The Razer Hex V2 Review

The Razer Naga has been on of PC gaming’s mainstays in mice for MMOs for some time now. But some folks prefer its cousin, the Hex, which is custom made for MOBA gaming with its 6 side buttons in a circle.  Well, the Hex V2 is here, and it sports an upgraded look, feel, performance and an extra side button to make the Hex for more than just MOBAs now.

Razer was kind enough to send me a unit of the new Hex V2 to look over ahead of today’s big reveal, and I have to say, I’m impressed. The visual design of Razer’s devices has only gotten slicker in recent years, with the Naga 2015 being the apex of their ergonomic and visual design chops. It’s a good thing then that the Hex V2 shares the identical body to the Naga 2015. The only real difference in design is the number and placement of the buttons on the side.

Sure enough, traditionally MMOs have needed as many keys as they can to operate well. That’s changed in recent years with games like Elder Scrolls Online, Guild Wars 2, Neverwinter, even The Division all requiring fewer keys be at your disposal any given time. I tested it out with all of the above, and it performed wonderfully in each case. It was awkward at first, due to the fact that 1-3 are on the upper half of the circle, and then it goes back down and left to circle around 4-7.  Like the Naga before it, it took some getting used to, but after an hour or so it became second nature.

The lighting on the Hex is Chroma, meaning you get the full glorious range of colors that you’re used to in most gaming peripherals these days. It uses a 5G, 16,000 DPI laser sensor ensures that every movement across any display setup registers. The mouse’s Chroma lighting works in sync with Overwatch, Blade & soul, and others. Using the Synapse software, you can customize the colors and profiles to your liking.  

While I can’t see myself turning away from the Naga, due to how many more games it seems appropriate for it’s hard to deny that its design and functionality are ideal for most games outside of your hotkey heavy MMORPGs. Like the Naga 2015, it’s build is solid, carries a sturdy but not too heavy weight, and the buttons stick out enough to be felt but aren’t too easy to accidentally push. It’s ideal for games like ESO, GW2, and so forth but even more appropriate for MOBAs like Heroes of the Storm, LoL, SMITE, and DOTA2.

To celebrate the launch of the mouse, Razer’s even hosting an amateur tournament called Razer Tournament 2016: Global Crusade. The prizes for winning are not announced just yet, but I’m betting it’s more than a few mice or keyboards. The mouse’s MSRP is $79.99, and is available today at the Razer Store.

Editor’s Note: Our review unit was provided by Razer’s PR department in advancement of the press release today.