Razer has a long history of providing upgraded versions of its products as its march of technology continues forward. The Naga, Razer’s MMO mouse, has been the latest model to receive an upgrade, featuring a reduced weight, second-generation optical buttons, and a welcome entry point of only $79.99. With the Razer Naga Pro impressing us so much back in September, the Naga X has a lot to live up to. Find out if it does in our review.
Specifications
- Current Price: $79.99 (Razer Store)
- Form Factor: Right-Handed
- Connectivity: Wired – SpeedFlex Cable
- RGB Lighting: Razer Chroma RGB
- Sensor: 5G Optical
- Max Sensitivity (DPI): 18000
- Max Speed (IPS): 450
- Max Acceleration (G): 40
- Programmable Buttons: 16
- Switch Type: 2nd Gen Optical
- Switch Lifecycle: 70 Million Clicks
- Mouse Feet: 100% PTFE Mouse Feet
- Weight: 85 g / 3 oz (Excluding Cable)
- Size
- Length: 119 mm / 4.69 in
- Width: 74 mm / 2.93 in
- Height: 43 mm / 1.69 in
While Razer has a track record of innovation with their peripherals, the Naga X feels like a solid but lateral upgrade from the previous models. The latest refresh to the base model creates a meaningful alternative to the other models through its light weight. Compared to the Razer Viper and, indeed, a growing line of other Razer gaming mice, the previous Nagas felt downright heavy in comparison. Not anymore. At only 85 grams, the Naga X has officially entered lightweight gaming mouse territory, which is especially impressive given the weight the full thumb grid must add.
It also improves other core aspects such of its design. Another improvement comes with the new 2nd generation optical switch powering each button. They provide greater tactile feedback and an impressive response time of 0.2ms. They also give players longevity with a click lifespan of 70 million clicks, which is top of the line for gaming mice today. Since this new technology eliminates mechanical contacts, the “multi-click” issue that accompanies dying gaming mice should be a thing of the past. This is possible because instead of physical electrical contacts, an optical beam triggers the sensor eliminating chatter and debounce delay, adding reliability and responsiveness compared to traditional gaming mice. It’s not the kind of improvement in responsiveness I could feel, but the tactility of these new switches is excellent.
The 5G Optical Sensor has also received a slight upgrade as it now boasts a max DPI of 18K, up from the 16K on the Naga Trinity but still falling a step down from the Naga Pro’s 20K sensor. While it might fall a tier below the Focus + on the Naga Pro, it bridges the gap between the two technologies and comes in at just over half the price. It feels like a fair trade off. As a side note, the max acceleration has been reduced from 50G down to 40G, though, in practice, I didn’t feel a difference.
As a long time PC gamer and fan of the Naga line, I naturally wanted to put this mouse through its paces. The first on the list was to see how well it performed in an MMO environment. As I expected, it performed perfectly. The 16 programmable buttons allowed me to easily map all required attacks and spells needed to play efficiently. Next was one of my absolute favorites, first-person shooters. Unlike the Naga Trinity and the Pro, the Naga X does not allow you to swap side plates. With FPS games, it is not necessary to have so many extra buttons, but the extras don’t get in the way and can easily be customized to switch between gear and other firearms. Like prior Nagas, MMOs are really only the tip of the iceberg.
The Naga X also has two trickle-down upgrades coming from the Pro: vastly improved mouse feet and the new Speedflex cable. The Trinity offered standard mouse feet, which are fine, but nowhere near as smooth as those on Razer’s higher-end mice. The Pro, and now the X, share 100% PTFE mouse feet. PTFE is a synthetic polymer known for having a very low friction coefficient. In simpler terms, this means that there is less friction than normal mouse feet, increasing how well the mouse can glide across different surfaces.
The Speedflex cable is Razers' current standard when it comes to its high-end wired mice. It’s made using a flexible woven design that bends and flexes extremely easily, producing absolutely minimal resistance to the mouse and eliminating “push back.” My preference has always been wireless when it comes to my mouse, I will say the Speedflex cable does make good on its promise. During gaming sessions, I can forget about the cable entirely which is a very good thing.
The improved design elements in the frame allow Razer to pack in more technology while reducing weight to 85 grams. That’s 32 grams less than the Naga Pro and 35 grams lighter than the Naga Trinity. It’s a difference you can immediately feel, especially since the Naga series has always been on the large side. Like previous lightweight mice from Razer, the shell is also solid and lacking the holes found on other trim and airy mice of this type. It’s also quite stable without any flex even when given a nice squeeze.
The direct link between weight and performance can be of some debate, but it does make the mouse feel almost like an extension of your arm. Likewise, less weight means less resistance, prolonging your gaming time until fatigue, at least in theory (how much this matters on lightweight peripherals is even more debatable). Still, it’s a great pairing with the Speedflex cable and makes this wired mouse feel nearly wireless.
The grip remains very similar to the previous models, I find a vast majority of the time a claw grip is the best fit due to the length of the mouse. I find I often use my pinky finger as a solid fixed point and press the side button with my thumb to give full actuation. This of course is a direct result of how I grip the mouse in general. Players with different hand styles or desk setups may have a different experience.
Final Thoughts
With both the Naga Trinity and Naga Pro on either side of it, is this mouse necessary? I would say absolutely. The Razer Naga X finally brings a lightweight option to the Naga line, which is a welcome addition for MMO players in particular. It also offers upgraded features and improvements while keeping what makes the Naga the best in its class: it’s left-side thumb-grid with its excellent sculpting and tactile feedback that makes it such a reliable tool in my PC gaming arsenal.
At $79.99, this mouse isn’t exactly entry-level, and already have a Naga you love, it really comes down to weight and minor sensor upgrades whether investing in the X makes sense; the Naga’s have always had great tracking. However, if you’ve grown used to lightweight mice or are finding your current mouse growing long in the tooth, this is a solid option that delivers the airy feel of a modern mouse with a tried-and-true MMO-centric design.
