Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse Review: An Ultralight Gaming Mouse That’s Fun and Accurate and Reasonably Priced

Monoprice Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse Review

Everywhere I look, I see perforated mice. They are all the rage in gaming—the extra plastic being removed to reduce the weight of the mouse so it can move more quickly over the mousepad. Monoprice sent me their $69.99 Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Ultralight Gaming Mouse, which is a mouthful for me and for SEO. For this review, I will just refer to it as the Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse.

What we like

If lightweight was the design imperative, then Monoprice hit its target with the 2.5oz Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse. It’s kind of like a ghost; I see things happening on the screen but feel almost nothing in my hand.

But of course, weight was not the only driver. The mouse had to perform and do, well, game things. The biggest functional success is the programmable dots per inch (DPI) setting that range from 800 to 16,000 with a tap of the DPI button just out of the way behind the scroll button. Tap the button to shift through the DPI settings. Each one reflects a different, momentary LED color change to indicate where the mouse is on the DPI continuum.

The mouse employs an industry-recognized PixArt PAW 3335 optical sensor for surface tracking. The switches on the buttons come from Omron®.

Next up, fun. Built-in LED lights swirl and flicker when the mouse is in use—only if you want them to. Keep in mind this is a rechargeable mouse, so light equals energy. The two-position on-off switch’s first position leaves the lights off; the top position starts the party. Without the LEDs, the mouse will run for up to 50 hours. I have to say, sometimes I just want a mini party while I’m writing, and I’m willing to recharge sooner to get it.

The 2.4GHz mouse connects via an included receiver. The receiver tucks under the mouse for storage and travel. A braided USB-A to USB-C cable is provided for charging, though the mouse will take most current USB-C charging cables.

What could be improved

I could not find a reference to configuration software in the documentation or on the Monoprice website. I downloaded software for the wired version of the Dark Matter Hyper-K Mouse, but it did not recognize its wireless cousin. Without software, the additional buttons on the mouse are useless, and the LEDs cannot be configured.

It also appears that Monoprice focused on the PC. As a Mac user, I’m disappointed that I could not find Mac configuration software, working or not.

My other concern is the fit and finish. As good as the Monoprice Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless looks, the buttons feel a bit lose. Using it for business doesn’t present much of an issue, but in gaming situations, it may not respond as expected or require a learning curve to acclimate to the buttons.

I also had a gamer relative put out the caution that as cool as the honeycombed construction looks, and as much as it reduced weight, all of these mice will prove more susceptible to crumbs and spills than their enclosed counterparts.

The mostly cardboard and recycled packing material was great, but I think blister packs need to go sooner than later.

Dark Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse: The bottom line

The perforated, honeycomb design makes for a light mouse that performs well as a basic mouse on Mac or PC. The standard LEDs make for a more enlightening experience, be it for gaming or work. The lack of software, however, means that control of the LEDs and the features, like additional buttons, can’t be configured, hampering its gaming capabilities and relegating it to the role of a basic mouse.

Monoprice provided the Matter Hyper-K Wireless Mouse for review. Images courtesy of Monoprice unless otherwise noted.

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