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Processors and graphic cards might be the most exciting purchases when building a gaming PC, but they are not the only hardware that needs to be given due consideration. In some cases, users can spend a dozen hours per day on their computers, be it for work or entertainment purposes; consequently, they will be constantly interacting with their keyboards and mice. Picking the optimal peripheral can make a world of difference.
One of the leading names in the world of gaming mice, Razer has a number of highly regarded products on the market. While theDeathAdder V2 Miniand the Naga Trinity are excellent, theRazer Basilisk V3is arguably the manufacturer’s crowning achievement. This article will cover the Basilisk V3’s strengths, shortcomings, and features.
Comfortable, customizable, and slick, the Basilisk V3 is tailor-made for gaming.
All in all, the Basilisk V3 is comfortable, customizable, and slick, the Basilisk V3 is tailor-made for gaming, and the Razer Synapse app brings out the best in the peripheral. The gadget is also a fine pick for casual and office use.
Razer Basilisk V3 Gaming Mouse
The Razer Basilisk V3 is a well-constructed mouse by an established manufacturer. Even among Razer mice, this is one of (if not the) best.
Get theRazer Basilisk V3 gaming mousenow on Amazon at 43% off, priced at just $39.98 for a limited time.
In the two weeks leading up to this review, the Basilisk V3 was used as the primary mouse in both a work and gaming setting.
3.56 oz (101 g) – Cable Not Included
5.11 in (130 mm)
2.36 in (60 mm)
1.67 in (42.5 mm)
Length of Wire (Measured)
Approx. 75 in (190 cm)
Aesthetically, the Razer Basilisk V3 is not a significant departure from its immediate predecessor, opting to stick to a black plastic body with an ergonomic thumb rest. This mouse has quite a low-key design, and most of its flare comes from the RGB Chroma lighting that adds visual effects to the logo, wheel, and the mouse’s feet.
Store & Swap Configurations Button
Yes
The Razer Basilisk V3 has 11 buttons, including a Cycle Up Profile switch on the bottom of the mouse that allows users to swap between custom onboard profiles. The Basilisk V3 has three side buttons near the thumb rest:Mouse Button 4, Mouse Button 5, and a Sniper Button. All three are accessible, responsive, and satisfying to click.
The Basilisk V3’s HyperScroll Tilt Wheel comes with two styles of scrolling:Tactile and Free-Spin. The former provides a precise and slightly loud experience while the latter delivers speed and silence. Users can switch between Tactile and Free-Spin by selecting theScroll Mode Toggle buttonfound directly underneath the wheel.
Besides scrolling, the wheel contains three additional buttons:the standard central scroll click and left & right presses. The latter buttons are a bit unintuitive and can lead to unwanted actions, but they have their uses as keyboard or multimedia shortcuts.
Lastly, theDots Per Inch (DPI) buttonis found below the Scroll Mode Toggle. This option cycles through up to five sensitivity stages, altering the speed of the mouse’s movement. The preset levels are 400, 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400; however, these can be changed within the Razer Synapse app.
Please note that buttons can be reprogrammed or disabled in the Razer Synapse app (more on this later).
Comfort
The Razer Basilisk V3 is comfortable to the touch, and that extends to the body, the thumb rest’s texture, and buttons. The mouse has an ergonomic design intended to minimize discomfort during long play sessions.It should be a good fit for most hand sizes orgrip preferences.
That said,the Basilisk V3 is not a lightweight mouse, so people who prefer to use a Tip grip might experience some fatigue during lengthy sessions. In contrast to the Basilisk V3’s 3.56 oz (101 g), theRazer Viper V2 Pro comes in at just 2.04 oz (58 g), and there are many other mice that are at a similar or slightly higher weight.
As a medium-sized mouse, the Basilisk V3 is ideal for almost every hand size; however, people with small hands are likely to find more ideal options on the market.
After operating the Basilisk V3 for between 8-12 hours per day over a two-week period, no discomfort was experienced.
Portability & Wireless
TheRazer Basilisk V3 is only available wired, which does hamper its portability and accessibility. It cannot be connected to a computer via Bluetooth, so a USB port needs to be available.The mouse’s Speedflex cable is long and of good quality, so there should not be much issue linking the peripheral to a Desktop.
Ultimately, the Basilisk V3 is intended to form part of a PC station. While the item can always be stuffed into a laptop bag if necessary, there are better mice out there if portability is someone’s top priority.
100 – 26000
650
Polling Rates
125, 500, 1000 Hz
The Basilisk V3 utilizes the Razer Focus+ sensor, the same technology used by its predecessor and other products such as the DeathAdder V2 and Viper Ultimate.The Focus+’s selling point is its Smart Tracking feature, which allows the mouse to automatically optimize itself to match a new surface or mouse pad. This is mainly for Lift Off and Landing Distance, which determines how far the mouse can be off the surface and still register movement.
When it comes toDots Per Inch, the Basilisk V3 supports from 100 to 26000. DPI determines the number of pixels that are covered when the mouse is moved on the pad. The optimum DPI varies greatly from person to person and purpose to purpose; for example, someone with a 4K monitor will need a higher DPI than a player using a 1080p screen. The Basilisk V3’s wide range means it is suitable for basically all set-ups.
Inches Per Second (IPS) refers to the mouse’s ability to keep up with high-speed movement. The Basilisk V3 should accurately track hand movement up to 650 inches per second, which is far beyond human capabilities. While this peripheral does have a higher limit than quite a few of its contemporaries, IPS should not be an issue for most modern gaming mice.
Last but definitely not least, the Basilisk V3 supports three Polling Rates:125, 500, and 1000 Hz. The Polling Rate determines the frequency the mouse sends data to the computer; the higher the rate, the more responsive the cursor’s movement will be. The Basilisk V3’s default is 1000 Hz, and there is not much reason to switch to a lower rate as that simply increases the mouse’sinput lag.
The Basilisk V3’s sensor is top-notch and combines beautifully with the mouse’s high-quality feet to ensure aresponsive, smooth, and low latency experience.
Razer Synapse 3
Windows 10 64-bit/11
Almost anyone who picks up a modern Razer product will need to installRazer Synapse 3and, if they wish,Razer Cortex. The latter is a general program designed to optimize a PC for gaming sessions, and it comes with a Game Booster, System Booster, and a launcher that permits users to collect different libraries from stores such asSteam, Origin, and Ubisoft Connect. Along with a Deals section that monitors giveaways and bundles, Cortex also keeps track of Razer’s recent Rewards programs. During a play session, Cortex offers the possibility to monitor FPS and overall playtime, along with a few other things.
Cortex can be useful, butRazer Synapse is the central software for overseeing the company’s products. Through this app, players can, for instance, customize the Basilisk V3’s buttons, change the DPI sensitivity stages, tweak the RGB’s brightness, and switch between Smart Tracking and Manual Calibration. Most importantly,the Synapse allows people to create and save mouse configurations as profiles, five of which are stored within the Basilisk V3. By selecting the Cycle Up Profile button on the base of the mouse, players can switch to another profile; like that, people can have configurations ready to go for a wide range of games.
Buttons can be assigned the following functions and inputs on Synapse:
Those are just some basic functions of Razer Synapse, but the tool can be expanded through the installation of additional modules and services. For example, gamers who want to create command chains can installMy Macros, whileChromaStudioallows people to personalize the Basilisk V3’s RGB lighting effects.
Overall, Razer Synapse is an easy-to-use and flexible tool that greatly expands the Basilisk V3’s functionality. For the most part, the app runs well, although My Macros did produce some lag and even caused the program to crash at one point.
MacOS Users
Unfortunately,Razer Synapse 3 is not supported by macOS, and Apple users will have to install Razer Synapse 2. While this version of the app permits multiple profiles to be created, it does not allow them to be stored within the Basilisk V3. Consequently, macOS users will not be able to swap between profiles by selecting the Cycle Up Profile button.
Other Key Features
The Razer Basilisk V3 is designed specifically with gaming in mind, and that is reflected in its key features. The 11 programmable buttons provide players with a wide range of possibilities so they can adapt the mouse to suit their needs, and these configurations can be swapped at just a moment’s notice due to the peripheral’s ability to store profiles.
Razer Hypershift
Players can have more than one set of inputs to work with.Basilisk V3 supports Razer Hypershift, which stores a secondary set of commands that can be temporarily activated by selecting a player-assigned button.
On Razer Synapse, each profile has a Standard and Hypershift mode that can have entirely different inputs. If the Standard selection includes one switch that is assigned to Razer Hypershift, pressing and holding that button will activate the secondary commands. Essentially, it works similar to a SHIFT or CTRL shortcut.
Using the above image as an example, when the Razer Hypershift button is held, the mouse’s inputs will become F1 to F11 shortcuts.
Scroll Acceleration & Smart-Reel
Another feature that can be activated on Razer Synapse,Scroll Acceleration does exactly what it advertises: the faster the user scrolls, the quicker the page will fly by. While a neat idea, the acceleration happens quite suddenly, making it hard to control.
Smart-Reel automatically switches from Tactile to Free-Spin when the user flicks the scroll wheel quickly. Again, it is not a must-use feature, and the noise the Basilisk V3 makes when it swaps between the two modes can get grating.
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Conclusion - 4.3/5
TheRazer Basilisk V3is a well-constructed mouse by anestablished manufacturer. Even among Razer mice, this is one of (if not the) best. As stated in the intro, it is a great choice for a gaming mouse and works just fine as an office mouse as well. As I write this review, the mouse is currently on sale on Amazon for just under $50, which is an amazing bang-for-your-buck gaming mouse that will last you many years. Even at it’s full price of $70, this is a certified buy. Happy gaming!
Similar Products
The Razer Basilisk V3 is a flexible mouse, one of the best on the market. That said, there are other Razer mice that might be better suited for someone’s needs.
FAQ
Q: How do we test gaming mice?
The chosen mouse is used as the reviewer’s main peripheral for an extended period of time prior to the creation of the review. It is tested in an office, casual, and gaming setting.
Q: What is the best DPI for gaming?
This depends on you, the game you are playing, your mouse quality (high DPI on a low-quality mouse will not be a good combination, ever) and the in-game sensitivity settings. There is a very soft consensus on keeping DPI at800 + changing in-game mouse sensitivity. This is because high DPI, while smoother, can hurt aim by requiring the player to be too precise and preventing the formation of muscle memory.
Pro players exist along the entire spectrum of DPIs, mouse sensitivities and even grips.
Q: Is a vertical mouse worth it?
While they are not suitable for gaming, avertical mouseis worth considering if someone experiences pain while holding a standard mouse.
The Razer Basilisk V3 does not have a left-handed edition.
Q: What is the best way to hold a gaming mouse?
There is no singular best way to hold a gaming mouse.Palm, Claw, and Tip grips all have their uses.
Q: How to choose a gaming mouse?
First and foremost, define the purpose of the mouse: will it be used exclusively for gaming? Will a specific genre be prioritized? After that, establish a budget, and research the market to get a thorough idea of the available candidates. It is advised to stick to well-known brands like Razer, Logitech, and SteelSeries. Important decision criteria are comfort, features such as extra buttons for versatility in gaming and accurate scrolling, sensor quality and the software that accompanies it, as well as build quality.Here are some more important things to consider when buying a gaming mouse.
