MSI Clutch GM50 RGB Gaming Mouse Review

The gaming market is dominated by amazing products these days. However, MSI has a huge and very loyal fanbase spanning from its many years of hardware releases. They have some of the best graphics cards, motherboards, and even PC cases on the market today. So, it only makes sense that MSI fans (and other people) would want their peripherals to match up with other parts of their system. This isn’t all show and no go though, as the GM50 comes equipped with great components to make it a worthy competitor in today’s gaming market.

MSI GM50

Featuring the fantastic PixArt PMW-3330 Optical Gaming Sensor, we know that the GM50 is already off to a promising start. Of course, throw in the 20 million click rated Omron switches, a boot full of RGB lighting, and some good ergonomics; what else could we possibly ask for than that!? Well, let’s take a dive and find out what it’s like to use in the real world.

Still not moved to the next page? Why not also check out our review of the MSI GM60 and MSI GM70!

Features

• PixArt PMW-3330 optical gaming sensor
• Lightweight and ergonomic design
• Choose from millions of colours with Gaming Center
• Fine-tune detailed settings with Gaming Center
• Special OMRON switches rated for 20 million clicks

Specifications

For further details, you can refer to the official MSI GM50 product page here.

What MSI Had to Say

“Born for FPS gamers. Perfect for rapid movements and clicks thanks to the lightweight design and highly durable gaming switches rated for 20 million clicks.” – MSI

Product Trailer

A Closer Look & Performance

The mouse is typical of the MSI design really, and it does have some similar visual style compared to their more expensive GM60 and GM70. The textures on the top panel and the sort-of carbon fibre effect on the sides are certainly very familiar looking.

They haven’t reinvented the mouse here, and that’s a good thing. Down the side, you’ve got a big sweeping ergonomic curve, giving your thumb a good grip and resting position. Plus, the side buttons are massively oversized making them much easier to control.

The grip texture on the side isn’t quite what it appears to be though. It’s actually a rather glossy plastic that’s quite slippy at first. However, there is an aggressive texture to it that does add some grip. More of all though, I would say it’s a purely aesthetic addition to the mouse rather than a practical one.

I do love that textured look to the plastic too. It’s actually quite smooth to the touch, but it looks like a polished stone rather than plastic. Honestly, I think it makes the mouse look more premium, and it’s the little details that add up. Furthermore, there’s the RGB dragon on the back that’s quite detailed too, but we’ll see that more when I turn on the power.

Aside from that, there’s a big lightbar along the bottom rear of the mouse, and the right side has more of that shiny textured plastic on the right. Again, it’s not very grippy, but it looks great and it’s surprisingly comfortable under your fingers too.

The overall ergonomics are good though, with a slight lean to the right side. This means your wrist isn’t fully rotated while holding the mouse. It doesn’t seem like much, but you’ll be grateful for good ergonomics after a marathon gaming session. The massive scroll wheel is coated with a soft rubber grip too, making it super easy to make fine adjustments; great for work and gaming!

Powered up, the GM50 sparks to life with a rainbow of colours. By default, it’ll throw out all the usual rainbow effects. There’s a lighting zone on the rear, on the top with the Dragon logo and another inside the scroll wheel. Overall, if you like RGB, you’ll find plenty of it here. Of course, it can all be customised using their Dragon software, set to a single colour, effects, or even turned off if you so desire.

Without a doubt, this is a stunning looking mouse. I love that dragon on the back too, it’s just a shame it’ll be covered by my hand most of the time; oh well!

What really shines, however, is the performance. Equipped with one of the better PixArt sensors, it tracks as well as you could hope for these days. I haven’t tested a bad mouse in years now, and sensors really have hit a sweet spot for gamers. There are no issues with acceleration, jitter or anything like that. While I don’t think this mouse is tuned for the eSports market, it’s certainly a good enough sensor to keep you competitive.

The brilliant sensor is backed up nicely with the Omron switches. Rated at 20 million clicks, they’re unlikely to wear out before you decent you just simply want another mouse. They’re pretty responsive for rapid clicking, and while they’re pretty light to click, the response has good tactile feedback. This mouse is tuned for daily use and gaming, and it feels pretty adept at everything from a bit of MOBA gameplay to a few hours of Elder Scrolls Online.

Plus, little details like the scooped out LMB and RMB mean your fingers sit comfortably in the center of the switch, making them a little easier to control.

It’s not a big mouse, but the ergonomics mean that it’s pretty accommodating even to my wide hands and longer fingers. The “grip” on the side is a little glossy though, so using a lift-off technique isn’t ideal. However, there’s a good enough DPI range that I never really felt the need to lift the mouse anyway.

If you use a claw or hybrid grip, you’ll find it just as adept. The switches are easy to trigger even from further up the mouse thanks to their independent spring mounts.

The oversized side buttons are nice too. You can push them in as normal easily enough. However, they have a very curved shape that allows you to simply slide your thumb over them to trigger them. It’s just a little smoother for those quick triggers.

Overall, it is a really great work and gaming mouse. It’s light and nimble, and it glides better than most thanks to the two enormous slipmats on the base.

How Much Does it Cost?

Despite being as well equipped as many more expensive gaming mice, it’s actually quite affordable. In the US, you can pick one up for a very modest $41.99 (MSRP $59.99). If you’re in the UK, it’s just £39.95, which for this level of features is pretty hard to beat. Keep in mind, MSI is a big name brand too, and this is not just some import with a rebranding on it.

Overview

I’ll be honest, at this price, you’re not short of options for pretty fantastic gaming mice these days. However, MSI has a lot of history behind them and a huge fan base, so I can certainly see the demand for those wanting to keep the branding across their PC build and their peripherals. That being said, this is a great mouse for anyone, not just owners of other MSI hardware.

Strong Competition

It’s going up against a huge range of products from Corsair, Logitech, SteelSeries, and countless others. However, it features a competitive PixArt sensor that’s just as good as what everyone else is using. Actually, it pretty much is the same sensor everyone else is using. The same is true of the switches, Omron has been around forever, and we know they’re quality switches.

Great Features

You’ve got a braided cable, plenty of RGB lighting, and pretty fantastic build quality overall. So while it’s not better than anything else out there, it’s obviously a competitive product. A lot of it falls down to aesthetics and price.

Style

It’s a great looking mouse, at least in my opinion. Looks are very subjective, but you’ll have a hard time arguing with me that this isn’t a cool looking product.

Should I Buy One?

Despite being pretty affordable, the MSI GM50 looks stunning, feels great in the hand, and delivers competitive performance for your daily work and those long gaming sessions. Highly recommended!