Corsair has been on an incredible streak. Since releasing the original K70 mechanical keyboard, they’ve become synonymous with high quality, customizable gaming peripherals that are a cut above the competition. The GLAIVE RGB gaming mouse is no exception. Featuring three interchageable thumb grips, an ultra-precise 16000 DPI optical sensor, three zones of RGB backlighting, and premium OMRON switches, the GLAIVE makes for a great new addition to the Corsair family.
When the GLAIVE was first announced, the feature that got the most attention was the modularity of its thumb grips. Using magnets and a small plastic clip, the standard smooth grip can be easily removed and replaced with either of the two alternates included in the box. I found myself partial to the wing-style grip, which extends the body to the left and includes a textured groove perfect for resting your thumb in. There is also a textured version of the standard, smooth grip attached to the mouse when its first unboxed. Now that I’ve tried them out and chosen my grip, I don’t see myself changing anytime soon, but it’s nice to see that there are options for gamers who prefer a different left-side style.
The GLAIVE is a larger mouse and feels great with a palm grip. Claw-users should also find themselves at home with the textured side-panel once they get used to the larger frame. Despite being larger, it’s actually quite light, coming in at 122 grams. By contrast, the Steelseries Rival 700 we reviewed last week is 135 grams despite being much smaller. The unit we received for review uses an aluminum frame as an accent but can also be bought in straight black. Both varieties come with the same soft-touch rubberized coating seen on other Corsair mice. These can wear off over time and have a tendency to show bits of dust a bit more, but the depth of the coating is fairly thick leading me to believe that this wouldn’t be a concern for a good long time.
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Inside, the GLAIVE features a custom PixArt 3367 optical sensor and high quality OMRON switches rated for 50 million clicks. The high resolution tracks between 100 and an astounding 16000 DPI. I rarely go over 2000 DPI in single monitor setups, but users with multi-monitor displays will appreciate that incredible flexibility. Likewise, if you have precision in mind, five levels can be programmed to the DPI button, right down to the single unit. Does this make a huge difference? Probably not, but it’s exactly that over the top precision that makes these mice stand out.
After using the GLAIVE on multiple desktops, from workstations to my full RGB desktop, I’m very impressed at how well this “gaming” mouse fits into any environment. Often, gaming peripherals have a “gamer chic” quality that comes off as obnoxious. Too many lights, too many angles, too many aesthetics that exist purely to look edgy. The GLAIVE’s lights, in their static setting, are much more elegant and subtle in their sense of style. Any illuminated mouse in a work environment is likely to get some attention, but anyone that’s been questioned by a non-gamer about their gear understands the difference between an appreciative comment and a judgmental question. The GLAIVE looks premium and stylish without treading into the “you’re using that?” territory so often trod by less considerate peripheral makers, with one small exception.
Three lighting zones are able to be customized for the full RGB spectrum: the Corsair sails logo on the palm, edge lights on either side, and seven leds surround the braided cable. The front lights feel a bit like headlights and do tread too far outside of the professional scope, so I usually keep those off unless until I’m home. Each area can be programmed to a different color and display. Independently, they can pulse, shift through custom gradients, or cycle through the rainbow in all its saturated glory. Five blue LEDs under the left button also display the current DPI preset. Settings can also be saved to the mouse’s onboard memory so you won’t need Corsair’s CUE software to get up and running again on a new machine.
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CUE is important, though, and unlocks the full functionality of the GLAIVE. As we’ve come to expect from Corsair, every button can be remapped and reprogrammed to effectively trigger missile silos hidden away in the South Seas. Well, perhaps not quite that much, but you can program advanced macros incredibly easily, adding and removing delays with the push of a button. You can set timers and profile switches and events and even calibrate the sensor to the exact surface you’ll be mousing on. And when it comes to the RGB programming, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Corsair has the competition beat hands down.
You can do far more within CUE, even with the more limited scope of a mouse such as the GLAIVE, than most other software suites. It’s worth grabbing and taking the time to learn, especially if you have other RGB peripherals from the manufacturer. Like every RGB add-on from Corsair, profiles can be synced and coordinated for some very cool effects. The community is also active and creating new profiles all the time.
The GLAIVE is an excellent gaming mouse that complements Corsair’s other RGB offerings exceptionally well. I love the lighting design and that the edge lighting lets is visible, even when your hand is on the mouse. The modularity of the thumb grips is also nice and gives you that extra level of customization to really make the mouse feel your own. As an MMO player, I miss the extra side buttons featured on my usual MMO mouse, but the GLAIVE frankly feels so nice that I haven’t been able to bring myself to plug it back in. If that’s not an endorsement, then nothing is.
The product described in this article was provided by Corsair for the purposes of review. MMORPG is not sponsored by or an affiliate of Corsair.
