Review: Rapoo T6

Rapoo’s T6 wireless touch mouse follows a similar design, look and feel to Apple’s Magic Mouse, in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

The slim, gently arching paddle has no visible buttons, scroll wheel, or anything else: just a glossy, clear-on-white plastic surface. The front half is touch-sensitive, letting you left-click, right-click, and scroll both vertically and horizontally. There’s also a two-finger left/right swipe gesture for ‘back’ and ‘forward’ commands, which is easy to make intentionally and hard to make on purpose: no accidental web-page switching.

Gamers beware: although there’s a physical click button under the surface, whether you’re left or right-clicking is decided by the touch panel. This means you can’t hold right (aim) while left-clicking (fire).

At 1000DPI, sensitivity is fine for desktop use but again, not for gaming.

The grey plastic underside is not nearly as industrial-chic as the Apple equivalent’s aluminium, but forget that: Rapoo have a decided advantage, thanks to the use of traditional low-friction mouse ‘feet’. This lets the mouse slip cleanly and quietly across most surfaces, which the Apple Magic Mouse with its long plastic skids cannot.

Battery life is advertised as three months, with a single AA battery. This is between half and a quarter the common figure, but most competing devices take two batteries. You’ll change the single battery more often, but won’t be using more batteries overall.

It’s not a perfect mouse – it’s uncomfortable to use for long periods, and unsuitable for gamers. However, it’s the best all-touch mouse we’ve seen yet. Almost all the style of Apple’s Magic Mouse, but with more comfort and less drag.