When it comes to mouse pads, most PC gamers aren’t too picky about the type of surface they drag their mouse across. Whether it’s a smooth cloth surface or a textured plastic one, the difference may seem minute but when it comes to the fast-paced action in eSports, the subtle differences between them could be as large as the Grand Canyon. Such are the differences between the Zowie GTF-X and the Zowie G-SR.
The Zowie GTF-X and Zowie GS-R are both large mouse pads; they measure 48 cm by 40 cm, giving ample space to play with. Thus, you can reduce your mouse sensitivity and DPI without having to worry about running out of space for you to drag your mouse across. The thickness of both mouse pads is 3.5 cm. However, when it comes to mouse pad sizes, having a large one may not always prove to be a boon, as they tend to crumple and slide more often. Fortunately, I can state that with both, the GTF-X and the GS-R, neither of those are an issue thanks to the grippy rubber base on both mouse pads. If you don’t have large space on your desk, I would suggest you get the smaller variants of these mouse pads.
When it comes to design, Zowie has gone for the refined and subtle red stitched logo on the side, instead of large garish symbols. Plus the black colour of both mouse pads is great for gamers who utilise RGB mouses and keyboards as it lets the colours stand out. The edges of both mouse pads are stitched, which may cause some discomfort to some users, though I myself found them quite comfortable. The GTF-X surface is made of cloth with plastic mixed in, giving a rougher texture than the cloth-only surface of the GS-R, however, I didn’t find it to be irritable to my skin.
The stitched edges also help when it comes to durability as they prevent the top layer from peeling away from the bottom of the mouse pad, something that you can see happen over time, especially to plastic mouse pads. However, the GTF-X takes a slight lead due to the water resistant surface it has compared to the cloth surface of the GS-R.
So far both mouse pads are neck in neck in terms of size, design and durability, but how do they differ in terms of tracking and speed? I tested both mouse pads with the Zowie EC1-A to see how each felt in terms of raw gaming performance. The Zowie EC1-A is an optical mouse, not a laser mouse, an important fact to note.
The Zowie GTF-X isn’t as slow as a cloth mouse pad nor is it as fast as a hard plastic mouse pad, coming right in between. As someone who uses a plastic pad normally, I had to reduce the sensitivity in a game when using the GTF-X. In terms of tracking, it does well for optical tracking, which is no problem for Zowie mice considering they all have optical sensors. However, you may find it a bit jittery when using a laser mouse.
The Zowie G-SR, on the other hand, does not mix plastic into the cloth weave and is solely made of cloth. Again, in terms of optical tracking, the G-SR performs well, though I found it was a smidge below the GTF-X in terms of tracking. Once again I had to reduce my sensitivity, but this time even slightly lower than I did with the GTF-X which whilst being more comfortable, did mess with my muscle memory.
The Absolute Verdict? Both, the Zowie GTF-X and the Zowie G-SR are nearly identical in terms of size, durability and to an extent, design. The places they differ in are comfort, with the GTF-X incorporating plastic into the cloth surface, and performance, though once again the differences are subtle. However, when it comes to competitive gaming, the subtleties are incredibly obvious. I would recommend the GS-R to gamers who are used to gaming with optical mouses on cloth pads, whilst the GTF-X performs a smidge better when it comes to tracking. The GTF-X is priced at $34.99 and the G-SR is priced at $29.99.