively new addition to the market: X-raypad’s Meteorite Dots skates. We put them to the test in order to find out if they’re something you should consider.
At A Glance
X-Raypad Meteorite Dots
If you’re someone who really wants to explore the idea of having different sensitivities depending on how hard you press your mouse, these could be an interesting option. For everyone else, I’d say: skip them.
Pros
- Nicely finished and polished
- Has all the extras in the box that you need, including a skate removal tool
Cons
- Rather expensive
- Glide is very inconsistent
Specs
| Thickness | 0.99 |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass |
| Diameter | 6.5mm |
Packaging
The X-Raypad Meteorite Dots come in three different colors: black, red, and green. The green ones have a black line through the middle, making them look like serpent eyes or something similar. Inside the packaging, you will find:
- Two alcohol pads
- Two adhesive removal pads
- A skate removal tool
- 8 Meteorite Dots
That’s more than enough to apply the skates to any mouse you want. I also appreciate that they’ve included a skate removal tool. This guitar-pick-looking tool will help you remove your old skates without scratching the bottom plate of your mouse.
Material and Finish
The X-Raypad Meteorite Dots are made out of glass. High hardened glass, to be more precise.
According to X-Raypad, this type of material basically lasts forever. I don’t, so I can’t test those claims, but it’s good to know that you likely won’t have to replace these skates once you stick them on your mouse. The dots have diameter of 6.5mm and a height of 0.99mm, and they’re finished with a ‘jewelry-grade polish’. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I can say that these skates are very smooth and well-finished.
There are no rough edges anywhere, and the glossy, reflective finish is very consistent on all dots that I received.
One more thing to note about these skates is their shape. The Meteorite Dots are very rounded, whereas most skates have (nearly) flat tops. X-Raypad says that this minimizes surface wear, but it also has quite a big impact on the glide—which I’ll discuss in the next section.
To summarize: the Meteorite Dots are certainly interesting. Not because they’re glass (there’s plenty of those on the market) but because of their uniquely rounded shape.
Performance
General word of warning: don’t use these skates on glass pads. X-Raypad explicitly states this on their website, but I also mention it here to be complete. You will ruin your pad if you use these on glass surfaces.
Glide
If I had to describe the glide of these skates in one word, it would be: inconsistent. Their performance drastically depends on the type of surface you’re putting them on. On softer pads, they can feel extremely slow (though not scratchy, to their credit) and on firmer pads they speed up significantly.
Additionally, the amount of force you put on your mouse also makes a big difference in how the skates feel, especially on softer pads.
I think this all comes down to their shape. Consider the difference between a knife tip and the back of a spoon. If you press both into something soft, the knife penetrates much easier and deeper due to its small point of contact. The back of a spoon, on the other hand, won’t go as deep, no matter how hard you press.
That’s how these skates feel. Due to the very rounded shape, the very top of the skate digs into soft pads with ease. Add a little more pressure, and they sink even deeper. This causes them to feel very slow on soft pads. Hard and firm pads don’t allow for that kind of penetration, so the skates feel a lot faster on those.
Does this mean that the Meteorite Dots are bad skates? No, not really. I just struggle to find a use case for them. If you like fast skates, go for something more consistent. The same goes for slow skates. Unless you really want this type of variance, there are other options out there that will deliver more consistent results.
Mousepad Compatibility
I am someone who mostly uses soft pads, and I’d say that these skates don’t feel good on those. I love a bit of ‘pressure regulation’ in my glide (which is why I like softer pads) but I found the Meteorite Dots too inconsistent. You might call it a skill issue, but with pads like the Artisan Type 99 Soft, I struggled to find any consistency in both flicking and tracking. On most soft pads, I’d classify these skates as very controlling.
When I used them on harder pads they became more consistent, so I’d say that is where they shine. Generally speaking, they feel more like a speed-oriented skate on harder pads. However, even on harder pads, there can be a big difference depending on how much pressure you put on your mouse, so your experience may be completely different.
Glass pads are out of the question, as these skates aren’t made for those.
Break-in and Consistency
During my testing, I didn’t notice any significant differences in glide over time. As such, I would say that these skates require little to no time to break-in. They’re smooth and ready to use straight out of the box.
Conclusion
The X-Raypad Meteorite Dots present an interesting idea, but I think that’s where it ends: an idea. Perhaps I just put too much pressure on my mouse when gaming, meaning these skates quite simply aren’t meant for me. B even if that’s the case, I don’t really see who they are meant for.
If you want a super slick, glassy glide, just get a glass mousepad. If you want fast skates, there are plenty of more consistent options. The same goes for those who prefer a controlling glide.
In short: for most users, I’d say that there are better options available.
You could even look in X-Raypads own catalog. If you want slower dot skates, the X-Raypad Obsidians are a superior option for the same price. If you like a faster glide, go with the X-Raypad Jades. As an added bonus, you also get 40 skates with the Obsidians and Jades, as opposed to just 8 with the Meteorites.
These Meteorite skates are, for me, quite simply too inconsistent. And I say that as someone who loves softer pads since they allow me to regulate the sensitivity of my mouse via pressure. When I switch to hard pads, they become a lot more consistent, but then I arrive at my main conclusion: who is it for? Plenty of skates offer a similar glide on hard pads without feeling like a completely different product when switching to softer ones.
If you’re someone who really wants to explore the idea of having different sensitivities depending on how hard you press your mouse, these could be an interesting option. For everyone else, I’d say: skip them.
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.
