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ASUS ROG Pugio II Mouse Review

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

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
  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.
  5. Updated Apr 17, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

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.

Compared To Other Mice

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.

Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED

The Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED and the ASUS ROG Pugio II are good wireless gaming mice. The Logitech has a thumb rest, a more flexible cable, and several extra buttons. It also has a higher maximum CPI, a more adjustable CPI, a more consistent sensor, a lower click latency, and software for Windows and macOS. Comparatively, the ASUS has Bluetooth support and side buttons on the right side, making it better for left-handed users. It also has hot-swappable left and right-click switches. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types, but the Logitech isn't as well-suited for smaller hands.

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.

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.

Logitech G Pro Wireless

The Logitech G Pro Wireless is a better wireless gaming mouse than the ASUS ROG Pugio II. It's significantly lighter and has mouse feet that glide more smoothly. It also has a much higher maximum CPI, a more precisely adjustable CPI, a more consistent sensor, and a much lower click latency. It also has software compatible with Windows and macOS. Comparatively, the ASUS has two additional side buttons, hot-swappable left and right-click switches, and Bluetooth support. Unfortunately, its software is only compatible with Windows. Both mice are well-suited to all grip types for nearly all hand sizes.

GLORIOUS Model D

The GLORIOUS Model D is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse, while the ASUS ROG Pugio II is a good wireless gaming mouse. The GLORIOUS is wired-only and significantly lighter. It has a much more flexible cable, mouse feet that glide more smoothly and lower click latency. Comparatively, the ASUS connects wired or wirelessly with its USB receiver or Bluetooth. Additionally, it feels sturdier and has two extra side buttons. It also has a wider CPI range, a lower lift-off distance, and hot-swappable left and right-click switches. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB
Design
Shape
Length 5.0" (127 mm)
Height 1.6" (40 mm)
Width 2.5" (65 mm)
Grip Width
64 mm
7.6
Design
Portability
Volume
19.77 in³ (324 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
Yes
Design
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
Design
Build Quality
8.0
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
No
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
Yes
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No
Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
No
Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
No
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
10
Design
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 Indicator Yes

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
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wireless
Cable Length 6.1 ft (1.9 m)
Cable Type
Rubber
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
USB-C
Port Type: PC End
USB
7.0
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Ok
Material
PTFE
Extra Included
No
Design
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
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
Control
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.

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
Quiet
8.0
Control
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
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name Armoury 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
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Partially

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