Introduction Of Razer Basilisk V3
(Razer Basilisk V3 ) PC gamers often like to use special mice for gaming. These mice are called gaming mice and they’re supposed to be more comfortable and fun to use compared to regular mice. Many mice claim to be gaming mice, but not all of them are really great for gaming or worth the higher price.
Razer makes a line of mice called Basilisk that are made for different types of games. The Razer Basilisk V3, which costs around $70, is the latest one and it’s really impressive.
Compared to the older Basilisk V2, the new V3 is $10 cheaper when it was released. It has more features that you can change, a special button for precise aiming, and a grip that feels better than another popular Razer mouse called DeathAdder V2. It’s great for many types of games, from big adventure games to fast shooting games. Not only that, it’s also good for regular computer tasks.
Razer made the buttons feel more solid and the scroll wheel can change how it feels without you needing to do anything special. All these features make the Basilisk V3 a top choice for gaming mice.
Specifications Of Razer Basilisk V3
Sensor Model | Razer Focus+ |
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Max Sensitivity | 20,000 native or 26,000 via software |
Polling Rates | 125, 500, or 1,000 Hz |
Programmable Buttons | 13 (including 5x scroll wheel) |
LED Zones | 11 |
Cable | 6 feet (1.8m) braided |
Connectivity | USB Type-A cable |
Measurements (LxWxH) | 5.11 x 2.36 x 1.65 inches (129.79 x 59.94 x 41.91mm) |
Weight (excluding cable) | 3.3 ounces (93.55g) |
Pros And Cons Of Razer Basilisk V3
Pros | Cons |
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Premium textured finish and shape | Scroll wheel can be clunky and loud |
Many well-placed, programmable buttons | |
Multiple scroll wheel inputs with adjustable modes | |
11 bright, customizable RGB zones |
Design Of Razer Basilisk V3
Some Razer computer mice might not seem very fancy when you first use them, but the Basilisk V3 is different. It looks and feels nice right away. The outside of the V3 is mostly a textured, dull black that feels durable and easier to hold than some other lighter, smoother mice, like the DeathAdder V2. The mouse has smooth plastic parts that make it look a bit like armor. And it looks pretty cool with 9 colorful zones on the bottom edge, plus lights around the scroll wheel and the snake logo on the palm area. The lights make my mouse pad look great, even in a bright room. When you’re playing games, you can easily see these colorful lights.
There are special grips on the left and right sides of the mouse where you put your fingers. These grips have small bumps that make them feel nice and give more grip. After playing games intensely for about 30 minutes, the grips got a little warmer but they weren’t slippery. After 2 hours, the rest of the mouse didn’t feel slippery or too sweaty.
Thumb paddle
The thumb paddle on the side of the mouse is a nice addition. It’s supposed to help you move your finger smoothly without it dragging. With the paddle there, my thumb couldn’t drag on the mouse pad, and even my pinky finger rarely did. But I think this is mostly because the mouse has a big hump. The thumb groove on the paddle and on the left side of the mouse lets you put your thumb in a good place and push the mouse easily. I found the thumb paddle to make using the mouse more comfortable, rather than making a big difference in gaming.
There are 3 buttons near the thumb that you can program to do different things. When you get the mouse, these buttons are set to go back and forth in a web browser, and there’s also a sniper button that makes the mouse move slower (400 counts per inch or whatever you choose). The scroll wheel also has 5 buttons that you can program, and there are 5 more buttons: the left and right click buttons, two buttons below the scroll wheel, and a button to change profiles on the bottom of the mouse.
Palm Touch
Razer says the Basilisk V3 is best for gamers who hold the mouse with their palm touching it and their wrist touching the mouse pad (palm grip) or those who don’t touch the mouse with their palm and still touch the mouse pad with their wrist (claw grip). I usually use a claw grip when I play games, but I like that I can use a palm grip for other tasks with this mouse.
Most mice don’t have a big enough hump for me to use a palm grip comfortably, but the Basilisk V3 is different. I could easily use a palm grip without my fingers getting in the way of the buttons, and I only had to adjust a little to reach the sniper button. It was also easy to hold the mouse in a claw grip because of the textured sides and grooves in the left and right click buttons. A lighter mouse might be easier to move quickly, but the PTFE feet on this mouse helped my movements feel smooth.
V3 Vs V2
With the thumb paddle, the way it fits your hand if you’re right-handed, and the layout of the buttons, the Basilisk V3 is very much like the V2. They have the same size and weight (5.11 x 2.36 x 1.65 inches and 3.30 ounces). Compared to other similar wired gaming mice for right-handed people, the Corsair Nights word RGB is similar but wider and heavier (5.08 x 3.38 x 1.72 inches, 4.2-4.97 ounces), while the Logitech G502 Hero is similar in size but heavier (5.2 x 2.95 x 1.57 inches, 4.3-4.93 ounces).
Right now, there’s only a wired version of the Basilisk V3, and it comes with a fabric-braided cable called Speedflex, which Razer includes with its best products. The cable is flexible and won’t slow you down. As of now, the closest thing to a Basilisk V3 without a cable is the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, which is like a wireless version of the V2. There’s also the Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed, which is wireless but has a lower-quality sensor and is cheaper than the V3.
Scroll Wheel on the Razer Basilisk V3
If you’re curious about what sets the Basilisk V3 apart from other gaming mice Razer sells, a big difference is in its scroll wheel.
The HyperScroll Tilt wheel is special because it can scroll freely (Free-Spin mode) or with notched movements (Tactile mode), where it scrolls line by line. The Tactile mode is good for tasks like switching weapons in games, while Free-Spin is helpful for going through long spreadsheets, making the Basilisk V3 useful for work too.
There’s a button below the wheel that switches between these modes. With the V3, there’s a new feature called Smart-Reel Mode that automatically switches to free scrolling if you scroll rapidly, making it more intuitive than before.
The Free-Spin scroll feels really smooth, almost like sliding down a water slide. The added RGB lighting around the wheel gives it a cool look. However, controlling it can be tricky. Sometimes when scrolling through a long document, it might stop a bit higher up on the page than intended.
Tactile Mode
In Tactile mode, every scroll makes a soft clicking noise, which can get louder if you scroll a lot. Occasionally, there might be a minor rattling when flicking the wheel in this mode. Switching between Tactile and Free-Scroll modes also produces a noticeable click and feel within the wheel. This noise gets even louder if you use Smart-Reel Mode.
The noise from the wheel didn’t disrupt my gaming much, although it was audible over the game sound. But for pro gamers who pay close attention to sounds, it might be distracting unless you use a good gaming headset to block it out. Some other mice, like the HP Spectre Rechargeable Mouse 700, also make noise when changing scroll wheel modes. However, the Logitech MX Master 3 does this more quietly.
Using Razer’s Synapse software, you can enable Scroll Acceleration, which makes the scroll faster the quicker you scroll. In Tactile mode, without Scroll Acceleration, the scroll was slower, but turning it on made it fast and a bit hard to control precisely. Scroll Acceleration didn’t seem to have as much impact in Free-Spin mode.
The Basilisk V3’s wheel offers more flexibility than most gaming mice wheels we’ve tested. Not only can you scroll up, down, and click programmably, but you can also set actions for pushing the wheel left and right. While the programming options are somewhat limited, they are better than what most competitors provide.
However, the Basilisk V3’s wheel, with all its functions, feels a bit heavy and clunky. It can occasionally wobble or move from side to side without activating an action, but this isn’t very noticeable during regular use unless you intentionally try to move it that way or move the mouse rapidly from side to side.
Gaming Experience Of Razer Basilisk V3
The Basilisk V3 has Razer’s top-notch sensor, the Focus+, which is the same optical sensor used in the Basilisk V2 and Razer’s best gaming mice. It has a maximum sensitivity of 20,000 CPI through hardware or 26,000 CPI with software, and it can move at a maximum speed of 650 IPS (inches per second), handling up to 50g in velocity. These specs are excellent for gaming, but many might not need such high sensitivity. Razer also notes that factors like polling rate and button switches can significantly impact your gaming success. Unlike Razer’s most eSports-oriented mice with 8,000 Hz polling rates, the Basilisk V3 tops out at 1,000 Hz.
Still, the Focus+ sensor is reliable, accurately tracking movements across various sensitivities. The sniper button swiftly reduces CPI to 400 (adjustable via Razer’s software) for quick headshots. However, mastering its use might require practice. Accessing the sensitivity clutch easily can enhance its effectiveness. I found it reachable with both palm and claw grips, but it took some practice to use without hitting other buttons accidentally.
Easy Access
The back and forward side buttons are conveniently placed for easy access without accidental presses. The left and right click buttons are responsive and guide fingers well for precise actions in games like Borderlands 3. The Basilisk V3 uses updated optical mechanical switches, offering tactile feedback but might require more effort to press repeatedly compared to other mice.
In a reaction time test, the Basilisk V3 performed well but comparing it directly to other mouse models isn’t straightforward due to differences in switches. Razer claims these switches can withstand up to 70 million clicks without issues like unintended double-clicking, often seen in gaming mice.
It’s suitable for FPS games due to its smooth movements and satisfying clicks. Moreover, its programmable buttons make it versatile for MMORPGs without being intrusive. The mouse’s weight might not suit those looking for an ultra-light mouse, but its design ensures smooth gliding during aggressive swipes.
Overall, the Basilisk V3 offers excellent performance for both FPS and MMORPG gaming, though its weight might not be ideal for those seeking an ultra-light mouse experience.
Features and Software
The Basilisk V3 mouse has great customization options. To make the most of it, you should get Razer Synapse. With this software, you can set different functions for the 9 programmable buttons (or 13 if you count the scroll wheel’s movements separately). There’s a lot you can do, like changing the mouse sensitivity or colors, using keyboard functions, and creating macros. You can also give extra functions to all buttons (except one) using HyperShift.
The mouse has 5 onboard profiles: the latest one used and 4 more you can save. This means you can use your preferred settings on another computer without needing to download anything. But some features, such as RGB lighting and macros, need Synapse to work.
Synapse saves all the built-in RGB effects and allows you to create your own lighting setups that can sync with other devices that support Razer Synapse. This includes products from other brands, like Thermaltake. The RGB can even match the in-game audio of certain games; right now, it works with 150 titles like Apex Legends and Fortnite.
The mouse’s Focus+ sensor is advanced and has extra features that might be hard to notice for most people. Smart Tracking makes sure the mouse still works when you lift it slightly off the mousepad, and asymmetric cutoff lets you adjust the distance for tracking after lifting the mouse. Manual calibration helps fine-tune settings for specific Razer mousepads and offers more customization for lift-off distance. These might not make a big difference unless you’re a very precise player, but you can try them out to see what suits you best.
Bottom Line
Gaming mice, especially those from Razer, can sometimes cost more than you might expect. The Razer Basilisk V3, priced at $70, justifies its cost in several ways. It feels more luxurious compared to lighter mice, like the Razer DeathAdder V2, due to its weight and different textures. Additionally, it offers more programmable buttons, including a scroll wheel with five programmable inputs that can change how it feels with a flick.
However, the scroll wheel can feel a bit awkward and may occasionally wobble, making a bothersome noise while scrolling. This noise might be irritating for professional gamers who heavily rely on in-game sounds and prefer a quieter experience. Moreover, for competitive gaming, the mouse might be too heavy compared to some other models. Although the scroll wheel doesn’t match the Logitech MX Master 3 or even the smaller Logitech MX Anywhere 3, it’s interesting to see similar technology becoming more accessible for gamers.
If you’re left-handed or prefer a symmetrical design, especially for a fingertip grip, the Basilisk V3 might not be suitable for you.
Furthermore, the Basilisk V3 is slightly more expensive than some excellent alternatives like the Corsair RGB Nightsword and Logitech G502 Hero. These mice have similar designs, are cheaper, and offer adjustable weights but are heavier than the Basilisk V3.
While the Basilisk V3 offers a bit more excitement, many gamers might find better value in choosing the more affordable Logitech or Corsair options. However, for gamers looking for a mouse with advanced features that push it to the top tier, the Basilisk V3 stands out. Its additional onboard profiles, programmability, impressive texture, and vibrant RGB zones make it a compelling choice for those seeking the best gaming experience.
"The Razer Basilisk V3 offers premium build quality, extensive programmability, and vibrant aesthetics, making it a top contender in the gaming mouse realm. However, its slightly heavier design and noisy scroll wheel might not suit all gamers' preferences. Overall, a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking advanced features and customization in their gaming gear."
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Design 9
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Performance 9
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Connectivity 7.5
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Price 8.8
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