SteelSeries QcK Performance Series Mousepads Review: 3 Variants Offer Gamers Speed, Control, or Balance

SteelSeries manufactures a wide-ranging line of gaming gear, including headsets, microphones, controllers, mice, and keyboards. They also offer a diverse line of mousepads available in various sizes and materials. In this review, we look at the QcK Performance Series Mousepads. The line of mousepads offered by SteelSeries is extensive, including models made of different materials, including micro-woven cloth and hard polyethylene, and in a range of sizes from the typical 12.6″ wide by 10.6″ high (320x270mm) to the desktop size 63″ wide by 31.5″ high (1600x800mm).

Some of these mousepads are available in different colors, and many are available in themed versions matching popular game titles such as Diablo, Destiny 2, Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed. There is even a CS2 Dragon Lore special edition mousepad that can be paired with a matching mouse.

With such an assortment of available products, one might conclude that SteelSeries has covered all of the bases mousepad-wise, but they are not resting on their laurels and have come up with a series focused on the specific use of each installation.

Called the SteelSeries QcK Performance Series Mousepads, the range includes two sizes: large (19.3″ wide by 16.5″ high by .14” thick) and extra-large (35.4″ wide by 15.7″ high by .14” thick). Each size is made of the same material and is available in three different finishes; each of the three finishes is optimized for a specific use.

The Speed version is intended to be used in situations where every small gain in terms of speed can be crucial to the outcome of the game. This is especially true for first-person shooters such as Call of Duty. The Control version of the pads “is finely tuned for precise movements and microadjustments” per SteelSeries, and the Balance version is, as the name suggests, a blend between the two.

All three versions have the same neoprene rubber base, here at 3.5mm thick as opposed to the 2mm of the majority of their other mousepads. This gives the pads a thicker, more luxurious, and comfortable feel as well as ultimate stability.

The edges on all three variants feature low-profile stitched edges to prevent fraying and ensure a long product life. All three versions feature the SteelSeries logo in their lower right corners.

Performance

While I am an avid console and mobile gamer, I do not play many games on my PC these days and am no longer the power player I once was in first-person shooter games. This means that much of the advantage of using the Speed version of the QcK Performance Series Mousepads may ultimately be lost on me. That said, do I feel the difference between the three versions? Yes.

The tightness of the weave and finish of the surface make each version look different when viewed closely, and their tactile feel gives a good approximation of the effect on the mouse. As SteelSeries says on their Amazon site, “Friction or Glide? You decide.”

My favorite is the Control version. This is not a surprise as I use this computer mainly for graphic and video editing, all done on 4K screens with multiple menus and detailed images, where precise control is most desired.

Although not for me, I feel confident in my recommendation of the Speed version to those seeking every advantage for fast-paced multiplayer gaming. Of course, if you have a hard time deciding, there is always the Balanced version, a blend of the two. I am not sure how this is different from some of SteelSeries’ other mousepad offerings, such as their Qck line, other than the increased thickness of the padding (3.5mm Qck Performance vs 2mm Qck).

Durability

Especially with these larger pads, which cover half of your desktop to nearly all of it, keeping them clean is important to their proper functioning as well as the aesthetics. The SteelSeries QcK Performance Series Mousepads series is available only in black and therefore shows every crumb, hair, and any other debris that lands or is placed on your desk.

I am very happy to say that even after more than four months of constant use, my Control pad remains pristine with very little effort. Most debris is simply brushed off, and the minor stains that I have caused have been wiped completely away with a damp cloth.

I have not experienced any loose threads or fraying on any edge despite the daily loading and unloading of gear on the mats. They look and feel as good as the day I placed them on my desk.

SteelSeries offers mousepads for a wide range of uses and preferences, and the QcK Performance Series Mousepads seems a natural extension of their approach. The pads are very high quality in their design, materials, and workmanship, and at $39.99 and $49.99 for the large and extra large versions, respectively, they seem appropriately priced.

If you are looking for that extra edge for fast-paced gaming or extra control for detailed work, then the SteelSeries QcK Performance Series Mousepads are for you; their only real limitation is that they are only available in all black. I prefer black mousepads for everyday use, but others may be looking for other ways to express themselves and may flip past this series as themed versions are not available.

All three variants of the SteelSeries QcK Performance Series Mousepads in L sell for $39.99, and $49.99 in XL; they are available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review samples

What I Like: Clever design; Excellent build quality; Easy to clean; No visible wear after four months of use

What Needs Improvement: Only available in black