Santali Aagaz S1-O Review
Introduction
This review explores Santali's debut into the gaming mouse market with the Santali Aagaz S1-O. It's important to note that the version being reviewed is a pre-production model, which might differ in quality from the final retail version.
Specifications
Shape & Size
The Santali Aagaz S1-O measures 125x65x39 mm, classifying it as a large/medium-sized mouse. Its relatively long body paired with a narrower width gives it a more compact feel than the dimensions suggest, potentially making it appealing to a broader range of users.
The mouse features a hump that is slightly rear-centered yet predominantly in the middle, offering substantial palm support ideal for both claw and palm grip styles. Given its length and narrower sides, the S1-O is primarily designed for users with large to medium-sized hands, although those with smaller hands might find it comfortable for palm gripping as well.
Additionally, the front of the mouse flares out slightly, complemented by moderate inward curvature along the sides, which improves my ability to grip and control the mouse.
Coating & Grip-tape
The coating on the Santali Aagaz S1-O, while satisfactory, doesn't match the tackiness of the rubberized finishes seen on mice from brands like Vaxee, Zowie, and Endgame Gear. However, the combination of this coating with the mouse’s shape does facilitate easy handling and maneuverability, especially with my preferred claw grip.
The mouse also comes with grip-tape, but was not included with my pre-production unit
Build Quality
The build quality of the Santali Aagaz S1-O generally meets expectations during regular use. However, when subjected to significant pressure, the sides of the mouse exhibit noticeable flexing and emit slight creaking noises. Similarly, the bottom of the mouse also displays a good amount flex. It's important to emphasize that these issues were only observed under excessive force that wouldn't typically occur during normal gameplay.
Weight & Feet/Skates
The Santali Aagaz S1-O weighs in at 49 grams, which is impressively light for its size, especially considering it features a solid shell without any cutouts. The weight distribution across the mouse is notably even, enhancing its handling and balance.
The mouse uses white PTFE skates, one large at the front, two medium-sized skates at the bottom, and a sensor ring. These felt somewhat scratchy when I first started using the mouse but improved in smoothness over time. The main downside of these skates is how thin they are. This was not a problem for my usage as I don’t use very soft mousepads, nor do I apply a lot of force on the mouse itself. If these are things you do, the thinness might cause issues where the bottom shell starts making contact with the mousepad.
Buttons & Scroll Wheel
The Santali Aagaz S1-O features Omron Optical switches for its main buttons, which provide a tactile initial press but exhibit a fair amount of post-travel, resulting in a softer overall feel. While these buttons are quite easy to spam click, a priority for me, the softer feel may not appeal to everyone.
The side buttons perform better, offering a very tactile response with minimal pre-travel. There is some post-travel if pressed vigorously, but it was never a hindrance during gameplay. These buttons are also very easy to spam click.
The scroll wheel provides moderate tactility and is easy to depress. However, a notable concern is the grinding noise it produces when scrolled upwards, which could be bothersome for some users.
Sensor & Performance
The Santali Aagaz S1-O uses the PAW3395 sensor. Just like most mice using this sensor, it felt flawless during gameplay and the 8KHz polling rate was stable in all games that I played where higher polling rates were supported.
Conclusion
The Santali Aagaz S1-O is priced at $84.95 from the Santali store. I appreciate the mouse's elongated, narrow design and its reasonably low, evenly distributed weight of 49 grams. However, the build quality shows noticeable flexibility under additional force, which could be concerning, though it doesn't affect standard gameplay. The skates provided are subpar, but this is fixable with aftermarket options. Additionally, the main buttons lacked the tactile feedback I prefer. While I enjoyed the mouse's form factor, other aspects fell short of expectations.
It's important to remember that I tested a pre-production model of the Santali Aagaz S1-O. Some of the issues noted could potentially be addressed in the final consumer version.
