MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless Mouse Review

Today we review the newly launched MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight wireless gaming mouse. We looked at its predecessor, the GM41, in May of 2021, and it has worked fantastically as a daily-use mouse ever since. The MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight features several updates and is redesigned for a whole new feel. MSI has also added dual connectivity and Diamond Lightgrip side RGB lighting. Follow along as we highlight what makes the Clutch GM51 one of our favorite lightweight gaming mice.

Specifications and Features

At the heart of the GM51 is a PixArt PAW-3395 Optical Sensor with a pooling rate of up to 1000 Hertz per millisecond. It features a maximum DPI of 26,000 with presets of 400, 800, 1600 (default), 3200, and 6400. The GM51 can utilize MSI’s SwiftSpeed wireless technology, Bluetooth, or a FrixionFree USB-C cable for connectivity. There are six buttons if you include the DPI selector, and the primary buttons are controlled VIA OMRON switches. At only 85 grams, the GM51 is incredibly light. Pair that with six PTFE skates, and you get a highly competitive gaming mouse. The ergonomics are slightly changed for the GM51, featuring a taller body than the previous GM41.

The most noticeable change is the right and left side RGB Diamond Lightgrips. With several preprogrammed functions, you can control the lighting directly from the mouse or by downloading MSI’s Center software. MSI Center provides an entirely customizable experience, including synchronizing your compatible components. MSI Center requires a Windows 10 or newer operating system.

Below is a list of specifications taken from MSI’s website.

Packaging and Contents

The Clutch GM51 ships in a dual-box package. The outer box displays a full-color, high-quality image of the mouse, charging base, and the model number on the front. The back of the outer box shows several key elements and the specifications we listed in the above chart. The inner box is all-black and lined with foam to keep the GM51, charging base, and USB cable safely nestled within. Included are two pamphlets, a multi-lingual user’s manual, and a European Union Regulatory Notice.

Package Front

Packaging Rear

Contents

Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless

Like the previous version, the GM51 is made of black plastic and features five programable buttons and a DPI selector button. There is a scrolling wheel that also functions as a middle mouse button. The wheel uses heavily textured rubber providing good grip and comfort.  An MSI dragon logo is centered on the mouse and glows with RGB lighting when powered on or charging. The dragon LED also doubles as a battery capacity indicator during charging and when the battery gets low.

Looking at the sides of the mouse, you can see the MSI Diamond Lightgrips. The sides are texturized rubber like the scroll wheel but also features a grid of RGB lighting glory. Looking at the GM51 straight on, you may notice a slight ergonomic cant favoring right-handed users. Also visible from this angle is the opening for the USB cable if you ever need to plug the mouse in directly.

The bottom of the mouse features six PTFE skates that work exceptionally well on mouse pads or directly on your desk surface. The PAW-3395 optical sensor is easy to find at the center. The two brass charging pads are located just below the sensor. A three-position switch allows users to select between the 2.4G wireless mode, Bluetooth mode, or switching the mouse off. Finally, a DPI button can toggle between the pre-programmed DPI settings. It can also be combined with other mouse buttons to control the RGB settings. This method is more customizable than MSI’s Center software but gives users several built-in options.

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Charging Base and Cable

The charging base and USB cable look identical to the GM41 we reviewed in 2021. The only noticeable difference is the upgrade of the cable to USB Type-C. While this upgrade doesn’t affect performance, it does provide some convenience. The charging base is a conical trapezoid shape with two spring-activated charging posts. A wireless dongle sits recessed at the top of the base but may also be installed directly into your computer’s USB port. This can be very useful if you are a laptop user or are in any other mobile environment that doesn’t require the base. The bottom of the base features a rubber ring to prevent it sliding around.

The USB cable is fitted with a Male Type-A at one end and a male Type-C connector at the other. It measures two meters long (about 6.5 feet) and has MSI’s tightly wound FrixionFree braid for its entire length. The braid is very smooth and does not snag on the edge of your mouse pad the way some competitors do. A rubber strap is also attached to help with cable management. All help is welcomed when it comes to cable management.

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Comparison

The ergonomics of the GM51 are mildly different than the GM41. It is slightly taller and broader. While the GM41 is well suited for users who prefer the claw grip or fingertip grip styles, the GM51 is a hybrid of the Palm and claw grip style. It is possible to grip with the fingertip grip style as the main buttons are higher, but it feels more like a claw or palm-style mouse. The only RGB for the GM41 is the MSI dragon logo whereas you see more lit up on the GM51.

MSI Center

MSI developed its own proprietary software for managing compatible devices known as MSI Center (formerly Dragon Center). In this review, we will not go into all the aspects of the software, but there is plenty to discuss. Once installed and your profile is set up, there are three primary tabs, Hardware Monitoring, Features, and Support. Today we will focus on the Features tab. Many downloadable features exist, but we’re after the Gaming Gear and Mystic Lighting sections.

Mystic Light

Mystic Light allows for complete customization of all your compatible RGB devices. It also allows for synchronizing the lighting of the different components. The Clutch GM51 is displayed in the LED cell with the mouse selected. In this tab, we can turn Mystic Light on or off, enable Game Sync, and control Ambient Link devices. You will notice there are three profile tabs for saving multiple settings. Eight LED styles are available, plus an option to disable the lighting together. Different styles open up various setting options like brightness, light speed, direction, and fade in/out. Choosing the Customize style also allows each lighting zone (left, right, and dragon logo) to display its own style and color. You are not limited to just one style or color. Colors can be selected using the color wheel or by typing in the RGB code. Finally, at the bottom of this page are eight slots for saving your favorite colors.

Gaming Gear

Selecting the mouse in the Gaming Gear tab allows customization of the GM51 buttons and sensor.  There are three tab options: Buttons, Sensor, and MSI Speed Shift. The Buttons tab assigns what each button does when pressed, known here as an Action. The current battery charge is displayed at the far left as a percentage of life left. The available Actions are Default, Mouse Buttons, Multimedia, DPI, Macro, and Disable. Default is self-explanatory, while Mouse Buttons allow users to re-assign the buttons. This could be useful for left-handed users that prefer the lefty flip. Multimedia can assign play/pause, stop, next track, etc. DPI controls cycling the DPI levels up and down. The Macro Action unlocks up to 30 programable macro slots. Finally, the Disable Action naturally disables the selected buttons.

The second tab in Gaming Gear is the Sensor tab. The first setting is the DPI level, where five options are available. There is also a gear next to this option that opens a slider for further customization. A range of 100 up to 26,000 is available using this method. The polling rate is next with four choices, 125, 250, 500, or 1000 Hertz, while the Lift Off Distance offers Low or High settings. Other settings in this tab include the ability to toggle Motion Sync, LED Auto-Sleep, and Low Battery LED Warning on or off. There is also a battery meter too.

The last tab is MSI Speed Shift. This tab was not functioning correctly while writing this review. Switching the Gear setting locked the mouse up and required a hard reboot of the system and mouse. We contacted MSI; they are aware of this bug and working on a fix. The firmware version as of this writing is 1.00.16 and is entirely in its infancy. With that said, we expect MSI will either correct this bug or remove Speed Shift altogether.

Gaming Gear Buttons

Gaming Gear Sensor

Gaming Gear Speed Shift

RGB Lighting

The addressable RGB lighting of the Clutch GM51 is aesthetically pleasing and functional. With over sixteen million color options and eight LED styles, the user has nearly unlimited opportunities to customize the lighting. RGB lighting is only for some, and MSI understands that. This is why the GM51 also can switch the lighting off altogether.

As impressive as the LEDs are, there is also function baked into them. When the battery is running low, the MSI dragon can be configured to change colors, indicating the battery’s life. While the mouse is charging on the base, the dragon will turn red. This provides the user with visual confirmation that it is appropriately nested. The dragon LED is also used to notify the user of the DPI setting when cycling through the preset DPI options. Each function is clearly defined in the user’s manual for quick reference.

Conclusion

We liked MSI’s Clutch GM41 Wireless when we reviewed it in 2021, and the new GM51 is even better. It is lightweight, the optical sensor highly responsive, and the OMRON button switches feel great under my fingers. A maximum DPI of 26,000 places it at the top of the list of quality gaming mice. Add in dual connectivity and a fantastic RGB display, and you have a highly functional and beautiful mouse. This author believes the slightly larger body should appeal to more users as it is more comfortable than the previous version.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Clutch GM51 Wireless is $99. This places it in the middle of the pack for high-end gaming mice with similar features. There are a few bugs in the MSI Center software that MSI is currently working on correcting, but none of the bugs affected the performance or enjoyability of the mouse. We have complete confidence in this product and can easily give it the Overclocker’s Stamp of Approval.

-John Nester (Blaylock)

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