The Best Lightweight Wireless Gaming Mouse
With a high demand for lightweight gaming mice from today’s gamers, Razer’s move to create a wireless version of their popular and critically acclaim mouse – the Viper was a no brainer. The Razer Viper Ultimate is basically a wireless version of the same great mouse slapped with a new sensor and minor improvements.
Please note: Most of the designs and elements is the same from when we reviewed the wired version therefore this review will contain some aspects of that review. You can read the Razer Viper wired review here.
Specs
- Price: $219 AUD RRP
- Type: Ambidextrous
- Switches: Razer Optical Switches
- Sensor: Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor (20,000 DPI)
- Weight: 74 Grams
Design and Shape
The Razer Viper Ultimate comes in an ambidextrous black design fitting with their other line-up of gaming gear. The only RGB element is the Razer logo itself adjustable using their Synapse software. The coating is quite grippy but has a fine balance between matte and gloss but for those seeking extra grip, the sides are rubberised helping you control the Razer Viper Ultimate. In comparison to the wired original Razer Viper, the most notable difference is the improved spacing on the left and right-click from the shell.
The Razer Ultimate, however, is about 5 grams heavier (69 grams vs 74 grams on the Ultimate) due to having a battery but it’s ‘hardly’ noticeable. Overall, it’s still a pretty lightweight mouse especially for being wireless in comparison to some its competition.
Buttons + Scroll Wheel
One of the biggest push from Razer with the Viper is the fact that it uses optical switches. Optical switches have been a trend for gaming keyboards, especially for Razer adopting the switches into most of their line-up. The wired Razer Viper featured these latest optical switches from Razer and it’s no different with the Razer Viper Ultimate. If you didn’t know the difference between the mechanical and optical switches – optical uses light to actuate rather than a physical contact which is the norm in the majority of mice at the moment. This is said to eliminate debouncing and unintended clicks. Testing the Razer Viper Ultimate switches, we found no difference in comparison to the original Razer Viper so if you’re upgrading, expect the same here.
The Razer Viper features a great scroll wheel which I believe sits above the Glorious Model O. The increments are well defined and the middle click feels perfect. There’s also no DPI switches on the top side as it’s been relocated to the bottom of the mouse, great for avoiding any accidental miss clicks.
Newer sensor and wireless implementation
While the shape and design remained predominantly the same, it’s the sensor and addition of wireless that makes the Razer Viper Ultimate stand out. The Razer Viper Ultimate features a newer sensor called the Razer FOCUS+ Optical Sensor. The sensor can do up to 20,000 DPI and some new tech like Smart Tracking and Asymmetric Cut-off. While in all honesty, no one in their right mind will use 20,000 DPI (800 DPI for me) the extra features are cool new improvements. Smart Tracking, while we can’t really test the difference, allows the sensor to automatically calibrate to the type of surface used.
People have always been sceptical of wireless technology especially when it came to gaming on a competitively level. Over the years, brands have improved in this department with many pros opting to use wireless now due to the fact there’s almost no noticeable lag between the mouse and PC. With the Razer Viper Ultimate, it felt basically pinpoint accurate and I couldn’t tell if there was any visible lag. Playing competitive titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Call of Duty Modern Warfare, I was able to hit my shots as I did on any normal wired mouse so I had no issues with the wireless. The dock was pretty nifty as well with inbuilt magnets that guide the mouse straight on the charging contacts. There was no hassle charging this mouse and the battery last pretty much up to 4-5 nights of gaming on a single charge.
Performance & Gaming
My opinion on the optical switches remains the same. You’ll either love it or hate it. The optical switches respond faster as there’s no physical click but it hard to judge this in real-world tests. Some of the members in the office like it but some don’t as they prefer having the pronounce click/actuation than having none at all. After a solid 2 weeks testing this product and using the original Razer Viper as my main for a while, the optical switches grew on me as I found myself getting used to it. Again, it’s down to preference and getting accustomed to the feel of the switches.
Gaming with the Razer Viper Ultimate felt the same as the original Razer Viper. The only noticeable thing I prefer was the mouse being fully wireless. While the Razer Speedflex is a bloody good cable on the Razer Viper, no cords are just a better experience overall.
As with all Razer products, the Razer Viper Ultimate uses Razer Synapse which is their software. While you can run without Synapse – to take advantage of this mouse, you’ll need to install it. The software has come a long way since it’s launch and I find it majorly improved after many complaints about it. You can also guest login now so you don’t need a Razer account to use and overall performance of the software has been improved and feels less clunky – definitely better than it’s early days which was notorious for crashing.
Overall
The Razer Viper Ultimate is essentially a ‘wireless’ upgrade of Razer’s best gaming mouse in recent years. It takes the same great shape and design while implementing improvements across the board. If you ever wanted a wireless version of the Razer Viper or have been waiting it out for a wireless version of 2019’s best mouse then is it.
The Razer Viper Ultimate is available from Mwave.com.au