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Vaxee XE Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Aug 16, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 15, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Vaxee XE Picture
5.3
Work
8.6
Video Games (FPS)
6.4
Video Games (MMO)
9.3
Raw Performance

The Vaxee XE is a wired mouse with a lightweight construction, designed for both gaming and office use. Internally, it shares a lot with the Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01, with the same PixArt PMW3389 sensor and similar overall performance. Still, it's packaged in a lighter plastic shell with a symmetrical shape as well as more durable and heavier HUANO 70g switches. It has no companion software and instead features onboard CPI, polling rate, and debounce presets, which is great if you aren't a fan of downloading additional bloatware but could be a bit of a problem if you'd like to adjust these settings in granular detail.

Our Verdict

5.3 Work

The Vaxee XE is disappointing for work use. Its symmetrical shape is well-suited for medium and larger-sized hands, but build quality can be somewhat inconsistent, which doesn't align with the high standards set by other Vaxee mice. It also only has a single multifunction button, which by default works as a page-down key but can be reconfigured to capture screenshots or bring up an emoji menu. Its scroll wheel lacks a free-scrolling mode for scanning long websites or a left/right tilt function for browsing large spreadsheets and editing timelines.

Pros
  • Comfortable shape.
Cons
  • Most buttons can't be reprogrammed.
  • Build quality can vary from unit to unit.
  • Scroll wheel lacks a free-scrolling mode and left/right tilt inputs.
8.6 Video Games (FPS)

The Vaxee XE is an excellent choice for FPS gaming. It's heavier than other alternatives but is still well-balanced and has a symmetrical shape well-suited for a palm or claw grip for medium to large hands. It also offers remarkably low click latency and outstanding overall sensor performance, making it a cinch to make quick snapshots or precise aiming adjustments. That said, build quality can vary depending on the unit you receive, and its PTFE feet provide a marginally less smooth gliding experience than some other gaming mice.

Pros
  • Superb sensor performance.
  • Low click latency.
  • Comfortable shape.
Cons
  • Build quality can vary from unit to unit.
  • Slightly heavier than some alternatives.
6.4 Video Games (MMO)

The Vaxee XE is a middling option for MMOs, though this isn't what it's designed for. It has only one reprogrammable button, and even then, its function is limited to three presets, none of which will be especially useful for gaming. Build quality can also be a dice roll, depending on the unit you get. It's very comfortable to hold for those with medium or large-sized hands. It also offers superb overall performance, with low click and sensor latency.

Pros
  • Superb sensor performance.
  • Low click latency.
  • Comfortable shape.
Cons
  • Most buttons can't be reprogrammed.
  • Build quality can vary from unit to unit.
9.3 Raw Performance

The Vaxee XE has superb raw performance. Click latency is very low, and its high-performance sensor allows for superb motion and accuracy performance, so any movements you make will be faithfully reproduced in-game.

Pros
  • Superb sensor performance.
  • Low click latency.
Cons
  • 5.3 Work
  • 8.6 Video Games (FPS)
  • 6.4 Video Games (MMO)
  • 9.3 Raw Performance
  1. Updated Oct 15, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Vaxee XE-S Wireless (4K) in the Hand Size Recommendation section of this review.
  2. Updated Jan 05, 2024: We've updated the CPI graph displayed in the Sensor Latency section of this review. Our results remain the same, but these graphs have two new columns with results from the Delay At Half Movement and Delay To End Of Movement tests.
  3. Updated Nov 14, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Vaxee XE Wireless in the Wireless Versatility section of this review.
  4. Updated Oct 02, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in TBU 1.5.
  5. Updated Oct 02, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5. This update adds a new Main Button test group, which provides button actuation data and switch information. We've also made minor changes to how we calculate the Office usage score. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
  6. Updated Aug 16, 2023: Review published.
  7. Updated Aug 10, 2023: Early access published.
  8. Updated Aug 04, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Jul 27, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Jul 11, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  11. Updated Jul 11, 2023: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Vaxee XE is available in Black, White, Pink, Yellow, Blue, or Orange colorways. We tested the Blue model; you can see its label here.

It's also worth noting that there's a wireless version of this mouse simply called the Vaxee XE Wireless.

Compared To Other Mice

The Vaxee XE is a lightweight mouse for gaming and general productivity. It offers superb overall performance, making it a fantastic fit for fast-paced games, and has a pretty comfortable symmetrical shape, though it's best suited for folks with medium to large hands. It's somewhat barebones regarding additional features, with no supporting companion software to remap buttons or adjust CPI in granular detail, though it does have built-in presets. Build quality is another point of contention: while some users have reported no issues with their XE, our test unit displayed numerous deficiencies compared to other Vaxee mice we've tested.

If you're looking for more recommendations, see our picks for the best mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best lightweight mouse.

Vaxee XE-S Wireless (4K)

The Vaxee XE and the Vaxee XE-S Wireless (4K) are gaming mice in the same lineup. The XE is a wired mouse that's designed for both gaming and productivity and features a configurable function button behind the scroll wheel. The XE-S is more focused on competitive gaming and features an updated PAW3950 sensor with a 4000Hz maximum polling rate and better overall performance. The two mice have the same shape, but the XE-S is smaller. It's also significantly lighter and has better build quality.

Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT

The Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT is a more versatile mouse than the Vaxee XE. The Logitech has a wireless design with a rechargeable battery, has smoother-gliding feet, weighs less, and has a suite of fully reprogrammable buttons.

Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01

The Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01 and Vaxee XE each have their own advantages. The ZYGEN NP-01 feels better built than the XE we tested, and its feet provide a marginally smoother gliding experience. On the other hand, the Xe is noticeably lighter. The biggest difference between the two lies in their shape: the ZYGEN NP-01 has a right-handed ergonomic shape, whereas the XE is symmetrical.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 and Vaxee XE each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The HyperX feels better built than the Vaxee we tested, weighs noticeably less, has smoother-gliding feet, and has a set of fully reprogrammable buttons via its NGenuity companion software. However, the Vaxee has a more flexible cable, which you can detach to make it easier to store.

Vaxee XE Wireless

The Vaxee XE Wireless is the wireless version of the Vaxee XE. The Vaxee XE is designed for both gaming and productivity use and features a configurable function button behind the scroll wheel. The Wireless has an updated PixArt PAW3395 sensor compared to the wired XE's PixArt PMW3389.

BenQ ZOWIE S2

The Vaxee XE and BenQ ZOWIE S2 are both wired gaming mice with symmetrical shapes. The Vaxee is considerably lighter, has a more flexible cable you can detach from the mouse itself, and offers better raw performance. On the other hand, the BenQ feels more sturdily built than the Vaxee we tested.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Coating
Matte
Lighting Color No Lighting

This mouse has a matte-finish solid plastic shell and a solid baseplate, with no obvious adornments or logos; the only sign of the mouse's manufacturer is found on the label on its underside. There's no RGB lighting, though a few LED status lights are peppered around the mouse. The pair of lights just behind the central function button display what mode you're in, while the LEDs under the mouse indicate the current CPI, polling rate, and debounce settings. Our test unit is an unusual but handsome powder blue color. However, the mouse is also available in several other eye-catching hues, including pink, orange, and yellow, as well as the standard black and white.

Design
Shape
Length 4.9" (125 mm)
Width 2.6" (66 mm)
Height 1.5" (39 mm)
Grip Width
61 mm
Ambidextrous
Shape Only
Left-Handed Friendly
Yes
Finger Rest
No

While this mouse has an ambidextrous shape, the side buttons are only usable if you're right-handed. The body's matte-finish coating is pretty grippy, as long your hands don't sweat too much.

5.6
Design
Portability
Box Volume
19.65 in³ (322 cm³)
Receiver Storing
No

This mouse isn't all that portable. It's too large to easily fit into bags and laptop cases. Thankfully, its cable is detachable, so you can stow it away in a more convenient spot when not in use.

6.5
Design
Build Quality

Build quality is only alright overall. The matte-finish plastic shell feels nice to the touch, but you can cause the mouse to emit a noticeable popping sound and actuate the side and right-click switches without pressing any of the buttons by applying moderate pressure against its sides. That said, this won't be too big an issue unless you habitually clutch your mouse tightly. When shaking the mouse around, we also noticed a quiet rattle from an indeterminate source. The mouse wheel has a very minor rightwards tilt, too, as seen here, though this has no impact on overall functionality. The left/right click buttons have a bit of play in them. Ultimately, build quality falls short of the high standard set by other Vaxee mice we've tested, like the Vaxee OUTSET AX.

Note: User reports would seem to indicate that this mouse suffers from inconsistent quality control. A large number of XE owners have reported no issues with their mice, while others have experienced similar deficiencies to what we encountered. Our test unit showed no signs of previous damage before testing. In the discussions below, let us know about your experience with the mouse.

8.5
Design
Weight
Lowest Weight
67.1 g
Default Weight
67.1 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
No

This mouse is fairly lightweight. It's noticeably heavier than alternatives like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 but also a long way from a heavyweight. Its weight distribution is well-balanced, making it a cinch to move accurately.

Design
Hand Size Recommendation
Palm Grip Hand Recommendation
Claw Grip Hand Recommendation
Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation

In profile, the Vaxee XE is faintly similar to that of the LAMZU Atlantis, though the rear hump is shifted slightly forward and doesn't drop towards the front quite as steeply. From the front and rear, the Vaxee is closer in shape to something like the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT, though it's noticeably smaller, and its sides slope gently outwards to a flared bottom instead of dropping off at a sharp angle. This results in a fairly wide, flat shape that better supports a palm or claw grip for those with medium and large hands than those with really small hands, who can have trouble reaching the front buttons. The Vaxee XE-S Wireless (4K) has the same shape but is smaller.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Maximum Of Paired Devices
Wired
Bluetooth
No
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No

If you're looking for the wireless version of this mouse, check out the Vaxee XE Wireless.

9.0
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length
6.6 ft (2.0 m)
Cable Type
Paracord-like
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
USB-C
Port Type: PC End
USB

This mouse has a lightweight, flexible paracord-like cable that glides well across desks and mousepads without getting stuck. However, it does retain some permanent kinking from its packaging.

8.5
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Ok
Material
Virgin Grade PTFE
Extra Included
No

The Vaxee XE has excellent feet. The two virgin-grade PTFE feet are large but somewhat thin, and they glide across mousepads pretty smoothly, albeit with a bit of scratchiness. Third-party replacement feet, including glass options, are available to provide a smoother, more sensitive feel.

Design
In The Box

  • Vaxee XE
  • Detachable USB-A to USB-C cable
  • QR Code for user manual

Control
Control
Main Button
Switch Type
Mechanical
Switch Model
Huano 70g

This mouse's left- and right-click buttons use Huano 70g mechanical switches.

4.4
Control
Additional Buttons
Total Number Of Buttons
9
Number Of Side Buttons
2
Number Of Programmable Inputs
0
Profile Switching Button
No
Gesture Support
No

You can only reprogram the function button just under the scroll wheel. Out-of-the-box, it acts as a page-down key, but you can swap between three preset functions by pressing and holding it down along with the two side buttons. You can see which of the presets is being used by looking at the two LED status lights just below the function button: the bottom light being illuminated indicates that you can use the function key to capture a screenshot, while both lights being lit up indicates that the function key will bring up an emoji menu. Only the top LED is illuminated in the default 'Page Down' setting. There are three extra buttons on the underside of this mouse to adjust the CPI, polling rate, and debounce setting.

8.7
Control
Click Latency
Expected Connection
5.3 ms
Wired
5.3 ms
Receiver
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A

This mouse has excellent click latency, providing a snappy and highly-responsive gaming experience for any genre.

This test was conducted with a polling rate of 1000Hz and the lowest debounce setting of 2ms.

9.1
Control
CPI
SRAV @ 1600 CPI
0.34%
SRAV @ 800 CPI
0.17%
SRAV @ 400 CPI
-0.25%
SRAV @ Fixed CPI
N/A
Precision Error Between Speeds
0.15%
Precision Error Between CPI
0.28%
Worst Tracking Error
-4.50%
Minimum CPI
400 CPI
Maximum CPI
3,200 CPI
CPI Adjustment Steps
N/A

The Vaxee XE delivers fantastic CPI performance. Its sensor provides remarkably good tracking accuracy, and the physical movements you make with your mouse translate extremely close to your cursor movements on-screen.

9.3
Control
Sensor Latency
Delay To Start Of Movement
10.9 ms
Delay At Half Movement
3.1 ms
Delay To End Of Movement
2.3 ms

Sensor latency performance is superb. The PixArt PMW3389 sensor reacts exceptionally quickly when you move your mouse, and these movements match the timing of the cursor movements you see on the screen extremely closely.

Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
PixArt PMW3389
Works On Glass
No
Minimum Lift Off Distance
1.2 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
1000 Hz

This driverless mouse has no companion software, though several preset settings are built into the device. The available polling rate options are 125Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. Out-of-the-box, you can also toggle between 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 CPI presets. You can also change the lift-off distance through three preset modes by following this guide.

Control
Mouse Wheel
Scroll Wheel Type
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
No
Thumb Wheel Type
No
Thumb Wheel Steps
No Thumb Wheel

The scroll wheel on the Vaxee XE has a rubber grip and operates much more quietly than other Vaxee mice, like the Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01. It also rotates precisely, with well-defined steps. That said, it does require a bit of force to press down, and the wheel on our test unit felt as though it could be tilted to the right, as mentioned in the Build Quality section of the review.

Control
Noise
Click Noise
Quiet

Noise from the right and left mouse clicks, side buttons, and the scroll wheel isn't too loud and will be sufficiently discreet for office use.

Operating System And Software
Operating System And Software
Configuration Software
Software Name No software
Software Windows Compatibility
No
Software macOS Compatibility
No
On-Board Memory
No
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
No
Polling Rate Adjustment
No
Profile Configuration
No
Profile Auto-Switching
No
RGB On/Off
No

This is a driverless mouse with no associated software.

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

All default button functions work in Windows and macOS.