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The Razer DeathAdder V2 ($70) is a true epitome of gaming mice. It’s a perfect example of everything a gaming mouse should be – although it’s not necessarily the best gaming mouse ever released. This is our Razer DeathAdder V2 Review.
The Razer DeathAdder has been out since 2006 – somehow, in shape or form – and at that time, more than 10 million units have been sold. Like its predecessors, the DeathAdder V2 has an ergonomic shape, a conservative number of additional buttons, textured finger grips, and pleasant RGB lighting. This time it also has feet that glide more quickly and a more sweat-resistant coating on its face.
The re’s not much that works against the DeathAdder V2 except for some sophisticated software and the availability of more popular mice for the same price or less. Razer has redefined an oldie but goodie, and it shows why this mouse has been reliable for almost 15 years.
Razer DeathAdder V2 Review: Design
Let’s put it all together: The DeathAdder V2 is an ergonomic, right-handed mouse with a high, curved profile, texture handles on each side, and four additional buttons. (Razer also make DeathAdder mouse for left-handers, but it’s based on an older design). This time the material is more hydrophobic, making it easier to grip during long play sessions. The sliding feet on the bottom of the mouse are also made of a new material that glides with less friction.
The layout of the keys is almost the same as before. There are a right button, a left button, and a clickable scroll wheel, as well as two thumb buttons in a small semi-circle. The only significant difference this time is that the two point-per-inch (DPI) sensitivity buttons do not connect rectangles; they are two small squares about one-eighth of an inch apart. This makes them easier to click, but it is potentially slower to switch between them. I prefer the new design more, but I could see the preferences going in both directions.
Features
A nice feature of the DeathAdder V2 is that you can now store up to five profiles on board. This can come in handy in tournaments, LAN parties, or any other situation where your regular computer is not convenient. For the rest, it is very similar to the previous DeathAdder mice, with RGB lighting on the scroll and a Razer‘s logo on the palm rest.
To control these lights and other essential mouse functions, you need to use the Razer Synapse Software. This feature-rich program has many options, especially if you want to create your lighting patterns or synchronize the mouse with Philips Hue smart lights.
If you want to adjust the lighting or reprogram buttons, using Synapse is quite easy. However, if you’re going to create profiles for individual games or synchronize the mouse with other Razer devices, the process can be a bit more complicated. Synapse has as many as eight tabs, each of which can have up to four submenus. It is an extensive program, but not necessarily a simple one. It is much more stable than it used to be, so Razer deserves some credit for that.
The DeathAdder V2 is also equipped with a new Focus+ optical sensor, which can reach up to 20,000 DPI levels. Of course, you never have to set it so high, but the sensor is also accurate and precise, even at lower DPIs.
Razer DeathAdder V2 Review: Performance
I used the DeathAdder V2 through Overwatch, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and World of Warcraft, and it performed well for every game. Assigning control groups to my army of Portuguese crossbowmen was as easy as guiding Queen Meve on her quest through the Lyrical countryside. Reprogramming buttons were simple, as was shifting DPI in an instant.
Because of the profiles onboard and the responsive sensor, I could also see the DeathAdder V2 as the right choice for the tournament game. First-person shooter enthusiasts may prefer a mouse with a “sniper” thumb button, while massively multiplayer online game lovers may want a few more thumb buttons – but I had no problems in either genre.
Razer DeathAdder V2 Review: Conclusion
After 14 years, it isn’t elementary to think of new ways to describe the Razer DeathAdder. It is one of the versatile and consistently good game mice on the market, and the DeathAdder V2 is no exception. However, for $10 more, you could opt for the Logitech G502, and for $10 less, you could get the slightly more specialized Corsair M65. But if the DeathAdder V2 has any deal-breakers, I couldn’t find them.