Razer Viper Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse Review

“The Razer Viper Ultimate is undoubtedly the best gaming mouse I have used to date. Period.”

It has become only natural in the world of PC gaming to question the term “wireless gaming mouse”. In the past, it has been nigh on impossible to achieve the same responsiveness and accuracy with a wireless mouse as you can with a wired one, leading many gamers to shun the concept at its very mention. Enter the Razer Viper Ultimate.

The Viper Ultimate wireless gaming mouse from Razer utilises the hardware company’s HyperSpeed Wireless Technology. By optimising the way that your mouse communicates wirelessly with your computer and combining this with the latest and fastest radio frequency technology, Razer boasts that its HyperSpeed Wireless is 25% faster than the closest competition. At the same time, the mouse works to ensure that it is never sharing the same wireless frequency as another nearby device.

Unfortunately, I simply don’t have the technology at hand to fully test the truth in these claims, however, I can tell you that the responsiveness of the Viper Ultimate is incredibly impressive. If anything, I felt that the speed of response that I experienced with this mouse was actually faster than that of my previous, wired gaming mouse; totally breaking the aforementioned rule of thumb. Razer hasn’t bet this responsiveness entirely on wireless technology, though. There is plenty more impressive and exciting technology at play…

A combination of Razer’s Focus+ Optical Sensor and Optical Mouse Switches ensure that the delay between your actions on the mouse and the reaction on the screen is almost zero. The optical sensor used on the mouse is capable of 20,000 DPI resolution accuracy. This figure places the Viper Ultimate at the very top of the industry and genuinely translates into even the finest of movements being registered with accuracy. On both the soft and hard surfaces with which I used the mouse to test it, the Viper Ultimate performed consistently well.

The Focus+ Optical Sensor was well supported by the smoothness of movement provided by the outstanding quality PTFE feet on the base of the mouse, too, as well as its incredible 74g design. The lightweight nature of the Viper Ultimate is immediately noticeable as the mouse is removed from its packaging. At first, I found this disconcerting. Coming from a comfortably weighty mouse to such an extraordinarily lightweight one felt somewhat alien, but after only an hour or two of gaming, I felt perfectly at home with the change. I also found that some of the discomfort I sometimes feel after long periods of using my previous mouse was not present after using this one. As a result, my whole gaming experience was fast, fluid and comfortable.

Shifting the focus from movement to button pressing, the Viper Ultimate’s claims of a 0.2 millisecond response time in this department are a headline figure for the mouse. This achievement is down to the Razer Optical Mouse Switches installed in the device, which utilise an infrared laser in place of a traditional, physical switch. The beam is broken as the mouse is clicked, creating a near-instant response on-screen. In the past, response time was hindered by debounce delay and mechanics. Now, using light over matter, every shot you fire will land truer than before. Trust me, although that last line might sound like a marketing script, every word of it is true.

Astonishingly, the fast movement, swift clicking and classic Razer logo emblazoned in glorious Chroma on the top deck are by no means the limits of what this mouse has to offer. The benefits of the mouse’s impressive 70-hour battery life need no further explanation. Never once did the Viper Ultimate run out of steam during use, even with just a short overnight charge in its tank. The unobtrusive and user-friendly charging dock included in the box fits seamlessly into your setup too; taking over as little desk space as possible and fitting in snugly with the uniform Chroma style of your battle station. That’s right; even the charging station has Chroma built-in. And you thought the wildest peripheral out of Razer was a toaster! Firm grips on the bottom of the dock ensure that it stays in place without physically sticking to your desk; a truly smart and functional design.

Aesthetic and design-wise, the Viper Ultimate is, of course, a sharp-looking tool of destruction. The lightweight design is supported by padded grips on both sides of the mouse to support your grip and execution, whilst programmable buttons on both sides of the mouse allow for both left and right-handed players to appreciate it. This feature caused me problems once or twice during games, though. On one occasion, I accidentally squeezed the highly responsive button on the offside of the mouse and threw a grenade at a teammate. They didn’t appreciate it, but after a little more playtime I found a comfortable grip which averted the issue entirely.

Razer Chroma RGB is, of course, always a winner too. Synced up with my other devices, the mouse fits into the setup perfectly, quickly reminding me why the brand has become such a winner amongst gamers. 5 on-board memory profiles allow you to take your style and set up with you anywhere you go, too. Add to this the smartly designed wireless USB receiver for the mouse which is small enough to fit into the base itself, and you have a real winner on your hands for gaming on the go. Even the mouse clicks are subtle enough to never detract from your experience. The use of mechanics made it marginally louder than my previous mouse, but it is still not nearly as obtrusive as other high-end options. The scroll wheel, too, is firm yet smooth; just as gamers would want it.

Aside from the mis-clicking mishap I mentioned a couple of paragraphs ago, there is only one clear misstep that the Razer Viper Ultimate suffers from; the DPI switch. My previous mouse saw its DPI switch placed close enough to be usable on the fly, whilst being out of the way enough to avoid any unintended speed-ups. The Viper Ultimate nails the out of the way element, but placing the DPI switch on the base of the mouse has made any swift changes that might be needed impossible without stepping out of the action of your game. Some gamers might prefer the button being out of the immediate way, but for those like myself who have become accustomed to switching things up in an instant, this might be the one element of the Viper Ultimate that detracts from an immediate purchase.

Listen to the mouse Clicks.

The Razer Viper Ultimate is undoubtedly the best gaming mouse I have used to date. Period. Never mind the wired vs wireless battles of the past, DPI switch placement aside this mouse feels near perfect to use. It handles well, with instantaneous responsiveness combined with superb comfort and fluidity in one neat package. Although it comes with a hefty price tag, placing it out of reach for some, the Viper Ultimate could well be the last gaming mouse that some gamers ever need to purchase. Never have Razer used the term Ultimate quite so aptly in their marketing before.

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