Glass mousepads have gained significant popularity in the peripheral community due to their consistent glide, durability, and low maintenance requirements. However, premium options from brands like Skypad can be quite expensive, making them inaccessible for many gamers.
In this article, I'll explore several budget-friendly glass mousepads from Taobao and other sources that offer impressive performance without breaking the bank. We'll compare these affordable options to high-end mousepads and determine if the savings are worth any potential compromises.
The mousepads tested include the PAN glass pad, Joker Game pad, and more budget options from other brands. Each pad was tested with 2 of my favorite skates, being the Obsidian Airs and Ultraglide Glass mat blend.
After extensive testing, I've found that several budget options offer 90% of the performance of premium glass pads at just 30-40% of the price. While the premium options may have slight advantages in edge finishing and packaging, the actual glide experience and durability are remarkably similar.
Explore more throughout this article!
More About the Testing
To provide a comprehensive review, I believe it's important to understand my background as a player and my testing methodology.
My Ranks
- Aiming Style: Tracking main, medium-low sensitivity (36cm/360), with heavy emphasis on arm movement.
- The Finals: Diamond-Ruby
- Apex Legends: Masters
Testing Methodology
Each mousepad will be tested using a consistent methodology to ensure fair comparisons:
- Mice Used: Tested primarily with the Viper V3 Pro.
- Skates Tested: Obsidian Air skates and Ultraglide Glass-blend skates to understand how different materials interact with the surface.
- Testing Duration: These pads have been put through hundreds-over a thousand hours in both gameplay and normal everyday usage.
- Game Performance: How these pads perform in games such as Apex Legends and The Finals, being my two main games.
- Surface Analysis: Detailed explaination on how these pads performed and affected my aim (VERY PERSONAL)
Surface Comparison
PAN (Coated)
Smooth balanced-control surface, minimal abrasiveness
Joker Game (uncoated) 2024
Smooth speed surface, minimal abrasiveness
Joker Game (coated)
Smooth but inconsistent, slow surface, minimal abrasiveness
Skypad 3.0
Textured balanced surface, moderately abrasive
SP-004
Feels almost identical to the Joker Game uncoated
Performance and Experience
Tested Games
- The Finals
- Apex Legends
Skates Used
- Xraypad Obsidian Airs
- Ultraglide Glass Mat Blend
Joker Game (uncoated)
This pad specificially has some very unique properties. Firstly, this pad will be extremely reliant on the skates you'll be using. I will completely change the experience depending on the skate used.
My experience:
With Obsidian Airs: These provide a nice and quiet experience with this pad specifically. It has very low resistance when making microadjustments due to the nature of being a glass pad, although the main thing to note is stopping power. Despite having used glass for thousands of hours, the Obsidian Airs on the Joker Game uncoated had great stopping power. This pad basically exaggerates the properties of the skates, so in the case of the Obsidian Airs, it really exaggerated the control aspect of the skates, leading to a very balanced glide that's friendly for anyone new to glass.
Speed is further increased if you use speed focused skates such as XRaypad Jades and Ultraglides. As I said, this pad heavily exaggerates the skates' properties, therefore jades and ultraglides feel insanely fast with very little stopping power, despite the ultraglides being very worn in for about 3 weeks.
With Ultraglide Glass Mat Blend: These skates make this pad an absolute speed demon, with microadjustments, tracking, and recoil control feeling effortless. This combination excels at dynamic scenarios but personally lacks the control and stopping power the Obsidian Airs provided. I found myself having trouble target switching and acquiring targets due to the speed, but for people who are chasing speed on a budget, this is absolutely the combination for you.
Although not as smooth as options we'll be discussing later, due to the minimal texture this pad provides, it not only keeps skates fresh for a long time, it provides an extremely nice aiming experience for those who are into games similar to what I listed above.
Joker Game (coated)
Extremely disappointing surface, almost to the point of not being playable. The overall performance of this pad feels insanely inconsistent. You can notice a bunch of slow spots develop on this pad. Personally in the middle of the pad where I usually aim, this pad has an extremely sluggish experience with inconsistent dynamic friction.
I do not know if this was an issue with the coating process of the pad, but overall I don't find it playable for me. I am going to keep this part very brief as I am very disappointed in the quality of this unit specifically. You can feel how inconsistent it is when tracking, and static scenarios can be a hit or miss depending on the location of the slow spots.
PAN (coated)
This has been the newest pad in my collection, provides a very balanced glide and a relatively comfortable and consistent experience compared to the Joker Game uncoated.
The coating of this pad has so far have not been an issue. No problems with inconsistency in speed or performance.
With Obsidian Airs: The pad provides a very moderate amount of resistance when tracking or doing recoil control. Inputs will still feel smooth and consistent but it is actually slightly easier to get the mouse going on this pad compared to the Joker Game uncoated. The amount of stopping power is also overall less than Joker Game uncoated. Tracking with this mousepad felt amazing. I personally had a lot of confidence taking 1v1 aim duels without worrying about absurd amount of speed or control. Static and dynamic clicking also felt amazing, never once where this pad was too fast to the point where clicking and stopping would cause shaking or inconsistencies for me. Tracking and recoil control were all smooth motions and long range tracking was absolutely amazing as the very moderate resistance (for a glass pad) wouldn't make me overreact to strafes or direction changes.
With Ultraglide Glass Mat Blend: This was a rather shocking experience for me. The pad with worn ultraglides would definitely be a speed increase, it wasn't as fast as the Joker Game uncoated and I actually did not feel a noticable difference in stopping power between the Obsidian airs. This experience was a rather nice speedy experience, very low resistance and force to get the mouse going with the perfect amount of stopping power for me. To keep this section short, every single aiming scenario feel extremely comfortable, and never once where I felt that any part of this pad was really holding me back.
TLDR : This pad is a great balanced experience although can still be affected (in terms of amount of force to get the mouse moving) by faster/slower skates.
Glide Test Comparisons
Below are side-by-side glide test demonstrations for all pads tested. These tests were performed with the same mouse (Viper V3 Pro) and consistent force to highlight the differences in surface characteristics.
Joker Game (uncoated)
Smooth, fast glide with minimal initial friction. Notice the extended slide distance showing low stopping power.
Joker Game (coated)
Inconsistent glide with noticeable slow spots. Mouse doesn't maintain consistent momentum across the surface.
PAN (coated)
Balanced glide with moderate initial friction. Provides better stopping power than uncoated options while maintaining smooth movement.
Skypad 3.0
Textured glide with moderate friction. The micro-texture creates a balanced, controlled movement with good stopping power.
SP-004
Very similar to Joker Game uncoated. Fast, smooth glide with minimal friction and extended slide characteristics.
Note: All tests were conducted with the same mouse weight, skates (Obsidian Airs), and applied force to ensure fair comparison. Actual feel may vary based on your specific mouse, skates, and hand pressure.
Base & Print
Overview
Base and Prints will be put together as it is important to talk about the printing process of both and how base choice can affect the print.
All pads in this lineup are printed with an extremely thin layer at the bottom of the pad. This printing can be very visible if you decide to go with non full coverage base options.
Why does base affect printing?
The print is extremely fragile and can peel off easily. This can leave transparent spots in the front of the pad that is clearly visible. Therefore to prevent this from happening, I'd recommend picking the full coverage base option as it does a great job at protecting the print from any scratch or peeling.
IMPORTANT NOTE: IF YOU ALREADY APPLIED ANY RUBBER FEET TO IT, DO NOT PEEL IT OFF, THIS WILL PEEL OFF THE PRINTING AS WELL.
Base performance
Both use a rubber honeycomb-style base. On my desk specifically, this does not provide great base performance as it still slides around the desk. Although during normal use which includes gaming and work, I do not find the pad moving at all, but be aware it is an issue with both Joker Game and PAN.
Full Coverage Base
The full coverage base option provides better print protection while maintaining good desk adhesion.
Rubber Corner Feet
These are the cheapest option you can get. These provide better stick-to-desk performance but sacrifice:
- Print protection
- The mousepad bending with any bit of pressure or weight put on it. This can sometimes lead to mouse wobble when using dot skates
Packaging and Contents
Packaging and Contents
The packaging and included accessories vary between these budget glass mousepads.
PAN Glass Pad
- Packaging: Basic box with protective foam inserts
- Included accessories:
- Microfiber wiping cloth
- Wet wipe for initial cleaning
- Teflon skates (replacement mouse feet)
Joker Game
- Packaging: Basic box with hard styrofoam protection
- Included accessories:
- OEM Jade skates (mouse feet only)
- No cleaning supplies included
The Joker Game provides minimal accessories compared to the PAN, which may require purchasing separate cleaning supplies for maintenance.
Quality Control Considerations
Common Issues
While these budget glass pads offer excellent value, they do come with some quality control considerations that potential buyers should be aware of. The two most common issues are edge chipping and print peeling.
Edge Chipping
Some units may arrive with minor chipping on the edges. While these chips don't typically affect performance, they can look visually unappealing. Additionally, chipped edges may continue to deteriorate over time.
This was an issue with PAN Peripherals pad.
Print Peeling
As mentioned in the base section, the printed design layer is extremely thin and fragile. If exposed (especially with rubber corner feet options), the print can begin to peel, creating transparent spots that may be visually distracting.
While this is primarily a cosmetic issue, severe peeling can very much be a problem. Always opt for the full-coverage base option to minimize this risk, and handle the pad carefully during cleaning and repositioning.
Important: These quality issues should be considered in context of the price. While premium options like the Skypad/Wallhack generally have better quality control, they come at significantly higher prices. For many users, the minor quality compromises are an acceptable trade-off for the substantial cost savings.
Comparisons to Premium Options
VS. Skypad 3.0
The Skypad 3.0 has been the OG glass pad, but how do our budget options compare?
Surface Texture
The Skypad 3.0 has a distinctly textured surface compared to the Joker Game (uncoated) and PAN. This texture provides more consistent stopping power but also increases skate wear. Both budget options have smoother surfaces that are gentler on skates.
Glide Performance
Initial Friction: The Skypad has higher initial friction due to its texture, making microadjustments require slightly more force compared to the smoother PAN and Joker Game pads.
Dynamic Friction: Once in motion, the texture is even more apparent and feels relatively controlled compared to the smooth and fast experience of the Taobao pads.
Build Quality
The Skypad 3.0 has superior quality in both the edges and bottom/print protection. The budget options have acceptable but less refined edge treatment. The Skypad also arrives in premium packaging with better protective material.
Verdict
Both PAN and Joker game provide a much better experience for a significantly lower price. The 3.0's quality is better but some users could be willing to accept this tradeoff.
VS. SP-004
The SP-004 sits as the best comparision. Here's how our tested pads compare:
Surface Feel
The SP-004 is remarkably similar to the Joker Game (uncoated), offering a smooth, fast surface with minimal texture. Both pads feel nearly identical in general use, with the SP-004 having slightly better consistency across the surface.
Performance Characteristics
Speed: Both the SP-004 and Joker Game (uncoated) offer very similiar speed and overall surface properties. In direct comparison, they offer nearly identical performance with most skate types.
Stopping Power: Same.
Build Quality
The SP-004 has significantly better base adhesion and more consistent edge finishing. The base compared to the full coverage PAN is significantly better at sticking to the desk as well as protecting the print of the mousepad.
Verdict
The Joker Game (uncoated) performs at approximately 95% of the SP-004's level with significantly worse build quality but at a significantly lower price.. For players seeking some way to try the SP-004, I find the Joker Game uncoated to be the best option.
Price Comparison
One of the most compelling aspects of these budget glass pads is their exceptional value. Here's how they compare in terms of pricing:
Premium Options
- Skypad 3.0: $109 USD (can be found for way less with constant discounts)
- SP-004: $119 USD
Budget Options
- PAN (coated): $38 USD
- Joker Game (uncoated): $25 USD
- Joker Game (coated): $38 USD
Value Analysis
The budget options provide approximately 90-95% of the premium performance at roughly 30-40% of the cost. For most people, performance difference will not be a main priority, but price is very compelling.
When considering factors like shipping, potential import fees, and the risk of damage during transit, the lower investment in a budget option can also reduce overall purchasing anxiety.
Best Value Pick: The PAN (coated) offers the best balance of performance, consistency, and price in my testing, making it my top recommendation for those new to glass mousepads.
Final Thoughts
Overall these budget glass pads have been pleasant to use.
Recommendations
Best Overall: PAN (coated)
The PAN offers the most consistent, balanced experience. The coated applied to the glass makes the experience beginner friendly in terms of aiming and also skin friendly.
Best for Speed: Joker Game (uncoated)
If you prefer a faster, lower-friction surface, the Joker Game (uncoated) delivers exceptional speed with minimal initial friction.
Avoid: Joker Game (coated)
The inconsistent surface of the coated variant made for a frustrating experience. I cannot recommend this version based on my testing unit.
Should You Upgrade?
If you're currently using a cloth pad and curious about glass, these budget options present a low-risk entry point. The performance benefits of glass – consistency, durability, and cleaning ease – are the main selling point.
For those already using premium glass pads, I see little reason to "downgrade" unless you want customized prints.
Future Outlook
The gap between budget and premium glass mousepads has narrowed dramatically. As manufacturing processes improve and more options enter the market, I expect this trend to continue with other upcoming releases like the Tekkusai Singularity, potentially forcing premium brands to either reduce prices or innovate in meaningful ways.
Stay tuned for an upcoming guide on how to purchase these pads from Taobao, including agent recommendations and step-by-step instructions!