In an era when most players use anything that comes with their computers, Steelseries is named after a range of reliable mouse pads – or no mouse pads at all! Their QCK range has become a popular choice for over 20 years, but mouse pad space has evolved significantly as of late, reflecting similar explosions like mechanical keyboards and ultralight mice. Now, boutique mouse pad companies are offering esports enthusiasts a wide range of professional options, from low friction speed pads made from exotic materials to “mud” pads designed for ultimate precision and precision control-centric control. This means it's time to get a refresh in Steelseries HQ, with Danish companies taking clues from some of the most popular enthusiast brands to create the QCK Performance lineup we're reviewing today.
There are three QCK performance pads, each performing pad has its own feel. Balance is the closest to the traditional QCK formula, while speed chooses a sliding design with a rougher, stickier surface design as precision. Each pad has sizes of large (49x42cm, $40/£40) and XL (90x40cm, $50/£50).
All three variants are cloth pads – there is currently no glass or glass hybrid option – but there is a material difference here. The speed pad uses a nylon mixture, the balance pad has “tightly woven” polyester and nylon, and the control pad uses “high density” polyester. Steelseries provides close-ups of the review units of each material, fascinating how to distinguish these mouse pads in the flesh compared to the rougher and increasingly irregular patterns visible in the balance and control pads.
In addition to these three options, there are a few small generation upgrades that separate each performance model from your QCK predecessor. The most obvious one is the cloth label on the upper right corner of the mouse, with yellow for control, blue for balance and pink for speed; reverse engraved at the standard of the slogan “Normal”. I love this design style, and the most notable thing is that Wooting's oversized cloth label is located on the side of the 60 Hapid Trigger keyboard and it works well here too.
Inside, the mouse pad uses a 2.9mm layer of “premium neoprene foam” to ensure they stay perfect. Add 0.6mm surface of each pad to finally achieve a final 3.5mm thickness between the standard QCK and the thicker QCK. Low-key stitching edges are also welcomed, which can improve durability without the rough, scratched texture of the mouse pad with low-end stitching.
In fact, it was fun to try each of the three QCK performance pads in Delta Force and Counter-Trike 2. These are relatively tactical FPS titles, not fps like finals or Fortnite, but the game can still generate chaotic close combat to test your ability to track fast moving targets and flick to unexpected opponents. I chose the “best cheap ultra-light” mouse for testing because you need something quite lightweight – the 56g Zaopin Z2 Mini is perfect for that bill.
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Usually, the mat promises exactly as metaphorical tin promises, and the speed pad has the fastest acceleration potential at the expense of potential overcharge, while the control pad requires more push to keep going, but it feels like it stops on an ime. Of course, the balance pad is right in the middle and feels very similar to the old QCK pad I've used over the years. The surface also feels strong and can resist downward pressure, which is different from the softer glass hybrid pads I used to use. This means that if you hold the mouse tightly in the clutch situation, the amount of friction doesn't change much, which is usually preferred.
Playing a good counterattack (which is indeed most FPS) is about pre-placed the mouse in the most likely position to let the enemy lurk, so I feel the difference in gliding is most obvious, and for those more crazy scenarios you need to swap targets in different directions. Here, the quick response of the speed pad may be the most comfortable option to use an automatic weapon, but the sniper rifleman holds the control pad to make it more meaningful to ensure accuracy in the final adjuster a few millimeters before shooting.
It is similar in delta power, with both speed and control pads providing good results after a short period of mental adjustment, and single shot weapons (such as sniper rifles or AT4 launchers) feel better for control pads. I would say that you choose a mouse is more influential than the mouse you choose Soft padbut it's interesting to play with these different surface options and see if you can get another tiny advantage over your competitors.
The challenge here is to determine which QCK performance pad is right for you. Ideally you have access to all three options, and Steelseries says it aims to offer accurate prices in some stores, but for most people you need to commit to one or purchase multiple variants before you have the chance to try them in anger. There is also a quiz on Steelseries' website that tries to understand your priorities, play style and game type (and sign up for Steelseries newsletter) before making a judgment, which may be worth trying.
The best advice I can give comes down to PlayStyle. For FPS players, games or characters that involve a lot of fast mouse movement, such as Fortnite or Dutase Call, may be the best for speed pads, while those who prefer more tactical style and slower weapons (such as in Countrike or Rainbow Six), Siege may do better on the control pads. A more balanced mat should perform well across the board, and may be a wise (if boring) option for those who are not competitive. Of course, outside of FPS, mouse speed is usually less important than mouse accuracy, which prompted me to recommend control or balance pads for strategies, MOBAs and other competitive genres.
From an innovative perspective, it is obvious that QCK performance speed is a bunch of choices. It's soft, smooth, and smooth, and is ideal for tracking targets or opponents in fast-paced FPS games. If you haven't tried the speed pad before, this is a great and affordable starting point.
The Balance Pad is a more traditional style and three of the most comfortable options to make it suitable for the PC you are working on and playing games. That said, as far as Wow Factor is concerned, other mats in the lineup may be a bit overshadowed, and besides the nice tags, it won't feel like a game-changing upgrade if you've already used regular QCK mats.
The control pad is the most interesting choice here, with a less comfortable surface, but offers more obvious gaming features in terms of accuracy, with less chances of overtaking the goal and more consistent results. Pairing it with a super-light mouse creates an extremely clear experience, which I personally use – at least until the next mouse pad is reviewed!
Going forward, I will be interested to see if Steelseries will choose to try more exotic materials or designs in the future. Glass and hybrid glass pads are already popular these days, and the company’s first product is a glass pad called The iCemat, so it feels like a natural area of interest. Still, I can see the wisdom of choosing a more mainstream lineup, and the three-member QCK performance product is indeed a strong foundation.
