The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is an exceptional ultra-lightweight, wireless gaming mouse. It has a honeycomb top shell made of a magnesium alloy, which not only makes it exceptionally lightweight but very sturdy-feeling. It has a fairly comfortable ambidextrous shape, but it's very small. It's well suited for all grip types for small and medium-sized hands. However, it should be comfortable for large hands using a fingertip grip as well. Performance-wise it has a high polling rate, a very low lift-off distance, and a very consistent sensor. Unfortunately, there isn't any companion software for customizing settings or programming buttons. Also, there are only four CPI presets to choose from, and while the click latency is good overall, it isn't as low as most other high-end wireless gaming mice.
Note: Finalmouse releases its mice in drops, meaning they're only available until stock runs out. At the time of publishing, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 drop is over, and all units were sold. Although Finalmouse has pledged to produce more, it's unclear when this will be, and right now, you can only purchase them from third-party resellers, which is how we had to buy our unit.
Our Verdict
Though not intended for this use, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is adequate for office and multimedia work. It feels well-built and has a comfortable ambidextrous shape well-suited for smaller hands using all grip types. It connects either wired or wirelessly with its receiver, though it doesn't support Bluetooth. Unfortunately, it doesn't have companion software for programming buttons. Also, the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.
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Feels very sturdy.
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All default controls work on macOS and Windows.
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Connects either wired or wirelessly with its receiver.
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Lacks Bluetooth support.
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No customization software for programming buttons.
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Scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is a great FPS gaming mouse. It's extremely lightweight, feels well-built, and has an ambidextrous shape suitable for smaller hands and all grip types. It connects wired or wirelessly with its receiver, and its mouse feet glide very smoothly on mousepads or desks. It also has a high polling rate and a very low lift-off distance. Unfortunately, there are only four preset CPI settings you can cycle between, and while the click latency is good, it isn't as low as most other premium wireless gaming mice.
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Feels very sturdy.
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Extremely lightweight.
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Good click latency.
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Mouse feet glide very smoothly on mousepads and desks.
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Only four CPI presets.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small passable for MMO gaming, though it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse, and you can't program any of its buttons as there isn't any companion software for customization. That said, it fees well-built and has an ambidextrous shape well-suited for smaller hands using any grip type. Unfortunately, it only has four preset CPI settings, and while its click latency is good, it's higher than most other premium wireless gaming mice.
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Feels very sturdy.
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Good click latency.
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Mouse feet glide very smoothly on mousepads and desks.
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Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
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No customization software for programming buttons or adjusting sensor settings.
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Only four CPI presets.
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Feels very sturdy.
- Work
- Video Games (FPS)
- Video Games (MMO)
- Raw Performance
- Updated Jan 05, 2024: We've updated the CPI graph displayed in the Sensor Latency section of this review. Our results remain the same, but these graphs have two new columns with results from the Delay At Half Movement and Delay To End Of Movement tests.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5. This update adds a new Main Button test group, which provides button actuation data and switch information. We've also made minor changes to how we calculate the Office usage score. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Mar 01, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.4. This update modifies our Hand Size Recommendation test, adding a more granular hand size recommendation chart. We've moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Sep 08, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 09, 2022: Following the update to Test Bench 1.2, some of our test results have changed within both the Weight and CPI sections. We've added or modified some of the text in this article to clarify these changes.
- Updated Aug 01, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.
- Updated Jun 09, 2022: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1, which revamped our click latency test methodology. We've updated the text to reflect our new results in various sections, including the Click Latency test box, Usages, Introduction, and other locations where we discuss click latency.
- Updated May 30, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 26, 2021: We've downgraded our Build Quality score from a 9 to an 8 after experiencing an issue with our unit's right-click button.
- Updated Jun 28, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jun 23, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 18, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 16, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 26, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small we tested is the Gold/Silver Archilles color variant. It's also available in a Red/Silver Ares variant, a Black/Gold Hades variant, and a Silver/Gold Zeus variant. There is also a larger version of this mouse, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Medium, which is available in the same colorways. Our unit number is 122/2500, and you can see the label here.
Compared To Other Mice
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is an outstanding ultra-light gaming mouse that carries on in the footsteps of Finalmouse's last release, the Finalmouse Ultralight 2 - Cape Town, by continuing to push the technological limits of lightweight gaming mice. The Starlight-12 has a magnesium alloy top shell that makes it lighter than its predecessor and substantially sturdier-feeling. Even more impressive, though, is the added rechargeable battery and wireless capability, making this mouse an excellent choice for anyone interested in a lightweight wireless option.
For other options, see our recommendations for the best wireless gaming mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best mouse.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small and the Finalmouse Starlight Pro - TenZ Medium are very similar mice in the same lineup. The Starlight-12 Small is an earlier version and a Small variant, while the Starlight Pro - TenZ is the larger Medium sized variant and has minor manufacturing improvements. These two mice have similar performance in most respects, but the newer Starlight Pro - TenZ has lower click latency.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Medium is the larger version of the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small. In addition to being slightly larger, the Medium is 5g heavier and has a marginally lower click latency. It's also more suitable for a wider range of hand sizes. On the other hand, the Starlight-12 Small is only suitable for smaller hands using a palm or claw grip and small to large-sized hands using a fingertip grip.
The Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small are comparable wireless, ultra-light gaming mice. The Finalmouse is significantly lighter and feels sturdier, but it only has four default CPI settings. On the other hand, the Logitech has mouse feet that glide more smoothly, a much wider CPI range, a CPI you can adjust by increments of 50, and a significantly lower click latency. It also has companion software and onboard storage for its wireless receiver, which the Finalmouse lacks. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types, but the Finalmouse is best-suited for smaller hands, while the Logitech is almost universally suitable for all hand sizes.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Phantom Small and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small are both ultra-light gaming mice. However, the Phantom is the newest release in this Starlight-12 lineup and features a new colorway and newer Kailh 8.0 switches on its L/R buttons. The Phantom also addresses some of the quality control issues that appear on the Starlight-12 Small, like the right-click button. In terms of performance, the Phantom and the Starlight-12 perform similarly well, but the Phantom has somewhat better click latency.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is a better ultra-light gaming mouse than the Finalmouse Ultralight 2 - Cape Town. The Starlight-12 Small is lighter and has a magnesium alloy body that feels sturdier. It connects either wired or wirelessly with its receiver. It also has a more consistent sensor, a higher polling rate, and a lower lift-off distance. Comparatively, the Cape Town has a lower click latency. Both mice are best-suited for smaller hands using any grip type.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is a better ultra-light gaming mouse than the Razer Viper Mini. The Finalmouse is significantly lighter and feels sturdier. It also has a more flexible cable, a more consistent sensor, and a lower lift-off distance. Unfortunately, it only has four preset CPI settings and lacks customization software. On the other hand, the Razer has a wider CPI range, a CPI you can adjust by increments of 100, a lower click latency, and customization software for Windows. Both mice are ideally suited for smaller hands using any grip type, but they're also suitable for larger hands using a fingertip grip.
The GLORIOUS Model O- and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small are comparable ultra-light gaming mice. The Finalmouse is significantly lighter and feels sturdier. It connects wired or wirelessly with its receiver. Unfortunately, it only has four preset CPI settings. On the other hand, the GLORIOUS is wired-only and has RGB lighting. It also has a somewhat lower click latency, a much higher maximum CPI, a CPI you can adjust in increments of 100, and companion software for customization. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types, but the GLORIOUS is more accommodating for larger hand sizes.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Poseidon Small are very similar ultra-lightweight gaming mice. However, the Poseidon performs better overall. Its click latency is lower, and it has a better build quality and a straight scroll wheel. Also, it has upgraded Kailh 8.0 switches rather than the Omron switches used in the original Starlight-12. Otherwise, the two mice are extremely similar except for their color schemes.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small and the GLORIOUS Model O Wireless are comparable ultra-lightweight gaming mice. The Finalmouse is significantly lighter and feels sturdier. Unfortunately, it only has four preset CPI settings. Comparatively, the GLORIOUS has lower click latency, a much wider CPI range, a CPI you can adjust precisely by increments of 50, RGB lighting, and companion software for customization. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types. However, the GLORIOUS is better-suited for larger hands, while the Finalmouse is best-suited for smaller hands.
The GLORIOUS Model D and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small are comparable ultra-light gaming mice. The Finalmouse is significantly lighter and feels sturdier. It also has a lower lift-off distance and can be used wired or wirelessly. Unfortunately, it only has four CPI presets. Comparatively, the GLORIOUS has a much higher CPI, a CPI you can adjust by increments of 100, a significantly lower click latency, RGB lighting, and companion software for customization. The Finalmouse is best-suited for smaller hands, while the GLORIOUS is ideal for larger hands and suitable for smaller hands using certain grip types.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is a superb ultra-light wireless gaming mouse, while the Marsback Zephyr RGB is a good wired gaming mouse. The Finalmouse is much lighter and feels sturdier. It also has mouse feet that glide more smoothly, and It connects either wired with its charging cable or with its USB receiver. On the other hand, the Marsback has a wider CPI range and an internal fan intended to keep your hand cool and dry while using it. It also has RGB lighting, which the Finalmouse lacks. The Finalmouse is primarily suitable for medium and small-sized hands, while the Marsback is more accomodating to more hand sizes.
The G-Wolves Skoll SK-S ACE Edition and the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small are very lightweight gaming mice, but the G-Wolves has a right-hand design while the Finalmouse has an ambidextrous one. The G-Wolves is a wired-only model better suited for large hands using a palm or claw grip. It has a broader CPI range with a precisely adjustable CPI, and it has customization software, which the Finalmouse lacks. On the other hand, you can use the Finalmouse wirelessly with its USB receiver. Its charging cable is more flexible, its mouse feet glide more smoothly, and it has slightly lower click latency.
Test Results
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has an ambidextrous, low-profile shape with two side buttons on the left and a honeycomb top shell made of a magnesium alloy. Our unit is the Achilles color variant. It has a gold and silver paint scheme with embossed filigree on the left and right-click buttons, the mouse wheel, and the CPI button. If you're interested in an all-blue colorway of this mouse, check out the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Poseidon Small.
Update 08/26/2021: After several weeks of everyday office use, the right-click button on our unit became stuck and stopped working. We contacted Finalmouse regarding the issue, and they responded with several suggestions. Firstly, they suggested we try clicking the button several dozen times. Doing this resolved part of the problem, but it now felt like our click button was rubbing against something rather than sticking. From there, Finalmouse suggested we open our mouse and attempt to clean the area under the right-click mechanism. After opening the mouse, we could see that there was a small black square normally glued to the underside of the right-click mechanism that had rubbed off, leaving a glue residue that caused our initial problem. We cleaned the excess glue off, and our right-click button works properly again. After experiencing this issue, we've decided to downgrade the build quality score from its initial score of 9 to 8.
The build quality of the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small feels impressive. The top shell of the mouse is made of a magnesium alloy and feels extremely solid. Finalmouse warns that the bottom section isn't nearly as strong as it's made of Ultem, a kind of plastic that allows the wireless signal to escape. This underside section flexes when pressure is applied, but this is very unlikely to present any problems during regular use.
Note: We've been monitoring the number and frequency of users reporting build quality issues with the Starlight 12-Small. One of the most common complaints is that the right-click button sticks and stops working. We've experienced this issue on our unit and detailed it above. Another extremely common complaint is that of the scroll wheel being slightly off-centered to the right. This issue is present on both the Starlight-12 Small and Starlight-12 Medium units we tested and is easiest to see when looking at the mouse head-on using our 3D tool. This issue hasn't affected the normal use of the wheel on either unit, but some users have reported that the scroll wheel will occasionally register a scroll-up input while you're trying to scroll down. We will continue to monitor the situation and update our review as necessary.
According to Finalmouse, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small weighs 42 grams. They also note that the magnesium chassis can vary in thickness due to manufacturing complexities, and they note the actual weight of each mouse may vary by up to 2 grams.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has a relatively comfortable ambidextrous shape, but it isn't particularly ergonomic. It's a very small mouse in all dimensions, making it well-suited for smaller hands, but those with larger hands will likely find the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Medium a better fit.
Finalmouse claims the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has a continuous battery life estimated at 160 hours, an average use case life estimated at three weeks, a below-average use case life estimated at seven weeks, and an idle use case estimate of 16 weeks. However, this isn't something we test.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has an excellent cable. It has good flexibility and moves across desks with minimal drag.
The mouse feet glide very smoothly on all surfaces, but they make a slight scratching sound directly on desks.
- Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small
- Quick guide card
- User documentation
- Micro-USB to USB-A cable
- Wireless Receiver
You can use the CPI button below the scroll to cycle between the four preset CPI settings. Unfortunately, you can't reprogram any of the buttons as there isn't any companion software for customization.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has good click latency with reliable consistency. However, it's higher than most other premium wireless gaming mice. That said, most gamers likely won't notice any perceptible delay, and it's well-suited for providing a responsive experience for both casual and competitive play.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has four preset CPI settings of 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. You can cycle between these presets using the CPI button behind the scroll wheel.
The mouse wheel on the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small feels precise and has smooth travel with well-defined steps. It's also fairly quiet.
Note: The scroll wheel on our unit is slightly off-center towards the right. This issue seems to be fairly common and many other users and online reviewers have also reported this issue. This issue doesn't affect the normal use of the mouse in any way.
The Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small has no companion software for customization.