Expectations were huge when Razer presented the V3 Pro, a new edition of the popular esports gaming mouse, at the end of April. After all, we described its predecessor, the V2 Pro, as “the best Razer mouse to date” in our test at the time. For the new edition, the manufacturer has reduced the weight, but otherwise made significant technical improvements, as our Razer Viper V3 Pro review reveals.
Technical data
| The product | Viper V3 Pro |
| Ergonomics | Symmetrical (for right-handers) |
| Sensor | Razer Focus Pro Gen 2 35K |
| Sensor type | Optical |
| DPI | 100 – 35.000 |
| IPS | 750 |
| Acceleration | 70G |
| Polling rate | 8.000 Hz |
| Hardware acceleration | None |
| Number of keys | 6 (6 programmable) |
| Material | ABS plastic |
| Switches | Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 |
| Weight | 54 grams |
| Dimension | 127.1 mm x 63.9 mm x 39.9 mm |
| Cable length / material | 1.8 meters / fabric sheathing |
| Connection | USB type A to USB type C |
| Connectivity | Wireless (2.4 GHz receiver); wired |
| Battery life |
|
| Price | € 179.00 * |
Razer Viper V3 Pro review: Not much new in terms of design
- simple black design
- excellent workmanship, but…
- … very susceptible to fingerprints
Visually, the Razer Viper V3 Pro is one of the simplest gaming mice in the manufacturer’s repertoire. The rodent is kept simple in a glossy black color, which is unfortunately also very susceptible to fingerprints, as is typical for the manufacturer.
Like its predecessor, the gaming mouse does not have RGB lighting and there are no rubberized surfaces or similar details. Compared to its direct predecessor, even the round, stepped edges have been reduced so that the Viper V3 Pro now has a uniform body.
The two primary buttons are interrupted by a pleasantly ribbed scroll wheel, in front of which now sits the status LED, which was located behind it on the predecessor. The two side buttons are easily accessible on the left, making the gaming mouse particularly interesting for right-handed users despite its symmetrical shape.
Why the power and DPI buttons are still located on the underside is a mystery to me. So if you want to adjust the resolution when gaming, you’re left out in the cold. On the other hand, the PTFE glide feet are now much more generous, measuring 2.5 cm at the top and bottom of the rodent.
At 54 grams, the weight of the new Viper has also been reduced slightly. The gaming mouse actually feels extremely light in the hand and, despite a difference of just 2 grams, appears significantly lighter than the Keychron M3 Mini (our test), for example.
Nevertheless, there is nothing to complain about in terms of the workmanship of the Razer mouse, apart from the very fragile housing.
Performance and sensor test
- 35.000 DPI sensor
- 8.000 Hz polling rate, but only wireless
While not much has changed visually on the Razer Viper V3 Pro, the gaming mouse has noticeably improved under the hood. The reason for this is the new 2nd generation Focus sensor, which now achieves a resolution of 35,000 DPI at 750 IPS tracking speed and 70G acceleration.
The sensor feels even more precise and faster than its predecessor, which had a resolution of 30,000 DPI. It recognizes mouse movements even when the Viper V3 Pro is lifted from the surface and implements them accurately.
Another strength of the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which is also a weakness, is the extremely high polling rate. Up to 8,000 Hz is offered in wireless mode – Razer includes the Hyperpolling wireless dongle in the scope of delivery.
The construction of connecting the USB-C dongle with the included cable and placing it on the table may seem a little adventurous, but it works.
With such a high polling rate, mouse movements are implemented almost latency-free in just 0.125 milliseconds, which makes a noticeable difference in direct comparison to common values of 1,000 Hz or 2,000 Hz.
On the other hand, it is a pity that a maximum of 1,000 Hz is achieved when using a wired connection, although this is of course absolutely sufficient for most users. In games, especially competitive shooters, the eightfold resolution really makes a positive impact. All movements feel incredibly precise and fast.
I have to admit that the gaming mouse is also great fun for left-handers and the two side buttons don’t protrude too far out of the housing, which means that it is easy to use.
It’s a shame that the gaming mouse only has a single onboard profile. Although all buttons can be assigned completely freely and can also be assigned twice using HyperShift, one or two more profiles would still have been nice.
The battery runtime: At 8,000 Hz it is negligible
- Up to 95 hours runtime
- but only 17 hours at 8,000 Hz
According to the manufacturer, the Razer Viper V3 Pro can run for up to 95 hours. However, this only applies to the lowest sampling rate of 1,000 Hz, but marks a really good and absolutely competitive value.
The higher the sampling rate is set in the Synapse app (six levels of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 Hz are possible here), the faster the battery life decreases. Up to 2,000 Hz, a good 60 hours are still possible.
At full polling rate, however, the runtime is a meagre 17 hours, meaning that the mouse runs out of breath after a good three intensive days (some people can certainly manage two days). At least the Viper switches itself off after a few minutes of inactivity. This value can be adjusted in Synapse between one minute and 15 minutes.
Razer Viper V3 Pro test: Conclusion
The Razer Viper V3 Pro proves to be a high-quality and extremely powerful gaming mouse that is superior to its direct predecessor in all respects. However, the smooth surface offers little grip and also magically attracts fingerprints.
Personally, I found the shape and structure of the Viper V2 Pro much more comfortable, as it has improved the grip somewhat. You also have to like the adventurous construction of the cable and dongle on the desk.
However, if you are prepared to accept this, the Razer Viper V3 Pro is an extremely high-performance wireless gaming mouse that is at the forefront in terms of sensor and 8,000 Hz sampling rate.
However, this comes at the expense of battery life, as the maximum polling rate ends at around 17 hours. The price of around 180 euros is also quite steep – even by Razer standards.
However, this also makes it clear which target group Razer is addressing with the new gaming mouse. The rodent is aimed at professional and ambitious esports enthusiasts – a tool for professionals who are happy to dig a little deeper into their pockets for maximum performance. And are then rewarded with the Razer Viper V3 Pro.
Most normal gamers will also get their money’s worth, but will find comparable rodents on the market that come with a significantly lower price tag.
Razer Viper V3 Pro
Workmanship
Features
Ergonomics
Software
Value For Money
89/100
Ultra-precise and lightweight esports mouse with an impressive sensor, but with a meagre battery life at maximum performance and a lack of grip.
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