ThunderX3 TM50 By Aerocool Mouse Review (w/ TMP40 Mousemat)

1. Introduction2. Unboxing and First Look3. Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

In an increasingly saturated peripheral market, it can be hard for a new manufacturer to stand out and get some attention. ThunderX3, a subsidiary of Aerocool, are hoping that their TM50 mouse – complete with an Avago 3310 optical sensor, RGB lighting and an aluminium base – will be able to compete with established brands like Corsair and Razer. The TM50 may sound like a fairly typical mouse on paper, but ThunderX3 do have a trick up their sleeve – the mouse costs just £29.90.

For the features on offer, £29.90 looks like a great price for the ThunderX3 TM50. Most flagship mice cost at least £50 – just look at the TT eSports Level 10M Advanced, the Corsair M65 Pro and the Razer Diamondback Chroma. In most cases we would actually consider a mouse priced at £30 to be a ‘budget offering', but considering the on-paper specifications of the TM50 we find it hard to call it a ‘budget' mouse. In this review we will be looking to see if any compromises have been made to achieve this low price-point, or if the TM50 is really as good as it looks.

Specifications

• Sensor: AVAGO-3310 Optical Gaming Sensor
• Resolution: 1500 / 3000 / 6000 / 10000 DPI
• Processor: 32-bit
• Game Type: FPS / MMORPG /MOBA / RTS
• Polling Rate: 1000Hz / 1ms
• On-board Memory: 512KB
• Material: ABS
• Software: ThunderX3 System
• Programmable Buttons: 6
• Switches: OMRON Gaming Switch
• LED Backlight: 16.8 Million Colours
• Frame Rate: 6400 FPS
• Maximum Tracking: Speed 60 IPS
• Maximum Acceleration: 20G
• Interface: Gold-plated USB Plug
• Cable Length: 1.8m Braided
• Dimensions: 125(L) x 78(W) x 38(H) mm
• Weight: 175g ± 5g

The ThunderX3 TM50 mouse ships in a dark grey box. On the front we get an indication that the mouse is RGB-capable.

The back of the box also includes some multilingual product specifications.

Getting our first look at the mouse, we can see it has a relatively simple design. It is shaped for right-handers, with the fascia being made up of 3 distinct sections.

The first section is the left-hand side of the mouse. Here we find 2 user-programmable buttons as well as a small, textured-rubber grip area for your thumb.

The next section is the mid-plate, which runs the length of the mouse – straight down the middle.

At the top of the mouse we find the scroll wheel. The wheel itself is noteworthy because it is both textured, to help with grip, and particularly wide – measuring in at 10mm wide. The extra width should make scrolling that bit easier in the heat battle. Just below the wheel is a DPI-cycle button as well as 3 LED indicators to let you know which DPI stage is currently in use.

At the bottom of the mouse is the ThunderX3 logo. Both the logo and the scroll wheel are illuminated by RGB LEDs once the mouse is plugged in, but they are not independently programmable.

The final section of the mouse is the right-hand side, where your fourth-and-fifth fingers would usually rest. Here ThunderX3 have done something a bit different, though, as this entire plate section is removable.

Out-of-the-box, the TM50 is configured with a satin-touch plate that has a subtle contour for your fourth-finger to rest in (pictured above, left). However, you can swap this plate out for a textured rubber section (above, right) that is included in the box if you prefer the extra grip. This is a nice touch that gives a bit of extra flexibility to the mouse – depending on your preference, the side plate can be adjusted accordingly.

Lastly, the base of the TM50 is actually made of aluminium. This is designed to prevent unwanted lift-off while gaming, but it does also mean the mouse is quite heavy – the TM50 weighs in at 175g including the cable. Some would probably prefer a lighter mouse but it is definitely a personal preference thing. I, however, love the quality feel of a heavy mouse, so the TM50 suits me perfectly.To test the TM50 I used it as my daily driver for over a week. During this time I used it for general office work, as well as for playing games and editing photos.

First, let's take a look at the included software.

The first page lets you re-assign functions to the 6 programmable buttons. You can also record macros here by clicking on ‘macro' (on the right-hand side of the page) and following the steps to recording your desired macro.

It is also important to note that 3 profiles can be configured independently of each other. These profiles are then saved to the mouse's in-built memory which stores your settings without the need for software.

The next page gives control over the ‘performance' side of things. This means you can set the 4 DPI stages, as well as manage the polling rate and scroll speed of the mouse.

Lastly, the lighting options can also be configured. The TM50 is RGB-ready, though the scroll wheel and ThunderX3 logo cannot be configured independently of each other. I would also have liked to see a few more lighting effects – at the moment there is just the option for static, breathing, or colour-shift modes.

Nonetheless, the software is pretty functional and easy-to-use. It is basic, yes, but it gives control over all the important areas and is not complicated at all. The lack of lighting effects is my only real complaint with the software.

Speaking of the lighting, I found the colour accuracy to be pretty decent overall. The LEDs are nice and bold while the light's coverage is even across the ThunderX3 logo.

The scroll wheel would benefit from a second LED, though, as at the moment there is only one LED illuminating the wheel – which means the coverage is slightly lacking across the wheel itself. Still, there is a definite glow so it is far from bad.

Moving on to the physical testing of the TM50. Firstly, it is good to see that both palm and claw-grips can be used with the TM50. Palm grips are comfortable thanks to the smooth slope at the bottom of the mouse which allows your palm to rest naturally on-top. The mouse is also quite long (125mm in length), so there is a lot of space for your whole hand to rest as well. I do prefer a claw grip, though, and that is equally as comfortable – the textured section on the left-hand side of the mouse allows you to grip firmly with your thumb, while the contoured section helps your fourth-finger to rest naturally as well.

I am also very appreciative of the sheer weight of the TM50. Weighing in at 175g, it is the heaviest mouse I have ever used. That being said, the weight is distributed incredibly evenly across the body of the mouse thanks to the aluminium baseplate which spans the length of the mouse.

This means the TM50 does not feel imbalanced or lopsided. To compensate for the extra weight I just raised the DPI sensitivity a little bit. Admittedly, though, a heavy mouse is not for everyone – competitive FPS gamers, for instance, would probably prefer a more lightweight mouse as this can help with vital twitch reactions. However, my personal opinion is that nothing can beat the sturdy feel of a weighty mouse.

The Avago 3310 optical sensor is capable up to 10,000 DPI as well which is surely more than enough for anybody reading this review. You can set 4 DPI stages, too, and switch between them on-the-fly thanks to the DPI-cycle button that sits below the scroll wheel. It is always good to have this functionality, but I much prefer having two separate buttons to change the DPI, rather than a single cycle button – the latter just makes finding your desired sensitivity a bit tedious as you cannot go directly to the desired stage, you have to cycle through all the other stages first.

General tracking with the 3310 was absolutely fine, however, and I noticed no issues when using the mouse. This was true when gaming with a high DPI of around 4000, as well as when editing in Photoshop with a DPI of just 800.

I am also appreciative of the satin-touch finish applied to the whole mouse. It feels incredibly smooth to the touch and also looks great – yet it retains a practical function as it helps you grip, even when you start to perspire.

Lastly, ThunderX3 also sent over the TMP40 mousemat for this review today. It is a well-sized mat, measuring 400mm x 320mm x 4mm (W x H x D). I am especially appreciative of the 4mm thickness as it gives the mat a quality feel while also helping to cushion your wrist. The edge of the mat is stitched which looks great, while the underside of the mat is textured rubber to ensure there is no slipping while you are gaming.

In the bottom right-hand corner there is a tasteful ThunderX3 logo, but the rest of the mat is plain black. It is also worth noting the surface material is a polyester-based fabric.

I had no issues using the TMP40 – it works very well with the TM50 and is comfortable for your wrist and forearm as well.

ThunderX3 have done a great job with the TM50 mouse.

For starters, there is an element of modularity to the mouse – users can swap out the plated section on the right-hand side of the mouse, choosing between a textured rubber section or a satin-touch, contoured plate.

I am also appreciative of the heaviness of the TM50. It weighs 175g, which is quite a lot for a mouse, but I really like the sturdy feel of a heavy mouse resting in the palm of your hand. The weight comes from an aluminium baseplate which should stand the test of time very well.

I encountered no issues with the Avago 3310 optical sensor, either. Incidentally, the sensor has a maximum sensitivity of 10,000 DPI, which is more than enough for 99% of people. Users can also configure 4 DPI stages using the mouse's software.

Speaking of the software, simply by having software the TM50 is already ahead of other mice around this price-point, as most £30 mice do not ship with any software. Even better, then, is the fact that the software is easy-to-use and gives users control over all the important things like polling rate, macros and button assignment.

My only real criticisms of the TM50 are both pretty minor as well. Firstly, I would have preferred two DPI-switch buttons instead of a single button which cycles through all the DPI stages until you get to your desired stage. Secondly, the scroll wheel could do with another LED to improve the light's coverage. That's it.

All-in-all, then, the TM50 is a great mouse with a lot going for it, and very little going against it. It is even better when you consider the low, £29.90 price tag. ThunderX3 have not done anything hugely innovative with the TM50, but what they have done is bring a level of performance and build quality that could have easily cost £50+, and packaged that into a device which costs less than half of some of its competitors.

You can buy the TM50 from CCL for £29.90 inc. VAT HERE. The TMP40 mousemat is also available from CCL for £14.93 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Pros

• Aluminium baseplate adds weight.
• Avago 3310 sensor is capable.
• Easy-to-use software.
• Satin-touch finish.
• RGB-capable.
• Great performance/feature-set for the price.

Cons

• Could do with 2 buttons for DPI switching on-the-fly instead of just 1.
• The scroll wheel would also benefit from a second LED.

KitGuru says: The TM50 is a solid mouse which would still score well if it cost £50 or so. Given the fact it retails for less than £30 we can only give it our ‘must have' award. If you are looking for a mouse to rival the Corsair M65 Pro or the TT eSports Level 10M Advanced, while costing about half as much, the ThunderX3 TM50 is for you.

Become a Patron!

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here