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Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini: two-minute review
The Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini doesn’t contain any new tech, but it does fulfil a sentiment among enthusiasts – what if Asus took its top-end sensors and switches and put them into a smaller pointer?
The company’s latest high-end mouse tech, including its ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor (capable of an impressive 42,000-dpi) and its ROG 100M Optical Micro Switches, were previously exclusive to the ludicrously expensive Harpe Ace Extreme and the comparatively reasonably priced Keris II Ace – both aimed at competitive gamers with deep pockets.
The Harpe Ace Mini adopts the new tech, making it another top-end mouse in the Asus arsenal, putting it on par with the Ace Extreme at a price that’s not terrible – though still is out of reach of many gamers, even without the 8,000Hz Polling Rate Booster dongle that’s sold separately.
Without the additional dongle, the mouse is capable of a standard 1,000Hz polling rate, which is fairly average among performance mice. What’s not average is the low weight – at only 1.72oz (49g), it’s a number I’ve only seen bested by a handful of rivals.
The aforementioned AimPoint Pro sensor and Asus’ ROG SpeedNova 2.4Ghz tech makes the mouse satisfyingly precise, which the low weight no doubt helps with. Hitting my shots in shooting games and navigating programs with small icons was a breeze, and at no time did I notice it being any less reliable than other high-spec mice that I’ve reviewed.
The maximum acceleration of 50g is less than that of the Razer Deathadder V3 (70g), but it felt sufficiently up to scratch for a casual gamer or PC user who might, at most, want to quickly flick the mouse to hit their shots in a shooting game. Additionally, the mouse can track on almost any surface without the need for a mouse pad – I’ve used it on wood, plastic, glass and metallic surfaces and had no trouble (though I prefer the feeling of a mouse pad).
The RGB is minimalist, housed entirely within the scroll wheel. The Asus Armory Crate software allows you to tweak its animation, color and brightness to your liking, and the lights will pulse red when it’s at low battery. It’ll also pulse green when charging.
The battery life, which maxes out at 139 hours when RGB is disabled and Bluetooth is used, is impressive, as is the neutral design that I prefer my peripherals to have. You’ll likely be using the mouse with the 2.4GHz dongle for its greater performance, bringing maximum mouse battery life to 105 hours with lighting off and 79 hours with lighting on. Don’t get the wrong idea though – that’s still a fairly impressive number among RGB-touting rivals.
Flipping the mouse over, you’ll find a button that changes the DPI among your presets, cycling through them with every click, along with a pairing button. There’s also a slider that switches between wired (also ‘off’), Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle options.
There’s genuinely not a lot of bad things to say about the Harpe Ace Mini. It’s comfortable, it glides across a mousepad easily, and the only things I could even say critically about this pointer feel quite tepid.
The high price is obviously a drawback, and the small size isn’t for everyone. The scroll wheel is a bit stiff, though this might be preferential for some users. The mouse is designed for right hands with its side buttons aligned on the left, though this would be a non-issue for many. The DPI switch is on the bottom, meaning you can’t quickly switch between presets, but this isn’t unique to the Harpe Ace Mini and is the case on many high-end mice.
Asus’ Armory Crate software is a bit difficult to navigate, but is fine if you’re only going to make small tweaks here and there like I did (changing up the DPI, the actions of the side buttons and the mouse RGB).
There’s not much more I would have liked the mouse to have, given that it’s sporting much of the great tech found in the pricey ROG Harpe Extreme – though the carbon fiber shell from the Extreme would have been awesome (but understandably would have raised the price).
The ROG Harpe Ace Mini feels masterful. There’s very little room for improvement here, and it’s certainly a contender among the best gaming mice.
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini review: price & availability
- $129.99/£129.99/AU$229
- Available in white and black
- Polling Rate Booster dongle solder separately
Available now in black and white, the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini comes with a set of mouse grip tape, replaceable mouse feet and a 2-meter USB-C cord, along with a 2.4GHz dongle and USB-C to USB-A converter. That dongle shouldn’t be confused with the Polling Rate Booster, which takes the report rate from 1,000Hz to a whopping 8,000Hz but is sold separately.
At this price, the ROG Harpe Ace Mini is competing with other high performance but fairly discreet mice, and is punching well above its price point. The now two-year-old Razer Deathadder V3 Pro is a considerable contender, as it launched three years ago and can often be found with attractive discounts. The same can be said for the impressive Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2.
These mice launched at higher prices than the ROG Harpe Ace Mini, which in my mind puts Asus’ tiny gaming mouse on the winning track, especially considering that it’s much smaller than either of these rivals. On size, we’d look to the Razer Cobra Pro as the closest contender, though it has a much lower DPI (30,000) and greater weight (77g).
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini review: specs
|
Interface: |
Dongle (2.4GHz), Bluetooth, Wired |
|
Ergonomics: |
Right-handed |
|
Buttons: |
5 |
|
DPI: |
Up to 42,000 DPI. |
|
Switches: |
ROG 100M Optical Micro Switches |
|
Weight: |
1.72oz (49g) |
Should I buy the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini?
|
Value |
The ROG Harpe Mini doesn’t come cheap, but for what’s on offer it’s priced competitively. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
Small and discreet, the ROG Harpe Mini fills a niche that gamers may find attractive. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
An immense 42,000 DPI and the upgraded ROG 100M Optical Pro Switch make this an ideal pointer for competitive gamers. |
5 / 5 |
|
Avarage rating |
The Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini feels well-rounded and balanced, offering high-end features at a reasonable price. |
4.5 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini: Also consider
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini |
Logitech G Pro X2 Superlight |
Razer Deathadder V3 Pro |
Razer Cobra Pro |
|
Price: |
$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229 |
$159 / £149 / AU$299 |
$149 / £149 / AU$279 |
$130 / £129.99 / AU$234.95 |
|
Interface: |
Dongle (2.4GHz), Bluetooth, Wired |
Dongle (2.4GHz), Wired |
Dongle (2.4GHz), Bluetooth, Wired |
Dongle (2.4GHz), Bluetooth, Wired |
|
Ergonomics: |
Right-handed |
Ambidextrous symmetrical |
Right-handed |
Right-handed symmetrical |
|
Buttons: |
5 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
|
DPI: |
Up to 42,000 |
Up to 32,000 |
Up to 30,000 |
Up to 30,000 |
|
Switches: |
ROG 100M Optical Micro Switches |
LIGHTFORCE Hybrid Switches |
Focus Pro 30K Optical |
Gen 3 Razer Optical |
|
Weight: |
1.72oz (49g) |
2.12oz (60g) |
2.22oz (63g) |
2.72oz (77g) |
|
Dimensions |
117(L)x63(W)x37(H) mm |
125(L)x63.5(W)x40(H) mm |
128(L)x68(W)x44(H) mm, 49 grams |
119.6(L)x62.5(W)x38.1(H) mm |
How I tested the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini
- Used primarily on a Windows 11 gaming PC
- Multiple tweaks made in Armory Crate
- Tested alongside other new Asus ROG products
I tested the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini over the course of a month, mostly using it to play games like Avowed, Marvel Rivals and The Headliners. I also used it regularly when browsing the internet and when writing things up at my home computer.
I made good use of Asus’ Armory Crate software, using it to tweak the RGB color and animation, along with changing my DPI presets and tweaking the actions of the side buttons. I used it primarily with the 2.4GHz dongle, but also over Bluetooth and while wired.
I also used the mouse alongside a slew of new Asus products to get the best unified experience, swapping out my all-Logitech setup for an all Asus arrangement.
Read more about how we test
- First reviewed in March 2025
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zac.kelly@futurenet.com (Zachariah Kelly)
