Laptop Mag Verdict
The Endgame Gear OP1 8k is an ultralight, ultrafast gaming mouse that can keep up in rapid-fire gaming sessions. It’s packed with customization options that take the value and performance up a notch, making it a must-have for competitive gamers.
Pros
- +
Super lightweight
- +
Light, flexible fabric cable
- +
Hot-swappable buttons
Cons
- -
No wireless option
- -
No RGB
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The Endgame Gear OP1 8k is so lightweight you’ll forget it’s there — until you notice how fast and precise your gaming performance is. This is a compact gaming mouse that’s built for speed. From its buttery smooth PTFE skates to its ultralight, flexible fabric cable, the OP1 8k delivers top performance for those rapid-fire moments in-game. It comes at a fair price ($75), too, and it’s packed with customizability.
The OP1 8k is now one of my favorite gaming mice, and certainly the lightest. It might just make the cut for our list of the best gaming mice, especially when it comes to weight. If you’re looking for a speedy, compact mouse that can keep up in high-speed games, you don’t want to miss out on this one.
Here’s an in-depth look at my experience putting the Endgame Gear OP1 8k to the test.
Endgame Gear OP1 8k: Price and specs
The Endgame Gear OP1 8k gaming mouse has a mid-range price at $74.99 with two color options: black or white (with black accents). It’s fairly compact, measuring 4.65 x 2.38 x 1.46 inches and weighing in at just 50.5 grams. That small size makes it perfect for gamers who prefer a “claw” style grip or anyone with small hands.
The OP1 8k is USB Type-A wired and, although the cable doesn’t unplug from the mouse, you can swap it out with another OP1 Flex Cord if it needs to be replaced. In the box you also get a set of replacement PTFE skates and some stick-on grip skins for the sides of the mouse, which are a nice add-on.
Endgame Gear OP1 8k: Design
The first thing I noticed about the Endgame Gear OP1 8k is how light it is. It weighs just 50.5 grams, which is even lighter than the Alienware Pro Wireless, one of our top gaming mice. It’s definitely one of the lightest gaming mice we’ve ever tested.
Despite being a wired mouse, the OP1 8k still felt incredibly light and free on my mouse pad. The cable is made of flexible fabric that bends and moves as easily as a shoelace. It doesn’t have the stiffness and rigidity of a braided or rubber cable, which gives the OP1 8k an edge compared to other wired gaming mice.
Overall, the OP1 8k has a minimal, simplistic design. Both the black and white colorways are easy to mix into any desk setup. If you want a gaming mouse that doesn’t have the over-the-top RGB gamer aesthetic, this one is worth checking out. However, if you need a mouse with several utility buttons, the OP1 8k might not be right for you. Besides the two main top buttons, it only has two side buttons (located on the left side).
The shape of the OP1 8k is neutral, though, so left-handed gamers can use it, as long as you don’t mind the side button placement. There’s also a “Left-handed Mode” option in the configuration software. The buttons all feel clicky and snappy right out of the box. The scroll wheel has a bit of feedback, as well, with small bumps for scrolling and a soft click when you press on it.
It’s worth noting that the CPI/DPI button is on the bottom of the OP1 8k, which may be a drawback for some gamers. I prefer having it on the bottom so I don’t accidentally press it during games. If you do want quick access to the CPI button, though, the bottom placement won’t work for you.
One particularly interesting feature of the OP1 8k is the hot-swappable button switches. You might be familiar with changing your mechanical keyboard switches, but swapping out your mouse switches isn’t quite as common. Endgame Gear offers several mouse switch packs you can use to change up the sound and feel of the OP1 8k.
I tried out one of these and found the hot-swap process super easy. The OP1 8k comes with clicky Kailh GX switches. They sounded great, but I prefer quieter mouse buttons, so I swapped out the Kailh GX switches for a set of Huano Silent 50-60gf switches. The process took about ten minutes from start to finish and my OP1 8k still works and sounds great.
Besides customization, the option to hot-swap the switches in your gaming mouse also improves durability and the value you get for your money. It’s fairly common for mouse buttons to get mushy eventually, especially for gamers. With the OP1 8k, you can simply buy a new set of switches for $7 instead of being forced to toss your $75 mouse.
Endgame Gear OP1 8k: Performance
I thoroughly enjoyed gaming with the OP1 8k. The incredibly low weight and flexible cable make it effortless to fly across your mousepad in those high-octane games where every second counts. The skates on the bottom are buttery smooth so there’s practically no friction.
Since this is a wired mouse, you don’t have to worry about running into latency issues or a dead battery. The polling rate is preset to 8000Hz, so you get the fastest performance possible right out of the box. You can adjust the polling rate down to 4000Hz, 2000Hz, or even 1000Hz to suit your gaming style.
I tested the OP1 8k in a variety of games with both the stock Kailh GX switches and the Huano Silent switches I swapped them out for. Both switches felt and performed great. My aim and movement in Fortnite was quick and precise and the OP1 8k never failed to register a single click.
The same applies to the side buttons. I like to assign dodge movements to my side mouse buttons, so snappy performance is crucial for those, as well. The side buttons on the OP1 8k didn’t let me down. They are firm enough that I didn’t click them on accident, but they aren’t so stiff that they delayed my dodge timing in Enshrouded or Horizon: Zero Dawn. It’s a sweet spot that’s perfect for precision movement in fast-paced games. The OP1 8k paired especially well with my Endgame Gear KB65HE gaming keyboard.
The cable didn’t give me any trouble during gameplay, either. The cable connector has a slight upward bend where it meets the body of the OP1 8k, so the front edge of the cable is elevated a bit. This keeps the cable from getting caught up in front of the mouse and helps minimize drag. I barely noticed the cable was there during my gameplay sessions. It’s so light and flexible that the OP1 8k might as well be wireless.
The only drawback I noticed in my testing was heat management. The smooth, matte case of the OP1 8k can get a bit warm during long, intense gaming sessions. Luckily, the OP1 comes with a set of stick-on grip skins for the sides of the mouse, which do help a bit. However, the top of the mouse is the main area where I noticed heat building up. If you’re someone who often gets sweaty palms, you might be better off with a honeycomb-style mouse.
Endgame Gear OP1 8k: Software
The Endgame Gear OP1 8k has a basic configuration tool that looks pretty dated, but offers all the basic customization options you need. You can change the preset DPI options, adjust multiclick filters for each button, customize the polling rate, and remap all the buttons. There are also options to turn on or off Motion Sync and Slamclick filtering.
The configuration tool might not be fancy, but it got the job done for me. I prefer to have my DPI at 1200, which is right between two of the default preset DPI options. I could set my own DPI profiles, which was nice. If you’re left-handed, there’s also an option to remap the buttons for “Left-handed Mode” under the Button Mapping tab.
Bottom Line
The Endgame Gear OP1 8k is a top-tier gaming mouse that packs a lot of value into a small chassis. The 8k polling rate it’s named for makes a difference in-game, delivering the fastest connection possible. The incredibly low weight gives you a serious edge, as well. If you’re worried about the cable slowing you down, don’t be. It’s lightweight and flexible, so it’s not going to get caught up on your mousepad or the edge of your desk.
The OP1 8k has a mid-range price at $75, but the amount of customization you get takes the value up a notch. The option to easily hot-swap the button switches means this mouse can last you years on end. You can even swap out the fabric cable if you ever need to.
While the software could look a bit better, it includes all the customization options you could need and works well. The ambidextrous design makes the OP1 8k a great option for left-handed gamers, as well.
However, if you’re looking for a wireless alternative, you might be better served with the Alienware Pro Wireless. If you need a gaming mouse with more utility buttons, take a look at the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite.
Overall, the Endgame Gear OP1 8k is easy to recommend, especially for gamers who want a small, light mouse for fast-paced gameplay.
