Arbiter Studio X VANCER Akitsu

Lightweight, sturdy high performance gaming mouse

The Arbiter X VANCER Akitsu gaming mouse is a premium offering for gamers looking for a durable, ultralight gaming mouse with exceptional performance. If you're considering the Akitsu, this article will provide some further information to help you decide if it's the right fit for you and your gaming setup. 

TL;DR

The Akitsu is a premium mouse using high quality materials and components. 
If you use a fingertip grip, this mouse will be a perfect match no matter your hand size. For users with large hands other grip styles will be more difficult. Claw is possible for medium size hands and all grip styles, including palm, are accommodated for those with smaller hands.

The Akitsu is an all inclusive package, it includes additional items that would typically need to be purchased separately. This includes the 8K receiver and grip tape along with additional skates. For those with the budget, it is a top tier option.

In the end, the Akitsu is an ultralight weight gaming mouse with top tier performance but suitability will depend on your hand size and grip style.

If you're interested in purchasing an Akitsu, check out our product page here. We offer free domestic and international shipping (to New Zealand) on this mouse.

 

Key Features:

• Size: Small
• Shape: Symmetrical 
• Colour: Black
• Material: Carbon composite 
• Dimensions: L: 118mm, W: 59.7mm, H: 36.5mm
• Weight: 38g (±)2g
• Sensor: Pixart PAW3395
• Polling Rate: Up to 8000hz (8K)
• Connectivity: 2.4Ghz Wireless
• In the box: Mouse, 8K dongle, USB A to USB C cable, Grips, Instructions, Skates

Packaging and Build Quality

The Aribter Studio X VANCER Akitsu comes securely packaged in a neatly designed package. All components are well protected in transit and the unboxing experience is pleasant with a slide over cover housing the internal box. 

The build quality of the Akitsu is top tier. Thanks to its carbon composite, perforated shell design and tiny PCB the mouse is very light weight, sub 40g. While it is very light, the Akitsu is rock solid. Although it's not recommended, videos have surfaced of reviewers smashing the top shell of the Akitsu into hard objects resulting in no damage. 

The Akitsu is an amazing mouse to look at. The finishing on all components is high quality and, although you don't see it during use, it also has the best sculptural art we've seen on a gaming mouse. 'Akitsu' is archaic Japanese for 'Dragonfly' and the base houses a beautifully designed dragonfly. This design doubles as additional support for the base which improves strength.

 

 

Shape and Size

The Arbiter Studio X VANCER Akitsu is a small symmetrical mouse with a shape similar to a Finalmouse small. The shape is quite safe for those with small hands but is too small to accommodate a palm grip for anyone with medium sized hands or above. Claw grip is serviceable for those with medium sized hands but larger handed players will be primarily using a fingertip grip with this mouse due to its narrow and low profile. 

 

Clicks and buttons

The main clicks on the Akitsu use a custom 'Dragon Claw' switch produced by HUANO. These switches are easy to actuate and very tactile making them suitable for spamming. The clicks feel solid and well implemented.

The scroll wheel uses a 'TTC Gold Encoder' and has been improved in version two to reduce the force required to actuate the middle click. Scrolling feel tactile without being 'clicky', the steps are well pronounced and allow for positive confirmation of your input.

Side buttons are another place where the Akitsu has been improved. The initial batch had a few complaints regarding mushy side buttons which has been resolved in version 2. There is no wobble, pre, or post travel on these side buttons and the placement is well chosen, which makes them feel great in game. 

 

Feel and Coating

 

 The Akitsu uses a carbon composite material rather than standard plastic. This contributes to its very solid feel in hand. The composite is textured to provide additional grip but the coating is relaitvely smooth and does not provide the same level of grip as something like an Endgame Gear coating. Happily, if you find the Akitsu to be too slick for your taste, the mouse comes with included high quality grips.

By now, many of you will have used a mouse with holes in the shell. This is a personal preference and while some enjoy the additional weight savings and grip these holes provide, others find the holes irritating to their fingers. If you death grip your mouse in tense scenarios, you may find the holes irritating. This can be resolved using the included grips (or any grips of your choice).  

 

 

Performance and Sensor

The Akitsu uses a Pixart PAW3395 sensor. The performance of this sensor is tested and confirmed to be one of the best on the market. The implementation here is excellent. The mouse performs and tracks perfectly, as you would expect at this price point. The included dongle operates at polling rates up to 8K hz to ensure the lowest possible latency. 

When using higher polling rates battery life will suffer, this is the nature of sending and receiving a signal 8 times more frequently. This battery drain is felt more acutely than some other mice due to the lightweight small on board battery. This is a limitation of battery technology and battery life performance is not unlike other products on the market at higher polling rates. 

Estimated battery life for each polling rate is below. 

• Up to 60 hours at 1000Hz
• Up to 25 hours at 2000Hz
• Up to 20 hours at 4000Hz
• Up to 12 hours at 8000Hz

 

 

 

Pros and Cons of the Arbiter Studio X VANCER Akitsu

Pros:

• Ultralight weight: The 38g weight of this mouse makes it incredibly responsive to use in game, especially in tracking heavy titles. 
• Small, Symmetrical, Safe shape: The size and shape of the Akitsu is based on a well established concept and provides a safe and very effective shape for many hand sizes, depending on grip style.
• Clean Aesthetic: This mouse is beautiful to look at, the shape, material and sculptural base design make it an impressive bit of kit.
• Durable Construction: The carbon composite shell creates a super solid mouse that does not flex under load.
• High-Performance Sensor: The implementation of the PAW 3395 sensor in the Akitsu is flawless.
• Responsive, tactile clicks: The clicks on the Akitsu are top tier and provide a consistent experience with minimal pre or post travel.
• Price is all inclusive: High polling rate receiver is included in the box.

Cons:

• Not ideal for all size hands and grip styles: The Akitsu does not accommodate users with large hands that want to use a palm grip.
• Coating not super grippy: While the coating on the Akitsu is servicable for most people, if you sweat a lot often find yourself losing grip of your mouse, you may need to use grips with the Akitsu. 
• Price Point: The Akitsu is a premium product and carries a premium price tag. While the price is justified based on the materials and performance provided, players with a lower budget may opt for something cheaper.

Is the Arbiter Studio X VANCER Akitsu right for you?

The Akitsu is a premium mouse using high quality materials and components. 
If you use a fingertip grip, this mouse will be a perfect match no matter your hand size. For users with large hands other grip styles will be more difficult. Claw is possible for medium size hands and all grip styles, including palm, are accommodated for those with smaller hands.

The Akitsu is an all inclusive package, it includes additional items that would typically need to be purchased separately. This includes the 8K receiver and grip tape along with additional skates. For those with the budget, it is a fantastic option.

In the end the Akitsu is an ultralight weight gaming mouse with top tier performance but suitability will depend on your hand size and grip style.

If you're interested in purchasing an Akitsu, check out our product page here. We offer free domestic and international shipping (to New Zealand) on this mouse.