This Double 11, These Mice Are Worth a Look

Article title: This Double 11, These Mice Are Worth a Look

Body: Half a year has passed since 618, and the peripherals market has seen three changes. First, PixArt's mainstream flagship mouse sensor has been upgraded from PAW3950 to PAW3955. In previous years, a sensor change would have been a big deal, but the improvement from 3950 to 3955 is far smaller than that from 3395 to 3950—barely an incremental update, with little point in upgrading. The more notable change is that manufacturers have begun to follow up on "swappable battery" and electromagnetic micro-switch designs. With "swappable battery" mice, the battery can be removed from the device and charged separately, so the mouse is completely free from cable constraints, greatly improving the wireless experience. On the micro-switch side, the market had only just moved from early mechanical micro-switches to optical micro-switches, and now, with the spread of magnetic switches on esports keyboards, mouse micro-switches are also starting to go "magnetic." Logitech was the first to announce this last year and, in February this year, released a product using such micro-switches—the G Pro X2 Superstrike—and then, breaking with its usual pattern, released the X3 just 7 months later, an astonishing iteration pace. Many domestic manufacturers have also begun to follow this design, quickly bringing "black technology" into the affordable mainstream.

For this Double 11, we've made some changes based on our 618 recommendations, adding some mice that sell themselves on popular new features, and throwing in a few headphone recommendations along the way. With PC components all rising in price these days, peripherals may be the only category left where players can still experience what high cost-performance means.

Mice Worth Watching

VXE Dragonfly V3 / MCHOSE G3 Series

• Features: Quality alternatives to classic molds for small and medium hands

Affordable, well-performing small-to-medium-hand symmetrical gaming-grade wireless mice—this category used to have an almost standard answer. Unfortunately, for various reasons, its imitators have completely become the better choice in this niche. Among them, VXE's Dragonfly V3 and the MCHOSE G3 series are probably the two most representative.

The standard version of VXE's Dragonfly V3 uses HiSilicon's NearLink main controller and a sensor called PAW3315. This configuration itself is not very mainstream, but judging purely by performance, it is basically on par with mice in this price range that commonly use the PAW3311 sensor, so there's not much to worry about. It's fair to say that unless you're playing competitive games at a very high level, this performance difference will not affect your competitive performance or overall experience—choosing a suitable mold matters most. VXE V3 also has a Pro version, which switches to the more conventional PAW3395SE 2.0 (Hyper Core 26K) sensor, while further reducing weight by shrinking the battery capacity and switching to higher-durability micro-switches.

The MCHOSE G3 series is also a fairly typical imitation expert. Currently, the main models on sale are the G3 A and G3 V2, both using the PAW3311 sensor. The difference between the G3 A and G3 V2 is mainly that the G3 A has weaker overall specs: with a smaller battery, it is 5 g heavier, and its main controller, micro-switches, and scroll wheel encoder are all cheaper models. Strictly speaking, if you disregard the sensor difference itself, the VXE V3 is the better value, but if you also have some battery life requirements, the G3 V2 is worth considering.

Personally, for mice in the 100-yuan range, choosing the most basic entry-level version is enough for daily needs. Even if you have some competitive gaming requirements, they can fully meet them—suitable for people who don't play games for long hours at high intensity (or high level) and are used to using one mouse for both office work and gaming. The downside is that quality control for mice at this price may be a bit of a gamble, so when you receive it, check for issues with assembly and button presses.

ATK A9 Air Master Edition Series / A9 mini Master Series

• Features: A perfect recreation of the classic mold for medium and large hands, with an excellent sensor and weight

• Price: Taobao from ¥249.45

In the past, I always held a "I'll use them myself, but I won't recommend them to you" attitude toward ATK mice. The main reason is that I have far too many mice on hand, and at a suitable price, ATK really wouldn't make the cut. But starting at the end of last year, this situation changed. ATK completed a brand restructuring last year, completely splitting from VGN and becoming a large collective formed by ATK and MCHOSE (as well as VXE above). The product logo also changed from the previously rather unconventional explosive letters to the current lightning bolt mark, and at the same time it served up some serious goods—the A9 series.

In my view, the A9 series mice have only one purpose—to use a lower price and better performance to eat into the GPXS series market. Of course, ATK is not the only company doing this, but ATK's technical accumulation and user base are superior. The quality control issues that were once widely criticized have also been improved on the A9 series. The Master Edition series is divided into two tiers: the Master Edition uses the old flagship 3950, while the "Master Edition+" uses the latest 3955 sensor. Features such as 20k fps sampling rate, 8k polling rate, MotionSync, and sensor angle adjustment are all present.

In terms of the mold, it basically replicates the GPXS feel one-to-one, while the mini version targets the GPXS 2c; the internal structure is lightweight while ensuring strength. As for micro-switches, apart from the previous generation's UltraMax, all models on sale use ATK's custom optical micro-switches. The Air Master Edition+ uses a traditional optical micro-switch feel, while the mini Master Edition+ uses an optical micro-switch with a mechanical feel; personally, the difference is not significant. The coating feels very dry, and if your palms sweat slightly, the anti-slip effect is also good. For the Air Master Edition series, I recommend it for medium-to-large hands of 18-20cm; for the mini Master Edition series, I recommend it for medium-to-small hands of 17-19cm. Friends who can't stomach the GPXS price but like that mold can buy with their eyes closed.

Rapoo VT7 V2 Series

• Features: Medium-to-large-hand pseudo-symmetrical mouse, latest sensor, multiple Rapoo molds available

• Price: JD/Taobao ¥299 (PAW3955 version) ¥199 (PAW3950 version)

As the first product in Rapoo's second-generation VT series, the VT7 has recently also ushered in a new generation with the 3955 update. The previous generation VT7 sold quite well, especially the Klein Blue limited edition, which really looks great. The mold has a solid reputation; it is a pseudo-symmetrical style tuned for large hands, seemingly left-right symmetrical but actually designed with different curves for the thumb and ring finger, making it fit the hand better. The currently on-sale standard version V2 uses the previous generation Max version's 3950 sensor, while the Pro and Max versions use the 3955 sensor. The difference between Pro and Max lies in the main controller: the standard version and Pro both use the Nordic 54L15 main controller, while the Max version uses the Nordic 54LM20 main controller, both belonging to the current top tier. The internal structure has also been upgraded: the mainboard has been upgraded to Geek Core 2.0, and the keel architecture has also been upgraded, giving the shell better stability.

Rapoo's self-development capability ranks among the top domestic manufacturers. Rapoo's current approach is to unify mouse mainboards as the "Geek Core" and then fit them into different molds, greatly reducing the time and money spent on mold development. The Geek Core is highly integrated, and the mainboard is small and light; in recent years it has also gained favor among DIY players. In terms of other features, Rapoo has given it the abbreviated name "8828": 8kHz wireless transmission polling rate, 8kHz wired transmission polling rate, 20k fps sampling rate, and 8kHz button scan rate—basically the standard performance spec for anything now daring to call itself an "esports mouse."

By the way, let's talk about Rapoo's VT series, especially the VT second-generation series. The VT series includes the VT7, VT3, VT9, VT2, and VT6 for medium-to-large hands, and the VT3s, VT1, VT0, VT7s, VT9s and other molds for medium-to-small hands, covering symmetrical, pseudo-symmetrical, ergonomic, and various large/small hand needs. Thanks to the "Geek Core," Rapoo can release almost any mold in any popular orientation, and each generational update is very fast. Besides the mainly introduced VT7, other models also have good prices, and interested friends can keep an eye out. The only problem is that Rapoo's generational naming is a bit confusing; when buying, it's advisable to directly check the suitable hand shape and sensor model written in the product details.

MCHOSE A7 V3 Ultra+

• Features: Classic mold recreation, main controller upgrade, magnetic wireless charging

• Price: JD/Taobao ¥299.55

I mentioned above that ATK is not the only company eating into the GPXS market—another relatively large one is MCHOSE. Unlike ATK, MCHOSE has two GPXS-like mice in its product line, the A5 and the A7. The A5 targets the small-to-medium-hand market and had a small-to-medium-hand mold several years before the GPXS 2c launched, but its hardware updates lagged by half a beat; the A7 targets the same medium-to-large-hand market as the GPXS, with hardware closely following the latest generation. Before the A7 V3 Ultra+, MCHOSE had always used Realtek main controllers, and battery life was very average. On the V3, MCHOSE finally caught up with the times and adopted a Nordic 54 series main controller. With the shortcoming in the main controller addressed, the A7 series has finally reached its ultimate form.

Compared with ATK, MCHOSE's positioning is more everyday, retaining Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired tri-mode connectivity, while also being compatible with the previous generation's wireless charging dock. As for wireless charging for mice, I can only say two words—elegant. From the early Viper Ultimate to Rapoo, I've always enjoyed using wireless charging in daily life. Convenient, easy to use, easy to store; after gaming, just place the mouse on the dock, and it also beautifies your desk setup. However, unlike Razer and Rapoo's contact-based wireless charging, MCHOSE uses true magnetic wireless charging, with no contacts, and the bottom of the mouse retains a clean flat surface. Battery life is also supported by a 500mAh battery, so charging once a week for daily gaming is completely fine. In addition, in an era where everyone has web-based drivers, MCHOSE's web driver has a good-looking UI and is simple and easy to understand—very suitable for beginners.

Overall, although the price is a tiny bit higher than ATK, this price can be seen as the price of the magnetic charging dock, so overall the MCHOSE A7 V3 Ultra+ is still quite affordable.

Rapoo VT2 RT V2

• Features: Electromagnetic micro-switches, PixArt 3955

As one of the top peripheral manufacturers in the country, Rapoo has always been at the forefront when it comes to keeping up with the times. Ever since Logitech released its electromagnetic switches last September, manufacturers across the board surely caught the scent and joined the R&D rush. Less than a week after Logitech's X3 launch, Rapoo also released its own electromagnetic switch product—the VT2 RT V2. Whether intentional or not, the VT2's mold is positioned within the VT series to go head-to-head with the GPXS series—a straight punch.

As the name suggests, the VT2 RT V2 is a VT2 V2 using electromagnetic switches, and as mentioned above, when it comes to the mold, anyone familiar with the GPXS series will pick it up quickly. As for the switch feel, anyone who has used the trackpad on a MacBook will find it familiar—it's a subtle feel, direct up-and-down when unpowered, and the vibration once powered is slightly addictive. It should be noted that, according to teardowns, Rapoo's electromagnetic switch technology is closer to the Hall effect rather than Logitech's inductive technology. This actually puzzles me quite a bit—because Rapoo uses inductive switches on its keyboards instead, the technical路线 has gone in reverse.

On the sensor side, it uses the latest customized PixArt 3955 Ultimate sensor, with a maximum of 60k DPI. Meanwhile, for stable transmission and power efficiency, it adopts the Nordic 54LM20 main control chip. Every piece of hardware uses top-tier products. Internally, Rapoo still uses its well-received Geek's Core PCB design. At the same time, the embedded keel structure ensures the mouse is structurally solid and stable.

If you're looking for a stand-in for Logitech's latest product, I believe this mouse can be your choice.

AULA Kunlun X5

• Features: electromagnetic switches, PixArt 3955

• Price: Double 11 Taobao official flagship store ¥359

As a representative of cheap and plentiful, AULA has also developed its own electromagnetic switch mouse. Technically speaking, AULA's SSHS inductive electromagnetic switch is the closest to Logitech's HITS technology, and the feel is also standard electromagnetic switch feel. On the hardware specs side, it uses the PixArt 3955 EVO, with a maximum of 56k DPI. For the main control, AULA did not use the common Nordic main control but instead used its self-developed AL01A main control, with marketing emphasizing Starlink AI frequency hopping and no performance drop at low battery, though more details were not disclosed. This mouse is also a candidate stand-in for the GPXS.

Darmoshark M9

• Features: a rare super-large-hand mold on the market

From a cost-performance perspective, Darmoshark's mice are not cheap at all. This brand, spun off from the veteran peripheral manufacturer Motospeed, after the great mouse melee of the past few years, has begun to specialize in special molds. The early well-known ones were the M3 series suited for large hands of 19 cm and above, as well as the M2 and M3XS designed for small and medium hands. But now, what supports Darmoshark's pricing is mainly the M9 series for super-large hands and the M3 Micro and M5 for super-small hands.

Super-small mice like the M3 Micro and M5 are actually a bit easier to sell, because some competitive players pursuing extreme agility will buy super-small mice to use a fingertip grip, minimizing the contact area between the mouse and the hand. A mouse like the M9 is almost one of a kind. In terms of configuration it's fairly conventional—Darmoshark has not yet updated the M9 to the latest engine, still using the previous-generation flagship PAW3950, paired with the new Nordic 54L15 main control and FE optical switches, which is middling in today's market.

But its mold is just too special. In orientation it's a common symmetrical mouse with a slight waist, but it measures 136.5 mm long, 68.1 mm wide, and 43.5 mm high—already completely beyond the range of regular large-hand mice, making it a genuine super-large-hand mouse. For example, classic large-hand mice on the market include the G402, G502, and MX518, and older ones include Microsoft's IE 3.0—they are all asymmetrical ergonomic mice designed for palm grip, and all are shorter than the M9. The M9's symmetrical shape also lets it better accommodate the claw grip of super-large hands. If you have hands over 21 cm long, this mouse might free you from a cramped grip. Correspondingly, if you have particularly small hands, their super-small mice are also worth a look.

Lamzu Thorn V2

• Features: self-developed mold, PAW NEXT I sensor, co-developed with a Valorant world champion

• Price: JD/Taobao: ¥799

Among domestic manufacturers, Lamzu has always been one of the better representatives—in my mind, first tier among domestic mice. The Thorn V2 they've brought out this time, I think, is very much worth discussing.

First, on the sensor, the Thorn V2 is quite prestigious this time, receiving the same treatment as PixArt's own son Razer—it obtained PixArt's exclusive customized sensor PAW Next I. On paper, its maximum tracking speed of 880 IPS is only slightly slower than the 930 IPS of the strongest sensor on earth, the Focus Pro 50k, and its maximum acceleration support is only slightly lower than the Focus Pro 50k's 100 g, at 80 g. These two figures still hold a considerable lead over the public version 3955's 750 IPS and 60 g. Next is the internal structure and buttons. The first-generation Thorn's button wobble was not small; the Thorn V2 optimizes the internal structure, making button wobble almost imperceptible. The button switches use customized optical switches, and the scroll wheel encoder uses an optical encoder. In overall quality and performance, it's somewhat catching up to Razer.

On the mold side, the Thorn still uses a self-developed right-handed ergonomic mold, and for mold R&D they brought in S1Mon, a member of the 2024 Valorant world championship team, for joint development. Compared with the previous generation, the Thorn V2's mold is slightly longer and lower than the last generation; as a medium-to-large-hand mouse, it still has excellent wrapping and control, only the feel differs noticeably from the previous generation. On the V2, what I find most regrettable is that Lamzu abandoned its signature transparent hollow bottom cover of the past, switching instead to a closed bottom cover—although it retains the past pattern designs, it just doesn't feel the same to me.

If you have high demands on mouse performance and at the same time want to give a domestic manufacturer a chance, I think the Thorn V2 is a very good choice.

ROG Harpe Ace Mini

• Features: a rare high-performance medium-small-hand mouse from an international brand

When international manufacturers release flagship mice, they often prioritize medium-to-large-hand mice because they have to consider the global average hand length, while small-hand mice get a lower-tier configuration—either updated slowly or not updated at all. And if you want to buy a flagship small mouse from a major brand with good after-sales service and decent quality control, ROG's Harpe Ace Mini may be one of the few choices.

The Harpe Ace Mini's mold is derived from ROG's self-developed Harpe Ace mold, shrunk to a length of 117 mm and a back height of 37 mm, with the highest point of the back adjusted to be basically centered, and like the Harpe 2 Ace, it corrects the various aggressive designs of the first-generation mold, retaining the characteristics while being easier to grip. On the performance side, the Harpe Ace Mini supports tri-mode connectivity and the ROG Omni receiver, allowing one receiver to handle one keyboard and one mouse; its own SpeedNova wireless technology has low latency and is very stable. The sensor uses the AimPoint Pro 42K, which can basically be seen as a ROG-customized version of the PAW3950 with better performance. The buttons use ROG's optical switches, with a button lifespan of 100 million clicks. The Ace Mini came out a bit early, and the stock accessories don't support the now-popular 8kHz polling rate, but during the promotion period, posting a review with a photo gets you the 8k polling rate accelerator that originally had to be bought separately, raising the polling rate to 8kHz. In addition, this mouse supports the new Armoury Crate SE peripheral driver and the web-based driver, letting you stay away from the notorious ASUS Armoury Crate driver and clearing obstacles for enjoying the mouse.

If you're interested in this mold but a bit concerned about the price, ROG also released the 179-yuan Harpe Mini standard edition wired mouse, with a soft cable, supporting ROG's signature hot-swappable mechanical switches—only its performance is on par with hundred-yuan mice, equipped with the PAW3311 sensor, so it can only be considered a compromise.

Razer DeathAdder/Viper V4 Pro

• Features: esports top dog, exclusive latest sensor, asymmetric cutoff technology

• Price: DeathAdder ¥1020.54, Viper Taobao livestream ¥1049

Razer's prestige needs no elaboration. The latest sensor on the market is the Focus Pro 50k found in the Viper V4 Pro. As PixArt's "own son," Razer has a one-year exclusivity period on the sensor, so the latest sensor other manufacturers can get, the PAW3955, is actually the public version of the Focus Pro 45k sensor used in the DeathAdder V4 Pro released a year ago.

As Razer's two flagship products, the DeathAdder focuses on the right-handed ergonomic mouse space, while the Viper shines in the symmetrical mouse space. After the Viper V4 Pro's release, Razer also officially entered the web-based driver space, so domestic users no longer need to install the Synapse driver on their computers. This time both molds remain consistent with the previous-generation V3, more conservative than earlier products, focusing on optimizing internal structure. According to Razer itself, structural strength is twice that of the previous-generation V3, and weight has dropped below 50g—a fairly routine improvement.

The real upgrades are the receiver and the scroll wheel. Both V4 Pro series use the latest hemispherical receiver, with signal strength improved by 30%, and the receiver is equipped with an indicator light so you can see battery level, polling rate, and DPI status more quickly. Razer has adopted an optical scroll wheel encoder across the V4 series, making scrolling more precise with slightly less noise.

In other respects, aside from the optical switches, the most praised feature is Razer's asymmetric lift-off distance technology. On mice from other brands, LOD (the lift height at which the sensor stops tracking) generally offers only a single setting, with the same distance whether lifting or setting down. Razer's asymmetric lift-off technology lets the lift and landing LOD heights be adjusted separately, making it easy for users who frequently lift the mouse during games to fine-tune according to their operating habits.

Honestly, Razer's prices really are getting more expensive, but the quality is genuinely good. If you have faith in big brands or are a loyal Razer fan, buying now is perfectly fine—before the next-generation flagship launches, Razer flagships usually see very small price cuts.

SteelSeries Sensei Pro / Rival Pro Series

• Features: SteelSeries' comeback work, classic Sensei shell, swappable battery design, UWB transmission technology

The last time SteelSeries released a genuinely eye-catching all-new mouse was the Prime series in 2021, but that series was always praised yet never a commercial hit. Since then, SteelSeries seemed to have given up on its mouse product line, focusing instead on its own headphone and mousepad lines, later releasing only minor revisions of existing products, and doing so quietly. Whether they suddenly had an epiphany or something else, just as suddenly as the Prime series back then, they brought out upgraded Sensei and Rival models in October, carrying on the classic shells of their two lines while introducing powerful sensors, a swappable battery design, and UWB wireless transmission technology, offered in both standard and Mini sizes.

The first mice to adopt this swappable battery design were Angry Miao's high-end AM Infinity series. The overall approach is actually the same as with dry-battery mice, except that the swappable battery ensures the battery matches the mouse's overall design. The mouse comes with two batteries—use one while charging the other—and the charging module is integrated into the receiver. This sheds the heavy weight of dry batteries while letting the wireless mouse maintain a long-lasting wireless experience, combining the advantages of both.

The receiver also follows the designs of many trendy international peripheral makers—it has a small display showing data such as DPI and polling rate. For wireless transmission, it abandons the 2.4GHz wireless protocol in favor of UWB. Using the new protocol solves the problem of wireless interference at its root. Common household wireless products such as headphones, mice, and routers all use the 2.4GHz band, causing channel congestion—like a traffic jam. These two mice operate on UWB frequencies of roughly 6.427GHz to 9.256GHz, higher not only than 2.4GHz but also than the 5GHz commonly used for Wi-Fi, so the only device running in this band is the mouse itself. Moreover, UWB's bandwidth is quite wide—equivalent to a six-lane highway with only one car on it, perfectly smooth. If other manufacturers follow suit with this design, I believe future esports matches will rarely see the kind of comedic scene from this year's VALORANT Shanghai Champions where wireless mice were plugged in and used as wired mice. Combined with SteelSeries' absolute advantage in shell design, it's fair to say these two mice have basically nothing but merits—except the price.

Mousepads Worth Noticing

As mouse features converge and development slows, the mousepad—an accessory that directly affects tracking and control experience—is gradually drawing attention again. Especially this year, major brands basically all bring out their new mousepads alongside new mice. This trend actually started last year: veteran peripheral maker SteelSeries refreshed its signature QcK series, with the latest QcK Pro adding three feel dimensions: "Speed, Control, Balance." Alongside the Viper V4 Pro, Razer also updated its Goliathus mousepad to the V2 series, offering five glide levels: Max Speed, Speed, Balance, Control, and Max Control.

But good as those pads are, their positioning is decidedly "competitive"—the QcK Pro series starts at ¥329, and the Goliathus reaches ¥378... If you don't fancy yourself a pro player or hardcore enthusiast right off the bat, here are some cheap, capable pads with no shortage of performance.

SteelSeries QcK Series

• Features: classic veteran, legendary reputation, cheap and plentiful

• Price: Taobao ¥79 (L size)

Just because SteelSeries released the Pro doesn't mean the QcK is discontinued. Launched in 2004, the regular QcK series, as SteelSeries' classic old pad, is hugely popular among both casual players and pro players. Its silky experience and low price give it a reputation other pad makers can't hope to match. Cloth pads popular in the pro scene cost hundreds, and glass pads cost over a thousand, yet the QcK in 45cm × 40cm L size is only ¥79! That's the official price—there were even knockoff versions of this pad in earlier years, and now it seems it should be the mousepad least worth buying a knockoff of. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get QcK in different designs, plus the control-oriented 6mm thick QcK Heavy, also well regarded in the pro scene, with the L size at just ¥179. The QcK series' downside is that after a few months of intensive use, the surface feel degrades fairly quickly, and the Heavy version's surface texture becomes sluggish in humid environments—but for less professional players, if pro players can use this pad as their daily staple, what's there for us to complain about?

ATK Lie Series

• Features: balanced pad, neither outstanding nor flawed, reasonable price

Say what you will, ATK did well this year—not only are its mice good, but this pad is excellent too. As a balanced pad, the ATK Lie performs remarkably well in my book. My main games include CS2, Overwatch, and Rainbow Six, all of which require quick targeting and large turns. While using the Lie, whether for rapid starts or emergency stops, the pad performs well and strikes a great balance, imitating the style of this year's popular LGG Saturn Pro mousepad in pursuit of quick starts and stable tracking. The pad isn't expensive either, and if you happen to be buying an ATK mouse, this pad is sometimes included as a review-with-purchase gift, so keep an eye out.

Capere Zhuifeng Series Mousepad

• Price: Taobao from ¥31 (45cm×40cm)

Capere has always been a domestic mousepad brand I follow and like. Their pads cover every category—office pads with wrist rests, heated pads for winter, pads with wireless charging, and ones made specifically for esports players—with all the popular materials and styles available, and none of them expensive. I've used the Zhuifeng and the Bingsui. The Bingsui uses an aluminum alloy material and is very smooth, but it costs over a hundred, so let's not have everyone spending big during the shopping festival—let's talk about a very affordable staple pad, the Zhuifeng series.

To sum up the Zhuifeng in two words: "average." This average carries no negative connotation—whether starting, stopping abruptly, or swinging back and forth over large distances, the Zhuifeng is very smooth. One day, in an unremarkable Delta Force large-scale battle match, I used this pad to get 140 kills and earn the Genius Youth achievement. Over the whole match, neither my forearm nor my wrist felt any discomfort from the pad's friction. And after long-term use, its surface remains relatively stable—unlike some pads where, after a certain amount of use, the friction coefficient between the long-used area and the rarely used area shows a very intuitive, perceptible difference.

If you're looking for a pad that performs well and won't hurt your wallet when it gets worn or dirty, the Capere Zhuifeng series is a good choice.

Bonus: Headphones Worth Recommending

Not only have mice seen huge design changes—the "gaming headset" category has also undergone changes in design and philosophy. First, I've always held a personal view: I don't believe there's any such thing as a "gaming headset"—the concept itself is a scam.

You don't necessarily need a gaming headset to play games. Looking at the development trend of gaming headsets over the past two years, brands have been moving their gaming headsets toward monitor headphones. Sony uses the same drivers as its own monitor series in its gaming flagship—though entry-level products are still a scam, since it's only when the internals fall short that they resort to gimmicks. Whether it's Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, or HyperX, they're all using less-than-good drivers to make flagship gaming headset products, charging upward of a thousand yet delivering only the performance of ordinary few-hundred-yuan headphones—I think that's a very shameful practice.

So why not just spend that money on proper monitor headphones? Even on a limited budget, there are ordinary headphones with normal tuning and high cost-performance. After all, the virtual surround sound that gaming headsets love to tout is all computed by software—Windows' built-in is enough; the extra driver is just there to make players pay more. As for EQ adjustment, monitor headphones can separate sound details perfectly well without it, and few people's ears are really that sensitive. So the headphones recommended here focus more on the headphones' own sound performance while also ensuring gaming performance.

Philips SHP9600

• Features: 50mm neodymium drivers, open-back design

• Price: JD official store ¥226

This Year's Double 11: These Mice Are Worth a Look

The Philips SHP9600 is truly a representative of spending little for big results; its predecessor, the SHP9500, was once a representative of extremely high cost-effectiveness. The steel graduated headband, balanced lows, mids, and highs, low impedance and high sensitivity, and the three-meter detachable cable with a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter, combined with a price of just over 200, really make me wonder what headphones at the same price could beat it. Although it doesn't reach top-tier HIFI quality, its overall performance is really very "monitoring." The separation of instruments and vocals is very good; when listening to classical music, you can clearly distinguish each instrument, and the vocals are also very clear and not muffled. The open-back design also adds to the transparency of the sound, the earpads are very breathable, and the overall performance is excellent.

In gaming scenarios, paired with Windows' built-in Dolby or 7.1.4 surround sound, it performs very well; sound positioning is quite clear. When wearing this headphone to play PUBG or CS2, it performs very well, and sound-based positioning is quite accurate.

As for drawbacks, correspondingly, the open-back design mentioned earlier makes the sound very transparent, but it also brings two problems—sound leakage and no noise isolation. This is a common problem with all open-back headphones; there's no way around it. Another point is the insufficient weight. This headphone is somewhat heavy and presses a bit on the top of the head; people with fluffy hair (like me) have a very deep indentation on the top of their head after wearing this headphone. In addition, properly designed music headphones don't come with a microphone; for gaming you need an extra mic, and if ports are limited, you need to think again.

In summary, as I said earlier, spending little for big results is this headphone's biggest advantage; you can buy thousand-yuan monitoring sound quality for just over 200, which is very attractive.

Razer 虎鳗

• Features: Razer's only current monitoring headphone, excellent sound quality, almost perfect noise isolation

• Price: Taobao official flagship store ￥608

I don't know whether other gaming peripheral manufacturers have tried monitoring headphones, but anyway Razer did it first. I bought it in 2024, and after two years of use it is still in perfect condition, with no problems found. Unlike most monitoring headphones on the market, it doesn't use a 0.78mm 2-pin connector, but the more flexible MMCX connector. There is no sound quality difference between these two connectors; I think Razer chose MMCX considering gaming needs. Because the MMCX connector can rotate flexibly, it does not restrict the bending degree at the over-ear cable connector at all, while 0.78mm 2-pin has various bending angles, and whether the angle is suitable depends entirely on the cable.

In terms of sound quality, the 虎鳗 can be said to meet the monitoring standard, with quite high resolution, very good instrument separation, and clear vocals. As an in-ear headphone, its passive noise isolation is also good, with no problem isolating external sound, whether for gaming or going on stage. Two sets of large, medium, and small eartips come with the headphones, one set using memory foam and one set using silicone; use whichever you like. Similarly, the microphone needs to be purchased separately. If you have requirements for music, gaming, and blocking background noise, you can consider this headphone.

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This re-recommendation adjusted the recommended content based on the 2026 Double 11 market situation, updated prices, and added some new models. In addition, some headphone recommendations were newly added.