ACGAM G402 review: A budget gaming mouse worth buying
The ACGAM G402 is a capable mouse at a stellar price. At less than $20, it's one pointing device you should consider when on a tight budget.
There are plenty of cheap mice out there, many claiming to offer a premium gaming experience at an affordable price. Most of them are the barebones in terms of basic functionality, while there are a few gems hidden away that aren't perfect but offer great levels of functionality for the price. The ACGAM G402 is one of these, packing in comfortable ergonomics, attractive and solid build, and more.
For the budget gamer
Costs around $17.99
Bottom line: The G402 from ACGAM is ideal for any gamer seeking a mouse at an affordable price.Pros:
Solid price and value.Braided cable.Good build quality.Cons:
Non-detachable cable.Sensor isn't too accurate.Some cheap parts.What you'll like about the ACGAM G402
The main selling point of the mouse is — of course — the price. At just $17.99, it's a steal. We have LED lighting, and the default RGB wave effect is actually visually appealing (I'm not the biggest fan of LED effects). There's a standard configuration of buttons too. Two main clickers, joined by a scroll wheel and two side buttons for the thumb to activate. There's also a single button on the top to switch between pre-configured DPI settings.
This thing is marketed to go all the way up to 10,000 DPI and performance isn't too bad, even in the higher settings. Usually, it's the case whereby increasing said DPI setting, especially on cheaper mice would cause some issues with tracking and accuracy. But overall, the optical PMW3325 sensor handles surfaces well. There are a few times when it would struggle a little. Technical-wise, the mouse, will handle up to 100 inches-per-second (IPS) +9+at a polling rate of 1000 Hz/1ms.
Thanks to the ergonomic design, it's very comfortable to use, regardless of which grip style you go with. And as an added bonus, ADGAM provides software for you to manage button programming, lighting, and more.
What you'll dislike about the ACGAM G402
One thing I do not like about the G402 is the scroll wheel, which doesn't offer a satisfactory level of feedback when rolling the wheel up or down. The actual switch button for the wheel is good, but the notches for the scroll motion just don't feel strong enough. The two buttons on the side are also fairly cheap. The two main pointer buttons (left and right-click) are solid, however. They feel as though they could easily handle a few years worth of clicking.
A minor issue I have with the mouse is the lack of a detachable cable. I like how ACGAM has opted for a braided cable with gold a plated connection, but I would have liked to see the cable replaceable. As noted above, the moue can also sometimes struggle with accurate pointer movement but is usually fine to use. The design is also uninspiring, but for the price, it's something that can be easily overlooked.
Bottom line on ACGAM G402
The G402 by ACGAM is a cheap mouse, there's no way to ignore the fact. Compare this pointer to a more expensive option from SteelSeries, Razer or Logitech, and it's easy to see faults and where other premium mice are simply better. When it comes down to performance, it's not going to blow your mind, but for just $17.99 you shouldn't expect it to. What the G402 does well is provide ample value.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
If you're on a tight budget, you can do a lot worse than the G402.
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.