Despite advancements in mouse tech, mousepads are still a necessary component of every gaming setup. If you're a serious gamer, you already know rough surfaces, glass, and chip-ridden desks aren't ideal even if mice have evolved from balls to lasers.
For gaming, mousepads have a lot of upside, but with the market ostensibly flooded with dozens of variations, grading mousepads really comes down to subjectivity and preference.
On the surface, Bloody's MP-60R is an average pad; even its RGB functionality doesn't help it stand out from the likes of the QCK Prism or Enhance LED.
Not "standing out" or being "unique" doesn't make a mousepad bad. However, there are a few things to consider before you buy.
The MP-60R is one of the thinner pads on the market. Measuring in at 354mm(L) by 256mm(W), the pad is only 2.6mm thick. Compared to the QCK and Enhance, the MP-60R is both lighter and more flexible, although neither matter all that much if you don't plan on carrying the pad from desktop to desktop.
Its angular, hard-cut corners give it a futuristic look that's intensified by the thin RGB light-rail that runs along the edges of the pad. Although super thin (thinner than the 2.6mm of the pad itself), the light-rail powerfully emits light from the full 16-million color spectrum in a lateral plain when turned on, which keeps in-game distraction to a minimum. In contrast, the QCK emits light upward, which is more noticeable during play and might affect certain users differently.
At the top of the pad, located directly in the middle, you'll find the MP-60R's polygonal interface module, where you'll find the lighting switch and micro-USB port. When you plug the pad into your computer, you'll have access to its 10 onboard preset lighting effects, which you can toggle using the fat, responsive switch located on the right side of the module.
However, since the module is placed at the top of the pad, its bulky height tends to get in the way if you have a wired mouse. There were dozens of times my mouse cord got caught on the edge of the module, either impeding my mouse movements or, in extreme cases, torquing my wrist sideways. It happened so often that the issue forced me to dock the pad a full score, from an 8 to a 7.
The cloth surface of the pad is meant for speed an accuracy. Comparing to the QCK and the HyperX Fury S Pro, which is my everyday mousepad, The MP-60R didn't feel more accurate or speedier. In fact, it felt slower in some respects, specifically to the Fury S Pro.
One thing I can say for sure is that the fabric feels better on the fingertips than the fabric found on the reversible QCK. It's noticeably softer and less scratchy. That's something to keep in mind when you're buying an RGB mousepad for aesthetic and feel.
Another interesting tidbit about the MP-60R is that the surface is waterproof. I tested the efficacy of that claim by dumping a cup of water on it and the QCK. Water immediately beaded of the sides of the MP-60R, with several ounces pooling in the middle. The water on the QCK simply pooled in the middle.
After a full 90 seconds, I wiped the water off of each mousepad with a dishrag. The MP-60R showed zero signs of spillage, while the QCK was left with a large, damp stain in the middle (you can see a comparison in the image above).
The Verdict
For the most part, it's hard to complain about the MP-60R. Its colors are vibrant, its fabric is smooth and water resistant, its non-slip rubber backing keeps it from sliding around on even the slickest surfaces, and the braided cable doesn't get tangled. That's not to mention the deep Illumine software that lets you essentially design and assign your own effects and color presets, storing it on the pad's 160Kb onboard memory.
My biggest gripe is that the interface module at the top of the pad is bulky and inconveniently placed. If you have a wireless mouse, it won't be an issue at all. However, if you're one of the many who has a wired mouse, there's a significant chance the module will get in the way.
Lastly, although the Illumine software is surprisingly robust, it's also extremely difficult to navigate and looks like a remnant of the Netscape era. While the latter is just a personal peeve, the latter can make assigning custom effects and color combinations an unnecessary pain in the rear. Add to that you won't be able to sync your creations across other Bloody products, like its mechanical keyboards and mice, and the MP-60R pushes itself out of the eighth position.
You can buy the Bloody MP-60R Mousepad on Amazon for $29.99.
[Note: Bloody provided the mousepad used in this review.]
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