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We all know the age-old adage: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s largely the reason why gaming mice have remained the same size and shape for so long, with barely any noticeable changes. We might get a sensor with a higher DPI here and there, but there’s usually not much difference on the outside. It works, so don’t mess with it. This all began to change a few years ago when eSports aficionados began clamoring for lighter mice. It led to radical mice designs featuring perforated exteriors to reduce weight. Now Razer has thrown its hat into the ring with one of the most intriguing mice we’ve ever seen. At $280, it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a wireless mouse called the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition (SE). Razer calls it “ultra-high-end,” and what makes it unique is instead of just using a perforated top case, the company went with a crossbar design instead. This still allows support for your palm but with gaping holes everywhere. Honestly, it seems like it will be a magnet for desk gunk. However, with gaps that large, at least it’ll be easy to clean with compressed air.
Razer says the Viper Mini SE features an “exoskeleton” made of magnesium alloy. This allows it to be a featherweight device at just 49 grams. In comparison, a mouse like the Razer Basilisk weighs more than twice that at 112 grams. Even a honeycomb mouse like the Glorious Model O weighs 58 grams. As Ars Technica points out, the only mass-produced mouse that weighs this little is the Cooler Master MM720, which is also 49 grams.
Although most mice are heavier than Razer’s latest, they also cost a lot less. Logitech’s flagship wireless mouse is $140, and the Glorious mouse is just $50. Even Cooler Master’s mouse is just $26 on Amazon. The thinking seems to be that for a lightweight, simple mouse, the cost shouldn’t be extreme.
But Razer has gone in the opposite direction and is offering a stripped-down mouse with an extreme price tag. For example, it’s a right-hand mouse as opposed to ambidextrous. Therefore, there are only two buttons on the left side and none on the far side. It offers just one onboard memory profile, whereas its other mice usually have up to five. The scroll wheel doesn’t tilt. However, it does offer all the high-end parts used in its gaming mice. That includes a 30K DPI optical sensor, which we can’t even fathom using at its maximum sensitivity. It offers a decent 60 hours of battery life, depending on conditions. That’s the same as the Logitech G502, but the updated X version offers 140 hours. Razer includes its fastest wireless technology, and the mouse has a three-year warranty.
Naturally, Razer is positioning this as an ultra-premium gaming device that is meticulously crafted. It says it has a “zero tolerance” policy for manufacturing, so every Viper Mini SE will be flawless. At $280, it dang well better be. In Razer’s defense, the premium package includes two sets of grip tape, two types of mouse feet, a polishing cloth, and a handwritten note thanking you for your purchase. The mouse even comes in a hinged box that mimics an expensive watch or piece of jewelry.
The Viper Mini SE launches on Feb. 11, and you can sign up to be notified on Razer’s website.
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