A new version of one of my all-time favourite mouse shapes just launched and it could be perfect for palm and relaxed claw grippers

I’ve had my mitts over more mice in the last year than I’d like to admit, and out of those, there are a few that have really stuck out for different reasons. When it comes to shape, though, apart from the Zowie EC2-DW I’m currently testing, my absolute fave has been the Pulsar X3 CrazyLight Mini, and I’ve just found out Pulsar has launched a slightly bigger version which could end up being even better.

The Pulsar X3 CrazyLight Medium is about 5–6 mm longer, 2 mm wider, and 2 mm taller. That might not sound like much, but when it comes to gaming mice, these little changes can make a big difference.

In fact, it’s the subtle deviations from straight-up symmetry that make me like the X3 so much: it has a very slight ergonomic lean to the top, alongside a much more obvious curve to the base and sides that allows your thumb to rest nicely. It’s not got anywhere near the same lean as a more heavily ergonomically-oriented mouse like the Zowie I mentioned, but that makes it better for relaxing that palm grip into a hybrid claw grip, if that’s your jam.

I started my review of the Mini version by pointing out that even though it’s a ‘Mini’ mouse, it suits my medium-sized hands. That being said, I have wondered whether a slight increase in size might make the mouse even comfier. I’d say a couple of millimetres on each axis might do the trick, although I’m a little unsure about adding to the height.

(Image credit: Future)

At any rate, if you’d considered picking up the X3 before but the ‘Mini’ designator had put you off, now might be your chance. It’s a few grams heavier, but that still makes it just 48 g. That’s essentially the same weight as the Razer Viper V4 Pro (minus a gram), the current best gaming mouse and an absolute joy to use. So don’t worry about the weight.

Everything else remains the same, from its XS-1 sensor to optical switches; it’s just the size and weight that’s changed. It’s the same price, too, which isn’t cheap at $156, but you’re getting a very performant and presumably comfy mouse if you use a more relaxed palm grip. If it feels just the slightest bit bigger than the X3 Mini but keeps the rest the same, it’s worth a look, I’d say.

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