I have to admit when I think PC parts. I don’t necessarily think JLAB. My guess is you don’t think that way either. After spending several months testing their new Daybreak series, I can honestly think – they’re on my radar now. JLAB is going after both casual and hardcore gamers with their newest tech. In this review I reveal my experience using the Daybreak Mouse, Keyboard, and gaming Headset.
The Daybreak Mouse
When gaming with a mouse and keyboard in today’s high speed Esports world, precision is key. I can say the mouse feels fantastic and well-designed from an ergonomic perspective. It fits perfectly in the palm of my hand, and I am immediately impressed with the feel – pushing aside my go to Turtle Beach Burst II Pro won’t be easy though.
My hand rests gently across the two main mouse buttons we are all used to by now, but in addition to the scroll wheel and a small DPI changing button below it, there are two more buttons waiting for customized control. The placement of these two top buttons is nothing short of perfect. They lie immediately next to my pointer finger making it ridiculously easy to use, but not so close that accidental presses will be a problem in a frantic gun fight.
A small thumb rest adorns the bottom left of the mouse, and a gamepad – yes, a gamepad rests under my thumb. At first, I don’t know what to think of it, but later I start to think – this is ingenious. It’s so familiar, why hasn’t someone done this sooner? Maybe they have, and I’m ignorant, but kudos to JLAB for a really unique and brilliant design feature.
Now it’s time to put the Daybreak Wireless Gaming Mouse to the real test. In this test I boot up Apex and ease off a bit with some Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred.
In Apex Legends, the Daybreak felt responsive and accurate during fast firefights. I blame misses on the user not the mouse, because frankly, my aging fingers can’t rip through games like they used to. Tracking moving targets while sniping etc. felt smooth, and quick movements and weapon swaps seem to register without any noticeable delay. Players who are uber particular about the weight of the mouse may still prefer a more specialized esports mouse as I wouldn’t call this one lightweight.
The mouse is deliciously comfortable for long sessions too. Diablo 4 was an especially good fit. Movement and targeting and the repeated clicks feel consistent, and the additional buttons are super convenient for reducing keyboard shortcuts.
Daybreak Keyboard
No one is going to complain that this keyboard feels cheap. There is no denying it has a ton of potential and is built with quality and precision in mind. The Daybreak keyboard has so much potential and everything in me wants to want to love it. The problem is there are just a few design flaws that I cannot quite get over.
The biggest offender is the escape key placement. JLAB decided to put the M0 Macro button in the upper left corner, moving Escape one key to the right. I just don’t understand this decision. The upper-left corner has been the escape key on keyboards literally forever. Years of muscle memory mean that’s where your finger automatically goes to hit escape. It’s beyond annoying having to look every time it doesn’t do what you thought it was going to. Instead of hitting escape I find myself hitting M0. Irritating.
The other more minor annoyance is the magnetic palm rest. I actually really like the rest itself and find it quite comfortable. Only problem is that the magnets just aren’t quick strong enough. Rather than feeling securely attached to the keyboard, the rest will occasionally shift during play or movement. Stronger magnets would make a big difference.
A few positive notes – clicks are great – the thock of each press is satisfying. This sucker is magnetic and therefore, literally every key can be personalized for actuation which is pretty freaking sweet.
Gameplay – which is what really matters in the end is still top notch with this keyboard. I enjoy using the keyboard whether for fast paced shooters or “slowing” it down to kill a million and one demons in Diablo IV. Macro buttons are great to have for quick access, it’s just that the placement of one button is stupid. I love the ability to adjust audio on the fly, and programming LEDs to do what I want is always a bit of fun with the software.
All in all? Good gaming keyboard, questionable design. JLAB, please just put escape back where everyone ever expects it to be.
Daybreak Headset
Finally, the best of the trio in my personal opinion, but keep in mind I’m heavily biased towards headsets. I can’t imagine gaming without one nowadays. This ends up being the strongest of the three new peripherals.
JLAB does things a bit different with the Daybreak Headset, choosing dual-driver setup with 50mm dynamic driver paired with a separate 20mm driver. In theory, this lets the 50mm driver take on mids while the 20mm takes care of the highs. In Diablo IV, where there is combat combined with dialogue alongside environmental and ambient noise this driver combo works particularly well. I didn’t feel like some sounds got buried. It just seemed to all blend together so nicely.
Apex Legends is where I was able to see firsthand where the DTS Headphone spatial audio is more important. Trying to figure out where someone is becomes much more realistic with this headset and footsteps because I can figure out directionally where they are (gunfire too). I didn’t notice any delays in sound, and this is likely due to the USB-C 2.4 GHz dongle that accompanies the headset.
Battery life is huge on this set and promises 70+hours when using the aforementioned dongle. When just using Bluetooth I was able to get well over 90 hours without charging.
The mic is a detachable boom style which includes environmental noise cancellation. It’s also nice to have a quick mute feature for inevitable interruptions.
Finally, the Daybreak Headset is pretty comfy. JLAB is kind enough to provide two interchangeable ear cushions. Basically – a faux leather set and a fabric set. I still prefer the faux, but having the option of switching is nice but I doubt I’ll swap much.
The extraordinary battery life, full sound, and comfort of this set make it a great competitor in a crowded marketplace. This is hands down the best peripheral in the Daybreak lineup.