Page 2 - A Closer Look
There is nothing fancy in terms of the shape of Gigabyte AORUS AMP500. In fact, it features a standard rectangular design. Just like any other gaming-focused mouse surfacing reviewed by APH Networks, there is no wrist rest neither. It is understandable any irregular shape and bump on the mousepad may become obstacles when moving the mouse during gameplay. The front side of the mousepad is matte black. The only thing pops out is the orange AORUS logo. Upon opening the retail box, one thing I would like to mention about the product is the mousepad is almost odor-free. You probably would not notice anything without putting your nose really close to the mousepad. I think this is a very nice attribute, since I really hate the rubbery smell of some cheap mousepads. It also shows Gigabyte has used some high quality materials to manufacture the AORUS AMP500.
In terms of dimensions, the reviewed Gigabyte AORUS AMP500 measures 430mm in width, 370mm in depth, and 1.8mm in thickness. It is a large mousepad, but it is far from the largest one reviewed by APH Networks. For your comparison, the size of AORUS AMP500 is smaller than the HyperX Fury S, while it is larger than the Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS Ladon. If you think the AORUS AMP500 is too big, you can still get a smaller AMP300 from Gigabyte, which measures at 324mm in width, 273mm in depth, and 1.8mm in thickness.
Normally, there are both pros and cons about soft surface mousepad. The advantage of a soft surface include good and comfortable control, lower noise, and it can better protect your mouse feet. The disadvantages of soft surface compared to a hard one lie in the lower glide performance, lack of resistance to contamination, and the demand for an even table surface. For the Gigabyte AORUS AMP500, some of the cons of a soft mousepad surface has been addressed. Specifically, thanks to the textured surface, the AORUS AMP500 can provide proper resistance to balance both glide and control performances, and it is also spill-resistant and washable. Now, let us take a closer look at the front surface.
In order to thoroughly examine the Gigabyte AORUS AMP500's front surface, a scanner is used instead of camera for both the top and bottom photos. The image resolution of the scanner is set as 600 DPI. The AORUS AMP500 is composed of a fabric front surface and solid silicone base. Therefore, from the top view of the mousepad as shown above, you can see the textured fabric surface. Note the texture of the fabric. It really reminds me of newly paved asphalt concrete, haha. The texture provides a semi-hard surface to strike a balance between easy glide and precise control. Meanwhile, the textured front surface makes the mousepad resistance to contamination, and it is really easy to clean. You can even wash the AORUS AMP500 using water.
From the bottom view of the mousepad, you can see the hybrid silicone base. Aside from its bright orange color, there is really not too much to see at the back side. The hybrid silicone base can hold on to your table firmly thanks to its high coefficient of friction. If you touch the silicone base, you can feel the surface is a little bit sticky. The good thing is it has strong gripping power, but the downside is it is really easy to attract particles. Therefore, it is always important to make sure your table is clean before using the mousepad. If your table is dirty, dust or dirt can be attached to the base of your mousepad such that the gripping performance will be reduced. It is also worth mentioning that the AORUS AMP500 features a heat molding edge to seal the connection of the fabric surface and the silicone base. Gigabyte's website claims that the heat molding edge is fray-resistant, but we will have to see how it holds up in the long run.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
