XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail  Mouse Review

Reviewed May 31, 2021 at 10:04am
Test bench update Dec 08, 2022 at 02:07pm
Tested using Methodology v1.4 
XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail
6.3
Work 
8.8
Video Games (FPS) 
6.6
Video Games (MMO) 
9.1
Raw Performance 
 0

The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse designed by YouTube mouse reviewer Zy Rykoa, AKA Rocket Jump Ninja. Its honeycomb design makes it very lightweight, but it feels sturdy and doesn't creak or flex. Its shape appears to be symmetrical, but it has a slight right-handed curvature. This shape won't be for everyone, but it's ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes and suitable for a palm grip for smaller hands. We don't recommend using it with a standard claw grip, but some users report that it's well-suited for a modified claw grip. Unfortunately, it doesn't have software for remapping buttons or customizing preferences, and it only has eight default CPI presets you can cycle through directly on the mouse.

Our Verdict

6.3
Work 

The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail is only mediocre for office use. It has no wireless capabilities, and it doesn't have companion software for remapping buttons. On the other hand, it feels very well-built and is fully compatible with Windows and macOS. It's ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes and suitable for a palm grip for smaller hands.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • No onboard memory.
  • Fairly bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
8.8
Video Games (FPS) 

The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail is a very good FPS gaming mouse. It has great click latency and feels very lightweight and sturdy, despite its honeycomb body. It also has a very flexible cable, mouse feet that glide smoothly on mousepads, and a unique right-handed shape ideal for fingertip grip for all hand sizes. Unfortunately, it doesn't have software for customization, and there are only eight preset CPI settings.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Very lightweight.
  • Great click latency.
Cons
  • No onboard memory.
  • No software for customization; only eight CPI presets.
  • Fairly bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
6.6
Video Games (MMO) 

The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail is a mediocre mouse for MMO gaming as it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse, and you can't remap any of its buttons since it doesn't have companion software. That said, it feels very well-built, has great click latency, and has a very flexible and lightweight cable. It's ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes, but you may also find it comfortable using other grip types, depending on your hand size.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Great click latency.
Cons
  • No onboard memory.
  • No software for customization; only eight CPI presets.
  • Fairly bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
  • Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
9.1
Raw Performance 

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
Cons
  • No onboard memory.
  • Fairly bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
  • 6.3
    Work
  • 8.8
    Video Games (FPS)
  • 6.6
    Video Games (MMO)
  • 9.1
    Raw Performance
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Dec 09, 2022:  We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.4. This update modifies our Hand Size Recommendation test, adding a more granular hand size recommendation chart. We've moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
    2.  Updated Sep 16, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.
    3.  Updated Aug 01, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.
    4.  Updated Jul 20, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.

    Check Price

    Transparent BlackMZ1 – Zy’s Rail
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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail we tested is black, and it has no other variants. You can see the label for our unit here.

    Popular Mouse Comparisons

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail is a collaboration between XTRFY and YouTube mouse reviewer Zy Rykoa, better known as Rocket Jump Ninja. It has a sturdy but lightweight honeycomb design and solid sensor performance similar to other recent XTRFY releases like the XTRFY M42 or the XTRFY M4 RGB. Unlike those mice, however, it has a very unusual shape. While it's ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes, it'll likely take new users some time to get used to and ultimately won't be for everyone.

    For more options, check out our recommendations for the best mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best wired mouse.

    Razer Viper Mini

    The Razer Viper Mini and the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail are both excellent wired gaming mice. The Razer has a lower minimum CPI, a more precisely adjustable CPI, much lower click latency, and companion software for customizing settings and remapping buttons. On the other hand, the XTRFY has a more flexible cable and a lower lift-off distance. Both mice are ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes and a palm grip for smaller hands, but only the Razer is recommended for a claw grip for smaller hands.

    XTRFY M42

    The XTRFY M42 and the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail are excellent ultra-light wired gaming mice with honeycomb designs. The M42 has significantly better click latency and modular back panels. It's ideal for all hand sizes using a fingertip or claw grip and smaller hands using a palm grip. On the other hand, the MZ1 has a more flexible and lightweight cable and is ideal for a fingertip grip for all hand sizes, though it's also suitable for a palm grip for smaller hands.

    G-Wolves Hati HT-M Classic Edition

    The G-Wolves Hati HT-M Classic Edition and the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail are both impressive ultra-light gaming mice. The G-Wolves has a more precisely adjustable CPI, a much lower click latency, and software for customization and button remapping compatible with Windows. It's well-suited for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes. On the other hand, the XTRFY has a somewhat higher maximum CPI, a more flexible cable, and better mouse feet. It's ideal for all hand sizes using a fingertip grip and suitable for small hands using a palm grip.

    GLORIOUS Model O

    The GLORIOUS Model O and the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail are excellent ultra-light gaming mice. The GLORIOUS has a more consistent sensor, a much lower click latency, and companion software for customization. It's ideal for all grip types but best suited for smaller hands. On the other hand, the XTRFY feels sturdier and has a higher max CPI. Its shape is best-suited for a fingertip for all hand sizes or a palm grip for smaller hands.

    GLORIOUS Model D

    The GLORIOUS Model D and the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail are excellent ultra-light gaming mice. The GLORIOUS is a bit lighter, has a more precisely adjustable CPI, and has much better click latency. It also has companion software for customization and button mapping. On the other hand, the XTRFY has a wider CPI range and a lower lift-off distance. The GLORIOUS is well-suited for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes, while the XTRFY is best suited for fingertip grip and suitable for smaller hands with a palm grip.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Type
    Standard
    Coating
    Matte
    Lighting ColorRGB

    At first glance, the XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail appears to have an ambidextrous shape, but its left side is slightly more curved. It also has a semi-translucent plastic body with honeycomb holes designed to keep the mouse as lightweight as possible. There are RGB zones inside the mouse, in the scroll wheel, and in a strip that runs along the front and sides. Lighting customization is limited as there's no software, but you can cycle through presets with buttons directly on the mouse.

    Shape
    Length4.4" (111 mm)
    Width2.3" (59 mm)
    Height1.4" (37 mm)
    Grip Width
    57 mm
    Ambidextrous
    No
    Left-Handed Friendly
    Yes
    Finger Rest
    No
    6.0
    Portability
    Box Volume
    14.46 in³ (237 cm³)
    Receiver Storing
    No
    8.5
    Build Quality

    The build quality feels excellent. Despite its honeycomb body, it feels sturdy. There are no signs of flexing and no rattling when shaking the mouse.

    9.0
    Weight
    Lowest Weight
    60.6 g
    Default Weight
    60.6 g
    Weight Distribution
    Centered
    Extra Weights
    No
    Hand Size Recommendation
    Palm Grip Hand Recommendation
    Claw Grip Hand Recommendation
    Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation

    Update 12/13/2021: We had incorrectly identified this mouse as ambidextrous, as at first glance, the mouse appears to be symmetrical. After retesting the mouse and examining its curvature, it's clear the left side curves inwards slightly more than the right, favoring right-handed users.

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has an unconventional shape. It's quite slim in the middle, narrows towards the front, and has deep finger grooves on both the left and right-click buttons. It has a fairly flat, low profile, a relatively short length, and a blunt back end with a tall hump. This mouse is ideal for a fingertip grip, though some may find it comfortable to use with other grip types.

    0.0
    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 IndicatorNo
    9.0
    Cable
    ConnectivityWired
    Cable Length
    6.1 ft (1.9 m)
    Cable Type
    Paracord-like
    Permanent Kink
    No
    Port Type: Mouse End
    No Port
    Port Type: PC End
    USB

    This mouse uses the new Xtrfy EZcord Pro, which feels more flexible and lightweight than the Xtrfy EZcord found on the XTRFY M42.

    9.0
    Mouse Feet
    Gliding Experience
    Very Good
    Material
    Virgin Grade PTFE
    Extra Included
    Yes

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has outstanding mouse feet that glide very well on hard or cloth mousepads. They also glide well directly on tables, but they produce a scratching sound. There's an extra set of feet included, and XTRFY sells replacements on their website.

    In The Box

    • XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail mouse
    • User documentation
    • Sticker
    • Extra PTFE feet
    Control
    4.3
    Additional Buttons
    Total Number Of Buttons
    7
    Number Of Side Buttons
    2
    Number Of Programmable Inputs
    0
    Profile Switching Button
    No
    Gesture Support
    No

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has a standard button layout, including two side buttons on the left and a button behind the scroll wheel that you can bind to F11 by default using a switch on the bottom of the mouse.

    8.2
    Click Latency
    See details on graph tool
    Expected Connection
    7.1 ms
    Wired
    7.1 ms
    Receiver
    N/A
    Bluetooth
    N/A

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has great click latency, and it feels very responsive for games in all genres.

    9.1
    CPI
    See details on graph tool
    SRAV @ 1600 CPI
    0.27%
    SRAV @ 800 CPI
    0.12%
    SRAV @ 400 CPI
    0.17%
    SRAV @ Fixed CPI
    N/A
    Precision Error Between Speeds
    0.38%
    Precision Error Between CPI
    0.37%
    Worst Tracking Error
    -4.75%
    Minimum CPI
    400 CPI
    Maximum CPI
    16,000 CPI
    CPI Adjustment Steps
    N/A
    8.9
    Sensor Latency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Delay To Start Of Movement
    12.5 ms
    Delay At Half Movement
    4.2 ms
    Delay To End Of Movement
    5.1 ms
    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

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has eight preset CPI settings you can cycle through using the CPI button on the bottom of the mouse. The settings are 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 3200, 4000, 7200, and 16000.

    XTRFY also has detailed instructions on their website for changing the polling rate, lift-off distance, and debounce time. The polling rate settings are 125Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz.

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

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has a scroll wheel that feels precise. It has pronounced notches and a rubberized coating that makes it easy to control.

    Noise
    Click Noise
    Quiet
    Operating System And Software
    Configuration Software
    Software NameNo 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
    Yes

    The XTRFY MZ1 – Zy’s Rail has no software, but you can adjust RGB lighting settings, CPI, polling rate, lift-off distance, debounce time, and bind the button behind the mouse wheel to F11 using combinations of button presses and switch settings directly on the mouse. XTRFY has detailed instructions on its website on how to adjust all settings.

    Note: XTRFY have released a firmware update that lets you to bind the button behind the mouse wheel to Page Down instead of F11.

    10
    Mouse Compatibility
    Windows CompatibilityFully
    macOS CompatibilityFully