ASUS ROG Pugio II  Mouse Review

Reviewed Jul 08, 2021 at 10:33am
Tested using Methodology v1.0 
ASUS ROG Pugio II
8.1
Office/Multimedia 
7.7
Video Games (FPS) 
7.4
Video Games (MMO) 
7.0
Ultra-Light Gaming 
8.3
Travel 
 0

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is a good wireless gaming mouse with a symmetrical shape and two buttons on both the left and right sides. It feels very well-built, it's suitable for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes, and you can use it wired or wirelessly, either with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth. It also has a wide CPI range, a very low lift-off distance, and very good click latency. Unfortunately, it's heavy, the companion software is only compatible with Windows, and you can only adjust the CPI by increments of 100.

Our Verdict

8.1
Office/Multimedia 

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is very good for office work. It feels very sturdy and connects wired or wirelessly either with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth. It also has an impressive number of buttons you can program using the customization software and an ambidextrous shape suitable for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes. Unfortunately, the software is only compatible with Windows, and the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Comfortable, symmetrical shape with a pair of side buttons on either side.
  • Connects wirelessly with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
Cons
  • No software for macOS, and the right side buttons don't function by default.
7.7
Video Games (FPS) 

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is a good FPS gaming mouse. It has a sturdy-feeling build, very good click latency, and an ambidextrous shape suitable for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes. It also has a wide CPI range and a very low lift-off distance. Unfortunately, the companion software is only compatible with Windows, and you can only adjust the CPI in increments of 100.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Low click latency.
  • Comfortable, symmetrical shape with a pair of side buttons on either side.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • CPI only adjustable by increments of 100, and there's no CPI switch button on the top of the mouse.
7.4
Video Games (MMO) 

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is a good mouse for MMO gaming, though it doesn't have as many side buttons as dedicated MMO gaming mice. That said, you can reprogram most of the buttons it does have using the companion software. Otherwise, it feels very well-built, and its ambidextrous shape is suitable for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes. It also has a wide CPI range, a very low lift-off distance, and a low click latency. Unfortunately, the software is only compatible with Windows, and you can only adjust the CPI in increments of 100.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Low click latency.
  • Comfortable, symmetrical shape with a pair of side buttons on either side.
Cons
  • Not as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
  • CPI only adjustable by increments of 100, and there's no CPI switch button on the top of the mouse.
7.0
Ultra-Light Gaming 

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is decent for ultra-light gaming, but it's much heavier than a dedicated ultra-light gaming mouse. Despite this, it feels well-built, and it has an ambidextrous shape well-suited for all grip types and almost all hand sizes. It also has very good click latency when used wired or wirelessly with its USB receiver. Unfortunately, you can only adjust the CPI by increments of 100, and while the mouse feet are decent, they're not as good as those on most other high-end wireless gaming mice.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Low click latency.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • Mouse feet don't glide as smoothly as many similar gaming mice.
8.3
Travel 

The ASUS ROG Pugio II is an impressive mouse for traveling, though it's somewhat bulky and may not fit in all laptop cases. It connects wirelessly, either with its USB receiver or Bluetooth, its shape is well-suited for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes, and it feels sturdy. It also has storage for its wireless receiver and onboard memory. Unfortunately, the companion software is only compatible with Windows.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Comfortable, symmetrical shape with a pair of side buttons on either side.
  • Connects wirelessly with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
  • Onboard memory.
Cons
  • Somewhat bulky; may not fit in some laptop cases.
  • No software for macOS, and the right side buttons don't function by default.
  • 8.1
    Office/Multimedia
  • 7.7
    Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.4
    Video Games (MMO)
  • 7.0
    Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 8.3
    Travel
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 08, 2021: Review published.
    2.  Updated Jun 14, 2021: Early access published.
    3.  Updated May 17, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated May 13, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The ASUS ROG Pugio II is an updated, wireless version of the ASUS ROG Pugio. The unit we tested is black, and there are no other color variants. You can see the label for our unit here.

    Popular Mouse Comparisons

    The ASUS ROG Pugio II is an update of the ASUS ROG Pugio. It retains the ambidextrous design of the original, with a symmetrical body and a pair of side buttons on either side, but it adds wireless capabilities. Additionally, it has an updated look, a new PAW 3335 sensor, and Bluetooth support, which the similar ASUS ROG Strix II lacks. Like many other ASUS ROG mice, though, this mouse also has hot-swappable switches, so you can install an alternate set to suit your preferences.

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

    ASUS ROG Keris Wireless

    The ASUS ROG Keris Wireless is a better wireless gaming mouse than the ASUS ROG Pugio II. It's significantly lighter, and it has both a more flexible charging cable and mouse feet that glide more smoothly. Also, it has a much lower click latency. On the other hand, the Pugio II has two additional side buttons on the right side and a lower lift-off distance. Both mice connect wirelessly either with their USB receivers or via Bluetooth. They also both have hot-swappable switches for the left and right-click buttons.

    GLORIOUS Model O Wireless

    The GLORIOUS Model O Wireless has better gaming performance than the ASUS ROG Pugio II, but it's less versatile. The GLORIOUS has a honeycomb body, making it much lighter, but it feels just as sturdy. It also has a much more flexible charging cable and mouse feet that glide more smoothly. Performance-wise, it has a higher maximum CPI, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and better click latency. On the other hand, the ASUS has two additional side buttons on the left and Bluetooth support, which the GLORIOUS lacks. It also has internal storage for its USB receiver and hot-swappable left and right-click switches.

    Razer Viper Ultimate

    The Razer Viper Ultimate is a better wireless gaming mouse than the ASUS ROG Pugio II. It's significantly lighter and has much lower click latency. It also has mouse feet that glide more smoothly, a higher maximum CPI, and a more precisely adjustable CPI. Its shape is best-suited for a fingertip grip for larger hands or a claw or palm grip for smaller hands. Comparatively, the ASUS feels sturdier and has Bluetooth support. It also has hot-swappable switches for the left and right-click buttons. Its shape is well-suited for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes.

    ASUS ROG Chakram

    The ASUS ROG Pugio II has somewhat better gaming performance than the ASUS ROG Chakram, but the Chakram is more versatile. The Pugio II is lighter and has a pair of side buttons on either side. Comparatively, the Chakram has a thumb rest and two buttons on the left side, plus a joystick that acts either as an analog stick or a four-direction D-pad. Both mice connect wired or wirelessly, either with their USB receivers or via Bluetooth. Also, they both have hot-swappable switches for the left and right-click buttons.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Type
    Standard
    Lighting ColorRGB
    Shape
    Length5.0" (127 mm)
    Height1.6" (40 mm)
    Width2.5" (65 mm)
    Grip Width
    64 mm
    7.6
    Portability
    Volume
    19.77 in³ (324 cm³)
    Cable/Receiver Storing
    Yes
    Weight
    Maximum Weight With Wire
    137 g
    Maximum Weight Without Wire
    105 g
    Minimum Weight Without Wire
    105 g
    Weight Distribution
    Centered
    Extra Weights
    No
    8.5
    Build Quality
    8.0
    Comfort Of Use
    Right-handed
    No
    Left-handed
    No
    Ambidextrous
    Yes
    Coating
    Matte
    Finger Rest
    No
    Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    Yes
    Medium Hand
    Yes
    Large Hand
    Yes
    X.Large Hand
    No
    Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    Yes
    Medium Hand
    Yes
    Large Hand
    Yes
    X.Large Hand
    Yes
    Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    No
    Medium Hand
    Yes
    Large Hand
    Yes
    X.Large Hand
    Yes
    10
    Wireless Versatility
    Bluetooth
    Yes
    Receiver
    Yes
    Battery Type
    Rechargeable
    Use When Charging
    Yes
    On/Off Activation
    Auto Off And On/Off Switch
    Receiver Extender
    Yes
    Battery IndicatorYes

    ASUS claims up to 69 hours of battery life for the ASUS ROG Pugio II without RGB lighting enabled when connected with its USB receiver, or up to 100 hours without RGB while connected via Bluetooth. However, this isn't something we test.

    7.0
    Cable
    ConnectivityWireless
    Cable Length6.1 ft (1.9 m)
    Cable Type
    Rubber
    Permanent Kink
    Yes
    Port Type: Mouse End
    USB-C
    Port Type: PC End
    USB
    7.0
    Mouse Feet
    Gliding Experience
    Ok
    Material
    PTFE
    Extra Included
    No
    In The Box

    • ASUS ROG Pugio II
    • Computer case badge
    • Accessories case
    • Replacement Omron D2F-01F switches (x2)
    • Alternate left side buttons (x2)
    • Alternate right side buttons (x2)
    • USB-C to USB-A charging Cable
    • USB receiver
    • User documentation
    • Tweezers
    Control
    Sensor Specifications
    Sensor Technology
    Optical (LED)
    Sensor Model
    PixArt PAW3335
    Works On Glass
    No
    Minimum CPI (DPI)
    100 CPI
    Maximum CPI (DPI)
    16,000 CPI
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
    100 CPI
    CPI (DPI) Variation
    -7%
    Minimum Lift Off Distance
    1.2 mm
    Maximum Polling Rate
    1000 Hz

    The available polling rate options on the ASUS ROG Pugio II are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. Also, while connected via Bluetooth, the polling rate is locked at 125Hz.

    7.3
    Buttons
    Buttons Activation
    Mechanical
    Total Number Of Buttons
    9
    Number Of Side Buttons
    4
    Number Of Programmable Inputs
    8
    Profile Switching Button
    No
    CPI (DPI) Switching Button
    Yes
    Gesture Support
    No

    The ASUS ROG Pugio II has hot-swappable switch sockets for the left and right mouse buttons. Also, the side buttons are mounted magnetically, and there's an alternate pair included for each side. There's also a dedicated button on the underside to cycle between CPI profiles.

    Mouse Wheel
    Scroll Wheel
    Notched Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Steps
    24 Steps
    Scroll Wheel Tilt
    No
    Thumb Wheel
    No
    Thumb Wheel Steps
    No Thumb Wheel
    Noise
    Click Noise
    Quiet
    8.0
    Click Latency
    Click Latency: Receiver
    12.5 ms
    Click Latency: Bluetooth
    33 ms
    Click Latency: Wired
    14.5 ms
    Operating System And Software
    8.0
    Compatible Software Option
    Software NameArmoury Crate
    Software Windows Compatibility
    Yes
    Software macOS Compatibility
    No
    Account Needed
    No
    On-Board Memory
    Yes
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment
    Yes
    Polling Rate Adjustment
    Yes
    Profile Configuration
    Yes
    RGB On/Off
    Yes
    8.3
    Mouse Compatibility
    Windows CompatibilityFully
    macOS CompatibilityPartially

    The side buttons on the right of the ASUS ROG Pugio II don't function by default in macOS.