After presenting its Aerox 3, the brand’s first mouse with holes, it presents a mouse that changes from what is usually found at the manufacturer. The SteelSeries Prime + is the manufacturer’s new mid-range mouse, based on performance and nothing but performance. Indeed, here, by artifices with RGB everywhere or other style effects, a mouse just designed to offer the best performance and nothing else.Â
Almost all manufacturers of gaming peripherals, and in particular Marigolds, are entering the marvelous field of ultralight mice. MSI was, therefore, no exception to the rule with its MSI Clutch CM41 Lightweight and offered us here a mouse weighing only 65 grams. This is not all that this powerful little mouse offers, which despite its relatively simple appearance, offers attractive features.
Pros and Cons
| SteelSeries Prime+ | MSI Clutch GM41 |
| Lightweight design | Lightweight and wireless |
| Detachable cable | Neat finishes |
| Good grip | Good grip |
| Wired-only | Limited RGB controls |
Specification
| SteelSeries Prime+ | MSI Clutch GM41 | |
| Sensitivity | 18,000 DPI | 16,000 DPI |
| Sensor Type | Optical | Optical |
| Sensor | SteelSeries TrueMove + | Pixart PMW 3389 |
| Polling Rate | 1000Hz / 1 ms | 1000Hz / 1 ms |
| Number of Buttons | 6 | 6 |
| Lighting | 1-Zone RGB | RGB |
| Colors | Black Matte Finish | Black Matte Finish |
| Weight | 71g without cable | 65g without cable |
| Supported OS | Windows, Mac, Xbox, and Linux | Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Battery Type | No | No |
Design
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SteelSeries Prime+ mice generally do not adopt this type of design, with a quite tall mouse and click very high. However, the manufacturer wanted to change the habit a little by offering a different grip. Must say that these very high clicks are supposed to bring more speed and liveliness to the player. But that’s not all. SteelSeries, which had gotten us used to sometimes ambidextrous mice, doesn’t do this segment at all here.
The Prime + is made for right-handed people and only right-handed people. Lefties, anyway, usually use their mouse with their right hand, so that won’t bother much.
On the front of the mouse, very rounded, we find the two main clicks that go down, as well as a place to put the micro-USB cable to connect the mouse to your computer or console. Indeed, SteelSeries chose a detachable cable, which is a good idea to preserve the mouse’s durability. On the other hand, putting a micro-USB cable is not the wisest choice because of the indisputable advent of USB-C. It is a shame not to have opted for this connection, allowing you to connect smartphones, tablets, wireless headphones, and why not a mouse.
On the left edge, there are two configurable buttons, allowing personalized functions. Finally, there is a small thread of RGB at the level of the wheel. That’s it, SteelSeries by day like the MSI Clutch GM41 here. Nevertheless, the Cooler Master MM720 remains lighter and with more RGB backlighting for its part.
If SteelSeries did not choose RGB backlighting everywhere, we find something that we had not seen since the Rival 710, an OLED screen. However, here, the latter gains in functionality and utility but loses in practicality with a mouse under the mouse. It’s not very convenient to see what it shows, but the information on the screen is not essential all the time either.
The SteelSeries Prime + is available in a single, matte black finish. This mouse is made of ABS, not PBT. Which means it is more sensitive to fingerprints. Despite everything, SteelSeries managed to make us PBT-style ABS. This means that it grips a bit in addition to being resistant to fingerprints and remains slightly rough. It is not the most pleasant to the touch, but it has a utility for the grip and not sliding on the mouse while using it. The Prime + is suitable for small, medium, or large hands, without too much hassle.
The MSI Clutch GM41 would suggest some airs of Razer Viper 8K. However, no 8000 Hz on the program here but many other equally interesting characteristics. On the mouse’s face, at the level of the hull, we find the MSI dragon still as beautiful and worked. The latter is also backlit.
The clicks are separated from the rest of the shell, unlike other mice, which is quite rare. For a better grip and more responsiveness, the clicks are generally separated from the shell of the mice. In the middle of these is the dial, covered with non-slip rubber. This allows a perfect grip of this wheel, and it is much more practical for certain in-game actions than a smooth wheel.
On the left of the Clutch GM41 Lightweight, we have two pre-configured buttons. These are a classic without a name on all gaming mice but are still popular. On the sides, both left and right, there is a rather pleasant and textured rubber surface. If the desired effect was to offer anti-slip rubber, we have clearly seen better. However, the effect is still pleasant and brings a certain style to this mouse, weighing only 65 grams.
We had not yet spoken of the button allowing to switch the DPI and thus increase the sensor’s sensitivity. The latter is, in fact, located under the mouse, as on the Xtrfy M42 or the Viper 8K from Razer. More and more manufacturers have it here, and it’s a bit of a shame not to have it easily accessible. However, it allows a better grip and, above all, avoids changing the sensor’s sensitivity stealthily in the middle of the game.
Under the mouse, we also find the sensor, a PixArt PMW3389, unbeatable on this mouse segment. There are three skates, with two small ones at the front and one large at the back of the mouse, in an arc, allowing optimal glide while keeping the as little surface as possible with the mat. The more friction there is, the more the mouse will undeniably have difficulty sliding and will put up resistance.
The aesthetics are effortless, but you can feel the quality here. Indeed, the first gaming peripherals from MSI were not as qualitative as that, and we note here a nice rise in manufacturing quality. We can therefore congratulate the brand on this point, but it must still keep its promises!
Performance
In terms of performance, the Prime + shows up. Its TrueMove Pro + sensor allows it to go up to 18,000 DPI of sensitivity, which is very high. However, we will agree that few people go up to this level of sensitivity to play. But above all, it allows better precision, even when playing with lower sensitivity levels.
The SteelSeries Prime + can also display up to 450 images per second on a compatible screen, of course. On a 360 Hz screen, it is a real pleasure to use but also on a 144 Hz screen. The maximum acceleration that one can experience goes up to 50G, which is quite standard on this type of mouse. This will prevent any stalling of the cursor lord of swift movements requiring great concentration and great responsiveness.
We also appreciate the click switches allowing us to collect up to 100 million clicks, which is also a classic in mice in this range. You might also say that before reaching them, you have a little leeway for a few years.
To give a few figures, the MSI Clutch GM41 proposes to go up to 400 IPS, perfect with a screen up to 400 Hz. As this does not yet exist, we will be satisfied with an already excellent 360 Hz screen. DPI level, the preconfigured sensitivities of the sensor are:
- 400 DPI
- 800 DPI
- 1600 DPI
- 3200 DPI
- 6400 DPI
We go from single to double each time, and we would have appreciated a 2500 DPI mode, for example, or 2600, which would have been very appreciable. However, the mouse is not limited to this because it offers a 16,000 DPI sensor and a polling rate of 1 ms or 1000 Hz. This, therefore, gives it a response time at the limit of immediacy, with a good program—in-game performance, especially in FPS.
Conclusion!
The SteelSeries Prime + performs well on all points. The sensor is excellent, although it does not offer super-high sensitivity at 8000 Hz. But it is not the most essential; the SteelSeries Prime + works very well without.
The MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight is light and efficient. However, it knows how to remain sober in terms of backlighting and its shape and appearance. However, one thing is certain, this mouse marks a rise in the level of peripherals at MSI, to our greatest happiness!
