Genesis Zircon X 10 Anniversary Edition test, i.e. we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Genesis

After many years of peripheral testing and numerous opportunities to test Genesis hardware, I am sure of one password in particular. Do you want to have good and cheap? Get Genesis gear. I used to identify this brand with Trust, which I do not like very much, but the reality quickly changed my opinion. I mention it for a reason, and for a sheer occasion, because it just so happens that today I have the Genesis Zircon X 10 Anniversary Edition test for you, i.e. a mouse that celebrates the 10th anniversary of the brand on the market. It is so unique that it reached for the PAW3370 sensor, which is now a raisin on the market.

Box and accessories included

Accustomed to the style characteristic of Genesis at the level of the packaging itself, the Zircon X 10 Anniversary Edition will definitely be surprised. The brand opted for a cardboard box that stands out from other products, the top of which is by combining black with the silver color of the inscriptions shining in the light.

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Inside, all the equipment is waiting for us in a foam cover, and we are talking about a certificate of authenticity (only 1000 copies of this mouse will be made), user manual, a replaceable set of sliders, a set of four rubber pads with double-sided tape to stick on the mouse casing and a replaceable spine of the casing.

On the connectivity side, we are really interested in three elements, because the 180-cm USB-A to USB-C cable in white, light braided material looks great in white, the USB-A receiver hidden in the mouse and a metal adapter / extension cord with the manufacturer’s name and USB-A / USB-C port.

Highlights of the Zircon X

• PAW3370 optical sensor
• Sensitivity to 6 levels 50 to 19,000 DPI (increments of 50 units)
• Weight: 72 grams
• Dimensions: 118 x 61 x 39 mm
• Material: matte plastic
• Number of buttons: 5 + scroll wheel
• Interface: USB with gold-plated contacts via a 180 cm long fabric braided cable
• USB refresh: 125, 250, 500 and 1000Hz
• Wired and wireless 2.4 GHz mode
• Built-in 580 mAh battery
• Illumination: under the roller (single-color) and at the connection of the base with the spine (RGB)
• Dedicated software
• Warranty: 2 years
• Production limited to 1,000 units

Design, materials and workmanship

Is the Zircon X as unique as the packaging suggests, the manufacturer’s proud announcement and the certificate? Well, it depends on how we approach it. Were it not for the manufacturer’s announcement, this mouse would not be unique on the rodent market. The model is packed in an interesting box and with an extensive set of additional equipment. All the solutions seen here can be found in some competition models, but in the Genesis offer this unique Zircon X is clearly unique. This is emphasized not only by the certificate with a unique copy number, but also by the distinctive premium design.

Personally, I liked the configuration with the traditional spine the most, not the perforated (lighter) one, which is simply replaced by a few locks and light magnets. The red Genesis logo clearly enhances the exclusivity of the model, breaking its minimalist white color. Such a visual procedure is especially useful in combination with the deactivated RGB backlight, which is at the base of the mouse, because it is single-color under the scroll and shows the DPI level. This makes it impossible to deactivate it from the switch on the bottom of the Zircon X, but this lack is completed by the software.

The form of the mouse itself does not rediscover the wheel when it comes to form and appearance. Especially with the full back it makes a traditional impression and very good. As a model to celebrate the manufacturer’s decade on the market, the Zircon X looks like a model that is hard to be ashamed of even on such an important anniversary. Especially since its performance is beyond doubt, and the design can be liked, and as I mentioned, it stands out among other Genesis mice, which is even extremely important. The biggest snag? Definitely hiding a 580 mAh battery in … a cardboard envelope, which, however, matches the appearance of the rest of the mouse, the interior of which can be easily viewed.

However, it presents a typical approach to wireless mice, focusing on the USB-C port on the front with a small groove for higher cable stability. At the bottom, there are three sliders with rounded edges, which reveal the perforated nature of the mouse on the bottom panel. We will also find a silver information sticker there, confirming our belief that the Zircon X is unique and a simple three-stage switch that is responsible for switching on the mouse with either an illuminated spine or without the backlight.

Importantly, the Zircon X is able to work both in wireless mode through 2.4 GHz connectivity (more reliable and efficient compared to Bluetooth), and wired, thanks to the included high-quality cable. Subjectively, the difference in operation between the modes will be unnoticeable by most players with the naked eye, and the lightness of the cable makes the Zircon X pleasant to use in both modes of operation. For good reason – it weighs only 72 grams, it can handle all holds (especially with smaller hands), as a symmetrical right-handed mouse, and its gliders significantly facilitate movement on the pad.

Button test

Genesis Zircon X reached for the traditional set of buttons in mice for players. So there are two additional ones on the left side, the location of which significantly facilitates access to them using the thumb, and an additional functional one just above the roller. All three of them work nicely, but without a revelation, which also does not feature the most important main buttons and rollers. In both cases, they can be rated “strong eight”, if, however, you like the nature of the action they offer.

And so the reel (most importantly) does not make disturbing sounds even when scrolling quickly, and this is quite light and quiet, although with delicately perceptible, numerous jumps on the bearing. The main buttons based on unknown mechanical switches with a durability of 80 million actuations are, in turn, an example of those well-balanced in terms of hardness, the accompanying activation of noise and the way of work while maintaining an appropriately high responsiveness. Additionally, they retain the same character no matter where the pressure is applied.

Zircon X software, backlight and battery

In fact, Genesis really botched the software the most when it comes to the uniqueness of Zircon X. The downloadable application is in no way equal to the uniqueness and performance of the mouse, but it offers quite rich settings functions. We are talking about six DPI levels from 50 to 19,000, the possibility of setting the LOD at the level of 1 or 2 mm, activating the enhanced prediction, replacement of button functions, Debounce time settings for buttons (from 0 ms), or for recording and modifying macros.

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Important settings can also be found in the menu with the backlight within 7 modes, where we can set the brightness of the LEDs, the speed of the effect, but also the sleep time and the functions of deactivating the backlight after motion detection. This is to increase the durability of the battery, but if you care about it the most, deactivate both the independent illumination of the roller and the spine.

The Zircon X backlight itself did not backlight me. Especially after I tried to replace the PRISMO mode which was illuminating all the colors of the rainbow with only white, which ended up in… slightly pink. It’s a pity, because this model could use slightly more subdued colors.

In the PRISMO mode, however, the LEDs do their job, illuminating the insert filled with milky material very well and even the Genesis logo, if you decide on the spine with holes. The manufacturer additionally forced the roller illumination to perform not only a decorative function, which you may like or on the contrary. The important thing is that this single LED illuminates the roller and the buttons next to it well, and can work in both constant and breathing modes.

The endurance of the battery was checked after charging the built-in 580 mAh battery during daily work and Sunday gaming, taking care to turn off the mouse after each session, but with the backlight on. With this mode of operation, one mouse charge lasted about 45/50 hours.

Test sensora PixArt PAW3370

At the moment, each PAW3370 mouse is unique on the market for a simple reason – there are simply few of them. The Zircon X is therefore unique in this respect as well, providing one of the highest levels of precision on the market today. In Zircon X its implementation is definitely successful and all the possibilities are used. I am talking about a high level of maximum speeds, very low LOD (I managed to get the promised level of 1 mm), imperceptible smoothing up to 3000 DPI and no negative and positive acceleration, as well as low-frequency noise.

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A comparison of the signal stability in the wireless and wired modes shows that in the latter, the Zircon X behaves noticeably more confidently due to the smaller range of readings. However, it maintains great precision up to 300 DPI, which is very high.

Genesis Zircon X test – summary

Fortunately, Genesis passed the test and the anniversary test of the Zircon X mouse does not have to be negative. I can only end with a digital nod with the recognition that the company managed to celebrate its decade on the market with a blast by creating a unique product for itself. Zircon X to buy for PLN 269 has practically no disadvantages, because the only one that I can point to is the visual programming envelope itself, which is really nothing important.

At times like these, and after coming with the Zircon X, I am able to close the test summary in a rather pathetic way, but I have no choice but to wish Genesis all the best and another successful decade of business. The market will always need products of the class in which Genesis specializes, so all we need from this brand is to cultivate our tradition.