The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro marks the start of a new era.
Since the DeathAdder was first launched in 2006, Razer has made over 30 different iterations of the gaming mouse, including various special edition models.
But the DeathAdder has always retained the same ergonomic design. It is Razer’s most iconic mouse, and the contours of its shape have remained unchanged for over a decade and a half.
The DeathAdder V3 Pro is the first time that Razer has adjusted the shape — and after using it, you’ll be wondering why they didn’t do it sooner. The redesigned DeathAdder is a lot more comfortable than before, and its less aggressive ergonomic curve should help it appeal to even more folks.
- Razer Barracuda Pro review: Premium quality and comfort for your ears
- Razer Viper V2 Pro review: The new king of wireless gaming mice
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro sheds even more grams
Razer has dialed back the curves of the mouse. It now features reduced flaring at the sides and a more comfortable ledge for your ring finger. The goal of the redesign was to optimize the shape for better comfort, adding additional support points for the natural curves of your grip.
The hump is also slightly higher to provide even more support for your palm. This is unabashedly a palm grip mouse. If you favor the fingertip or claw grips, something like the Viper V2 Pro would work a lot better.
Other changes include a new split key cover design. Previously, the DeathAdder used the same piece of plastic for the entire top shell, which could introduce flex to the rest of the body with every button press. This new design should be more durable and helps improve the tactility of the switches.
The surface texture of the plastic also feels grippier, dispensing with the need for any rubberized sides or grip tape.
The other major upgrade is the drastic reduction in weight, where even the RGB lighting has been stripped out in the interest of shedding the grams. Razer has taken the weight down from 88g to just 63g. It may not seem like much, but it makes a world of difference. The new DeathAdder is nimbler, more agile, and feels far more sprightly in hand.
Everything else from the switches to the sensor and battery life has also been improved. The new third-generation optical switches are now rated for up to 90 million clicks (70 million before).
They are pleasantly crisp and responsive, in addition to being more reliable than mechanical switches. This is because they rely on light for actuation instead of metal contacts, eliminating potential double-clicking issues further down the road.
At the same time, they are quicker in theory, because there is also no need for any debounce delay. I should point out that there is really no discernible difference in practice though — they simply amount to a nice-to-have feature.
The good news is that the weight reduction doesn’t appear to have compromised build quality in any way. The scroll wheel features hollow spokes to dispense with the additional weight, while still remaining gorgeously tactile. There is also no flexing or creaking anywhere, even when pushing on the sides and bottom.
One nice benefit of the new Focus Pro 30K optical sensor is its ability to track on glass. Most gamers will probably already have a go-to mousepad, but the glass tracking provides some additional options should you also want to travel with the mouse. That aside, tracking is flawless in-game as expected.
The sensor also boasts better power efficiency, boosting battery life from 70 hours to 90 hours.
The HyperSpeed Wireless tech also appears as reliable as always. I did not experience any lag, jitter, or dropped connections, but there is also an adapter that lets you bring the dongle closer to you if required. The DeathAdder has finally made the transition to USB-C as well, an upgrade that has been a long time coming.
A HyperPolling Wireless dongle also enables a 4,000Hz polling rate. A higher polling rate allows the mouse to report the cursor’s position more frequently, delivering smoother tracking. Once again, this is all purely theoretical, and you’d be really hard-pressed to notice the difference in-game.
Unfortunately, the dongle is sold separately, and it’d have been nice to see it included with the mouse at no additional cost.
The DeathAdder V3 Pro is available to buy at US$149. It is, without a doubt, the best DeathAdder Razer has ever made, finally updating a classic to match its rivals. Its shape is not for everyone, but for DeathAdder fans, it is a godsend.
READ MORE: TUMI and Razer’s limited edition esports collection is designed for gamers on the go
