Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional: two-minute evaluation
At first look, the Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional is quite restrained in its look as gaming mice go. Its straightfoward design is quite inconspicuous, and the white mannequin I’ve reviewed right here is simply offset by black facet buttons and accents on the scroll wheel. The emblem is inconspicuous and there’s no RGB lighting both. To this point, so typical.
Nevertheless, the design of the Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional’s entrance finish is much less so. The mouse buttons are raised steeply on the again, and curve down sharply earlier than chopping brief, which implies the contact level is biased in the direction of your fingertips, extra so than I’ve skilled with many different gaming mice.
The M68 Professional weighs simply 55g, and there aren’t too many full-size wi-fi gaming mice lighter than this. It undercuts the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional, our decide because the greatest wi-fi gaming mouse, by eight grams. The Turtle Seaside Burst 2 Air is likely one of the uncommon few that’s even leaner, tipping the scales at simply 47g.
The 2 main buttons on the M68 Professional really feel strong but simple to completely depress, and the identical is true of the facet buttons. The scroll wheel is notched effectively, making for easy but managed spins, and the rubber layer gives loads of grip, serving to to make clicks really feel safe. Total, the M68 Professional appears to be a well-constructed gaming mouse.
The skates are fairly skinny, so that you do really feel arduous desktop surfaces a little bit when maneuvering. Regardless of this, the M68 Professional doesn’t scratch or backside out, as different gaming mice with inadequate padding do. That is spectacular, particularly contemplating there are solely two skates on the highest and backside (though the included spare set encompasses a piece for the sensor too). That is nonetheless a mouse I’d advocate solely utilizing with a mouse pad, although, in an effort to get one of the best out of it.
The USB port can be positioned on the appropriate rear facet of the M68 Professional, a placement that may little doubt show contentious, bucking the everyday front-end pattern (maybe the snub-nose design leaves no inside room for this placement).
Nevertheless, it does have the benefit of eliminating drag, though the included braided cable for wired play is mild sufficient to make this no concern regardless. The port can be deeply recessed, so there’s no concern of unintentional disconnection. The one main proviso, although, is that you just’re right-handed and have your desktop on the appropriate; if it’s in your left, then the cable is liable to get in the way in which.
Urgent the underside button, which toggles between numerous settings and modes, will be awkward, because it sits flush with the underside floor. That is particularly the case when urgent together with the 2 facet buttons to toggle between the sensor modes, and I struggled to activate it constantly.
In actual fact, altering a lot of the settings on the M68 Professional could be very awkward, since many require numerous odd button mixtures. Worst of all, the buttons nonetheless register regular enter if you’re attempting to activate the mixtures, which implies you need to be very cautious about what window you’re on and the place the cursor is.
These mixtures are a crucial compromise given the shortage of buttons and software program, however conserving them lively when holding them down is a critical misstep. One other gripe I’ve is that chosen parameters are solely indicated through completely different colours displayed on the small facet LED, so that you’ll doubtless need to preserve referring again to the guide til they’re ingrained in your reminiscence.
When you get your head round these button mixtures, although, there’s a big selection of changes current on the M68 Professional. Regardless of having no software program, there are eight onboard CPI settings to select from, providing sufficient scope to dial in ranges exact sufficient for many avid gamers. There are additionally 4 debounce time increments, starting from 2ms to 12ms, which once more needs to be greater than sufficient to satisfy particular person preferences.
There are solely two lift-off distances (1mm and 2mm) to select from, though this isn’t out of the abnormal, and whereas there are six polling charges to select from (or 4 when wired, topping out at 1K), I can’t see many individuals wanting greater than three for low (125Hz), mid (1K), and excessive (8K) values. There’s additionally an choice to toggle movement sync on and off.
When you begin gaming, although, the M68 Professional begins to shine. That aforementioned fingertip emphasis inspired by sloping mouse buttons makes for a extra tactile expertise. It meant I may get a greater grip when lifting off earlier than swipes, and someway gave me a better sense of connection to the on-screen motion, particularly when aiming. The completely different sensor modes are additionally efficient, with Professional Gaming mode being remarkably snappy and exact, excellent for FPS titles.
Cherry claims the M68 Professional’s battery can last as long as 90 hours on a single cost. Though I wasn’t in a position to get a precise measurement, I can say that after a number of days of testing, the LED was nonetheless inexperienced, indicating a proportion of between 75-100%.
To point out the battery stage, you need to maintain down each facet buttons and the left mouse button for 3 seconds, one other inconvenient methodology for those who’re nonetheless related to your machine, since once more the buttons will nonetheless function. There are 4 colours representing the 25% increments, and since there’s no software program, there’s no method to get a extra correct evaluation than this.
All issues thought of, the M68 Professional is a high-caliber wi-fi gaming mouse with a couple of design quirks that will please some however deter others. It’s not what you’d name low-cost, nevertheless it does beat maybe its closest rival, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional, relating to pricing.
The DeathAdder will be tweaked with Razer’s in-depth Synapse software program, although, which is extra handy. And for those who can stay with out an 8K polling fee and an inbuilt battery, the Cooler Grasp MM311 is a viable various with distinctive worth, given it’s nonetheless wi-fi.
Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional: worth & availability
- $129 / £139 / AU$214
- Black, white, and Staff Vitality editions
- Mid-range worth
The M68 Professional prices $129 / £139 / AU$214. There’s one white colorway and two black variants: one with grey accents and one other with yellow that additionally sports activities the emblem of esports group Staff Vitality instead of Cherry XTRFY’s.
It’s cheaper than our decide for one of the best wi-fi gaming mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional, but nonetheless competes with it spec-for-spec, as each have an 8K polling fee and the M68 Professional is even lighter.
Nevertheless, there are extra budget-friendly wi-fi choices round, such because the Cooler Grasp MM311, which is the greatest gaming mouse for these on a funds – it’s massively cheaper than the M68 Professional and plenty of different wi-fi gaming mice for that matter. Nevertheless, its polling fee tops out at 1K, and it requires a single AA battery. Nonetheless, for those who’re not after eSport-level efficiency, this can be a greater various.
Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional: specs
| Interface | Wi-fi (2.4GHz) |
| Ergonomics | Proper-handed symmetrical |
| Buttons | 6 |
| DPI | As much as 26,000 |
| Switches | Not specified |
| Weight | 1.94oz (55g) |
Ought to I purchase the Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional?
| Attributes | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | The M68 Professional is someplace in the course of the marketplace for a gaming mouse of this spec, though it does barely undercut one in every of its chief rivals, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional. | 3 / 5 |
| Design | The stubby entrance most likely received’t please everybody, and neither will the port placement, however I personally clicked with each. The construct high quality appears excessive and its appears aren’t more likely to offend. The strategy for adjusting settings isn’t the simplest, although. | 4 / 5 |
| Efficiency | There are sufficient settings to go well with just about any play fashion, and it’s tremendous responsive and snappy in Professional Gaming mode. It’s additionally a pleasure to click on and maneuver because of that steep, brief entrance as effectively. | 4 / 5 |
| Total | The distinctive form of the M68 Professional is a private spotlight for me, as is the stellar gaming efficiency. It appears good and is constructed effectively too. Its quirks will irk some greater than others, however general, it matches the efficiency of different high wi-fi gaming mice. | 4 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional: additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Turtle Seaside Burst 2 Air | Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional | Cooler Grasp MM311 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth | $129 / £139 / AU$214 | $159 / £159 / AU$299 | $39 (about £31 / AU$59) |
| Interface | Wi-fi (2.4GHz) | Wi-fi (Razer HyperSpeed) | 2.4GHz wi-fi |
| Ergonomics | Proper-handed symmetrical | Proper-handed asymmetrical | Proper-handed symmetrical |
| Switches | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| DPI | 26,000 | 26,000 | 10,000 |
| Switches | Not specified | Razer optical switches gen-3 | Not specified (mechanical) |
| Weight | 1.94oz (55g) | 2.22oz (63g) | 2.71oz (77g) |
How I examined the Cherry XTRFY M68 Professional
- Examined for a number of days
- Performed numerous video games
- 10+ years PC gaming expertise
I examined the M68 Professional for a number of days. Throughout this time, I used it for gaming, working, and informal tasking.
I performed titles akin to Counter-Strike 2, Metallic Gear Strong 3: Snake Eater – Grasp Assortment Model, and Concern the Highlight, in an effort to cowl a wide range of genres.
I’ve been PC gaming for over 10 years, and have skilled many mice throughout that point. I’ve additionally reviewed quite a few gaming mice, all with numerous connectivity choices, sizes, polling charges, and options.
First reviewed: October 2024
