At first we would like to thank Thermaltake for offering a sample of their Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Hybrid Gaming Mouse for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About Tt eSPORTS:

 

““Challenge is the game” highlights the philosophy to bring out gamers’ addiction in gaming and the ambition of reaching to the extreme. Tt eSPORTS, a gaming obsessed division from Thermaltake, is uniting gamers from all over the world in a unique & fascinating eSPORTS culture, inherited the spirits of Thermaltake, is an energetic, powerful, bold and intelligent challenger who never says “no” to the extreme competition. we do not only provide gamers the ultimate gaming gears but also fulfills the passion to achieve the ultimate success.

 

Thermaltake has been a well-known brand in the gaming & DIY market for PC Chassis, Coolers and Power Supplies PSU for many years. The brand personality of unique, aggressive, vivid and stylish makes Thermaltake an expert in creating exciting things and fascinating environment for gamers and enthusiasts. Tt eSPORTS inherited the brand personality with unique and creative design by observing users’ behaviors and requirements. The fan cooling design on Tt eSPORTS Challerger keyboard demonstrate the brand spirit. It is the worldwide first keyboard with fan cooling function that could dry your hand sweats and blow tension away during cut-throat competition.”

 

Product Features:

 

HYBRID MOUSE – BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

 

The M Hybrid mouse can be used plugged into the PC or Notebook via the supplied USB cable, or wirelessly via the USB dongle receiver for the PC/Notebook. Giving users the duality to use whatever suits their needs.

 

5.8G WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

 

Free yourself from wires with the 5.8G wireless technology of the M Hybrid mouse. 5.8G technology offers a much broader spectrum of signals than 2.4G and thus is able to avoid interference issues. Wireless mode runs off of the built-in rechargeable battery. A USB dongle receiver is provided for the PC.

 

IMPROVED ERGONOMICS

 

The new M Hybrid Mouse features a re-designed right side grip for even better ergonomics than what was offered in the multi-award winning M Mouse. The 3D-Steering Axis system allows you to customize the angle & height of the M Hybrid mouse body.

 

KEEP YOUR HANDS COOL AND DRY

 

An Air-Through Ventilation system keeps those sweaty palms in check with slow but non-distracting air flow solution.

 

A STURDY FOUNDATION BUILT FOR STABILITY

 

The Level 10 M Hybrid Mouse has an aluminum base for maximum durability and optimal stability during gaming sessions.

 

Product Specifications:

 

 

At the end of 2012 we were looking at the Level 10 M Gaming mouse which was offered in multiple colors and sported a solid aluminum chassis; the sensor supported DPI up to 8200 and the footprint of the product was quite large. In this article we will try to cover the next product revision, which can be used in both wireless and wired modes and as the former, it was built in cooperation with BMW Group Subsidiary DesignworksUSA. The enclosure in which this one comes shipped is more compact and professional looking and now we are able to see how the product looks like without the need to remove any of the seals:

 

 

 

Some of the main product features are represented on the left side of the transparent plastic window:

 

 

 

On one of the package sides we will be able to take a peek into the Level 10 history:

 

 

 

The concept design is also explained here:

 

 

 

The main product components are shown on the back side of the box:

 

 

 

After removing the top packaging layer, we will end up with the main mouse enclosure, which features a transparent plastic cover:

 

 

 

On the bottom layer, we will get to see another box, which holds the rest of the bundle:

 

 

 

As accessories, we can mention the adjustment key which is held inside a foam material mold, a carry bag, the product manual but also an USB cable extender:

 

 

 

The adjustment key we have previously mentioned helps us modify the height and angle of the mouse back:

 

 

 

Besides the manual, we will also get a Level 10 M Hybrid postcard, two very nice Tt eSPORTS logo stickers, but also two warranty leaflets:

 

 

 

Inside the carry bag, the manufacturer has also supplied the specially designed USB cable:

 

 

 

Tt eSPORTS logos are to be found in multiple areas of the carry bag:

 

 

 

 

The design of the bag is done intelligently, so the cables are separated from the mouse itself in order to avoid scratches during transit:

 

 

 

The USB connector cover has been upgraded so now it can also hold the Wi-Fi USB dongle:

 

 

 

On the other side we have the specially-designed connector in order for it to fit in the place of the Wi-Fi adapter:

 

 

 

While the wired connectors are gold plated, the Wi-Fi USB adapter is not:

 

 

 

On the other side of the Wi-Fi dongle we can see several laser-etched inscriptions which represent the model code number, FCC ID, but also the Input Rating:

 

 

 

As we have mentioned before, taking a look for the first time at the Level 10 M Hybrid reminds us of the initial model (wired version). The aluminum construction gives the product durability and on the top Thermaltake has used black rubber coating:

 

 

 

Thanks to the Allen bolt which is placed on top, we will be able to adjust the height up to 5mm:

 

 

 

The mouse can be also tilted up to 5 degrees by using the lateral Allen bolt:

 

 

 

 

Coming back at the mouse top, we will spot a small grill which hides the Tt eSPORTS logo; the grill also helps for palm ventilation during long gaming sessions:

 

 

 

The left mouse button is equipped with a multi-colored LED while on the right button we have a row of LEDs which represent the current DPI level:

 

 

 

 

As with the wired version, we will be able to spot on the left side of the mouse the DPI/Profile 4-way Z-Button, along with two more programmable buttons:

 

 

 

 

The right side has been redesigned for enhanced comfort so the two extra programmable buttons which were featured on the wired version are missing now:

 

 

 

The mouse chassis extends a bit in front, where we will find the USB port where we can connect either the USB cable for charging (wired mode) or the Wi-Fi transmitter (wireless mode). By default, the mouse is equipped with the Wi-Fi transmitter:

 

 

 

The bottom side of the mouse shows the aluminum chassis in all its splendor and on the laterals the manufacturer has placed PTFE feet of different shapes and sizes:

 

 

 

Near the sensor (Pixart ADNS-9800) lens, we will also spot a small button for pairing but also the On/Off switch:

 

 

 

In order to remove the transmitter, we will have to lift the top plastic part a bit which is held in the two aluminum teeth:

 

 

 

By following the steps in reverse, we will be able to attach the USB cable in order to charge the battery and use the mouse in wired mode when needed:

 

 

 

Right after the mouse is plugged in a spare USB port, we will see the LED light effects for the DPI display, scroll wheel and left button:

 

 

 

Thanks to the bundled software, we will be able to modify the LED light colors accordingly:

 

 

 

 

In order to take advantage of the extra mouse functions, we will need to download the Hybrid Mouse application. On the same page we also have a firmware flasher available:

 

 

 

After the firmware procedure has been completed, the utility will check the software again and show the following message:

 

 

 

The GUI is nicely designed and the main functions are clearly visible. Instead of opting for using a button which changes the mouse views (top/laterals), we get to see both views at once. On the upper left side we can choose the LED light behavior (Normal/Battle) and further down we have options to remap all button functions:

 

 

 

On the right side of the screen we will be able to work with the profiles, write and edit new macros, adjust Performance and Light options, but we can also link the current profile to a specific program. On the same screen we have the battery charge status indicator:

 

 

 

For each button, we will be able to assign a Single Key, Macro, Sensitivity options, Launch a Program, or disable the button completely:

 

 

 

With Single Key, we will be able to set a different mouse or keyboard function:

 

 

 

With Macro, we can assign one of the saved ones:

 

 

 

Sensitivity key assignment will let us select from the following options:

 

 

 

With a single button press we can choose to launch a specific program:

 

 

 

Finally, we have the option to disable a specific key:

 

 

 

When switching from Normal to Battle LED light mode, we will be warned by a message:

 

 

 

The Macro builder has a dedicated window which allows us to record and edit, manage delays or remove them completely and more:

 

 

 

 

In the Performance menu, we will be able to adjust different performance steps, set the Lift-Off control distance and Polling rate:

 

 

 

Regarding the lighting adjustment we can choose any color separately for the left button and scroll wheel. What we would like to also see here with a future software update is the ability to turn off the LEDs completely but also to be able to choose from different LED light effects:

 

 

 

 

The last button takes care of power management since we are talking about a wireless mouse on batteries and here we can adjust the Sleep mode along with the battery indicator:

 

 

 

After just a few minutes of work and play with the Level 10 M Hybrid, the mouse felt very solid and the comfort improvements are spot-on when compared to the original wired-only version. It seems that a lot of manufacturers nowadays are still choosing to integrate the Pixart ADNS-9800 (ex. Avago 9800) sensor, which is not quite recommended for top-tier gamers mainly because it has hardware positive acceleration which cannot be disabled via software. Casual gamers though should not be bothered though by this “feature”.

 

In order for the Level 10 M Hybrid mouse to fit with different hand shapes and sizes, we have the ability to lift the body or move it from left to right by five degrees by the use of the two dedicated Allen screws.

 

In case we need to charge the battery, we can always switch from wireless to wired mode by working with the included cable (an USB extender is also provided and can be used when necessary); this is a less convenient option in our book after reviewing the Sensei Wireless, since the charging dock is easier to operate and we won’t need to wear-out any connectors.

 

The supplied software contains many useful features, but we feel that it falls short a bit in the LED light customization department since we are not allowed to turn off the lighting completely or choose from different LED light effects.

 

The mouse does not go over board when discussing about the sale price, so it can be picked up for about 99 Euros, which is quite good when considering the quality of construction and sturdiness.

 

Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Hybrid Gaming Mouse is Recommended For:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Thermaltake for making this review possible!