Razer Goliathus Speed Gaming Mouse Pad (Fragged)
Total Rating:
(3.2 / 5.0)
Performance: 
Value: 
Durability: 
Recommendation: The Goliathus Controlled pad is recommended for gamers and designers who expect considerable resistance and enjoy the feeling of cloth. It is not, however, a good all-purpose pad.
Standard retail: $24.99 for Goliathus Alpha L (Oversized)
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Standard retail: $19.99 for Goliathus Standard M
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Standard retail: $14.99 for Goliathus Small
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Specifications:
- Material: Cloth
- Goliathus Oversized: 17.48 x 13.98 x .17 in. (444 x 355 x 4.3 mm)
Goliathus Standard: 13.98 x 10 x .16 in. (355 x 254 x 4 mm)
Goliathus Small: 10.63 x 8.47 x .16 in. (270 x 215 x 4 mm) - Works with: All mice, recommended for optical
- Glide: Very controlled
What we liked:
- Affordable
- Allows for quick movement
- Fair quality for a cloth pad
- Multiple sizes, including Oversized
- Oversized pad works great for low-sensitivity gamers
What we disliked:
- Tracking is jumpy with high mouse DPI settings (high sensitivity)
- Sub-standard durability
The Razer Goliathus is a re-branded version of the old Razer Mantis. According to someone we contacted at Razer, it’s the same surface. We suspect that the re-branding was due to Razer developing its own fabric and dumping the third-party supplier. At any rate, there are two versions of the pad: the Goliathus Speed (being reviewed) and Goliathus Control. Obviously the Goliathus Speed is… faster.
The Goliathus Speed edition is definitely much speedier than the Control version. We brought back our assault/sniper duo to test the Goliathus Speed. The Goliathus Speed was acceptable for our sniper, as is commonly reported. He just turned sensitivity down lower, and was able to move with more accuracy. Our pro-gaming sniper prefers the control pad, but he said the speed version is large enough that he can just lower sensitivity further. Our run-and-gun-style gamer liked the speed pad much more than the control pad. That said, it’s not really designed for his high-sensitivity play style.
If you have a laser mouse, if you like to jerk your mouse around, or if it you are a high-sensitivity gamer, the Goliathus is not for you. The Speed edition of the Goliathus is especially bad at handling high DPI settings, probably just because we’re moving the mouse faster on the speed surface. To be fair, most cloth pads don’t work very well with high DPI mice, which include almost all laser mice. Even Razer’s own mice like the Lachesis will jump and twitch if set to max DPI settings. The higher you go, the worse the problem becomes. We had no problems with optical mice, though.
Goliathus pads are comparable to the SteelSeries Qck . Both lines have multiple sizes, and the Goliathus Oversized and large Qck pads are the two main cloth options for high-sensitivity gamers. Compared to the Qck+ and Heavy, the Razer Goliathus Oversized pads are about two inches smaller in height (think LxW, not depth) and about 50% as thick. The Razer pads opt to get out of your way rather than provide cushioning. Steelseries seems to have constructed the edges of the Qck pads better, and they are less likely to fray or peel. The Goliathus Control pad has more texture/friction than the Qck, but the Goliathus Speed, as you would expect, is more responsive than either.
If you are interested in a large pad with a lot more resistance, check out our review of the Goliathus Control. If you’re interested in the Steelseries line, read our review of the Qck pads here.
Durability on the Goliathus is pretty standard for a cloth pad, which means it’s relatively low for a gaming mouse pad. If you are one who rubs against the edge of your mouse pad with your wrist regularly, the Goliathus’ edges may begin to peel sooner than if your wrist is elevated off of the pad. One user who rests his wrist on the edge of the pad reporting serious peeling after only six months, but those who keep their wrists raised report that the pad can easily last for a year or two of hardcore gaming.
The Goliathus took a hit to overall performance due to the inability to support high-sensitivity mice, but low-sensitivity performance on the oversized Goliathus is great. Value took a slight hit due to the low durability of the edges. I can recommend the pad to low-sensitivity gamers who like a little bit more speed in their cloth, and suggest you get the largest pad that you can accommodate. If you’re still unsure of what pad to get, check out the mouse review main page.
Get the Razer Goliathus – Speed Edition – Oversized
Get the Razer Goliathus – Speed Edition – Standard Size
Get the Razer Goliathus – Speed Edition – Small Size
