If there is something that can truly unite a desktop configurationit’s a desk mat. Not only do they protect your desk surface, but they can also give a whole new look to your work from home or gaming setup.
In fact, before running out to buy a monitor light barto macropad or any other accessory for your own desk setup, you will first want to purchase a desk mat. If you use one of the best mechanical keyboards Like me, they also serve a more practical purpose as they can help reduce keyboard sounds.
Although I usually buy my own desk accessories, companies often send me products to test and this is exactly what happened with the new Magic Mat Pro ($50, Raycon) from Raycon. Instead of just refreshing your desk, this new desk mat can also wirelessly charge your phone and even the best wireless headphones if they have a wireless charging case.
After finally upgrading to a phone with wireless charging capabilities when I picked up the nothing phone 2, I really wanted to like the Raycon Magic Mat Pro. However, it wasn’t exactly what he expected. This is why.
Comfort meets luxury
The Magic Mat Pro arrived in a rectangular box and, once unpacked and unrolled, measures 32.15 inches wide and 15.25 inches from top to bottom. This gives you more than enough room for your keyboard and mouse along with any other accessories you want to have on hand. While most of the Magic Mat Pro is quite thin, the left side that houses the wireless charger is a bit thicker.
Unlike cheaper desk mats, this one is made of PU leather, which is not only more environmentally friendly but also waterproof. This way, the top of your desk will be protected from spills and the desk mat will be easy to clean as well. However, as Raycon points out, the wireless charging area is not completely waterproof, so you’ll need to be careful when cleaning the Magic Mat Pro.
Overall, the black PU leather of the Magic Mat Pro looks great and can quickly give your desk a more premium look. However, from the beginning, I thought the charging port at the top right of the desk mat stood out too much for my taste. Not only is it made of plastic (although it looks like metal), but the Raycon logo lights up blue when you’re charging your phone or a pair of headphones.
Design and features aside, what is it really like to use Magic Mat Pro? Unfortunately, it was not the experience I expected.
Form over function
In addition to frequently creating new desktop configurations, I also test and review the best standing desks. That’s why I have a desk on each side of my office. While I am using the Vari Curve Electri Standing Desk as my main desktop right now, I have the Flexispot E7 Pro Plus Standing Desk Install on the opposite side of the room. I decided to put the Magic Mat Pro on the latter because my main desk is all black and this desk mat would blend in there instead of standing out (in a good way).
With everything unpacked and my initial photos out of the way, I took the Magic Mat Pro into my office and set it up. Since it didn’t come with an AC adapter, I simply plugged it into one of the USB ports on the surge protector under my desk. However, since the Magic Mat Pro charges wirelessly at 15W, any AC adapter you have should work fine. However, it’s worth noting that you can only charge one device wirelessly at a time.
The wireless charger works well, and while I don’t have AirPods or similar style headphones to test it, it did a good job of charging my phone in the background while I worked. However, the blue light from the Raycon logo was a bit distracting while I was working at night. I wish only the line under the logo would light up.
The Magic Mat Pro achieved its goal of giving my secondary desk a more premium look. However, since it’s made entirely of PU leather, I found that it didn’t stay firmly on my desk the same way other desk mats I’ve used in the past do.
In fact, it slid across my desk when I took out the keyboard or moved things. Although I normally use a trackball mouse While working, I decided to try the Magic Mat Pro with the SteelSeries Aerox 9 also. He gaming mouse I was able to move smoothly on the desk mat, but I felt like the bottom of my palm and wrist were sticking to it as I moved the mouse around the screen, which isn’t ideal, especially for a $50 desk mat. I also noticed something similar on the bottom of my palms while typing.
Fabric and rubber always win
If you’re primarily a desktop user like me, I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t think Raycon’s Magic Mat Pro was designed with us in mind. Instead, I recommend choosing a rubber-based fabric desk mat. This way, it won’t move on your desktop and you can easily slide the mouse over it without friction on the bottom of your palm or wrist.
Another great advantage of these more traditional desk mats is that you have many color and design options to choose from. Whereas with PU leather, you’re pretty much stuck with solid colors and the Magic Mat Pro, for example, only comes in black.
When I bought my first desk mat, I bought a cheap one on Amazon and while it was good enough, I then moved to a company I found through Drop (formerly MassDrop). The company in question is called NovelKeys and while they sell mechanical keyboards, keyboard switches, and custom keycaps, they also sell desk mats. They can get expensive quickly, especially if you choose one of their limited run designs, but one thing I really like about them is that they sell desk mats with typos or minor errors at a huge discount. For example, I purchased the one pictured above for just $14, although I had to pay an additional $9 for shipping and handling.
I’ve been using NovelKeys desk mats in each of my desk setups since I bought my first one in 2018. Don’t get me wrong, there are other great desk mats out there, but some of the less well-made ones fall apart over time or can’t Withstand a trip through the washing machine, I’ve stuck with these for years.
A decent first foray
I actually hadn’t heard of Raycon before the company’s Magic Mat Pro ended up on my radar. It turns out that it is still a relatively new company that was co-founded by American rapper turned reality TV star Ray J along with his partner Ray Lee in 2017. Raycon is mainly known for its wireless headphones that quickly gained popularity. in Youtube.
While headphones and earphones are the company’s specialty, it has since expanded into energy technology such as chargers, power banks, and now, desk mats. For a first-generation product, the Magic Mat Pro is still impressive despite its flaws. However, while writing this article, I realized that I am certainly not the target audience.
You see, most of the problems I experienced were due to the fact that I was using a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard instead of one of the best laptops. When I broke my Reliable ThinkPadMy palms didn’t get trapped in the PU leather of the Magic Mat Pro and I found it much easier to use the laptop’s trackpad instead of a mouse.
Additionally, when I contacted Raycon, a company spokesperson explained that the Magic Mat Pro is not designed for use with laminate desktops. On the other hand, it is more suitable for wooden desks and, on them, it does not move as much. I put this claim to the test by testing the Magic Mat Pro on the Branch Duo Standing Desk my wife uses. The desk mat didn’t move at all and stayed in place while she tested it. However, laminate desks are more popular than solid wood desks and this is due to their much lower cost.
Overall, I really like what Raycon did with its first desk mat and hope the company decides to release a follow-up made of rubber-backed fabric to better serve desktop users and gamers who prioritize function over form. . . Still, if you’re looking for a stylish desk mat, primarily use a laptop, and have a solid wood desk, this one might be for you.
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