Today we want to take a closer look at the Sharkoon FireGlider 3600 DPI mouse. Sharkoon produces a host of different PC peripherals from keyboards to headsets. They originate from Germany and although they’re not a household name like Logitech or Razer, they have an impressive product lineup. This laser gaming mouse promises to impress even the most demanding gamers. It is about half the price of a lot of gaming mice on the market today. We will see how its performance compares.
Inside the packaged box, Sharkoon has thoughtfully included a carrying bag for the mouse. It is not very ergonomic but should stop the mouse from getting scratched while being transported. In this special bag we find a set of driver CDs and two sets of replacement Teflon feet. All the weights included come preinstalled in a small cradle at the base of the mouse. Although the cradle itself is easy to remove from the mouse, it’s difficult to remove the weights from the cradle without using a small screwdriver to push them out.
Now the first thing you’ll notice when gripping the FireGlider is its size. It seems much larger than any mice we have ever used. On closer comparison with other gaming mice, it would seem that this is due to its width rather than its length. The ergonomics of the FireGlider seem to have been designed as an ambidextrous mouse as it is well shaped for use with both hands. For right hand users, there is a nice big thumb grip on the side of the mouse that is strategically placed to provide a sure and comfortable grip. The mouse is more ergonomically suited to those who adopt to palm gripping as it is wide.
The surface of the FireGlider is designed in a black plastic and matte while the top of the mouse and the buttons on the mouse are finished with a glossy texture. This glossy texture appears to be painted on with graphical patterns that represent red and orange fire for cool look that appeals to those with an edgy taste. It certainly makes it stand out from the crowd but some might find it a little too much.
The FireGlider surpasses our expectations for a gaming mouse at this price. The plastics are of high quality and have been assembled very well compared to other mice. The USB connector is covered in gold plating. The buttons in general have good clicking action, although we have found that if you press the left mouse button too far to the right it makes a slightly unpleasant scratching sound. It is a minor convenience that could be a rare defect in some of the batches produced that you might get when buying the mouse. A simple placement of your finger to the center of the button should remedy this.
As with any gaming mouse these days, the FireGlider comes with a comprehensive software package. All of the configurations can be set from one main page and when you’re done, the settings are saved on the FireGlider’s built in memory for settings retention when using the mouse on different computers. DPI settings can be switched in game via a button on the mouse and also selected on the driver software. Each of these DPI levels is identified by a color or a combination of colors so you will always know which one you’re using. The DPI levels cannot be fine tuned but you can choose between six out of nine predefined settings in the driver software.
All of the buttons can be custom assigned, excluding the right and middle wheel click buttons. There are a vast majority of predefined settings and options in the software including those for popular games including macros. There is a mouse gestures feature which allows 16 different functions that are activated by holding a button on the mouse. This would not be recommended for scrolling as it would only scroll one line for each gesture therefore taking a long time to scroll a full page.
To test the mouse more effectively, we used a SteelSeries cloth surface and a Razer silicone surface. The mouse performed well on both surfaces while gaming with precision. On the cloth surface, the gliding of the mice isn’t quite as effortless as other gaming mice such as the SteelSeeries Ikari or Razer Mamba. There is a double clicking issue when playing FPS games but Sharkoon recommends using the mouse with harder surfaces instead of softer cloth surfaces when playing FPS games. These issues aside, the FireGlider is a great gaming mouse for its price range.
