Asus ROG Pugio II
A worthy successor to the previous best ambidextrous gaming mouse
THE FIRST ROG PUGIO was a pretty standard affair, a wired gaming mouse with a 7,200dpi optical sensor, RGB lighting, and an ambidextrous design that allowed both left and right-handed users to enjoy an ergonomic mouse experience. It was a decent mouse, although it didn’t set the world on fire. Now, Asus is back with a new Republic of Gamers mouse, the ROG Pugio II, a wireless sequel to the original Pugio.
Now, calling this a wireless mouse is doing it something of a disservice. The Pugio II uses tri-mode connectivity, consisting of a 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, and wired connections using the included USB cable. The 2.4GHz connection means ultrafast wireless, with zero noticeable input latency in our tests.
The dongle in question can be concealed inside the mouse for portability, as the plastic rear cover of the mouse is held in place magnetically and can be easily lifted off. This also allows access to the screws that hold the two main buttons in place, because the Omron switches beneath can be swapped out (or replaced) using an included tool.
Externally, the design is clean and simple, with a symmetrical button layout that consists of two small buttons on either side of the mouse. These can be deactivated using the ROG Armory software, or removed entirely thanks to snap-off magnetic button caps, making it easy to avoid accidental clicks.
The Pugio II has actually lost a programmable button from its predecessor, which is a definite shame; the DPI adjustment button is also found on the underside of the mouse, which is less than ideal if you're seeking on-thefly sensitivity tweaking. This button does have two modes, however; click once to cycle between presets, or click and hold to use the scroll wheel for more precise adjustments.
The RGB lighting is used to indicate DPI changes, and overall is actually quite good. RGB is spread over three zones— the scroll wheel, the ROG logo, and a raised base strip around the rear of the mouse—and can be customized using the ROG Armory software. The ROG logo can also be swapped out for custom plates, enabling you to show off your own designs, but this is an arduous and poorly explained process.
NO ARMORY AMOUR
Let’s address the elephant in the room: ROG Armory isn’t that great. The available options are somewhat limited, setup is time-consuming, and using the software for the first time required a complete system restart. Features are heavily limited when using a Bluetooth connection, too, which isn’t ideal for tablet and notebook users.
We can’t judge the Pugio II too harshly for this, though, because the 16,000dpi optical sensor does perform excellently. With up to 400ips and 40G acceleration, combined with the 2.4GHz wireless connection, the Pugio II feels precise and snappy to use. It weighs barely more than 3.5 ounces, and the ergonomic design makes it comfortable to use for hours on end.
A few other features from the original Pugio have made the jump to the second edition, too. Three on-board memory slots enable you to store configurations for lighting, sensitivity, or button layouts, meaning they can be instantly reacquired upon setting up the mouse on a new system—perfect for gamers on the go. We do wish the braided cable from the Pugio had returned as well, because the new included cable feels a bit cheap and rubbery. It also uses a shaped USB-C connector that matches the shaped port on the mouse, irritatingly precluding the use of third-party cables.
On the whole, though, the Pugio II is a solid all-around gaming mouse. It’s still not really doing anything to set the world alight (although this southpaw reviewer is pleased to see a mouse for left-handed folk), but it performs well and has a comfortable, straightforward design. 2.4GHz connectivity is a boon for gamers chasing that perfect zero-latency experience, too.