Razer Basilisk V3 Review
Razer makes a multitude of gaming mice, and Basilisk is one of the most popular. Basilisk V3 is a new, improved variant that the firm is releasing today. Razer has tweaked the design significantly, added a new sensor and free-spinning scroll wheel, and thrown in some more RGB for good measure.
It’s not Basilisk Ultra wireless, Basilisk V3 comes with an old cable — but it’s only $70 for this. Razer Basilisk’s third incarnation isn’t revolutionary, but the improvements ensure it’s still one of the best-wired mice on the market.
Price
Razer Basilisk V3 is available for $69.99, making it less expensive than its predecessor, Basilisk V2, which retailed for $79.99.
Design
Starting with the mouse’s shape, Razer mainly maintained it the same as it was before — a somewhat ergonomic right-handed gaming mouse designed to work well with palm and claw grips. With this pointer’s medium size, unless you have really small hands, you’ll almost certainly be using it in a claw grip, especially in-game.
The mouse is a tad heavy by today’s standards, especially for a wired mouse, weighing 101 grams. The advantage here is that Razer hasn’t chopped the shell to make it lighter, therefore the mouse has a high level of build quality. The right thumb rest and grip are composed of wonderful, gripping rubber material, while the center is constructed of textured plastic with a few shiny features.
The Razer logo and scroll wheel were previously lit in the same way they are now, but the V3 adds a strip of RGB down the majority of the mouse’s lower border, giving a sort of under-glow effect that looks rather nice.
Then there’s the cord, which for many gaming mice these days is the elephant in the room. This isn’t the case here, since Razer has done an excellent job. Companies have been working feverishly on wireless technology in an attempt to eliminate the cable during the last few years, but it doesn’t imply cable development has slowed: Although the Basilisk V3 has a thick, attractive braided cable, it is extremely light and incredibly flexible, so you scarcely notice it. Yes, you can see it, but it doesn’t appear to be that awful.
Logitech’s G502 Hero, a mouse with an almost comparable design and feature set, is Razer’s major competitor. Although their dimensions are nearly identical, G502 is significantly fuller and has more squared-off edges than Basilisk V3, which I prefer. However, there isn’t much in it, and you won’t be able to determine which you like unless you compare the two.
Features and Software
One of the most appealing features of the Basilisk V3 is its ability to be customized. To make the most of the mouse’s various buttons, onboard presets, and RGB zones, you’ll need to download Razer Synapse.
Synapse makes it simple to assign alternative functions to the 9 programmable buttons — 13 if the scroll wheel’s scroll up, down, left, right, and in are counted independently. A wide range of jobs, such as adjusting CPI or RGB, keyboard functions, and macros, can be assigned.
Basilisk V3 includes five onboard profiles: the most recently used one, as well as four others that you can save. This means you can transfer key bindings and sensor settings from one PC to another without having to install the software. Some functions, such as RGB and macros, will not function without Synapse.
Synapse saves all of the preset RGB effects and allows you to create your RGB profiles that can be synced with other Razer Synapse-compatible devices (which includes offerings from other brands, like Thermaltake). RGB may even sync with the audio of supported games; 150 titles, including Apex Legends and Fortnite, are presently supported.
As the most advanced proprietary sensor for Razer, Focus+ contains additional functions that are great but nearly noticeable. Smart Tracking ensures that the mouse is tracked when it is lifted 1, 2, or 3mm off the mouse pad, while asymmetric cutoff allows for different lift-off and landing distances, as well as the distance at which the mouse resumes tracking. Manual calibration allows you to fine-tune parameters for various Razer mouse pads and provides a 2–10mm lift-off distance modification range. You’d have to be a pretty accurate player to notice the differences here but experiment with the feature to find out what works best for you.
Bottom Line
Gaming mice, particularly Razer mice, can be more expensive than intended. When a wired mouse costs more than $50, it needs to justify its expense. Razer Basilisk V3’s $70 MSRP is more than justifiable. For starters, it’s a heavier mouse with a variety of textures that make it feel more premium than lighter mice like Razer DeathAdder V2. In comparison to DeathAdder V2 and other gaming mice, you also get additional configurable buttons. This contains a scroll wheel with 5 preset inputs and the ability to change how it feels with a flick.
However, the scroll wheel is a little clumsy, and you may occasionally feel it tremble. Furthermore, the zipping noise it makes can be irritating. The wheel is too noisy for eSports-level gamers who rely heavily on in-game audio cues and require silence otherwise, while the mouse is probably too hefty for competitive play. The scroll wheel on Logitech MX Master 3, a productivity powerhouse, and even the smaller Logitech MX Anywhere 3 aren’t up to par. However, it’s fascinating to see similar technologies becoming more accessible to gamers.
Furthermore, if you’re a lefty or prefer something symmetrical, such as a fingertip grip, Basilisk V3 isn’t for you.
Basilisk V3 is also slightly more expensive than several excellent options. Corsair RGB Nightsword and Logitech G502 Hero have extremely similar designs, but Corsair RGB Nightsword is less expensive (at the time of writing), and Logitech G502 Hero has changeable weights. Those mice, on the other hand, are heavier than Basilisk V3.
With Basilisk V3, you’re gaining a smidgeon of extra oomph. For many people, a cheaper Logitech or Corsair keyboard will suffice. Basilisk V3 provides for those who want more from their gaming mouse, with features that push it to be the best of the best, from its extra onboard profiles and programmability compared to competitors, to its outstanding texture and overly brilliant RGB zones.
SOURCE: Razer Basilisk V3 Review
