Brand collaborations have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The underlying concept – where companies leverage each other’s customer base or extend exclusive brands to wider audiences – holds considerable potential. However, some collaborations yield less predictable results, such as the unexpected partnership between luxury brand Balenciaga and Crocs. The result of this collaboration can be viewed here.
Today, we will examine a collaboration that appears more promising: the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition gaming mouse (hereafter referred to as Harpe Ace). While Asus is a well-established name, Aimlabs may be less familiar. Aimlabs develops software designed to help PC gamers assess and enhance their mouse precision and speed.
Design
The initial impression upon receiving the Harpe Ace was its remarkably light weight. This feeling persisted upon handling the mouse; its low mass gives the impression that it could be easily crushed. However, the Harpe Ace exhibits impressive rigidity, with minimal flex even under significant pressure.
According to Asus, the Harpe Ace’s low weight is partly attributable to its construction material: bio-based nylon. The material’s texture is somewhat difficult to describe, but it resembles the feel of environmentally friendly plastic cutlery. The surface finish is not entirely smooth, featuring a fine, roughened texture that provides enhanced grip, even during extended gaming sessions. As illustrated in the close-up image, the surface appears similar to an eggshell under magnification. Grip tape is included for users who desire additional grip, though we found it unnecessary.
The Harpe Ace features a conventional symmetrical design. Despite its symmetry, it is not fully ambidextrous due to the presence of two turquoise thumb buttons on the left side. The clickable scroll wheel’s backlight is customizable via the Armoury Crate software. The underside houses buttons for pairing, DPI adjustment, and connection mode selection. Our testing indicates that the Harpe Ace is well-suited for claw and palm grip styles, although it accommodates most grip preferences effectively.
Features
The Harpe Ace boasts a comprehensive feature set, headlined by its optical sensor with a DPI of 36,000. This high DPI translates to exceptional precision, ensuring accurate representation of hand movements in-game. This was confirmed during Aimlabs testing against a competitor (discussed later). In addition to the sensor, Asus has integrated three connection options: USB, 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth. For context, the popular Logitech G PRO X Superlight lacks Bluetooth connectivity and weighs more.
Software
Given the Aimlabs branding, testing the Harpe Ace within Aimlabs is essential. We initiated testing with various exercises to compare the Harpe Ace’s performance against the Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed. This informal evaluation indicated a slight performance advantage for the Harpe Ace. Considering our greater familiarity with the Razer mouse, the results suggest a more pronounced advantage with increased Harpe Ace usage.
We then utilized Aimlabs’ built-in tests to determine optimal settings for specific playstyles. These tests provided results generally consistent with our pre-existing preferences. The tests are potentially more valuable for novice users who require guidance on optimal configuration. The ability to automatically apply Aimlabs’ recommended settings with a single click is a notable feature.
Conclusion
Does the collaboration between Asus and Aimlabs represent a successful partnership, or is the Harpe Ace a flawed outcome? Based on our evaluation, we are highly satisfied with the Harpe Ace. It meets all expectations for a premium gaming mouse, while maintaining a leading position in terms of weight. Its sleek and understated design further enhances its appeal. We highly recommend the Harpe Ace and anticipate continued success for the Asus and Aimlabs collaboration.
Asus provided review samples for this evaluation. The provision of review samples does not influence our editorial independence; our reviews are conducted independently, with the interests of our readers as the primary focus.
