be quiet! Dark Perk Ergo review

Introduction

be quiet! is best known for its quiet power supplies, coolers and cases. With the Dark Perk, the German brand enters the gaming mouse market for the first time, and it means business. There are two versions: the symmetrical Dark Perk Sym and the Dark Perk Ergo we're reviewing here. The Ergo has a distinctly right-handed shape, weighs just 55 grams and features the PixArt PAW3950, currently one of the best sensors on the market. Can a newcomer compete with the established names straight away? Let's find out 🙂 .

Specifications

• Sensor: PixArt PAW3950, up to 32,000 DPI
• Polling rate: up to 8,000 Hz, both wireless and wired
• Switches: optical Omron D2FP-FN2
• Weight: 55 grams
• Battery life: up to 110 hours (at 1,000 Hz)
• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz wireless and USB-C (1.8 m braided cable)
• Skates: 100% PTFE with rounded edges
• Software: be quiet! IO Center (app and web)

Design and ergonomics

The first thing you notice when picking up the Dark Perk Ergo is how little it weighs. 55 grams is light, especially for an ergonomic mouse, and be quiet! has achieved that without a perforated shell. The mouse feels solid as a result: nothing creaks when you give it a firm squeeze. The matte black finish is understated, exactly as you'd expect from be quiet!.

The shape slopes down to the right, with a pronounced hump at the rear to support your palm. It feels very natural with palm and claw grips. If you use a fingertip grip and have small hands, the rear may feel a little too tall. Left-handed users are unfortunately out of luck with this version; the Dark Perk Sym is the alternative for them.

On the left side, you'll find two thumb buttons that are easy to reach without repositioning your thumb. They have a distinct actuation point and are spaced far enough apart to avoid accidental presses of the wrong button. The PTFE skates with rounded edges provide a smooth glide on both cloth and hybrid mouse pads.

Sensor and performance

You can't go far wrong with the PAW3950. Tracking is precise and predictable, even during fast flicks in shooters such as Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. We experienced no spin-outs or jitter. 32,000 DPI is overkill in practice, but it does show that the hardware isn't the limiting factor.

The Nordic nRF54H20 chip enables 8,000 Hz polling, even wirelessly. This makes the cursor feel just a little more responsive in fast-paced games. Whether you actually notice it depends on your monitor and skill level; with a 240 Hz display or higher, the difference is noticeable, while below that it's mostly a number on a spec sheet.

The optical Omron switches feel crisp and click fairly quietly. Typical be quiet!: not silent, but noticeably quieter than most gaming mice. Rapid clicking is effortless, and optical switches make double-clicking caused by wear a thing of the past.

Battery life and software

be quiet! promises up to 110 hours of battery life at 1,000 Hz, which is impressive for a 55-gram mouse. We didn't need to charge it once during our week of testing. Set the polling rate to 8,000 Hz, though, and the battery drains much faster; expect closer to a few days of intensive gaming. Fortunately, you can keep playing while charging with the included cable.

Using IO Center, either as an app or directly in your browser, you can configure DPI stages, polling rate, button assignments and lift-off distance. The software is straightforward and does what it needs to without unnecessary bells and whistles. It's also nice to have a web version that works without installing anything.

What does this mean for you?

If you're looking for a lightweight, ergonomic wireless mouse with top-tier performance and long battery life, the Dark Perk Ergo belongs on your shortlist. If you're left-handed or prefer a symmetrical shape, take a look at the Dark Perk Sym.

Conclusion

For a first gaming mouse, be quiet! has done a surprisingly good job. The Dark Perk Ergo is light and solidly built, with a top-tier sensor, true 8K polling and battery life many competitors can only dream of. The shape won't suit everyone, and battery life takes a substantial hit at 8,000 Hz, but those are caveats for an otherwise very well-rounded mouse. A strong debut.