Mice & Keyboards by stefan @ 2023-07-16
Thanks to the low weight of the M42 RGB Retro, the mouse feels very pleasant, while the cable drag is reduced to a minimum. As we have noted with other CHERRY XTRFY products, the product does not feature any installable software, but all configuration is done via keystrokes; these are easy to learn, and we can configure everything on-the-fly once we learn it.
At first, we would like to thank CHERRY XTRFY for offering a sample of their M42 RGB Retro Gaming Mouse for testing and reviewing.
“Following the successful acquisition of Xtrfy by CHERRY, the two renowned brands have joined forces to create CHERRY XTRFY – an innovative powerhouse in the gaming peripherals industry, set to be the new home for all future gaming peripherals, encompassing both existing and upcoming offerings from CHERRY and Xtrfy.
CHERRY and Xtrfy proudly unveil their new name, logo, and visual identity, signaling a fresh era in cutting-edge gaming gear and a unified portfolio of gaming peripherals.
“The merger of Xtrfy by CHERRY is a prime example of how diversification is crucial in esports. Both companies bring different strengths, networks, and product expertise, which complement each other perfectly. With the fusion of German engineering and Swedish design, this partnership is a match made in heaven, united by a shared love of gaming. As we move forward, we are excited to introduce our new gaming peripherals brand, which is driven by our vision for the future of esports. This vision encompasses diversity and inclusion, as we aim to promote a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone can participate and thrive”, says René Schulz, Vice President Business Unit Peripherals at CHERRY.
The revamped identity reflects the brand’s commitment to quality, performance, and the pursuit of next-generation esports equipment.
“We’re passionate about esports and after years of collaborating with professional players, we’re putting our hearts into growing our presence in competitive gaming. Ramping up our efforts in esports, we’re committed to creating new products that help gamers win. Our dedication is symbolized by the Winner symbol – X – and verbalized through the CHERRY XTRFY tagline: In it to win it”, says Joakim Jansson, Managing Director and Co-founder of Xtrfy.
The new brand and gaming peripherals will be housed under cherryxtrfy.com, and more news will be unveiled at CHERRY XTRFY’s event in Cologne, Germany on April 26th.”
VERSATILE SHAPE. SOLID PERFORMANCE.
Ultra-light construction. State-of-the-art components. And a symmetrical shape with interchangeable parts that let you adjust its size. The M42 is designed to be the perfect fit for any gamer.
5 EDITIONS.
Black, White, Retro, Miami Blue and Pink. The M42 is a part of Xtrfy’s Project 4 and comes in 5 different editions, allowing you to match it with mousepads, mouse bungees and keyboards in the same colorways. Pick a color and build your perfect setup.
ADJUSTABLE SYMMETRICAL SHAPE.
Palm, claw, or fingertip grip? With its ambidextrous shape and interchangeable parts, the M42 is designed for a comfortable fit – no matter the size of your hand or the style of your grip.
STATE-OF-THE-ART COMPONENTS.
Pixart’s highest-performing gaming sensor, 3389. Pro player-optimized Omron switches, rated for 20 000 000 clicks. The M42 is equipped with nothing but top-grade components.
EFFORTLESS SWIPES.
The M42 features 100 % PTFE skates with rounded edges for smoother glide, while its matte UV coating in combination with the hole structure make for a steadier grip. Enhancing airflow under your palm, the holes also help you stay comfortable.
ULTRA-LIGHT YET DURABLE.
The M42 is built on the principle that lower weight must never mean lower quality. It doesn’t matter how light your mouse is if it can’t withstand heavy daily use. With a construction that’s engineered to minimize weight while retaining durability, the M42 is made to last.
RGB ILLUMINATION.
With customizable lighting, it’s easy to add your personal touch to the M42. Choose your color. Switch between numerous LED effects. Adjust the brightness. Or turn the illumination off. All settings are made directly on the mouse.
ULTRA-LIGHT IS EVEN LIGHTER, WITH THE XTRFY EZCORD.
To make smooth swipes even smoother, we created the Xtrfy EZcord®. Softer, lighter and more flexible. With a color to match your choice of mouse.
ARM 32-BIT MICROCONTROLLER.
Fast swipes require high-speed processing. The M42 is powered by an ARM 32-bit microcontroller for uncompromising speed and stability.
DUST AND SPLASH RESISTANT.
We’ve covered the inside of the mouse in conformal coating to protect the components against dust, splashes, and LAN night mishaps.
MADE WITH RECYCLED PLASTIC.
We strive towards reducing our carbon footprint wherever possible. The shell of this mouse is made from 60% recycled plastic.
Shape: Symmetrical, adjustable
Sensor: Pixart 3389 optical gaming sensor
LED illumination: Adjustable RGB LED illumination
Weight: 59 g (excluding cable)
Main switches: Omron 20M(OF)
Cable: Xtrfy EZcord®
Glides: PTFE glides
CPI settings: 400–16000
Polling rate settings: 125/500/1000 Hz
IPS: 400
Max acceleration: 50 G
Connection: USB
OS: Win XP/Mac OSX 10.1 or later
Warranty: EU/US/ASIA: 2/1/1 years
Another interesting gaming mouse has reached our test labs from the no other than CHERRY XTRFY, the new company which combines knowledge from two well-established players in the computer peripheral business. The M42 RGB is a wired mouse, featuring a very light construction, a symmetrical shape, a Pixart 3389 sensor and can be purchased with five different color schemes: black, white, Miami blue, pink or Retro color scheme.
The M42 RGB Retro model is shipped inside a compact cardboard enclosure, which does show the catchy color scheme of the product right from the frontal cover; the main mouse highlights are also shown here as small icons:
The highlights are written on the right side of the packaging with a retro computer font:
A side panel view of the M42 RGB Retro is present on the opposite side of the box:
On the bottom area, we will note some product drawings, showing the dimensions, how to detach/attach the back covers but also we will be made aware of the product specifications:
After removing the top cover, we will get to see that the mouse is held secure inside a black plastic mold, along with two small bonuses:
Underneath, we did also find a separate back cover, but also an envelope with the documentation:
The extras included with the mouse are two retro-colored keycaps, one with the XTRFY logo and the other with GG:
The backup back cover does feature a holed design:
This accessory is held together with plastic clips, while in the back we will note a small magnet:
The documentation will inform the user on the main interfaces and how to replace the covers; the M42 RGB is not backed up by software installable on our computer, so all functions will be accessed by different keystrokes:
The M42 RGB Retro does feature a symmetrical shape, while the honeycomb areas do help with weight reduction; the retro color scheme does fit just right, with a combination between light grey and darker grey, but also red accents; the product dimensions vary, depending on the chosen back cover¬:
The top red button is practically multifunctional; if used alone, it will switch between the RGB presets; when paired with the right click button it will be able to change the color of the current effect, with the left button it will adjust the preset speed, while when paired with the lateral buttons, we will be able to adjust the LED brightness:
The scroll wheel is smooth and features a middle opaque area which is RGB enabled; between the buttons we will note RGB light shines through thanks to an included light diffuser, while the mechanical switches are made by Omron and are rated for 20 million actuations:
When looking from the left side of the mouse, we will note that the light diffuser does extend in this area as well; the two extra buttons are easily accessible, while the thumb will be able to rest on the honeycomb area:
The right side is quite about the same, minus the extra buttons:
The bottom area includes two large white PTFE feet, the Pixart 3389 optical sensor lens but also a button for controlling the CPI steps and the Polling Rate switch; the honeycomb pattern is available here as well!
The CPI button is accompanied by a small LED, so the user will be informed of the current step the mouse is in:
-red -> 400 CPI
-yellow -> 800 CPI
-orange -> 1200 CPI
-blue -> 1600 CPI
-purple -> 3200 CPI
-light blue -> 4000 CPI
-green -> 7200 CPI
-white -> 16000 CPI
The Polling Rate frequency values are available as follows:
-125Hz
-500Hz
-1000Hz
The supplied cable is an Xtrfy EZcord, which is of shoelace type, meaning that its very flexible, without adding drag to the mouse movements:
The USB connector is customized while featuring the manufacturer logo on top:
The back cover is easily removable; with it out of the way, we will be able to check out the internal Xtrfy logo, which does feature the legacy computer font and is RGB enabled; the internal PCB is dust and splash resistant thanks to the special coating:
If we do check the installed back cover and the backup one, we will observe that these have different heights, to permit mouse operation with different grip types:
CHERRY XTRFY was nice and offered the accessories for this particular model:
First, we have the Cherry Red set of buttons and back covers; the set of spacers does allow the user to modify the behavior of the left/right click buttons:
The Forest Green set is next:
The Black one comes with the same components:
The Purple set looks quite nice as well!
A closer look at the back of the buttons does show where the spacers should be installed:
While the installation and removal of the back cover can be done in a snap, we must be careful when removing the button cover, since it is held by the chassis with two small clips:
Here is how the chassis does look with the top layer removed; there are a lot of perforations in order to keep the weight to a minimum, in this case 59 grams without the cable!
The installation of the replacement buttons can be done quite quickly:
Same goes with the back cover:
After connecting the mouse to a spare USB port in our test computer, we could easily watch the light show; underneath the mouse, the CPI LED is clearly visible:
Here are some photos with the back cover removed as well, which does clearly show the back logo:
Thanks to the low weight of the M42 RGB Retro, the mouse feels very pleasant, while the cable drag is reduced to a minimum. As we have noted with other CHERRY XTRFY products, the product does not feature any installable software, but all configuration is done via keystrokes; these are easy to learn, and we can configure everything on-the-fly once we learn it. For testing out the mouse, we did some Minion Masters sessions, but also played Diablo 4: M432 RGB Retro was very responsive thanks to the included Pixart 3389 sensor, and we really enjoyed the positioning of the extra buttons, which are easily accessible.
The included Omron switches do come with a pleasant actuation feel, with minimal pre-travel, not allowing double clicks to be initiated by accident. Thanks to the multiple holed panels and the frontal light diffuser, the RGB effects to look good, while the chassis offers a good grip, without the need of fitting extra tapes on it.
The CHERRY XTRFY M42 RGB Retro can be found online for just about 43.9 Euros, which is a great price considering what we are getting!
We would like to thank again to CHERRY XTRFY for making this review possible!