ASUS ROG Harpe II Ace Review – Armed To The Teeth

Unboxing

Today we take a look at ASUS’s latest esports mouse – the ROG Harpe II Ace. This time around, the packaging is a lot more straightforward with a smartphone-style lift-open box that immediately reveals the device, so repacking it should be a lot easier if you ever need to do so.

The included accessories are very much identical to that of the ROG Harpe Ace Mini we previously reviewed, with the only exception being the slightly different sticker pack. Here’s the full list:
– Warranty card
– Sticker pack
– USB-A to USB-C paracord cable
– Wireless dongle extender
– Glass skates
– Grip tapes
– Quick start guide
– Thank You card
– ASUS ROG Harpe II Ace main unit (ROG Omni receiver located within mouse body)

Walkaround

Esports mice have largely converged into the same ideal shape these days, although there are still very minor differences that can make them more accommodating to specific hand profiles and grip types. Its size are more or less the same as the like of Pulsar X2 v3 and Razer Viper V3 Pro, within the mid-size range, suitable for claw grip users. Its also one of the lightest models we’ve seen, at just 48 grams – only a gram heavier than the uber-expensive ROG Harpe Ace Extreme which relied on the expensive carbon fiber material.

While the ROG Harpe II Ace is considered a second-generation product, its internals are almost identical to the Harpe Ace Mini: that is, the same 100M optical switches, same ROG AimPoint Pro sensor, and the same connectivity capabilities. The only two noticeable changes made here are the bigger skates (now covering the top and bottom section instead of the four corners), and full 8000Hz polling support over wireless – no optional add-ons needed.

Specifications

ASUS ROG Harpe II Ace (P723)

Full specifications available on product page.

Mouse Body Type	Ambidextrous
Body Material	Bio-based nylon plastic
Skate Material	100% PTFE
Switch Type	ROG 100M Optical Micro Switch 100-million-click lifespan
Sensor	ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor Resolution: 100 – 42,000 DPI (<1% deviation) Top speed: 750 IPS Acceleration: 50G Glass surface tracking supported
DPI Modes	4-stage DPI, 50 DPI increments
Polling Rate	8000Hz (wired & wireless) *1000Hz set as default
Onboard Memory	5 profiles
Onboard Lighting	RGB on scroll wheel
Connectivity	USB 2.0, Bluetooth 5.1, RF 2.4GHz
Cable	2-meter USB-A to USB-C paracord cable
Dimensions	126.1 x 63.9 x 39.7 mm
Weight	48g (without dongle)
Colors	Black, White (as tested)

User Experience

Sensor Tracking

*Note: we use Cooler Master MP511 Speed XL mousepad for tracking tests.

In terms of sensor performance, there’s no perceived difference compared to the ROG Harpe Ace Mini we previously tested, as both uses the exact same sensor; that is to say, you shouldn’t see jittering until at least 6400 DPI and above (which, realistically, is not going to be used in any condition).

In terms of lift-off distance (LOD), it seemed like both High and Low settings are extremely similar as tracking is both lost somewhere between the thickness of two credit cards (as in, between 0.76mm to 1.52mm). If you opt for Manual Calibration mode in the mouse settings, you won’t be able to access this option. Speaking of which, we have the software section right up next.

Software

The biggest upgrade of the ROG Harpe II Ace is the software: if you’re particularly not a fan of Armoury Crate software (which, to be fair, does have a long list of complaints among its user community), ASUS has moved everything to the web via gearlink.asus.com – now, this does mean that you must have an internet connection to make any changes to the mouse, since ASUS doesn’t even offer the mouse’s settings page into the Armoury Crate software anymore.

That caveat aside, you get to access everything from this webpage, including firmware updates and more. I will say this implementation is markedly more responsive than Armoury Crate, although I don’t exactly trust the idea of having the mouse’s settings page effectively moved to a server that can, in theory, go down anytime. What happens if ASUS decides to disconnect the servers 10 years in the future? As such, I believe the previous generation’s Armoury Crate Gear approach is still the better way for this.

Most of these settings are standard stuff for esports-grade mice, although there is a new addition called “Zone Mode”. This mode can be activated via holding a combination of DPI button and both side buttons (or through Gear Link), which puts the mouse at maximum performance state for competitive use.

The Good

Comparing the ROG Harpe II Ace to its predecessor, the original ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition, the new mouse has got plenty of upgrades: new ROG AimPoint Pro sensor, new 100M optical switches, and the dongle extender for wireless use; that being said, all of these upgrades has already been found on the Harpe Ace Mini, so having them appearing on this model is not exactly a surprise. For the not-so-cheap price you’re paying for, at least you’ll be getting every bit of accessory this mouse will need to be pro-ready.

The mouse chassis now uses the nylon material that likely contributed to its further weight reduction, down to just 48 grams; the surface is also grippy (but not sticky) even for my rather sweaty fingers. I would say the general shape of the mouse is quite pleasant to hold as well, and the side buttons are pretty crisp to click on (I know for a fact there are models out there with side button way mushier than they should be).

For pro players or those aspiring ones, be assured to know that this mouse comes already equipped with the capability to operate at 8000Hz polling rate over wireless – no add-on dongles needed. This has been the caveat of all ROG mice before this model, so it’s nice to not having to pay for additional stuff to unlock the full capabilities of this mouse. Just remember to configure it first since it runs at 1000Hz by default to save power and host system’s CPU usage.

Speaking of CPU usage, your PC can finally be spared from another software installation (especially if you’re not already an owner of ASUS-based systems), as the settings now can be configured via web-based Gear Link through any web browser of your choosing. FYI, even if you download Armoury Crate right now, it’ll simply tell you to configure over the web anyway – which brings us to one potential pitfall of this feature.

The Bad

While it is great on paper that you no longer need a software installation to access mouse customization, having the settings operated via a webpage seems like a “planned obsolescence” situation waiting to happen. There’s many ways a server can go down, let alone deliberately exploited – losing access to mouse settings this way certainly sounds like a bad idea. I’d like to see the previous implementation in the form of Armoury Crate Gear from the Harpe Ace Mini introduced as a secondary option, so at least the settings remain accessible when offline, or when Gear Link becomes inaccessible.

Verdict

At RM799, the ASUS ROG Harpe II Ace is the best ASUS can offer to esports pros today, and there are already a few esports teams clicking heads with this lineup of mice as we speak (just look at the side of the box). My only concern is the Gear Link dependency, but as far as the mouse itself is concerned, you can’t blame the mouse when you do end up whiffing your shots.

Special thanks to ASUS Malaysia for providing the ROG Harpe II Ace mouse for this review.