Galax SNPR RGB mouse pad review: As cool as it is, how much are you willing to pay for RGB lighting?

If you’re thinking about spending Rs 5,000 on a mouse pad, you’re not the average gamer or PC user. [caption id=“attachment_3897691” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Galax SNPR RGB mouse pad[/caption] If you are indeed spending that much, you’re looking for one of two things: A mouse pad to bling out your PC or a mouse pad for the ultimate gaming experience. The Galax SNPR RGB mouse pad is for the latter breed. Oh, and it’s pronounced ‘galaxy’. Galax is a Taiwanese brand that started out as Galaxy in 1994. The brand may not be as well knows as Asus, EVGA and the like, but the company has been the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for a number of other brands and does have experience in building and designing PC components. Coming to the Galax SNPR RGB mouse pad, I think it’s thoughtfully designed, but could use a bit of polish. The mouse pad is hard and is only available with a ‘speed’ surface (low friction). An RGB lighting strip around the edges earn the device its RGB branding. The underside features a rubber layer that makes the mouse pad very stable on any surface. A bump at the top of the mouse pad hosts all the circuitry and two buttons that control the lighting patterns and brightness. The mouse pad measures 342x280x3.9 (in mm) and can be powered by a single USB 2.0 port. A glowing Galax logo is near the bottom. [caption id=“attachment_3897701” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] If you already have a blinged out PC, the SNPR RGB will meld right in. Image: tech2[/caption] Pressing the buttons in various combinations switches the lighting mode on the mouse pad. You can enjoy various modes including wave, spectrum, breath, etc. You can also switch between seven colours including red, white, orange, yellow, green cyan, blue and purple. [caption id=“attachment_3897725” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] It’s rough edges like these that detract from the quality of the final product. Image: tech2[/caption] As a mouse pad, the SNPR RGB is perfectly fine. It’s dimensions are adequate and the surface is, as expected from a speed surface, very smooth when using a mouse. The RGB lighting is quite bright without being blinding and is diffused, so it’s not harsh either. However, I wouldn’t call the device a premium product because the finish could have been better. [caption id=“attachment_3897753” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] RGB lighting adds a nice touch to your system to be sure, but are you willing to pay the asking price?[/caption] The mouse pad surface, for example, doesn’t sit flush with the core of the device. The edges of the glowing Galax logo are also a little sharp. For around Rs 2,000 - Rs 3,000, you can get excellent, large, cloth mouse pads from dedicated gaming peripherals makers like Razer. For Rs 5,000, you can get something like the Razer Firefly, which offers RGB lighting as well as the option to sync colours with other Razer peripherals. Spend a little more and you can get something like the Corsair MM800 Polaris, which takes thing a step further by offering a USB pass through as well as colour synchronisation with Corsair devices. The problem with this mouse pad is its price. The Galax SNPR RGB mouse pad is a good product, but it’s pricing means that it’s not an impulse purchase. Anyone doing their research before purchasing an RGB mouse pad is sure to stumble across the Razer Firefly and the Corsair MM800 Polaris before they do the Galax SNPR. And in the face of that competition, this mouse pad is a tough sell. It’s a decent enough mouse pad, but it has no USP.