Who Makes the Better Gaming Mouse?

Highlights

• Razer and Corsair offer a variety of gaming mice suitable for different hand sizes and gaming genres.
• Both brands have options for wired and wireless mice, each with its own unique features and technologies.
• Razer’s HyperPolling wireless technology provides exceptionally fast and reliable mouse tracking, giving them an edge in performance.

When deciding on the best gaming mouse, Razer and Corsair are two brands that come to mind first. Each manufacturer took different routes to becoming the premier maker of gaming mice, keyboards, and headsets. From its inception, Razer has targeted the gaming world with stylish, high-performance peripherals. On the other hand, Corsair first made its name with other PC components like cache modules and memory sticks. Corsair still has a broader inventory of products than Razer, but that hasn’t prevented them from introducing innovative gaming mouse technology.

How Do Razer and Corsair Mice Differ?

Razer and Corsair gaming mice share similar characteristics, making comparing these devices tricky. Still, each collection of mice has distinct advantages and disadvantages in these areas:

• Size/Shape: Both manufacturers make compact and speedy gaming mice appropriate for frenetic FPS action. Likewise, Razer and Corsair produce larger and heavier alternatives with more buttons to please MMORPG gamers. Depending on a buyer’s hand size and preferred genre, one company has more or less candidates than the other.
• Wired vs. Wireless: Razer and Corsair take different approaches to ensuring wireless mice don’t suffer from inaccurate tracking and poor battery life. Even among their wired counterparts, some contrasting technologies emerge between each manufacturer’s mice.
• Performance: Constantly improving specs like DPI, acceleration, and polling rate, Razer and Corsair are in an ongoing battle for mouse supremacy. Some buyers have determined that one of these brand’s top optical sensors has a slight edge in performance.
• Ergonomics: Gamers may find a Razer or Corsair mouse more comfortable when the priority is a secure grip after extended use.
• Style/RGB Effects: Although relatively small, gaming mice can enhance the look of gaming rigs. Razer and Corsair mice have differing capabilities with RGB lighting that buyers should consider before purchasing.

Size/Shape

Gaming mice can vary dramatically in size, shape, and weight. These differences aim to satisfy personal preferences but can also impact gaming performance. Both Razer and Corsair manufacture smaller, lightweight gaming mice that move around mousepads effortlessly. The 61-gram Razer Viper Mini is an ideal mouse for small hands, allowing competitive gamers to lock onto new targets quickly. Corsair counters the Viper Mini with the Katar Elite Wireless, which also can dominate FPS titles thanks to its light, compact shape. With a small hump and relatively flat shell, the Katar Elite invites the claw and fingertip grips that many pro gamers use for greater control.

Larger gaming mice also have advantages, even if they take slightly more effort to guide. A Razer mouse like the Naga V2 Pro has an expansive shell accommodating rows of tiny buttons on its left panel. Swapping side panels for options with fewer commands is also possible, making it more adaptable to other genres and general productivity. Corsair produces several heavier mice of their own, including the Corsair Scimitar Elite. While this mouse doesn’t allow for using alternate panels, its small buttons slide back and forth to suit more grips.

These MMO/MMORPG gaming mice fit securely in big hands, which poses a problem for smaller gamers interested in playing World of Warcraft. Along the same lines, lightweight FPS mice cause issues for large hands, but Razer addresses this concern with the Basilisk V3 Pro. Because of its top-end optical sensor and ability to accurately track rapid movements, the somewhat heavier Basilisk V3 Pro can hold its own during FPS action.

One difference between the Razer and Corsair mouse lineups is Corsair tends to focus more on large and heavy mice. Consequently, gamers who play MMO titles will be more attracted to a Corsair mouse. Meanwhile, Valorant addicts may feel more comfortable with Razer’s many small, lightweight options.

Wired vs. Wireless

Razer and Corsair have released increasingly reliable wireless gaming mice in the past several years. Still, neither company has abandoned wired mice, responding to concerns over signal interference and battery life. Whether a gamer embraces cords or goes completely wire-free, each manufacturer has unique candidates in each category.

Razer and Corsair utilize low-latency wireless protocols to ensure their wireless mice can match the performance of wired alternatives. Razer’s HyperSpeed RF works over a USB dongle and avoids wireless interference by constantly monitoring environments and switching frequencies when necessary. With Corsair’s Slipstream, the manufacturer emphasizes the wireless range of its mice as much as speed. Some Corsair mice are capable of smooth tracking even up to 60 feet away from the USB RF adapter. Both technologies support pairing wireless keyboards, mice, and headsets of an identical brand to the same dongle.

Always on the cutting edge of gaming technology, Razer has a slight edge in wireless mouse tracking. As one of the company’s most high-end wireless mice, the Razer Viper V2 Pro is compatible with the HyperPolling wireless USB dongle. This adapter sets new standards for how constantly a PC stays in sync with a mouse and is capable of an 8,000 Hz polling rate. However, the dongle adds cost to a premium mouse, and few gamers will notice any performance advantages.

Corsair also sells mice capable of a high polling rate, but it comes in corded form with an option like the Sabre RGB Pro. Perhaps even more important to the usability of a wired mouse is its cord, which can drag down the maneuverability of any gaming gear. Corsair employs a lightweight paracord-type cable that resists snags and kinks. Meanwhile, Razer relies on a similar SpeedFlex cable to keep its wired FPS mice like the DeathAdder V3 as agile as possible.

Reasonably equal in the variety of wired mice, Razer earns a close victory in this category due to their insanely fast HyperPolling wireless technology.

Performance

DPI is typically the spec manufacturers regularly quote to market the most expensive gaming mice. Higher DPI mice can move cursors farther on high-resolution displays with less effort. Competitive gamers usually set their mice at much lower than max DPIs. Still, along with groundbreaking sensitivity, the top gaming mice are often capable of reliable tracking, even with rapid movements.

When it comes to DPI, Razer and Logitech gaming mice lead the pack with sensors rated at 30,000 DPI and higher. Razer manufactures several mice that employ its Focus Pro 30K optical sensor, which is efficient and capable of smooth tracking on any surface. The Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed is a surprisingly affordable mouse that houses Razer’s most advanced sensor. The Viper V3 can also recognize instantly when gamers lift the mouse off mousepads to reduce tracking interruptions.

Corsair is no slouch in the DPI department either, but their latest mice max out at 26,000 DPI. The M75 Air is a lightweight wireless mouse with Corsair’s advanced optical sensor, a deadly weapon in an esports competition. Rather than sensitivity, the M75 Air’s best attribute may be its fast and accurate switches. Gamers can furiously press its five programmable buttons without concerns over missing clicks.

Another trick Corsair has up its sleeve is Axon Hyper-Processing technology found on several of its wired mice and keyboards. With a polling rate of 8,000 Hz, the Sabre RGB Pro can register commands on gaming PCs with blistering speed and accuracy.

The reality is the majority of gamers won’t notice the difference between a DPI of 26,000 and 30,000. Razer’s optical sensor specs give them a marginal win on paper, but both Razer and Corsair mice feature highly accurate tracking and inputs.

Ergonomics

Gaming mice are designed primarily for performance, but comfort is also a priority for dedicated gamers. The most ergonomic gaming mice keep hands and wrists in healthy positions while ensuring fingers can comfortably reach all buttons. How comfortable a Razer or Corsair mouse feels to a gamer will partly depend on the size of a hand and preferred grip style. Regardless, some devices suit a wide audience of users with an easy-to-grip texture and intelligently placed resting platforms for thumbs and fingers.

Once again, the Basilisk V3 Pro is a standout choice because of its ergonomic layout. Right-handed gamers with medium or large-sized hands find this wireless mouse exceptionally easy to use for long gaming sessions. With three buttons on its left panel, including a sniper button, the Basilisk V3 Pro makes an abundance of commands accessible in games. Also, the mouse boasts a large thumb rest underneath its two main side buttons for added support.

Not to be outdone, Corsair also has several ergonomically sound gaming mice. The wireless Dark Core RGB Pro SE outdoes the Basilisk V3 Pro with a left-side thumb rest and swappable right-panel grips. One of the grip options includes a small area for resting pinky fingers so no part of a hand feels strained after intense multiplayer action. The Dark Core Pro SE also is a larger mouse with a pronounced hump, making it ideal for right-handed palm grippers.

Gamers who spend their days working with productivity software find that some office-style mice are also competent for gaming. The Razer Pro Click has a 16,000 DPI optical sensor, which is sufficient for all types of games, but ergonomics is its main focus. In collaboration with Humanscale, famous for its health-preserving office products, the Pro Click can be comfortably used throughout long work days.

Other than the Pro Click, which isn’t technically a gaming mouse, Corsair mice may be the most comfortable for most users. Since the brand produces so many large mice, it allows them more flexibility in terms of extensive grips and finger rests. Smaller FPS mice can certainly feel comfortable to competitive gamers, but the highest-rated ergonomic mice for office work tend to be bulkier.

Style & RGB Lighting

While optical sensor performance precedes aesthetics for many buyers, today’s gamers strive for slick-looking gaming rigs. As a result, mice try to match the same modern styling as the PC cases, keyboards, and headsets marketed toward gamers. The typical gaming mouse is all-black with branding that is often illuminated. Razer and Corsair stamp their logos on every gaming keyboard and mouse, making them instantly recognizable for buyers. In the gaming world, Razer’s snake logo is meant to strike fear in the hearts of competition. Corsair’s branding is a bit more tame, depicting a floating ship. However, since Corsair also manufactures memory, storage, and power supplies, the brand is well-known inside and outside the gaming industry.

Undoubtedly, RGB lighting plays a huge role in a gaming mouse’s attractiveness. Certain high-performance mice, like the wireless Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, resist any lighting, instead of focusing on performance and preserving battery life. Other RGB mice, such as the Razer Cobra Pro, are cordless light shows with 11 zones of customizable effects. Lighting on Corsair gaming mice is usually somewhat more subdued. For example, the Dark Core RGB Pro SE showcases nine lighting zones with an illuminated strip along its left panel.

For many gamers, how well an RGB mouse syncs with other gaming gear is just as critical as the lighting on the mouse itself. Razer’s Synapse and Corsair’s iCue software are both sophisticated, with elaborate and customizable RGB effects. Also, with plugins, each app can coordinate gaming mice’s lighting with motherboards and graphics cards from various brands.

Gaming room lighting is experiencing peak popularity, with wall panel lights embraced by gamers and streamers. As far as gaming mice apps, Razer Synapse offers compatibility with smart lighting from Nanoleaf, Govee, and Philips Hue. Corsair iCue supports some of these brands, but lacks coordination with Govee smart panels and LED strips. However, since Corsair produces RGB case fans, cases, and memory sticks, their mice play nicely with these parts without additional plugins.

Ultimately, neither Razer nor Corsair has a significant lead in mouse styling, but iCue gives Corsair a close victory with easier RGB syncing around gaming rigs.

The Verdict on Razer vs. Corsair Gaming Mice

As it turns out, there is no decisive answer as to whether Razer or Corsair makes the superior gaming mouse. Instead, each company has mice that appeal to different groups of gamers based on the following factors:

Size/Shape

While both manufacturers make smaller mice that move incredibly quickly on mousepads, Razer offers more compact FPS mice like the Razer Cobra Pro. On the other hand, larger mice with more buttons are often the choice of MMO or MMORPG gamers. Corsair’s inventory has several bulky but versatile options, with the Corsair Scimitar Elite appealing to buyers who would rather use their mice than keyboards.

Wired vs. Wireless

Razer and Corsair have improved their wireless gaming gear significantly over the years. The Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed outshines any cordless Corsair mouse with its maximum 8,000 Hz polling rate. However, Corsair supporters will hardly suffer, with wireless mice boasting excellent battery life and faultless tracking. Corsair wired mice such as the Sabre RGB Pro earn bragging rights for flexible USB cords and outstanding click latency.

Performance

If maximum DPI is the deciding factor, Razer is victorious because of its Focus Pro 30K optical sensor. The Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed represents the pinnacle of mouse technology and can adapt to almost any surface. Still, even though most Corsair mice, like the M75 Air, can’t break the 26,000 DPI barrier, they excel with durable and responsive switches.

Ergonomics

A top-performing gaming mouse can lose its appeal if it causes joint pain. Fortunately, both Razer and Corsair cater to the most demanding competitive gamers or office workers. The Corsair Dark Core Pro RGB SE is an example of a gaming mouse that excels ergonomically, thanks to two thumb and pinky finger rests. If the Dark Core Pro isn’t the right fit for a buyer, then the Razer Pro Click is a workhorse productivity mouse that can hold its own when gaming.

Style & RGB Effects

Razer and Corsair have helped bring RGB lighting on gaming gear into the mainstream. Even though gaming mice aren’t as noticeable on a gaming desk as keyboards or PC cases, the wrong mouse can ruin a cohesive look. Razer Synapse and Corsair iCue software allow their mice to sync with other components. The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro is the most attractive gaming mouse, benefiting from an endless number of customizable lighting zones. Synapse is somewhat more limited because Razer doesn’t manufacture computer parts like memory sticks and RGB case fans, though it should be noted that Synapse is often compatible with other brands’ RGB components.

Depending on the needs and preferences of a particular buyer, Razer or Corsair has the perfect mouse for the fussiest gamer.

FAQ

Q: Do pros use Razer?

Many top competitive gamers rely on lightweight and agile Razer mice like the Viper V2 Pro. Razer excels in producing mice that suit competitive FPS titles because of their speed and reliable tracking.

Q: Are Corsair mice good for FPS games?

Corsair is known for making bulky and heavy mice with generous button layouts, suiting MMO games. However, the company also manufactures compact and lightweight wireless mice like the M75 Air, perfect for FPS gaming action.

Q: What does DPI mean?

DPI stands for “dots per inch”. In simple terms, DPI is the rate at which the mouse detects movement. A higher DPI means a mouse cursor can move farther with the same amount of effort.