MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight review: an ultra-light and comfortable mouse

NercesHardware and Gaming SpecialistMarch 08, 2021 at 6:28 p.m.© MSI

Determined to compete with the tenors of the mouse for players in the very fashionable field of "featherweight" field mice, MSI has recently distributed the Clutch GM41 Lightweight. It bears its name wonderfully well and weighs only 65 grams on the scale: a performance that is all the more remarkable in that it does not adopt the honeycomb structure of many of its sisters.

€829.98Read ConclusionMSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight

Better known for its motherboards, graphics cards, monitors and laptops, MSI has developed a very wide range of peripherals for gamers. It intends to compete with established brands such as Cool Master, Corsair, Razer or SteelSeries and, to reach as many people as possible, it multiplies the references... no less than 15 gaming mice appear in its catalog, for example. Our model of the day therefore stands out from the rest of the line-up thanks to its featherweight as it takes on a variation of the almost symmetrical design of the Clutch GM40.

Sobriety and almost symmetrical design © Nerces

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight spec sheet

First regret that immediately follows from our previous remark, the Clutch GM41 Lightweight is – like the Clutch GM40 – not a “real” ambidextrous mouse. If the design is almost perfectly symmetrical, we will come back to it, it has to do with two buttons at the level of the thumb. Buttons found only on the left side of the mouse. A left-handed person will therefore initially be bothered by these buttons and will have to make do with fewer features.

The MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight is:

For the rest, there is nothing very exceptional to report by observing the technical data sheet of this Clutch GM41 Lightweight. Apart from the question of weight, MSI does not seem to have done in unbridled originality. At the same time, it is already impressive to have been able to compete with the lightest mice on the market without giving in to the fashion for the honeycomb structure that you get used to, but which is not completely satisfactory. comfort side.

The Clutch GM41 Lightweight is a slightly long mouse © Nerces

Almost symmetrical design and featherweight

At first glance on the Clutch GM41 Lightweight, it's hard to be impressed. At the same time, there is probably no room for innovation in the design of a gaming mouse today and MSI makes a completely honorable copy with a relatively sober product, rather harmonious and in the average dimensions. As soon as you put your hand on the mouse and, above all, that you lift the beast, things become more interesting. Even being accustomed to very light field mice, it has its little effect and we immediately feel that we are under 80 grams, in this case MSI announces 65 grams without the cable, a value that we have been able to verify.

This lightness is one thing, but as we have already quickly pointed out, it is accompanied here by a “full structure”. MSI did not use the "honeycomb" that we find on the vast majority of the lightest mice. Logically, the holes significantly reduce the weight of the beast, but the feeling is strange. Some players get used to it quickly, others refuse altogether. With the Clutch GM41 Lightweight, there is no question of having to get used to anything other than its featherweight. Note in this regard that the 65 grams of the mouse cannot be adjusted via a weight system.

© MSI

The symmetrical design of the Clutch GM41 Lightweight gives it a pleasant, harmonious side and you quickly notice the presence of two buttons at thumb level. As we said, they prevent us from considering this mouse as ambidextrous. We also regret the absence of a “sniper” button to reduce the sensitivity of the sensor on the fly. A fairly normal decision that fits perfectly into the logic of simplicity that guided MSI. In the same spirit, there is no question of a disengageable wheel and it is not clickable laterally either. It is a very simple wheel, but whose notches are well marked.

Exclusively wired, the Clutch GM41 Lightweight comes with a cable that unfortunately cannot be detached to easily replace it. It is of good length (2 meters) and nicely braided. However, we regret that MSI does not adopt the cord style of certain manufacturers such as Cooler Master or Razer for maximum flexibility. Finally, under the mouse, there are pads in classic polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE for intimates. Layout and size are completely in line with the standards of the genre and, beyond the absence of ceramic, we simply regret that MSI did not see fit to provide two additional pads.

© MSI

Precise, comfortable… almost too light

If we still have a preference for ceramic which ensures remarkable glide, we recognize that PTFE does the job rather well and this Clutch GM41 Lightweight does not suffer from comparison with its main competitors. Since we are talking about comfort, let's also highlight the presence of slightly grainy surfaces on the sides of the mouse to ensure grip. Simple but effective. Finally, the mouse's matte coating tends to retain fingerprints, but it doesn't retain too much sweat and you won't risk dropping the mouse after a few hours of gaming.

On a more “technical” level, MSI relies on proven hardware. Thus, it incorporates a well-known PixArt PMW-3389 sensor. This is an optical model capable of climbing up to 16,000 dots per inch. By default, five presets are made by MSI: 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400 dpi, nothing but very classic. The PixArt is a good model capable of adapting to the majority of surfaces and endowed with good sensitivity. The precision will never be lacking, even if the most demanding of players could perhaps criticize it for a very small thing in terms of reactivity, but it's really to quibble compared to what is best in the genre.

Two quality skates for the assurance of a good glide © Nerces

Same observation on the side of the buttons, MSI having this time set its sights on Omron contactors guaranteed for 60 million clicks each. Again, there is no reason to criticize the manufacturer as the buttons are activated when you press the end or in the middle. This contributes to the fairly free grip of the Clutch GM41 Lightweight, which can be gripped palm grip (held with the palm) or claw grip. Only the fingertip grip will be difficult unless you have big hands. All in all, the ergonomics are a model of its kind and it is the weight of the mouse that will require time to adapt for newcomers.

Note that the buttons are on the other hand relatively “sound”. We've had worse, but in the quiet of the night, they're loud. Quite the opposite of the wheel, moreover, which is particularly discreet. We have already mentioned sufficiently marked notches, we must emphasize that this is however never a problem for its rotation: in the heat of the moment, we change weapons or equipment in two stages, three movements. We regret the absence of side clicks, logical given the price of the Clutch GM41 Lightweight.

It would be possible to redesign the interface of Dragon Center a little © Nerces

Dragon Center: cumbersome, but complete interface

The relatively basic functionalities of the Clutch GM41 Lightweight make it entirely possible to do without dedicated software: all the buttons, all the commands are obviously recognized by Windows. MSI still offers to add the Dragon Center, its in-house software that can accompany most of the brand's hardware. From the outset, the software offers us to update the firmware of the mouse. This is done very quickly, without any problem with simply a re-detection of the mouse after the update.

For the rest, we are not fans of the interface of this Dragon Center which we consider to be large in view of the number of functions offered. Something misfortune is good, it allows excellent readability of all the options from the management of the commands to the settings of the “performances” of the beast, nothing is missing and everything is perfectly understandable. We hadn't talked about it until then, but the Clutch GM41 Lightweight only incorporates an LED, at the level of the MSI logo on the back of the mouse. In fact, the lighting options – although very complete – are limited to this single LED.

© MSI

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight: the opinion of Clubic

Simple and effective, that's in two words what we think of this Clutch GM41 Lightweight. MSI does a good job and does not ask a fortune for this mouse, which stands out for its light weight and a certain level of comfort. Of course, at less than 60 euros – and quite often even less than 50 euros – you should not expect to find a state-of-the-art sensor or amazing functionalities. Still, the PixArt PMW-3389 is a proven model that won't let you down and rather than integrating an "exotic" wheel, MSI opts for something reliable. A safe bet.

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight

8

A mouse well "in all respects" that combines low weight and low price. MSI has managed to stay below the 70 gram mark without using the honeycomb structure that bothers some players. Comfort is at the rendezvous and precision also thanks to the PixArt PMW-3389 sensor, a safe bet.

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