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Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Sep 29, 2021 at 11:32 am
Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo  Picture
7.3
Office/Multimedia
7.8
Video Games (FPS)
7.2
Video Games (MMO)
8.3
Ultra-Light Gaming
5.2
Travel

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is a very lightweight, right-handed gaming mouse with two buttons on the left and a range of modular pieces you can swap out to change the look and feel of the mouse. Despite its modularity, it feels sturdily built overall. That said, it's well-suited for all grip types and most hand sizes, but it's only suitable using a palm grip for small hands. Performance-wise, it has a very low lift-off distance, and you can adjust the CPI precisely by increments of 50 within a broad range. Unfortunately, the unit we tested has very high click latency for a gaming mouse.

Our Verdict

7.3 Office/Multimedia

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is satisfactory for office and multimedia work. It feels well-built and has a comfortable, right-handed shape suitable for all grip types and most hand sizes. You can also program all the buttons using the companion software compatible with Windows. Unfortunately, there are no wireless connection options, and the mouse wheel lacks both L/R tilt buttons and a free-scrolling mode.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are reprogrammable.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't have a free-scrolling mode.
7.8 Video Games (FPS)

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo has many elements that make it a very good FPS gaming mouse. However, it has very high click latency that some users may find isn't responsive enough for FPS gaming. That said, it feels well-built and is very lightweight. It has a flexible paracord-like cable and smooth-gliding mouse feet. Performance-wise, it has a very low minimum lift-off distance, and you can precisely adjust the set CPI by increments of 50 within a broad range.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
  • Very lightweight.
  • Physical customizability with modular pieces.
Cons
  • Very high click latency.
7.2 Video Games (MMO)

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is decent for MMO gaming, but it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO gaming mouse, and it has very high click latency. Nevertheless, it feels well-built overall and has a comfortable, right-handed shape suitable for all grip types and most hand sizes. You can also customize button bindings and most sensor settings using the companion software. Performance-wise, it has a very low lift-off distance, and you can change the CPI precisely by increments of 50 within a wide range.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are reprogrammable.
Cons
  • Very high click latency.
  • Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO gaming mouse.
8.3 Ultra-Light Gaming

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo may be an impressive ultra-light gaming choice for some as it's very lightweight, it has a flexible paracord-like cable, and mouse feet that glide smoothly on mousepads and desks. Unfortunately, the unit we tested has very high click latency for a gaming mouse, and many users may prefer a more responsive-feeling option. That said, it also feels well-built overall and has a comfortable, right-handed shape well-suited for all grip types and most hand sizes. It also has a very low lift-off distance, and you can adjust the CPI precisely by increments of 50 within a broad range.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
  • Very lightweight.
  • Physical customizability with modular pieces.
Cons
  • Very high click latency.
5.2 Travel

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is inadequate for travel use as it's bulky and may not fit in most laptop cases. It's also a wired-only mouse, making it cumbersome to use in tight spaces like buses, trains, or planes. That said, it feels well-built overall, and it has onboard memory that lets you use custom settings on devices without the software installed.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Bulky; may not fit in most laptop cases.
  • 7.3 Office/Multimedia
  • 7.8 Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.2 Video Games (MMO)
  • 8.3 Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.2 Travel
  1. Updated Sep 29, 2021: Review published.
  2. Updated Sep 24, 2021: Early access published.
  3. Updated Jul 08, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Jul 05, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated May 14, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo has two base colorways in black and white and comes in either a solid plastic base model or a honeycomb-design base model. The unit we tested is the white honeycomb-design base model. You can also order all the modular pieces in nine other colors on the manufacturer's website. While it isn't a variant, there's also a wireless version of this mouse, the Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Ergo, as well as an ambidextrous version, the Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Symm. You can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other Mice

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is an impressive, lightweight mouse in Pwnage's lineup of Ultra Custom mice. One of the major features of this lineup is customizability, and Pwnage offers a selection of modular pieces in nine colors that change the look and feel of the mouse. These swappable parts include palm rests, L/R click buttons, button spacers, mouse feet with different thicknesses, and CPI buttons of varying heights. This mouse also has a comfortable and time-tested shape very similar to the BenQ ZOWIE S2, and it has very solid sensor performance compared to mice in a similar price bracket. Unfortunately, the unit we tested has very high click latency, making it difficult to recommend for gaming for most users who may prefer a mouse that feels more responsive.

For more recommendations, see our picks for the best wired mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best lightweight mouse.

GLORIOUS Model D

The GLORIOUS Model D is a better wired, ultra-lightweight gaming mouse than the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo. The GLORIOUS has a more flexible cable and better quality mouse feet that glide more smoothly. It also has much lower click latency. On the other hand, the Pwnage feels sturdier and has a wider CPI range. It also has a more precisely adjustable CPI, a lower minimum lift-off distance, and modular parts that change the look and feel of the mouse. Both mice have a right-handed shape and are well-suited for all hand sizes using a palm grip and mostly larger-sized hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip.

Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT

The Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT is an excellent wireless ultra-light gaming mouse, while the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo is a great, wired ultra-lightweight gaming mouse. The Logitech is marginally lighter and feels sturdier. It also has better quality mouse feet that glide more smoothly. Performance-wise, it has a higher maximum CPI and a much lower click latency. Its software is also compatible with Windows and macOS, while the Pwnage software is only compatible with Windows. On the other hand, the Pwnage has modular pieces that can change the look and feel of the mouse. It also has RGB lighting and a dedicated CPI button behind the scroll wheel.

Logitech G PRO HERO

The Logitech G PRO HERO and the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo are wired gaming mice with comparable performance. The Logitech is sturdier and has a higher maximum CPI range. It also has a much lower click latency, and its software is compatible with Windows and macOS, while the Pwnage software is only compatible with Windows. On the other hand, the Pwnage is significantly lighter and has a more flexible cable. It also has smoother-gliding mouse feet and modular parts that change the look and feel of the mouse. The Logitech has an ambidextrous shape and is more accommodating to smaller hands, while the Pwnage has a right-handed shape and is better suited for larger hands.

Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Symm

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Symm is a wireless, ambidextrous version of the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo, which is wired-only and has a right-handed shape. The Wireless Symm feels sturdier and has better quality mouse feet. It also lets you change the polling rate using the customization software, a feature the Custom Ergo lacks. On the other hand, the Custom Ergo is lighter. It also has a marginally lower minimum CPI, and you can adjust the set CPI more precisely.

Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Ergo

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Ergo is the wireless version of the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo. The wired Ultra Custom Ergo is marginally lighter and has a more precisely adjustable CPI. On the other hand, the Ultra Custom Wireless Ergo feels sturdier, has better quality mouse feet, and has much lower click latency. You can also adjust the polling rate using the software, a feature the wired Custom Ergo lacks.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB
Design
Shape
Length 4.8" (121 mm)
Height 1.7" (43 mm)
Width 2.6" (66 mm)
Grip Width
60 mm
5.5
Design
Portability
Volume
20.93 in³ (343 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No
Design
Weight
Maximum Weight With Wire
118 g
Maximum Weight Without Wire
87 g
Minimum Weight Without Wire
64 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
Yes

The solid plastic palm rest cover on the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo weighs approximately 3g more than the honeycomb version. There are a set of 12x 1.33g weights included with the mouse that fit into a sled you can install under the palm rest. The mouse functions normally with the palm cover removed, and doing so reduces the overall weight of the mouse to 58.91g. Fingertip grip users may prefer to use the mouse this way, but it will likely be uncomfortable to do so using other grip types. If you're interested in a gaming mouse that's nearly the same weight but has a solid plastic body without honeycomb cutouts, check out the Ninjutso Origin One X or the SteelSeries Prime Mini.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

Unfortunately, the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo we tested creaks slightly if you press hard enough on the underside, and you can activate the side buttons if you squeeze into the body below them with enough force.

9.0
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
Yes
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
No
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No
Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
No
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
No
Medium Hand
No
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No
8.5
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length 6.1 ft (1.9 m)
Cable Type
Paracord-like
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
No Port
Port Type: PC End
USB
8.5
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Good
Material
PTFE
Extra Included
Yes
Design
In The Box

  • Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo (with white left/right click cover and white honeycomb palm cover on the mouse)
  • User documentation
  • 12x 1.33g weights and their accompanying sled
  • Button spacers (4x 0.5mm, 4x 0.6mm, 4x 0.7mm, 4x 0.8mm)
  • DPI Buttons 3mm, (1x white on the mouse), (1x black), 5mm (1x white, 1x black)
  • Left/right click cover (1x black)
  • Honeycomb palm cover (1x black)
  • Solid palm cover (1x white, 1x black)
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable

Control
Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
PixArt PMW3389
Works On Glass
No
Minimum CPI (DPI)
50 CPI
Maximum CPI (DPI)
16,000 CPI
CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
50 CPI
CPI (DPI) Variation
5%
Minimum Lift Off Distance
1.2 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
1000 Hz

The polling rate settings available on the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo are 125Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. Pwnage advertises a minimum CPI of 200 for this mouse on their website, but you can lower the CPI to down to 50 using the customization software. You can adjust the polling rate using the dedicated switch on the underside of the mouse, but there isn't a way to adjust it using the software.

6.9
Control
Buttons
Buttons Activation
Mechanical
Total Number Of Buttons
6
Number Of Side Buttons
2
Number Of Programmable Inputs
8
Profile Switching Button
No
CPI (DPI) Switching Button
Yes
Gesture Support
No

You can reprogram all of the buttons on the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo, but you need to have at least one button configured as a left-click at all times. The button behind the scroll wheel, which acts as a dedicated CPI button by default, comes in both 3mm and 5mm heights and both black and white colors. Additional button spacers are also included in the box that can alter the feel of the left/right-click buttons. According to Pwnage, the shorter spacers provide a softer, more subtle click-feeling, while the taller ones feel more tactile. However, these spacers are very small, and some users may have difficulty installing them.

Control
Mouse Wheel
Scroll Wheel
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
No
Thumb Wheel
No
Thumb Wheel Steps
No Thumb Wheel
Control
Noise
Click Noise
Loud
6.4
Control
Click Latency
Click Latency: Receiver
N/A
Click Latency: Bluetooth
N/A
Click Latency: Wired
25.5 ms

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo we tested has very high click latency. For a similar mouse with a lower latency, check out the G-Wolves Skoll SK-L ACE Edition or the Sharkoon Light² 200.

Note: We expected the click latency test results for the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo to be closer to those of the Pwnage Ultra Custom Wireless Ergo, which is the wireless version of this mouse. We retested the click latency multiple times and received consistent results. However, we achieved much lower click latency results testing other mice using the same equipment later the same day. If you have this mouse and would like to share your experience with us, we encourage you to leave a comment in the discussions.

Operating System And Software
7.8
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name Pwnage Ultra Custom
Software Windows Compatibility
Yes
Software macOS Compatibility
No
Account Needed
No
On-Board Memory
Yes
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
Yes
Polling Rate Adjustment
No
Profile Configuration
Yes
RGB On/Off
Yes

The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo has software that looks dated and cheap, but it's easy to use and well laid out. Unfortunately, there's no way to assign a profile-switching button and no option in the software to adjust the polling rate.

10
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Fully