Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma Mouse Pad Review - XXL Gaming Experience
Historically, over time people have not been very interested in the technical characteristics of a mousepad. As long as it wasn't shiny (the optical mouse didn't work well on it), any mouse pad was good.
In the last decade, however, more and more gamers have realized that the mousepad is really important and can dramatically improve the gaming experience and performance. The mousepad will also provide a smooth and improved mouse movement and speed.
It's time for a confession. For a long time, I was part of the group "it doesn't matter what mouse pad you have". But after I was lucky enough to test the same mouse on several mousepads, I realized how much the sensation differs from one to another. And in the end, as in the case of the mouse, it's all about preferences. It is important to find out what you like.
Table of contents:
Here is how the Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma looks on the desk. After overcoming the size shock (294x920x3mm) I moved the mouse on it and I was really excited.
Razer Coliathus Extended Chroma Review
The way the mouse slides on the microtexture of this pad reminded me of the times when I used a Steelseries Qck + mousepad, which gave me an experience of a similar quality for a year or two. But I must admit I prefer the shape and looks of the Goliathus Extended.
Aside from the fact that you feel a lot better control of the mouse, another thing that shocks you in a pleasant way is the RGB lighting on the edge of the XXL mousepad. It comes in the form of a light plastic tube that is sewn around the pad.
The lighting can be easily controlled from the Razer Synapse software and can be synchronized with other gaming peripherals. Now, maybe I'm a little exaggerated, but I would have liked the lighting to have more individually controlled areas, for rainbow-like effects. But even with single zone lighting, this mousepad gives a nice welcome SF look.
The mousepad also has a cable that comes out of a plastic box located at the top left and connects to a USB port on the computer. In that box is the brightness control unit and, apparently, a small memory in which a version of the Razer Synapse software is stored. Because as soon as you connect the mousepad to the computer, the software installer autoruns (pretty cool).
What I liked the most was positioning the RGB controller on the left without being in the way of the cable allowing my mouse to slide smoothly. On the usual size variant, the Razer Goliathus Chroma, that small controller can stand in the way of a well-executed headshot.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma MousePad Pros & Cons
PROS:
Excellent quality of materials.
Very good performance.
Very comfortable.
Aesthetically it is amazing.
Lighting on a flexible mat.
Very solid grip on the table.
CONS:
It does not have USB Passthrough.
Just one lighting zone.
The structure of the mat is exactly the same as in the normal version, with a LED tube sewn around the perimeter for the RGB lighting. The lower part is made of non-slip natural rubber with grooves to improve its grip, while the upper part is made of very soft micro-textured fabric, ideal for all types of mouse sensors.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma - Tests and Software
As we saw in the normal version, the entire perimeter of the mat is illuminated in full color, with good intensity and good shades, without losing anything despite its length.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma Specifications
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma is fully compatible with the Razer Synapse 3 software , which can be downloaded from the official Razer website for free. Once installed, we connect the mat and the application will download all the data it needs to work.
Razer Synapse 3 allows us to manage the lighting of the Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mousepad in a very simple way through predefined quick settings.
Here we can choose between 16.8 million colors and a multitude of light effects such as spectrum rotation, reactive, respiration and many more . It also offers us the advanced mode through Chroma Studio, a very complex application that will allow us to individually adjust each of the areas of the mat.
The effects and settings are exactly the same as in the regular version, so we will not go into details this time.
In these types of mats, one of the biggest concerns are stains, since it is common to have food or drinks in the playing area, and if the material is not resistant it can easily be damaged. With the Goliathus this will not be a problem, since the fabric repels dirt quite well, and it will be enough to take a wipe with a slightly damp cloth to clean any residue and restore it to its pristine condition.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma - User experience
I thought that the flexible lighting tube sewn on the edge would bother my wrist, and it will be a problem. After several days of gaming I must admit that it has not done it. The tube is not noticeable at all, and actually is making using the mouse very comfortable.
It should be mentioned that the grooved anti-slip rubber of the base, along with the fact that we will have the keyboard on the mat itself, makes it really steady during gaming sessions.
The surface of this mat provides us with a large area on which to slide the mouse very easily and with great precision, while allowing us to support the keyboard to avoid damaging the wooden surface of our precious desk.
This surface works perfectly with all types of mice, we have tested several both laser and optical and it has behaved flawlessly. Its rubber base makes it very stable, so that we will not have problems when making sudden slides with the mouse.
In addition, thanks to its XXL size, we will have the entire desk covered with its lighting, something that from my personal point of view looks very good.
I've been testing the mouse pad for a few days with different gaming mice and always the feel and user experience has been fantastic. As it is a soft mousepad, hand fatigue is reduced in long gaming sessions, and thanks to the micro-textured fabric surface, the mouse glides very comfortable, as there is hardly any friction. The mousepad gives greatly improved efficiency.
Of course, as a mat with a cloth surface, the negative point it has is durability, although it is true that if we give it periodic maintenance (clean it gently with a damp cloth (not wet) from time to time we should not have many problems.
Conclusion: The mousepad that every gamer wants
If you are one of the gamers who are passionate about RGB lighting on their desk, of course this is a mat that you should really take into account.
In addition to that, it provides extra comfort that rigid mouse pads do not have. Thanks to the fact that we can roll it up , it is easy to transport and it gives us extraordinary performance with all types of mice and sensitivities.
The Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mousepad is the ideal complement for the brand's keyboards and mice, as it completes the peripherals ecosystem . That it also offers Chroma lighting is what closes the circle, since we can even synchronize it between the different peripherals.
Who has never once dreamed of having something like this?
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma will end all your excuses for not using a mousepad , as it is a product that improves the performance of your mouse, while adding a touch of light and fashion to your desktop.
Where to buy this Razer Goliathus Chroma mouse pad?
You can buy Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mouse pad online on the Razer official website or in (Amazon- check price) as well as in a physical store specialized in gaming peripherals.
