If a Transformer became a gaming mouse

Up until recently, my experience with mice was limited to a trackball and basic mouse with no bells or whistles. My basic mouse was enough, and while it may not have enhanced my gaming experience, I didn't feel that it was taking away from it either.

Then the Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Laser Gaming Mouse was given to me in a shiny box, looking very flashy and high tech. There were more buttons, and it lit up in colors I could change! It was exciting and new, but then I started using the device and got a feel for it. While flashy and sleek are good -- and fun to look at -- what truly matters is how the mouse performs, and if it's worth the asking point. My answer is a solid "maybe."

Product: Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Laser Gaming Mouse
Manufacturer: Thermaltake
Input: USB 
MSRP: $99.99 

Although the Level 10 M looks strange, and takes some getting used to, it was not an uncomfortable transition from my previous mouse. The transition was also made easier by the fact that I could adjust the height of the back of the mouse up or down as well as to right or left angles. It might take some fiddling, but being able to adjust how your hand rests on the mouse is a nice feature. 

There are several features of the Level 10 M that make it more comfortable or easier to handle, such as the rubber grips on the bottom to limit resistance against whatever surface your mouse is resting on. There is also a cradle in the front that holds its cord (this is not wireless) so that it doesn't drag on your desk or get snagged against anything.

Other features touted for the the device are an aluminum base, laser sensor, programmable colors, and "air-through ventilation" which basically means your hands shouldn't get all sweaty. I never had much of a problem with sweaty palms to begin with, so I can't tell you if this actually works, but man oh man, it sure does look cool.

As far as buttons go, it has the usual left and right mouse buttons and mouse wheel, as well as two buttons on the right side and three on the left. The buttons on the left are dedicated forward and back buttons, with the third being solely for changing your DPI settings and profiles. Button placement is a bit awkward and took some getting used; despite this layout, accidental changes to DPI levels and profiles happened quite often for a while, and usually at the worst possible times. As for the buttons on the right side, they are very awkward and difficult to press, considering that I would have to click them with my pinky.

The DPI default setting caps at 5000, but can be raised to 8200 by tinkering with the software, though I never went above 3200; handling and control are smooth. If you ever forget what you have the DPI set to, there's an indicator on the right mouse button that lights up to tell you which level it is at. There is also no resistance or friction due to the rubber pads on the bottom, and if you tend to pick your mouse up while playing, there is also a setting to change how high off the desk you can raise it before the sensors stop registering.

In addition to changing the DPI and lift off sensitivity, you can also adjust the double click, cursor, and scroll speeds as well as the polling rate. Additionally, you can change the colors and switch between normal mode and "battle mode," with battle mode changing the colors on the Level 10 M based on how much you click. That's it. Other software options open to you include five different profiles, macros, and the ability to assign each mouse button whichever function you want.

While some of the features offered on the Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Gaming Mouse are useful and quite nice, I can't say that it's been a vast improvement over my generic Microsoft mouse. The extra buttons and increased mouse sensitivity are great, but there seems to be a lot of extra 'stuff' that looks nice without actually doing much to enhance your gaming experience or make gaming easier.

As cool as the Level 10 M looks, and as well as it works, there are probably other, less expensive options out there for you that will do just as well.