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When you shop online for a gaming mouse, it’s hard to predict what will feel good in person, but let me inform you that the Corsair Nightsword RGB is one of the most comfortable gaming mice I’ve tested. For $79, you can get its suitable chassis along with its smooth performance and finely adjustable weight. However, the mouse is not perfect because the buttons are stiff, the scroll wheel is out of comfortable range, and Corsair’s software is challenging to navigate, making the Nightsword not one of the best gaming mice. But in general, Corsair Nightsword RGB is a solidly wired gaming mouse, particularly for those looking for something a little on the thick side. This is our Corsair Nightsword RGB Review.
Corsair Nightsword RGB Review – Design
The Corsair Nightsword RGB has a thick black shell that is blinded by four-zone honeycomb RGB lighting. Measuring around 5.1 x 3.4 x 1.7 inches and weighing 4.2 ounces, the Corsair Nightsword RGB is quite large, but it felt great in the palm of my hands. The re’s an RGB-lit Corsair logo on the palm rest, surrounded by a smooth rubber plate with snowflake patterns engraved on it. Just above the U-shaped plate are the matte plastic buttons on the left and right, and between them is an RGB backlit scroll wheel and the two profile buttons.
On the left click button is a small recess for another two buttons dedicated to DPI up and down. To the right of the Corsair Nightsword, RGB is a grabbable panel for your ring finger and little finger, while the left side has a panel that bends down and out in front of your thumb. The left side also has three additional buttons: the forward and reverse buttons and a Sniper button (lowers your DPI while it’s pressed), which is useful for first-person shooters.
In addition to the Sniper button, three LED indicators let you know when Sniper mode is pressed, what profile you are using, and what stage of DPI your mouse is set. Around the Corsair Nightsword RGB, there are two RGB illumination zones, one at the back and one at the front behind a neat honeycomb pattern. It looks elegant in a kind of retro way. The underside of the Corsair Nightsword RGB is a removable backplate that gives you access to six slots. The re, you can place the three 4.5-grams and three 2.8-grams weight blocks.
Those numbers may not seem like much, but they make a noticeable difference – I wish it had been implemented better. The Logitech G502 Hero has the same ability, except that the panel is magnetic and easy to remove, while the Nightsword’s panel snaps awkwardly into place. What’s more, the G502 Hero’s weights are labeled by how much they weigh each, unlike the Nightsword’s ballasts. The Corsair Nightsword RGB is comfortable to hold as the smooth rubber palm rest is gently shaped towards my hand. The way my fingers rested on each of the handles felt so natural.
But apart from the left and right buttons, the rest felt unsatisfying to press as they created stiff, dull clicks instead of smooth, sharp ones. It was more pronounced when I clicked the sniper button because it was difficult to keep it pressed. The scroll wheel also felt slightly out of reach, so my finger couldn’t rest comfortably on it. In general, the Corsair Nightsword RGB’s shape felt good, but I wish the buttons and scroll wheel felt more natural to use.
Corsair Nightsword RGB Review – Features
You can customize the Corsair Nightsword RGB via Corsair’s iCUE software, which you can download from the company’s site. There are ten programmable buttons on the Corsair Nightsword RGB, and you set macros on each button using the Actions tab in the iCUE app. In the Lighting tab, you can adjust the color and speed of the 4 lighting zones. If you want to set the DPI for your three phases and the Sniper mode, you can do so on the tab with the same name.
And you have 18,000 DPI to work with. In the Performance tab, you can enable angular gestures, improve pointer precision, and set the color of the profile indicator. The app also allows you to calibrate the sensor for the specific type of surface the mouse is standing on by simply dragging an icon around at a certain speed. There is also a weight adjustment section, which allows you to keep track of the weights in your mouse. You can also assign the custom mouse profiles to the games you play, which is very useful.
However, since the app is a bit difficult to navigate, it may take a little while to find what you’re looking for. The Corsair Nightsword RGB is not wireless, and you have to rely on the 1.8-meter braided fiber optic cable, which was more than enough space to loop through to my PC. The left and right mouse buttons are rated at 50 million clicks, but if they come out earlier, Corsair has a two-year limited warranty on the Nightsword.
Corsair Nightsword RGB Review – Performance
Gaming on the Corsair Nightsword RGB felt extremely precise, and the weights were useful to have, but I grimaced every time I clicked a button that wasn’t left and right-click. In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I started a Team Deathmatch at House, waited for one of the viaducts, aimed at the visor of my M4, and as soon as someone came into my vision, I pressed the Sniper button and released half a clip in their face. I saw my accuracy stabilize, but holding the Sniper button was a bit annoying because of the stiffness. I did notice that the mouse was a bit too heavy, so I took out the weights to give me a faster turnaround time.
When I played the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, I was less focused on precision and more on how smooth my movement was, so I swung the DPI and screwed through Dathomir. At one point, I was surrounded by bad guys, but thanks to the Corsair Nightsword RGB, I was able to thwart and dodge my way to victory quickly. I started Divinity: Original Sin, and even in a semi-calm setting of just pointing and clicking through areas, or just scrolling through dialogue choices, the mouse followed my movements closely.
Conclusion
The Corsair Nightsword RGB game mouse impressed me with its extremely comfortable handles and smooth operation. And the weight adjustment feature allows me to fine-tune the way I play. However, I can’t get over with the stiff buttons, clumsy scroll wheel, and somewhat complex software. If you’re looking for a game mouse with similar weight adjustments, but with more comfortable buttons and an adjustable scroll wheel, I can’t think of anything better than the Logitech G502 Proteus Core. But overall, the Corsair Nightsword RGB is a solid game mouse, and great for people with bigger hands.