Finalmouse Reveals 38 g Starlight X Wireless Gaming Mouse: TMR Switches, Exclusive Sensor, and Nordic MCU for $179

Finalmouse, maker of the high-performance, somewhat controversial ULX series of gaming mice, has just launched its latest gaming mouse, the Finalmouse Starlight X, after weeks of teasing the new peripheral. The Starlight X is an ultra-light carbon fiber composite gaming mouse, weighing in at 38 g, and it is the first new Finalmouse shape in 11 years. The mouse was designed with FPS gaming in mind, and the brand says that the symmetrical shape has a fuller rear hump with increased support, and reduced pressure points. The Starlight X shell measures 124.8 × 58.9 × 39.5 mm (L × W × H) and has minimal cutouts on the top, likely to balance light weight without compromising comfort and grip. The Finalmouse SLX Nightfall is currently the only colorway on offer, and it will be available for pre-order on the Finalmouse online store for $179 starting on May 30 unless you have an early access code. The headline feature of the Starlight X, however, is the addition of TMR sensing, which enables analogue features, like rapid trigger, adjustable actuation point, and a claimed up to 35 ms latency reduction compared to similar gaming mice.

The new switch tech itself isn’t simply a new switch; the SLX uses what it calls the “TMR Dual-State” switch system, which implements TMR sensing with a mechanical click feedback mechanism. According to Finalmouse, this means the new switch mechanism incurs a weight penalty of just 0.24 g, while Logitech’s HITS analogue sensing and feedback system on the new G Pro X2 Superstrike adds complexity and has been the scapegoat for the Superstrike’s 61 g weight. The drawback of this hybrid switch tech is that the tactile feedback is not adjustable. The SLX is built around a custom Finalmouse F1 sensor, built in collaboration with PixArt, and a Nordic nRF54LM20 MCU, although Finalmouse has deliberately not quoted common specs, instead citing end-to-end latency of 223 µs (0.223 ms). The sensor is likely based on the PAW 3955 sensor, which was previously shown off in the Akko Dash series. Finalmouse has also neglected to specify the Starlight X’s polling rate, stating instead that “SLX moves beyond traditional polling-rates entirely,” with PerfectPolling that combines subtick optimization, efficient and robust RF scheduling, and high-speed USB interrupts. For what it’s worth, USB is generally capped at 8 kHz, and the 232 µs figure cited previously lines up with 8 kHz, which offers theoretical latency of 125 µs.