The Razer Viper Ultimate has been one of the best mice for esports since 2019. Now, two and a half years later, it’s finally getting the V2 treatment. Today, we’re looking at the Razer Viper V2 Pro. It’s lighter, faster, and promises an expansive battery life of 80 hours. Is it worth upgrading to? We have the answer to that question and all the details right here in this review. Read on to find out.
Specifications
- Current Price: $149.99 (Razer)
- Weight: 58g, 59g
- Sensor Focus Pro: 30K Optical
- Sensitivity/Resolution: 100-30,000 DPI
- Max Acceleration: 70G
- Max Speed: 750 IPS
- Resolution Accuracy: 99.8%
- Switches: Optical Gen-3
- Click Lifecycle: 90M clicks
- Polling Rate: 1000
- Battery Life: 80 hours
- Programmable Buttons: 5
- Total Buttons: 6 (including DPI button)
- Connectivity: USB C, 2.4GHz
- Onboard Memory: Yes
- Other Features: Enhanced AI functions
- Tracks on glass
Razer Viper V2 Pro - What’s New?
Since its debut in late 2019, the Razer Viper Ultimate has lived on my desk as my main gaming mouse. It’s safe to say that I’ve put it through its paces at this point, and despite new mice releasing all the time, it’s the one I keep coming back to. I’m not alone: the Viper has become a cult hit. With the Viper, Razer accomplished a difficult task of delivering a peripheral that stands the test of time to become one of the greats. The V2 Pro has a lot to live up to.
And, for the most part, it does. The V2 Pro isn’t about reinvention, it’s about refinement. It takes high points from the Viper OG and makes them better and drops a few extras to reduce weight and improve functionality.
For starters, it’s incredibly light. The Viper Ultimate was already pretty trim at 74 grams, but the V2 Pro comes in at 58 grams (59 if you choose white). To achieve that, Razer has streamlined the design, made some structural changes, and shaved grams in many tiny places. For example, the button covers have been changed, improving tactility and dropping 0.6 grams. The built-in grips have now been changed to optional grip tapes, cutting off another 3.2 grams. The new battery trims another 2.6 grams. Unspecified structural changes cut another four grams.
There are other changes too, some big and immediately noticeable, others less so but are still important. While the Viper Ultimate was ambidextrous and had Forward and Backward buttons on both sides, the V2 Pro only has buttons on the left (that’s another 2.9 grams down). That means that this new mouse is best fit for right-handed players though, which is bound to disappoint some players.
Little by little, they’ve pushed the Viper V2 Pro straight into ultralight territory without making it feel cheap or flimsy. Despite all of that trimming down, the body feels as solid as even. Even squeezing it trying to make it give, I wasn’t able to make it flex or give. The new covers for the mouse buttons are likewise solid and translate even more tactility.
To achieve that lightweight goal and increase battery life, a couple of other things have gotten the axe. First off, there’s no RGB on this mouse. In exchange, battery life jumps from 70 hours up to 80 and the weight drops another 2.7 grams. Likewise, this version of the Viper is no longer compatible with the charging dock. That saddens me because it was a genuinely cool-looking little device. At the same time, it really wasn’t much more efficient than just plugging in the mouse and was one more thing to manage on the desk. They’re notable losses for RGB fans but better for the competitive audience it’s intended to please.
On that note, let’s talk about the new sensor and switches because it’s bananas. The Viper V2 Pro features Razer’s new Focus Pro 30K sensor. It features a maximum DPI of 30,000. Though you probably won’t game at 30K, that expansiveness helps to ensure even higher accuracy at those lower levels you will game at (as sensors often become less accurate the higher they go — generally speaking). Even still, Razer quotes 99.8% resolution accuracy. Acceleration tops out at 70G. Max speed is 750 IPS.
Given that so many great mice do fall below the Viper V2 Pro, you might rightly wonder whether or not these differences are even something you’ll notice. Most (all?) of the competition is lower than this. The Aerox 9 Wireless from Steelseries (which also costs $149) tops out at 40G and 400 IPS. For me, the answer is no, not really. But since you’re not really paying more than other brand new flagship mice, why not take the more capable mouse?
And as a side bonus, since the mouse has such a high resolution, it’s finally able to track on clear glass.
The switches have also been upgraded this time around. They’re the same optical variety used in other Razer mice, but are “Gen 3,” which means improved tactility and durability. These buttons have the most satisfying click of any Razer mouse so far and are rated for 90 million presses. Since they’re optical, you don’t have to worry about the dreaded double click issue that occurs when mechanical switches fail. At this point, I’ve used many of Razer’s optical switch mice and have never had one fail or double click, so stand behind this design.
Other changes: the mouse uses USB Type-C now and is easier to plug in. The shape of the PTFE has been changed to improve glide: not a problem in the original and even better now. The left thumb buttons also stick out ever so slightly more, so they’re less prone to accidental presses.
Let’s see how it performed!
Razer Viper V2 Pro - Performance
I tested the Razer Viper V2 Pro as my daily driver for a week. I played Battlefield 2042, World of Warcraft, Doom Eternal, Control, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. I also used it for work and web browsing. All of the things, all of the time.
Coming from the Viper Ultimate, one of my biggest concerns was the lack of side grips. I’m in the camp that loves them and dislikes slippery mice. Thankfully, I didn’t need to be concerned. Even without textured grips, the V2 Pro stayed put in my hand. The surface isn’t entirely smooth, and the slight texturing works with the side curvatures to make for a steady, stable grip.
The grip tapes do their job fantastically. Almost too well, in fact. They’re substantially grippier than the Viper Ultimate, which led me to remove them and go nude through my gaming sessions. Ironically, the V2 Pro without grips feels closer to the OG Viper Ultimate.
The mouse feels as good as ever to use. Though I miss the RGB and pedestal, it lacks nothing in feel or glide ability. The reduced weight makes the mouse feel more like an extension of your hand than a normal peripheral. Dial in your DPI and you’ll find that it becomes second nature to flick and aim around the battlefield.
If you’re worried about the mouse being wireless, don’t be. The V2 Pro uses Razer’s Hyperspeed Wireless technology, which it claims is 25% faster than other wireless technologies. I don’t have the equipment to measure that claim, but what I can say is that it’s completely indiscernible from other high-end wireless mice. It’s just as responsive and reliable, without the need for a wire. With 80 hours of battery life, it doesn’t need to be recharged often, but when it does, you can still use it. The cable is Razer’s Speedflex, which is super soft and flexible, so doing so isn’t inconvenient either.
The new buttons are also very nice. Where the original Viper Ultimate’s felt rather lightweight and high-pitched, these are lower and more solid. Razer is coming for Logitech with the feel of these new buttons and has them beat in durability (50M versus Razer’s 90M).
And while it seems like a small thing, the changes to the side buttons really have made a difference. The one criticism I had with the Viper Ultimate was that I would hit both the right and left side buttons by mistake depending on my grip. With the right buttons gone and the left buttons less flush with the body of the mouse, I haven’t had any misclicks whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
I miss the RGB and I miss the charging stand, but the Razer Viper V2 Pro is the incredibly solid mouse I hoped it would be. With its new sensor, lighter body, and improved tactility, it’s one of the best gaming mice you can buy today. At $149.99, it’s flagship priced (and probably too expensive given the missing features compared to the Viper Ultimate) but if you’re looking for the best esports mouse Razer has to offer, this is it and it’s bound to satisfy.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
