Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro: Specifications
Maximum DPI: 30,000
Tests: 5
Mate: 5.0 x 2.7 x 1.7 in
Weight: 2.2 ounces
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is a fine example of a good idea, taken too far. At just 2.2 grams, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is in the running for the lightest wireless gaming mouse on the market. But unlike its more compact brethren, the DeathAdder V3 Pro feels clunky and inconsiderable, like it’s just a hollow replica rather than a complex gaming device. While you can always lower the dot-per-inch (DPI) sensitivity to compensate, when you pick up this mouse, you’ll have to learn how to game with a light touch.
For a $150 mouse, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is also surprisingly bare. It has no Bluetooth functionality, no RGB lighting and only two extra buttons. The design is also not nearly as comfortable as that of the Razer DeathAdder V2.
On the other hand, the weight of the DeathAdder V3 Pro is impressive in its own right, as is the fact that Razer spread that weight over a standard gaming mouse chassis. The fact that the mouse has absolutely no external features can also be a selling point for esports enthusiasts, who want as little distance as possible between themselves and their games. Still, the DeathAdder V3 Pro has too many caveats and too niche audience to be a strong contender for the best gaming mouse. Read on for our full Razer DeathAdder V3 review.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review: Design
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is similar to the DeathAdder V2, although there are subtle differences that longtime fans will likely notice. The V3 Pro has fewer buttons than the V2, as well as a slightly lower profile and much lighter weight (2.2 ounces vs. 3.1 ounces). While the DeathAdder V2 has two additional face buttons, the V3 Pro keeps it simple: a left button, a right button, a clickable scroll wheel and two thumb buttons.
There is a power/DPI button on the bottom of the mouse, which is much more of an inconvenience than I thought it would be. While the DPI button on the bottom of the mouse isn’t unheard of, most mice don’t look or feel like the DeathAdder V3 Pro. The device is incredibly light, but has the same size and shape as a regular gaming mouse. As such, the peripheral doesn’t feel substantial, like there’s nothing in it at all. The look of the mouse does not match how the mouse feels. Adjusting DPI helps offset this unusual design decision, which is why it doesn’t feel intuitive to relegate the DPI button to the bottom of the mouse.
Sure, you can reprogram the DPI button, but then you’ll be sacrificing one of the valuable face or thumb buttons.
While the DeathAdder V3 Pro’s weight is its biggest selling point, it’s also one of the mouse’s biggest weaknesses. I never felt like I had good control over where the mouse was or where it was going, even if I lowered the DPI on purpose. Esports enthusiasts may find something to like here, especially since most lightweight mice are much smaller, which isn’t comfortable for players with big hands. But for everyday gaming, a medium-weight mouse — or a lightweight mouse with a smaller profile — might be more comfortable.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review: Features
I have doubts about the extra features of the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro. To be clear, the device doesn’t have that many. Unlike comparable high-end wireless gaming mice, including the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro and the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE, the DeathAdder V3 does not support Bluetooth, which inherently limits the number of systems it can work with. There is also no RGB lighting. You could argue that these features aren’t strictly necessary in a high-end esports mouse, and that argument has some merit. But for a whopping $150, the DeathAdder V3 Pro feels like it should come with a bell or whistle, aside from the lightweight design.
If you want to change the mouse options, you can use the competent Razer Synapse software. Here you can adjust the DPI (up to 30,000 – which you will never need, but a high DPI is often the mark of a good sensor), reprogram buttons, change the polling rate and set profiles for individual games and apps. You can also calibrate the mouse to match the surface it’s on, which is admittedly a useful feature for casual and competitive players alike.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review: Performance
Technically, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro performed beautifully in my tests. Got it through Age of Empires IV, Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy XIV, and found that the mouse parsed my commands quickly and accurately every time. I paid special attention to Age of Empires IV, where moving my cursor around the map, selecting groups of villagers and soldiers, positioning buildings and clicking enemies has to be perfect – especially for players with a more competitive bent . The DeathAdder V3 had satisfying clicks and perfect response time across the board.
The problem, however, was that the mouse tended to move in all directions, even if I lowered the DPI. The learning curve for a 2.2-ounce mouse that resembles a 4-ounce mouse is high, it turns out. In Final Fantasy XIV in particular, I was constantly overshooting what I was trying to click, leading to the occasional disaster in a multiplayer dungeon run. The big, sweeping movements you get with such a light mouse feel tiring after a while, and more than once I wished the mouse had adjustable weights. Even a little more weight would have gone a long way.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review: verdict
While the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro may be just what a small subset of esports players are looking for, I find it much harder to recommend it to the average PC gamer. The design and weight don’t match, and it leads to a jarring, inaccurate experience that just won’t feel comfortable for most games.
If you want a wireless DeathAdder, the DeathAdder V2 Pro is the way to go. If you want an ultra-light wireless esports mouse, I’d personally go for the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, which also weighs 2.2 ounces and costs $150, but seems to distribute the weight a little better. The DeathAdder V3 Pro is worth considering, but ultimately it won’t be for everyone.
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