Today, I have on review the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless – a wireless gaming mouse with perforations, or as they are often called, “honeycombs.” By the way, this is a more accurate term, so we will use it going forward. Just a couple of years ago, honeycomb mice were very popular, and many manufacturers tried to release their version of an ultra-light mouse with a perforated shell. Currently, the trend for such a design, one could say, has somewhat subsided. However, you can still come across new models of this kind.
What’s the point of mice with a perforated shell in general? Primarily, it’s about maximizing the reduction in the device’s weight. It’s simple: the shape of the shell remains standard, but less plastic is used, contributing to an overall decrease in the device’s weight. During the review, I will also delve into other advantages of such a shell that I’ve noticed over the years of using mice with a similar design.
To be honest, I’m a big fan of perforated mice, so when I was offered to test the Stellar Pro Wireless, I simply couldn’t refuse. Knowing what to expect from Hator’s products, I had high hopes for this mouse even before the testing began. Jumping ahead, I must say that, to a large extent, they were justified, although there were not without openly weak moments. Without further ado, let’s move on to the review, as there’s much to talk about regarding this mouse.
Technical characteristics
- Connection: wired (USB); wireless (Bluetooth, RF 2.4 GHz)
- Sensor: optical PiXart 3395
- Sensor resolution: 200-26000 DPI
- Maximum speed: 650 IPS
- Maximum acceleration: 50 G
- Polling frequency: 125, 250, 500, 1000 Hz
- Buttons: 6 buttons (paintbrush, PCM, wheel button, 2 side buttons, DPI switching) + scroll wheel
- Paint/LCM switches: TTC Gold; 80 million keystrokes; pressing force 60±15% gs
- Side button switches: Huano
- Wheel encoder: TTC Gold
- Built-in memory: 4 programmable profiles
- Software: HATOR Stellar PRO Wireless proprietary software
- Supported OS: Windows 10/11, Linux, Android, MacOS, iOS
- Backlight: mouse wheel; RGB (16.8 million colors)
- Battery: 300 mAh
- Autonomy in wireless mode: up to 18 hours (backlight on); up to 42 hours (backlight off)
- Glides: PTFE (2 glides + 1 frame around the sensor)
- USB cable: detachable USB-A to USB-C; paracord; length 2.1 m
- Dimensions: 116×60×36 mm
- Weight: 52 g
- Package contents: mouse, USB 2.4 GHz RF module, USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-A to USB-C adapter, replaceable Teflon glides, user manual
Positioning and price
One could say that the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless is an enhanced wireless version of the Hator Stellar Pro. In the wireless version, the sensor has improved, and the weight has slightly increased due to the battery. Otherwise, the mice are identical. Both models were released in the fall of last year, positioned as quality and affordable gaming devices, much like all of Hator’s products. On the manufacturer’s official website, the Stellar Pro Wireless is priced at $71.99. At the time of writing the review, there was a discount available, and the price was $61.99.
Given the technical specifications and price (even without a discount), it’s safe to say that Stellar Pro Wireless stands out very favorably on the market against many competitors. And not only in the segment of wireless mice, but also among wired mice.
Package contents
The mouse is delivered in a branded cardboard box with a typical Hator product design: yellow and black colors, model name, device image, main features, and brief technical specifications in 3 languages (EN, UA, PL). The box is very compact: it is probably the smallest mouse box I have ever tested.
The Hator Stellar Pro Wireless is included in the package:
- mouse
- USB module RF 2.4 GHz
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- USB-A to USB-C adapter
- spare Teflon glides
- user manual
What can I say, we have a good basic package. Everything you need is included. Separately, we can praise the good quality cable, although the mouse is wireless. The cable is paracord, very soft and light. In principle, it will be comfortable to play with even in wired mode. The length is 2.1 meters. There is a ferrite filter on the end with a USB-A connector. There is also a pocket on the cable, which contains a 2.4 GHz RF USB module. It can be removed if desired. There is also a rubber retaining strap, which can be used to secure the extra length.
Design, ergonomics, build quality
The design of the Stellar Pro Wireless is typical of ultralight mice with honeycombs. The only color available is black. As soon as you take the mouse out of the box, you immediately notice its size and weight. The mouse weighs only 52 g. I should note that this is an excellent indicator for a wireless gaming mouse. With this weight, the model can easily compete even with many wired ultralights.
The mouse dimensions are very compact – 116×60×36 mm. It is definitely the smallest gaming mouse I have ever tested. For clarity, I’ll show you a comparison of dimensions with another ultra-compact mouse – the Glorious Model O Minus (120×58×36 mm).
In my opinion, the ultra-compact size is precisely the aspect that could significantly narrow down the potential audience for this model. It will definitely appeal to fans of small mice like the Stellar Pro. However, those who prefer medium and large sizes might find this mouse unusual.
The mouse’s shell is perforated with honeycomb-shaped openings. The top cover and the bottom are perforated almost over the entire surface, while the left and right-click buttons are only partially perforated. There are also small perforated areas on the sides.
This design choice is primarily made for maximum weight reduction. Many gamers, especially esports players, prefer lightweight mice. As I mentioned earlier, being a fan of honeycomb mice, I can add a few more positive aspects that I’ve noticed over the years of use. Of course, it’s all highly individual.
The first point is that the palm sweats less during prolonged and active gaming sessions. I noticed this almost immediately after switching to a perforated mouse. With a palm grip, the hand rests entirely on the back of the mouse. In a perforated mouse, the back is not solid, resulting in less contact with the plastic and, consequently, less sweating.
The second point is a better grip with the fingers, overall handling, and more pleasant tactile sensations. This applies more to mice with perforated sides. From my experience, I can say that the grip on a perforated or textured surface is better than on a smooth one. Overall, a perforated and textured shell feels more pleasant to hold in the hand.
The third point is the original external appearance. Personally, I really like the look of perforated mice, even purely from an aesthetic perspective. They have their own unique style. Not to mention the surprised acquaintances who, upon seeing such a mouse for the first time, ask, “Why do you have a mouse with holes?”
Of course, a perforated shell has its downside, namely, susceptibility to dirt. Naturally, over time, dust, dirt, skin particles, and the like will accumulate in the honeycombs. For example, here’s how the shell of a perforated mouse may look after very prolonged and active use.
With the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless, it’s highly unlikely to encounter such issues, as the design of the shell is slightly different here. There are no additional edges where dirt could accumulate. Plus, the black color inherently conceals any potential dirt. Nevertheless, some accumulation inside the mouse is inevitable. As an option, occasional cleaning using compressed air or fully disassembling the mouse for a thorough cleanup may be necessary.
The left and right mouse buttons are separate, detached from the upper part of the shell. This design is typical for gaming mice, where frequent and intense clicks are required. The buttons have a slight side travel, which can be considered normal for such mice. They are pressed with a moderate force and have a distinctive pre-travel. The click is moderately tight, clear, and not mushy. Each press is well-defined. The click sound is muted, with an average level of loudness.
The mouse wheel is standard. The wheel click is moderately tight, with a distinctive pre-travel. There is no side travel in the wheel; it sits securely without wobbling. The click sound is quiet, much quieter than the left and right mouse buttons. The scroll is excellent, moderately tight, and the notches are well-defined during scrolling. The scrolling sound is quiet, which, personally, is a significant plus for me. The size of the wheel is small, and its surface is covered with a textured rubberized overlay. There is illumination on the sides.
The illumination of the wheel is decent, with an average level of brightness. By the way, the brightness of the wheel’s illumination is not adjustable. You can only set the color and effects. Unlike some gaming mice, the illumination in the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless is designed more for indication purposes (mode switching, DPI) than purely for aesthetics. I must admit that the minimalistic illumination suits this model well.
The side surfaces of the mouse are solid, featuring distinctive anatomical recesses for the fingers. There are small areas with a perforated shell: during a palm grip, they precisely align with the contact points of the index and ring fingers. On the left side, there are 2 additional buttons that can be assigned as desired. The buttons themselves are small but well-placed, making it very convenient to press them with the thumb. The click of the side buttons is soft, clear, with a distinctive pre-travel. The click sound is quiet.
At the bottom of the mouse, we can see 2 large Teflon feet. There is a frame around the sensor made of the same material. Spare feet are included in the package in case replacement becomes necessary. Almost the entire bottom surface of the shell is perforated. Although upon closer inspection, it’s evident that some holes are made, so to say, not entirely through. Another interesting design feature is the large hole right under the scroll wheel. I see this kind of solution for the first time. It is likely done, once again, in favor of reducing the amount of plastic in the shell and, consequently, the weight of the mouse.
On the sides of the sensor, we see the wireless mode switch and the DPI change button. For the wireless mode switch, the following positions are available:
- Top position – RF 2.4 GHz
- Middle position – Wireless mode off
- Bottom position – Bluetooth
At the front of the mouse, there’s nothing particularly interesting except for the USB-C port. The mouse can also be used in regular wired mode. The only thing worth mentioning is the large connector on the USB-C cable. It could have been made slightly smaller, as the aesthetic appearance is somewhat compromised when using it in wired mode. However, this has no impact on functionality or ergonomics.
The mouse has a symmetrical shape suitable for both right and left-handed users. The height is 36 mm, and there is no pronounced hump. The highest point is approximately at the center. The mouse sits comfortably in the hand, although as a user of medium-sized mice, it took me some time to get used to it. It can be held with any grip: palm, claw, or fingertip. Considering its compact size, I found the fingertip grip to be optimal for this model.
As for the build quality and materials, the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless excels in this regard. The primary material is a matte, pleasant-to-touch plastic. Despite being an ultra-light mouse with a perforated shell, the build quality and fitting of all components are excellent. In some similar mice, you may encounter creaks in the shell or play in individual elements. This is normal since the construction is maximally lightweight. However, the Stellar Pro Wireless does not have these issues, even when deliberately applying force to the mouse.
Read also:
- Hator Rockfall 2 Mecha TKL Review: Сool Mechanical Keyboard for $55
- Hator Hyperpunk 2 USB 7.1 review: gaming headset + sound card for $60
Sensor and switches
The mouse features a top-tier optical sensor, the PiXart 3395, supporting a resolution ranging from 200 to 26,000 dots per inch (DPI). The maximum speed is 650 inches per second (IPS), and the sensor can achieve a maximum acceleration of 50 G. The left and right mouse buttons use TTC Gold switches with a lifespan of 80 million clicks. The side buttons are equipped with Huano switches. The scroll wheel encoder is managed by TTC Gold. Overall, it boasts excellent internals for a gaming mouse.
In both gaming and regular work tasks, the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless performs excellently. It delivers precise movements, distinct clicks, and no sensor issues. The mouse feels confident on various surfaces, be it smooth speed surfaces or textured control surfaces.
Branded application
The mouse settings are configured through the proprietary application, Hator Stellar Pro Wireless. The application closely mirrors the software for the wired Stellar Pro model. It can be downloaded from the official manufacturer’s website. However, it’s worth clarifying that what gets downloaded is not the application itself (an exe-file) but a driver that automatically installs the application.
The software is extremely straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate. Essentially, it consists of four main menus: Stellar Pro, Macro, Settings, and RGB. Let’s delve into each in more detail.
In the “Stellar Pro” menu, you can customize and reassign buttons. Each button can be assigned a key combination, a pre-recorded macro, or a quick action.
Macro menu – here you can record and edit macros.
The “Settings” menu allows you to configure DPI levels, cursor precision, scroll wheel speed, shooting speed, polling rate, and lift-off distance.
In the “RGB” menu, you have straightforward settings for the illumination of the scroll wheel. Here, you can choose from predefined lighting effects, set your own colors, or completely disable it. There are no brightness settings available for the illumination.
On the bottom panel of the application, you’ll find profile switching, import/export/reset settings options, language selection (UA, EN), and an apply settings button.
The mouse features built-in memory with support for 4 programmable profiles that can be switched between. Profile switching is done exclusively within the application. In other words, directly switching profiles using the mouse, for example, through a key combination, is not possible. This is somewhat unusual, as this feature is present on many mice from competitors.
Overall, the software aspect of the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless is rather weak. Both in the application and the mouse itself, there are moments that make using it not as convenient as it could be. Here are some points I’ve identified:
Firstly, in the application, there is no information about the battery, despite it being a wireless mouse. There is no way to check the remaining battery percentage. How can one understand when the mouse is running out of charge? The brief instruction manual also provides no information on this. On the bottom of the mouse, just below the DPI switch button, there is a barely noticeable indicator that flashes red when connected via a wire. In wireless mode, after approximately 3 days of testing, it started flashing red for me. It can be concluded that this is the only battery indicator, notifying about a depleted battery.
Secondly, the mouse lacks the ability to switch profiles using a key combination. However, I have already mentioned this earlier.
Thirdly, the color indication when switching DPI. When switching DPI using the button on the bottom of the mouse, the scroll wheel will light up with the corresponding color. The challenge here is understanding which color corresponds to which DPI setting, and unfortunately, it seems impossible to discern. In the application, as seen in the screenshot, we can only adjust the DPI itself. There is no option to set the color indication or see the correlation between colors and DPI values. The instructions only mention that the scroll wheel will light up with the corresponding color during DPI switching, but the specific DPI value for each color remains unclear.
Fourthly, the synchronization of DPI switching with the application. When switching DPI using the button on the mouse, there is no corresponding change in the application. For example, setting the maximum DPI directly on the mouse results in a cursor that, by feel, seems to be at 26,000 DPI. However, when checking the application, the DPI value remains at 2,000 DPI. In other words, there is no synchronization of settings.
Therefore, the software for the PC definitely needs improvement. Hopefully, there will be an update soon to address these issues.
Read also:
- Review of the Hator Hypergang 7.1, Rockfall TKL and Pulsar Wireless: How to organise a comfortable gamer’s seat
- Hator Hypergang Wireless Tri-mode gaming headset review
Battery life
Hator Stellar Pro Wireless has a 300 mAh battery. The manufacturer’s declared battery life in wireless mode is as follows:
- up to 18 hours with the backlight on
- up to 42 hours with the backlight off
Yes, the mouse cannot boast great autonomy. However, this compromise was most likely made in favor of reducing weight. I don’t know about others, but personally, I find such a solution acceptable.
According to the manufacturer’s statement, a full charge of the mouse takes about 2 hours. In practice, I cannot verify this claim as the battery percentage is not displayed anywhere. So, let’s take their word for it.
Conclusion
Overall, the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless is an excellent mouse that stands out favorably compared to other competitors, not only in its price segment but also among more expensive models. Clear advantages include its solid internals, quality build, ergonomic design, shape, lightweight construction, stylish design, and, of course, the price. As for debatable points, I would only highlight its ultra-compact size. Due to its small dimensions, this model may not suit everyone. The mouse is outstanding but not flawless. In my opinion, the Hator Stellar Pro Wireless falls short of being ideal mainly due to its weak software component, both in terms of the proprietary application and the mouse itself. Nevertheless, it is a quite commendable model that appealed to me as a fan of perforated mice.
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