The be quiet! Dark Perk Ergo is one of two mice in the new ultralight Dark Perk line. As the company’s first mouse series, it offers many of the premium hardware features found in competing products, paired with be quiet!’s signature streamlined design. From the PixArt PAW3950 sensor to the optical switches, the company has made thoughtful design choices to support a strong debut. Despite these strengths, the Dark Perk Ergo lacks a defining feature that would help it stand out in a crowded market.
As an ultralight gaming mouse, the Dark Perk Ergo weighs a mere 55g. While not the lightest mouse we’ve tested, the Dark Perk Ergo comfortably sits with the likes of the Turtle Beach Burst II and the CORSAIR SABRE v2 Pro. Featuring a matte black finish, this smudge-resistant mouse looks sleek with a single grey logo as the only identifier on the mouse body.
Measuring 120 mm by 66 mm by 40 mm, the Dark Perk Ergo fits comfortably in a larger hand and supports both claw and palm grips. While slightly smaller than some preferred options, it still offers good ergonomics and well-positioned side buttons. As a five-button mouse, including primary, secondary, scroll and two left-side buttons, it maintains a simple and effective layout, with one notable drawback.
“The Dark Perk Ergo fits comfortably in a larger hand.”
All five buttons on the Dark Perk Ergo are well-placed and easy to reach, aligning naturally with hand placement. However, the DPI switch is located on the underside of the mouse, making on-the-fly adjustments during gameplay impractical. This is the only significant design concern, as the rest of the construction is well executed.
The included USB-C charging cable features an angled connector that lifts the cable off the mouse pad, reducing drag during use. As a result, the mouse retains a wireless-like feel even while charging. The 1.8-metre braided cable is flexible and introduces no noticeable resistance. The mouse feet also provide a smooth glide and perform well during gameplay.
The Primary and secondary buttons on the Dark Perk Ergo use Optical 70m switches, which provide an impressive response and offer quieter but still audible clicking when engaged. The side buttons, however, are plenty loud and in loud and in light with what I’ve come to expect from most premium gaming mice. The scroll wheel, likewise, is snappy and responsive and works as I would expect from a mouse in the $100 price range.
Opting for the PixArt PAW3950 optical sensor as the driver for the Dark Perk Ergo is a smart choice by be quiet! This sensor is used in many of the mainline premium mice on the market, including the excellent Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini. With resolutions of up to 32,000 DPI and an 8,000Hz polling rate, the Dark Perk Ergo offers comparable performance to some of the better FPS mice on the market. In testing, it responded exceptionally well, with lightning-fast input. The Dark Perk Ergo is a competitive mouse with the quality engineering and build quality that be quiet! Is known for.
“It’s a well-crafted, premium-level ultralight mouse that gets the job done.”
Taking a note out of many of the big peripheral companies on the market, be quiet! Offers a new web-based version of their IO Center, which is a welcome feature. The software is laid out logically and is easy to navigate, providing access to all of the settings and features the Dark Perk Ergo offers. While there is nothing out of the ordinary here for setting selection, it is nice to see that the mouse offers 5 customizable DPI settings along with poll rate options from 125Hz to 8,000Hz, all easily managed from the IO Center.
Battery life, likewise, is in line with some of the latest mice we’ve tested. At a 1,000Hz polling rate, the mouse is rated for 110 hours. In testing the Dark Perk Ergo performed as advertised. Thanks to the cable design, running the mouse in wired mode doesn’t impede gameplay in any meaningful way.
The Dark Perk Ergo is a solid offering, especially as be quiet!’s first mouse release. It’s a well-crafted, premium-level ultralight mouse that gets the job done. The only concern here is that while it’s great, it’s not outstanding, meaning that it could easily get lost in the sea of other great gaming mice in that $100-$150 price range. With that being said, at $110.00, the Dark Perk Ergo does offer solid value and be quiet!’s legacy of well-crafted hardware.
