Skip to main content

Mad Catz has improved sensors, ergonomics, and more in new line of RAT mice

mad catz updated rat gaming mice rat8 hero black
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Gamers take their mice seriously. There is no point in spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours building the perfect gaming rig if you’re going to get fragged simply because your mouse won’t keep up. That is why companies like Mad Catz spend their precious resources making up new and better equipment.

On Monday, the company announced a new line of RAT gaming mice, with a few upgraded units running the gamut from entry level to high end. The RAT1, RAT4, RAT6, RAT8, RAT PRO S+, and RAT PRO X+ all include upgrade sensors that improve performance across a number of metrics. Whether it is the overall performance of user commands, faster reaction times, or more flexible button configurations, the new RAT line is aimed at helping gamers react more quickly and efficient during gameplay.

The new line offers additional features and functionality to go along with the new sensors. Ergonomics have been improved, with adjustable and customizable components aimed are better accommodating different hand shapes and grips. Each RAT mouse can be adjusted to accommodate various mousing styles, including the palm grip, the claw grip, and the fingertip grip.

Kameleon RGB technology represents integrated intelligent lighting zones with up to 16.8 million color variations. Three independent illumination zones can be controlled across a number of variables, including the speed of LED effects such as breathing, heartbeat, and color cycling.

Finally, the Flux software interface enables the quick and intuitive tuning of the sensor, macro buttons, and RGB LEDs. Flux allows for unlimited profiles to optimize for specific games, precision control over sensor speed, and the ability to tweak sensor resolution, lift-off height, and USB report rate.

According to Mad Catz, “Whether it’s button switch life, sensor capability, programmable features, on-board memory or RGB lighting, the new range of RAT products proudly continues Mad Catz’s tradition of bringing together the best materials and components, highest level of engineering and latest technologies to deliver the key features, precision and customization that gamers seek.”

The lower-end models are available for purchase. The RAT PRO S+ and RAT PRO X+ will be shipping by the end of Mad Catz’s fiscal year in March. The different models vary in terms of their construction, sensor type, number of macro buttons, and more, meaning there is likely a model that will appeal to all gamer types and budgets.

Mark Coppock
Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for…
How to create a bibliography in Word on Windows and Mac
A family using the computer to browse Fios internet together.

A bibliography is an important part of any well-structured college essay, dissertation, article, or other researched writing sample. It lets your readers know what sources you used as building blocks for your work, and isn’t too difficult to make without a template tool. Still, if you’d like to skip a few steps, there’s a terrific bibliography generator built right into Microsoft Word.

Read more
The unsung hero behind the modernization of Windows laptops
New Surface Laptop Studio 2 with a Surface Pen.

The large, multitouch trackpad was once synonymous with the MacBook. And starting in 2015, that has also included a haptic feedback trackpad, which simulates a physical click via a motorized engine under the surface. It was quite the revelation, and despite some initial skepticism, it really took off.

As you would expect, Apple held a patent on the technology, enjoying a five-year start ahead of other laptops. The first attempts at haptic feedback trackpads on Windows laptops weren't promising either.

Read more
How to create a Memoji on a Mac
Memoji creation screen in Messages on Mac.

Using emojis is a great way to add flair and personality to what would just be a plain ole’ text message. But if you’re an Apple devotee, you’ll also be able to liven your chats up with Memojis. Introduced on iOS 12, Memojis are custom avatars that you make in your likeness. Choose from numerous clothing, facial hair, and other cosmetic filters to dial in your appearance. When finished, your Memojis can be used with a few iOS apps, including Messages and FaceTime.

Read more