The Razer Viper v2 Pro is the successor to the very popular and successful Razer Viper Ultimate. The two mice might look like two drops of water with quite a lot in common, but they have some important differences. Is it worth upgrading to the latest model from Razer?
Our partners at Axicom sent us a sample unit of the Razer Viper v2 Pro to test and share our experience with you. So, based on your needs and preferences, you will be able to decide whether the base v2 or the Pro variant is the one for you.
Unboxing
The truth is that it’s been a while since I last opened up a Razer’s signature black/green box. I do really miss their products (I am looking at you, Axicom).
Inside the packaging, you’ll find:
- The Razer Viper v2 Pro
- A USB to Type C cable
- A USB wireless dongle
- A USB adapter for the dongle
- Grip stickers for more stability and better comfort
- The user manual and a “thank you” card, signed by Razer’s CEO (thank you Min-Liang Tan)
Design
If you have read any of my previous articles, you can deduce that I loved the design of this particular mouse. It’s pure black and completely minimalistic.
Its black matte surface makes it more stable in hand without slipping. The Razer logo is also in black but glossy to stand out on the matte black. How gorgeous is this black-on-black? Honestly, stunning!
It is pretty weird that there are two buttons on the left side while none to be found on the right one. Since it is an ambidextrous mouse, I would have expected a pair of buttons on the right side as well, for the left-handed gamers. Or, as we have seen in other mice, the ability to change the position of the extra pointer finger buttons through the use of magnets (very specific example). This feature is not there, but there is a reason for that and we will go more in-depth about it below.
Another thing I missed on the Viper v2 Pro compared to the rest of the Razer signature line-up is the lack of RGB lighting. This is Razer, who put RGB lighting on literally everything, even their mug holder and whose motto is chroma everything for the longest time. The RGB lighting, however, has been removed for the exact same reason as the buttons on the right side.
Chroma Everything!
Lastly, I like that the mouse gives me the option to choose whether I want the anti-slip rubber on the mouse or not. Until now, most mice came with grip stickers built into the mouse straight from the factory. I have met a person who, weirdly enough, was allergic to this rubber and he could not use these mice. Fortunately, the Razer Viper v2 Pro comes with 4 grip tapes, two for the sides and two for the mouse buttons (left and right click), giving you the option to choose whether you want to use one, two, all together or no grip tapes installed.
Functionality of Razer Viper v2 Pro
The Razer Viper v2 Pro was designed based on the needs of professional eSports athletes. Imagine the difference it will make in your hand. It’s 20% lighter than the Razer Viper Ultimate (74 grams) and weighs just 58 grams. How did they achieve this?
- Lighter buttons cover, -0.6g
- Removal of built-in grips, -3.2g
- Removing the keys on the right side, -2.9g
- Removal of the RGB, -2.7g
- Lighter and more efficient battery, -2.6g
- Other structural modifications and changes, -4.0g
- The new Razer Gen-3 optical switches don’t take away from the weight, but they don’t add to it either, -0.0g
- The same goes for the new optical sensor Razer Focus Pro 30K, -0.0g
Hardware
The Razer Viper v2 Pro connects to your PC through a wireless receiver and makes use of the Razer™ Hyperspeed Wireless technology at 2.4GHz. All we have to do is plug in the USB dongle to our computer or, if the case is far away we can use the USB cable with the USB receiver at the end of the cable. Then we hold down the button at the bottom of the mouse for about 3 seconds to activate it, and it should connect automatically.
In case you need even better performance, the Razer Viper v2 Pro is compatible with the Razer Hyperpolling Wireless Dongle which boosts wireless performance to 4000Hz polling rate. No other mouse achieves such high efficiency.
Of course, you can use the mouse in wired with its USB to Type-C cable. That way, you can even charge the mouse too.
Optical sensor Razer Focus Pro 30k
Partnering up with Pixart, one of the industry leaders when it comes to sensors, Razer has managed to create the most accurate optical sensor ever designed. The Razer Focus Pro 30k optical sensor is compatible with any surface, hard, cloth, or hybrid mousepad, and even glass (with a mandatory thickness of at least 4mm). With its smart tracking technology, it detects the material of the surface the mouse is sitting on and is able to maintain a constant lift distance, allowing for greater control and precision.
This sensor is ultra-sensitive and accurate and it offers 26 different levels of mouse lift lock. And all these different levels are between 2.0mm of distance from the surface the mouse sits on. I don’t know if anyone will ever need that much precision but it’s a cool “why not”-type feature. Razer named it the Asymmetrical cut-off.
Right now, the Razer Focus Pro 30k is the most advanced optical sensor in a mouse. In the following table, there’s a comparison with other sensors on the market:
RAZER FOCUS PRO 30K OPTICAL SENSOR | RAZER FOCUS+ OPTICAL SENSOR | OTHER OPTICAL SENSORS | |
Sensitivity (DPI) | 30.000 | 20.000 | 25.600 |
Max speed (IPS) | 750 | 650 | 400 |
Max acceleration (G) | 70 | 50 | 40 |
Resolution accuracy | 99.8% | 99.6% | 99.4% |
Additional features | Lift-off customization (3 levels) Asymmetrical cut-off (26 levels) Tracks on glass (at least 4 mm thick) | Lift-off customization (3 levels) Asymmetrical cut-off (3 levels) | None |
The bottom of the mouse is pretty simple, with the power button and the Razer Focus Pro 30k optical sensor as well as the 100% PTFE “feet”
Razer Optical Switches (GEN-3)
The new optical switches used by the Razer Viper v2 Pro have a 0.2ms response time. This number seems too good to be true, especially when one considers that the mouse is wireless. But how did Razer pull this off?
When a click takes place, the optical switch opens its shutter to allow a beam of infrared light to pass through. This sends an electrical signal to your computer. Actuation is achieved at the speed of light, creating the fastest response time in a gaming mouse, 3 times faster than traditional mechanical switches.
Traditional mechanical switches send electrical signals through metallic contact. When these contacts strike each other, they create a residual bouncing effect that can lead to multiple signals. A debounce delay software is used to overcome this bouncing effect so that only a single click is registered. With the Razer™ Optical Mouse Switch, no physical contact is needed to send an electrical signal, eliminating the need for a debounce delay. Any click actuated immediately without accidental clicks.
Razer Optical Switches (GEN-3)
Also, these switches promise a lifespan of 90 million clicks without any double-clicking issues. Stuff like this is enough to make me really happy because it’s one of the most annoying problems a mouse can run into: you click once and it registers as a double-click. It can even cause issues while trying to work, not just when gaming. Razer has had these issues in the past, but they listened to community feedback and seem to have resolved them.
Even more unique features
But the sensor and the switches are not the only remarkable features of this mouse. It is worth mentioning that the battery can provide up to 80 hours of use on a single charge. Of course, via the Type-C cable it charges in a very short time and is ready for use.
It supports Razer™ HyperSpeed Wireless, which is 3 times faster than any other wireless gaming technology, as tested by TUV SUD PSB – a globally recognized certification institute. Razer achieved this speed by reducing the time it takes to send data between the mouse and the computer. In addition, it uses an extremely fast radio frequency to speed up this process even more. With less latency, this translates to the lowest click latency ever recorded.
The DPI adjustment is done directly from the button at the bottom of the mouse. With the ability to switch between 5 levels of DPI without the need for software.
Finally, there is onboard memory on the device, to save locally and the last used user profile from Razer Synapse, including all settings such as DPI, polling rate, and lift-off distance.
Software
The Razer Viper v2 Pro uses the same software as other Razer products: the Razer Synapse. Let’s take a quick look at the possibilities that synapse offers us for this particular mouse.
Customize
In the customize tab, you can modify the functions of your mouse buttons according to your needs.
- Default – This option allows you to reset the mouse buttons to their original settings.
- Keyboard Function – This option changes the button mapping in keyboard mode. You can also enable Turbo mode, which will continue to do a repetitive keyboard action while the button is stayed pressed.
- Mouse Function – This option replaces the current button mapping with another mouse function.
- Sensitivity – This feature allows you to manipulate the Razer Viper V2 Pro’s DPI setting with the push of a button.
- Sensitivity Clutch, Sensitivity Stage Up, Sensitivity Stage Down, On-The-Fly Sensitivity, Cycle Up Sensitivity Stages and Cycle Down Sensitivity Stages are the options it offers you.
- Inter-device – Inter-device allows you to change the functionality of other Razer Synapse enabled devices. Some of these functions are device-specific, such as using the Razer Keyboard to change the sensitivity level of the Razer Mouse.
- Switch Profile – Switch Profile allows you to quickly switch profiles and load a new one. A notification will appear on the screen every time you switch profiles.
- Razer Hypershift – Setting the button to Razer Hypershift will allow you to activate Hypershift mode while the button is pressed.
- Launch Program – With the launch program you can open an application or website using the assigned button. When you select the launch program, two options will appear, asking you to search for a specific application you want to open or write the address of the website you want to visit.
- Multimedia – This option allows you to assign media controls to your mouse buttons.
- Windows Shortcuts – Use the mouse for Windows-specific shortcuts.
- Text Function – With this function, you can type a pre-written text with the press of a button.
- Disable – Disable a button completely.
Performance
In the performance tab, you can modify the sensitivity, acceleration, and polling rate of the device.
Calibration
In the calibration tab you can adjust the optical sensor according to the surface of its use and through smart tracking, the distance that the sensor will stop working from the moment we lift the mouse.
Power
Finally, in the power tab, you can adjust all the settings regarding battery consumption. You can set when your mouse will enter sleep mode if it remains idle, and the required battery percentage of the mouse when entering low power mode to get some extra juice oomph out of the remaining battery.
Razer Viper v2 Pro: Verdict
The Razer Viper v2 Pro is a beautiful minimalistic mouse with many technological innovations. Of course, it is made to cater to a specific audience that cares even for a millisecond of performance. One of the games that the difference from the competition would be most obvious when using this mouse is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, as it is mainly intended for use in competitive / e-sport settings and this is clear from its extreme spec sheet.
But this does not mean that it is not suitable for daily use or even for the office, since it offers an insane battery life and all the quality of life features that you would look for in a mouse that was intended to improve your productivity in the office (it would be very cool to show up in the office with the Viper v2 Pro) or in your daily tasks. If you want a Swiss army-knife mouse, well, you just found it.
You can find the Razer Viper v2 Pro in the official Razer store at the price of €159.99.
We would like to thank Axicom for providing the review unit we used.