ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini review: compact and lightweight gaming mouse with a top-of-the-line sensor

Last year, ASUS released the ASUS ROG Harpe Ace gaming mouse, which became quite popular among fans of symmetrical lightweight models. This year, the company decided to release two new models in the lineup at once: the updated ROG Harpe Ace Extreme, as well as the lightweight and smaller ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini, which we will talk about today.

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini specifications

Package contents

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is packaged in the traditional red and black packaging for ROG gadgets with lots of bright printing. The box has a picture of the mouse and all the main characteristics and features.

In addition to the mouse, the package includes a ROG Omni USB receiver, a ROG Paracord cable, a USB Type-C to Type-A adapter, stickers on the sides of the case and the main keys, spare Teflon feet, stickers, and documentation. The legs and stickers did not arrive to us. Unlike more expensive models, there is no ROG Polling Rate Booster adapter, although the mouse supports it.

Design and construction

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is a compact wireless mouse with a semi-symmetrical design, as the company calls it. The shape itself is symmetrical, but there are additional buttons only for the right hand. The shape is very close to the aforementioned ASUS ROG Harpe Ace, but the new product is smaller and lighter: the bend has slightly decreased and the mouse is 10 mm shorter, which is very noticeable. The weight is only 49 g.

The mouse is made of matte plastic with a nice smooth finish. ASUS claims that it effectively repels sweat and grease. ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is available in black and white colors. Only the scroll wheel is backlit, and the ROG logo on the back of the case is gray, as in most of the manufacturer’s current models.

The side edges of the mouse have small curves for the fingers. There are diagonal notches on both sides for a better grip and a good hold in the hand. Only the additional side buttons are glossy. In the white version of the mouse, they are light gray.

The scroll wheel is fully illuminated, and the brightness is quite high. Even at the minimum level. At 100% brightness, the backlight already begins to distract from the PC screen. The wheel has a pleasant rubber surface with diagonal notches.

The main buttons of ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini are separated from the rest of the case. But structurally, they are located close to the switches, perfectly fitted and fixed. Therefore, they do not wobble or play at all.

The ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini has a typical symmetrical shape, so the buttons are the same height and the Type-C connector for wired connection or charging is located in a small recess right in the middle. The included ROG Paracord cable is 2 meters long. It looks like it has changed a bit since the previous models: it has become a little thicker and less flexible. But I’m not sure that the potential owner will use it often.

The bottom of the mouse has four small triangular Teflon feet, a ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor with a round Teflon insert, a three-way switch for connectivity modes, a storage space for the Omni USB dongle, and DPI and connection buttons. They’re also used for some quick setups without the need for software.

We have also seen the bundled USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapter in ASUS mice many times before. It is designed to place the receiver closer to the mouse and has a metal clip for attachment to the gaming surface.

Ergonomics, shape and weight

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is a very light and compact mouse. And while the light weight is really convenient, the compact size is more of an individual thing. Due to its size, the mouse is perfectly suited for the “claw” grip, or the more usual finger grip. The palm grip is only possible with very small hands. The weight distribution is excellent: the mouse does not fall forward or backward when it comes off the surface.

The new coating is pleasant to the touch. And, in combination with the side relief zones, it provides excellent grip. The mouse does not slip out of the hand. As for the ability of the coating to repel sweat and grease, it’s hard to say, you need to actively use the mouse for a couple of months and then look at its condition.

Below the main buttons of ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini are proprietary ROG Optical Switches, which have a claimed lifespan of 100 clicks. They have a reduced latency compared to conventional switches due to the fact that instead of physically closing the contacts, an optical sensor is used to register the click. Although in practice, this difference is hard to notice. The click is very clear and pleasant, the button travel is small, but well felt.

The additional buttons are quite comfortable in size and have a clear gap, so it is clear which button is being pressed and there are no false alarms. The scroll wheel has quite clear and informative cutoffs. At the same time, it remains quiet even at high speed. The rubber coating provides good grip.

Functionality and features

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is equipped with the ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor, which is the top of the line for the manufacturer at this time. It has a maximum resolution of 42,000 DPI, a deflection rate of <1%, a maximum tracking speed of 750 inches per second, and a maximum acceleration of 50g. It looks like this is a custom version of PixArt PAW3950 for ASUS, which is quite standard practice.

This performance is sufficient with a large margin. The sensor supports Track-On-Glass technology and works on almost any surface. Overall, the sensor is excellent. It works steadily, accurately, without any glitches or parasitic movements.

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini supports three types of connectivity: via cable, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz radio using the Omni USB transmitter. It is standard for all current ROG wireless keyboards and mice. You can connect both a mouse and keyboard to one Omni at the same time. The radio connection uses ROG’s proprietary SpeedNova technology, which reduces latency and optimizes data transfer. The connection is really stable, no disconnects.

The polling rate when connected by cable and radio signal is 1000 Hz, via Bluetooth – 250 Hz. Like the current older models, ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini supports the ROG Polling Rate Booster adapter. When using it, the sampling rate via cable and 2.4 GHz can be up to 8000 Hz. But the adapter is not included, it can be purchased separately for 1200 UAH.

According to official information, ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini can operate in 2.4 GHz mode for up to 105 hours with the backlight off and 79 hours with the backlight on. The mouse was used with the backlight brightness level of 25%, and in this mode it can withstand more than a week on a single charge, when used for at least 9 hours a day. When using Bluetooth, the performance will be even better: up to 139 hours with the backlight off and 113 hours with the backlight on.

All ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini settings are available in the familiar Armory Crate app (or its simplified version Armory Crate Gear). In the application, you can customize button and scroll wheel actions, four levels of resolution, polling rate, angle binding, backlight brightness and effects, lift-off height, and calibrate the mouse depending on the surface you are using. There are predefined settings for ASUS surfaces, as well as calibration for any other surface. It is possible to customize up to 5 profiles.

But some of the settings are available without the need to use Armory Crate. The DPI button on the bottom of the mouse switches between the four customizable resolution levels. The profiles are switched by a combination of the DPI button and clicking on the scroll wheel. To change the current sampling rate, hold down the Pair key and press the rear side button. To change the height of the detachment from the surface, hold down the Pair key and the front side button. To reset all settings to the default settings, hold down the top three buttons (right, left, and wheel) simultaneously with the DPI button for three seconds.