GN contributor Patrick Lathan wrote his review of the GX Gaming "Deathtaker" almost exactly one year ago. GX Gaming is a business unit of Genius, a large manufacturer in the East, and was the company's first attempt at breaking into the
We do our best to review products extensively (I even take the mice apart) and in a timely manner, so unfortunately it's simply impossible to get more than 1-2 months on a device before we put the review up. Occasionally editors and writers like Patrick will continue to use the mouse going forward, depending on how much they like the particular device; Patrick has about a year of use on the Deathtaker, priced at around $50 MSRP, and recently updated me on its endurance. For reference, I also decided to stick with the GX Gaming Gila that I previously reviewed and have about a year of use on that one, though it's a bit higher grade than the Deathtaker. We'll talk about that one next.
Issues with the DeathTaker & Why We're Wary
Patrick Lathan gave the Deathtaker oh-so-high praise by calling it "reasonably comfortable," noting that it isn't the best mouse he's used, but it isn't bad. I'd have to agree with that from a grip standpoint, though it is a bit small for my hand. More seriously, though, we said that the Deathtaker had good versatility in everyday and gaming applications and further stated that it was worth a purchase at $50. Shortly thereafter, we reviewed Logitech's G500s, which is currently our go-to recommendation in the $50-$60 price range.
Unfortunately, the Deathtaker just recently started exhibiting serious issues that make it completely unusable. When Patrick first reported back to me, he noted that the mouse would sometimes require multiple attempts to properly actuate the switch under the keyplate. A few weeks passed and he discovered that the mouse began triple-clicking, meaning each click would register three times.
I suppose that's one way to burst fire.
We took the mouse apart to ensure no hair/dust/crumbs/what-have-you had gummed-up the switches, but the inside was completely free of debris. Short of purchasing new switches and replacing them -- which isn't trivial -- there was really nothing we could do internally to resolve the issue. If Genius is reading this, my guess would be that the keyplate isn't actuating the switch at a clean, perpendicular angle and that it is applying sheer force, which would cause these defects.
The Deathtaker is officially dead.
On the side of the Gila, which has seen extremely heavy use since my review, things are a bit better. The mouse still works, though the teflon feet have grown abrasive and are starting to drag on my mousing surface. I didn't realize how much it was slowing me down until switching to the new Logitech Proteus Core that we're reviewing. It still works well in terms of switches and durability, but has begun to drag and show its age after only a year.
This is the first time we've had a product show significant wear-and-tear within such a short period of time, so I thought we'd let you all know as an act of thorough reporting. At this time, I would advise prospective buyers to go the route of the G500s, G700s, or G502 that we've reviewed / are reviewing. If you purchased either of these mice, please let us know below if you've experienced similar issues. I have contacted Genius for comment.
UPDATE: Genius commented that they stand by their warranty and will follow standard RMA procedure for any users who experience similar issues as we have.
- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.