Incott Ghero Pro challenges Vaxee like there’s no tomorrow
In the ever-evolving world of gaming peripherals, mice have become one of the most critical components for achieving top-tier performance. Recently, a small Chinese company named Incott has entered the scene with a bold new offering. Their latest release, a gaming mouse, closely mirrors the design and functionality of Vaxee’s highly acclaimed NP01. What’s truly astonishing, however, is that Incott’s version is available at less than half the price of its high-end counterpart.
This development raises an intriguing question: Are high-priced gaming mice still worth the investment? As gamers seek the perfect balance between quality and affordability, the emergence of such competitively priced alternatives could signal a shift in the market. In this review, we will delve into the features, performance, and overall value of Incott’s new mouse, comparing it to the established benchmarks set by premium brands like Vaxee. Stay tuned to find out if this budget-friendly option can truly compete.
Disclaimer:
Hand size: 21 x 12 cm
Grip: hybrid relaxed claw/finger
Testing duration: one month
Humidity: 45–55%
Mouse pads used: Cerapad Kin v2, Qpad GP-48 F Starry, Artisan Hien Soft, Xraypad AC+
What’s in the box?
- Incott Ghero mouse
- 8Khz receiver (sold separately)
- 1Khz receiver
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- manual
- grip tapes
Shape and dimmensions
The Incott Ghero Pro bears a strong resemblance to the Vaxee NP-01, yet there are notable differences. It is a bit longer and has been subtly redesigned in some areas. The most prominent change is the shape of its hump, which is rounder and less angular compared to the NP-01. This adjustment creates a more comfortable resting spot for the palm, even though it doesn’t offer the same “safe” feeling. Personally, I like it when the hump is pushed further back to stop it from digging uncomfortably into my palm.
And how does it compare to our previously reviewed Zaopin Z2? It’s pretty much the same feelings but even more pronounced. Just take a look at how they measure vs each other:
As you saw in my Zaopin Z2 review, I really liked that mouse, way more than I ever liked GPX. However, Incott’s shape and overall feeling goes even further — it’s smaller than Z2, has better clicks (more on that later) and is 8k compatrible.
Coating, Skates, Weight and Build Quality
The coating on the Incott GHERO is available in two versions: matte for the regular model and a UV surface for the pro version. The regular version’s coating is pretty grippy, dry, and has a somewhat grainy texture, which works well for my dry hands. The UV coating is really my cup of tea though, actually, it’s now my beloved coating that feels perfect to my hands. It’s better and grippier than the regular coating, I’d compare it to Zaopin Z2’s coating which was fantastic because once your hand warms up a little bit, it fits like a glove.
The stock skates are thick, controlled and pretty impressive; they pick up texture well and feel almost as smooth as aftermarket options, with comparable friction to Corepads. I really love them and they feel absolutely great on glass/ceramic fast pads (giving you some control you need) and totally controlled on cloth/hybrid pads. Mind you, if you look for fast skates, these might not be for you though.
The weight is satisfactory around 65 grams for the Pro version, although I would personally prefer it to be in the lower 50 grams range. The weight balance is spot on too.
Regarding build quality, everything appears to be exceptional. No side play, no wobble, nothing. The mouse is built like a tank, something only Vaxee and Zowie were capable of achieving so far. I feel that I’m repeating myself over and over, but the quality of these Chinese mice has improved drastically over the past 2 years.
Buttons and clicks
The mouse sports a 3395 sensor with Huano Blue Shell Pink Dot switches and a TTC encoder. No pre- or post travel on any of the main clicks! Side buttons are also very tactile and responsive. The mouse is not as hot-swappable as Zaopin Z2 but a potential replacement process is pretty easy and straightforward. However, you will need to peel off those thick skates as they are not punch-hole. Overall, the clicks are absolute class.
Software and battery life
The Ghero mouse comes with a default debounce time of 8ms, which can be reduced to as low as 1ms. The scroll wheel’s LED lights up red when the battery drops to around 20%. However, the software only displays a battery bar rather than an exact percentage. During charging, the LED glows red and reverts to its normal setting once fully charged. There is a known issue where the LED may turn off while charging even if the battery isn’t fully charged. The mouse tends to become unreliable below 20% battery, so it’s best to charge it once the LED starts blinking. Fortunately, it charges quickly, taking only about 20–30 minutes to go from 20% to full. I’ve been using it almost exclusively on 8k polling rate for around 7–8 hours a day and it usually would last 4–5 days which is acceptable, however, not on par with the Mchose’s outstanding power management.
Regarding the 8k dongle, it has an LED that shows the DPI and battery level. You can customize the information displayed on the dongle via the software, even setting it to only show a battery warning when it drops to 20%. The other options are normal: ripple control, angle snapping, motion sync, remapping buttons, setting DPI etc. It gets the job done.
My tip: use the Corded mode (the most performing one) and set the dongle LED to “connection status and polling rate”. The mouse has a nice feature: you can use the DPI button to change polling rates once you switch it to “Hz” position underneath your mouse.
Dongle and pairing process
Pairing the dongle can be complex, but MechKeys offers detailed, translated instructions on their product page, which are worth reviewing carefully. Actually, it is a MUST. My tip: when you take the mouse out of the box, try pairing it BEFORE you flash any firmware! Something went wrong with my copy when I tried flashing the firmware out of the box (checksum error all the time) and I had to fix it on my friend’s computer before it started actually working.
In-game feeling
To be honest, I’ve been maining this mouse since the moment I put my hand on it. I’ve never been a fan of asymmetrical once till I found Zaopin Z2 and I had stable Vaxee only for a short period of time. But this one is superior to both Vaxee NP-01 and Zaopin Z2. It has something those ones don’t: it’s both a better performance for me in games (Z2) and a better price-to-value ratio (Vaxee). With extra stability that the Incott hump gives me, I am able to pinpoint the enemy better with LG than I used to, and the asymmetrical shape also gives me better movement and flicks in these fierce QuakeWorld battles. And on fast pads like Qpad or Cerapad and with its thick and reliable skates it performs exceptionally good. I wonder how much longer I’m going to main this. Pperhaps only a true fingertip mouse can change my mind, but that’s for another time.
I main this mouse now, but should you too?
If you are a fan of Vaxee NP-01 but its price has been a bit too steep for you, now’s your chance to finally grab something that in my humble opinion beats Vaxee in many aspects (not all though). The exceptional build quality, good battery life on 8k, great sensor and very reliable sensor implementation makes this another Chinese banger. If your hand is small, you can evan palm-grip it, if your hand is up to 20 cm, you can nicely claw-grip it, some gamers with hands above 20 cm even can finger-tip it, even though there are better mice for that specific grip. The only blot on the landscape is the firmware flashing process and the dongle pairing procedure which can be somehow misleading and can trick even advanced users. So beware of that.
Bullet points
- another Chinese banger of a mouse, especially with that price tag
- very controlled skates, thick and reliable
- the mouse performs exceptionally on hard glass/ceramic pads
- the build quality is premium
- the UV coating on the Pro version is really grippy when your hand gets a bit warm
- clicks are flawless
- software has some bugs though
- the battery life on 8k is good
- the pairing process can be tricky and misleading, beware of that and try pairing the dongles before you flash any other firmware first!
- the mouse has the “Hz” button underneath the mouse that can be used to toggle polling rate on the fly
👊And if you are ready to try this GPX mini out, use the code QUAKEWORLD at checkout to claim your small % discount!👊
If you don’t like it, it’s fine, you can always use fresh links as the direct link to the MechKeys website is here.
Mechkeys website and the software to download
Guys, there’s Summer Carnival going soon— June 1-June 7 PST: 13% off for the Incott mice at Mechkeys. Those two promos should work together!
Disclaimer
And remember, this is just one gamer’s point of view — no sponsorships, no ads, just straight talk from someone who’s been in the QuakeWorld trenches. This was my own opinion and the manufacturer didn’t influcence me in any way. Your mileage may vary, so take my words as a starting point, not gospel. Happy gaming!
