The ProtoArc EM25 enters the ergonomic mouse market with a clear ambition: to offer a budget-friendly alternative to popular productivity devices like the Logitech MX Master 3S and 4. For $50/£29, it presents a design that heavily borrows from Logitech's successful formula, featuring a similar chassis, an extended thumb rest, dual scroll wheels, and quiet main switches. However, despite its promising on-paper specifications, the EM25 struggles to deliver a polished user experience, falling short of its premium inspirations.
Design and Features
The EM25 boasts an ergonomic shape designed for comfortable palm and fingertip grips. It includes six programmable buttons, two scroll wheels (one for horizontal scrolling), and a clutch system for the main scroll wheel. The mouse connects via 2.4 GHz wireless with a nano-dongle or Bluetooth. Its main left and right click buttons feature quiet switches, intended for serene productivity sessions. The mouse weighs approximately 90 grams, making it noticeably lighter than the 150-gram MX Master 4, suggesting it's geared more towards productivity than high-speed gaming.
The EM25 utilizes an 8000 DPI optical sensor and has a 500 mAh rechargeable battery. ProtoArc does not officially list battery life, but the review unit required only one charge over several weeks of intermittent use. Connectivity options include a 2.4 GHz wireless connection via a small dongle and Bluetooth. A small button on the front-left corner allows switching between these modes. The dongle is stored in a magnetically sealed compartment on the underside of the mouse.
Ergonomics and Controls: A Mixed Bag
While the EM25's shape is comfortable for extended use, its controls are a significant letdown. The primary left and right click switches are a high point; they are quiet yet provide positive feedback. However, the traditional forward and back thumb buttons feel hollow and overly springy, though they do offer a distinct click. The most problematic control is the large orange clutch button located behind the main scroll wheel. It has excessive travel, a springy resistance, and its engagement point for the scroll wheel clutch is inconsistent.
The main scroll wheel itself is disconcerting in its free-scroll mode, feeling too light and prone to side-to-side wobble. In its ratcheted mode, it is described as graunchy and loud, with a middle click that requires too much force, often causing the wheel to shift unintentionally.
The most significant ergonomic flaw lies with the mouse's skates. Despite appearing normal, they produce a scraping sound and feel on various mousepads, as if an edge requires sanding. This creates a grating sensation during movement, a rare and unwelcome issue for a budget mouse. The satin finish, while visually appealing in photos, feels tacky and sticks to the skin. The side scroll wheel is also described as loose, hollow, and tinny.
Performance
The ProtoArc EM25 is not marketed as a gaming mouse, and its specifications reflect this. However, for casual gaming or slower-paced titles, it performs adequately. Charts from MouseTester reveal some polling rate inconsistencies, though these were not particularly noticeable during practical use. The sensor is described as smooth and reasonably accurate for daily productivity tasks, with no reported dropout issues on either wireless connection. While capable of light gaming, it is not recommended for dedicated gaming use.
Aesthetics and Software
Visually, the EM25 is appealing. Its design is reminiscent of Logitech's premium mice but with its own tidy aesthetic. The orange clutch button adds a welcome splash of color. However, the satin finish's tactile drawbacks detract from its desk presence.
The accompanying software is web-based, which, while functional, lacks polish. It allows for button reassignments, macro creation, and polling rate adjustments up to 1,000 Hz. An