Waizowl OGM Cloud Review
Introduction
Waizowl made its debut in the gaming mouse industry with the launch of the OGM Pro in early 2023, praised for its distinctive shape and robust build quality at a competitive price. This review will delve into Waizowl's latest offering, the OGM Cloud.
Specifications
Packaging
Shape & Size
The Waizowl OGM Cloud, measuring 126x68x38mm, is designed as a large mouse, ideally suited for users with larger hands, like my own at 20.5 x 10.5 cm. It accommodates claw or palm grips comfortably, and its relatively low height also makes fingertip grip a feasible option. Medium-sized hands will find it well-suited for relaxed claw and palm gripping styles. However, those who prefer a more aggressive grip may find the mouse too large unless their hands are very large. For smaller-handed users, the mouse's length may restrict usage to primarily a palm grip.
In terms of design, the Waizowl OGM Cloud closely resembles the iconic SteelSeries Sensei, featuring a long body, a centrally positioned hump, low button height, and curved inward sides. Its shape is a significant appeal, especially for users looking for a modern replacement for the Sensei. Unlike the heavier, wired Sensei Ten with its outdated sensor, the OGM Cloud offers a contemporary alternative with its lightweight, wireless design.
Coating & Grip-tape
The Waizowl OGM Cloud features a coating that, while satisfactory, doesn't offer the same level of grip as seen in mice from Zowie, Vaxee, or Endgame Gear. Despite this, the mouse's excellently contoured shape and inward side curvatures significantly enhance its ease of handling, making it easy to pick up and maneuver.
For those who might need extra grip beyond what the coating and shape naturally provide, the mouse includes grip tapes for the main buttons, side buttons, sides, and back of the mouse. These tapes enhance the grip substantially, ensuring a secure hold during intensive use.
Build Quality
Just as with their initial offering, the OGM Pro, the Waizowl OGM Cloud maintains a high standard of build quality. I detected no flexing or creaking when pressure was applied, except for a slight give on the bottom, which is unlikely to affect normal gameplay.
Weight & Feet/Skates
Despite its substantial size, solid build quality, and lack of cutouts, the Waizowl OGM Cloud is relatively lightweight at 55 grams. It doesn't quite reach the feather-light territory of ultra-lightweight mice such as the WLmouse Beast X lineup or the new ATK F1, but it impressively balances a sturdy, solid-shell construction with manageable weight.
The OGM Cloud comes equipped with four pre-installed skates and a sensor ring, plus an additional set of two large skates and an extra sensor ring included in the package. These skates are notably quicker than typical stock PTFE skates and offer a smooth glide right out of the box.
Buttons & Scroll Wheel
The main buttons on the Waizowl OGM Cloud are equipped with Huano Blue Shell Pink dot switches, which provide a low actuation force and decent tactility, making them easy to spam click. These buttons exhibit minimal side wobble and very little pre- and post-travel, enhancing the mouse's overall quality feel. Unlike some designs, the main buttons lack comfort grooves and instead feature a design that slopes downward to the sides.
The side buttons are highly tactile and easy to press, with minimal wobble and pre-travel. There is some post-travel when pressed with significant force, but this does not impact performance during typical gameplay.
The scroll wheel is not the most tactile but it is very easy to scroll and press down.
Sensor & Performance
The Waizowl OGM Cloud uses the PAW3395 sensor, which allows the mouse to achieve up to a 4KHz polling rate, although this requires the use of a 4K dongle, available for purchase separately. In my testing, the higher polling rates provided stable and consistent performance without any issues in games that support such rates.
Software & Configuration
The Waizowl OGM Cloud lacks a web driver but includes onboard buttons for basic adjustments directly under the mouse. For more comprehensive configuration options, you can download the dedicated software provided by Waizowl. This software is user-friendly and offers extensive customization features. Once you've configured the settings to your liking, the software doesn't need to remain active; all settings are stored directly on the mouse, eliminating the need for continuous background running of the software.
Conclusion
The Waizowl OGM Cloud is priced at $99.99 ($94.99 with code ELO) from Mech Keys. This mouse features one of the best shapes I've ever used. Although I usually prefer smaller mice, the comfort and natural feel of this shape made it one of the mice I use on a consistent basis. If Waizowl releases a smaller version, it could potentially become one of my top mice. For those seeking a modern equivalent to the original Sensei, the OGM Cloud is the closest you'll find. Its solid build quality and reasonable weight for its size make it an excellent choice for users with large to medium hands who prefer palm or claw grips.
