The Corsair Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG uses a magnesium-alloy chassis to keep its cool | Review

Corsair has been upping its mouse game recently. With the Sabre V2 Pro Ultralight storming the lightweight market and the Scimitar Elite Wireless SE excelling in all its button-laden glory. The brand isn't quite done with the Sabre line for now, though, and (despite generally hating the feel of a cut-out chassis), the Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG is one of my favorite rodents of the last few years.

Its main shtick is that magnesium alloy casing, a super durable but impressively cooling material that's been shaved back to still hold a 56g form factor. You're still getting the brand's top sensor and a super comfortable set of main clackers there, though. At $149.99 / £119.99, it's got some competition from the best gaming mouse models on the market, but if you're after a luxury feel, it's beating the big dogs right now.

Design

• Sturdy magnesium alloy frame doesn't compromise weight too much
• Cut-out sections could lead to issues later in life
• Satisfying cooling material

Onto that material, then. The Corsair Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG isn't a dense brick. In fact, there's still a significant amount of flex to the top of the body (and a few creaks when squeezing the bottom panel). It feels stronger than the Turtle Beach Burst 2 Pro, though the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX stays a little firmer in the hands when pushed and squeezed.

That's likely down to the shapes cut out of the main body of the Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG, a design that could well turn players off altogether. I'm not a massive fan of this feel day to day, and the Sabre uses particularly egregious cut-outs where other brands keep things simpler with smaller pin-holes or honeycomb patterns. While the feel of those gaps can get a little distracting in-game, though, they also provide a nice sense of grip around the back of the main dome in a palm hold.

In a claw grip, my hand naturally curves over them, benefiting from the drop in weight without sacrificing feel. There's a problem here, though. I don't know how long it's going to take foreign objects to make their way in through these large gaps, but I'm willing to bet it's not going to be fun when they do. There's a lot of space for dust and liquid to settle in here, and the exposed PCB is looking pretty vulnerable underneath.

Still, those holes manage to keep weight to a conservative 56g. That's admittedly far higher than the featherweight Corsair Sabre V2 Pro Ultralight at 36g, but it's still on par with other flagships using thinner plastics.

The sides keep that smooth magnesium alloy finish, but there's also grip tape included in the box if you'd prefer a little more purchase. I never experienced any slipping as they are during testing, but can see why a lighter grip may warrant some extra help.

The shape keeps things simple with a symmetrical profile and a gentle gradient. If you're used to slimmer FPS-first mice, you'll feel right at home here, though those looking for more thumb support or a base designed for a relaxed palm grip may struggle to stay comfortable.

Controls

• Standard two-button design
• DPI shifter underneath the mouse
• Satisfying spacing on the scroll wheel

Corsair keeps things simple here - this is a speed-focused rodent, after all. That means you've got all the usual two side buttons with extra controls packed away on the underside of the mouse.

These clackers are lightweight and easy to hit, with a crisp snap to each press. Actuation is perfectly balanced, sensitive enough to stay zippy on the battlefield but still sturdy to withstand accidental presses. Button placement is also naturally comfortable for a claw, fingertip, and palm grip.

Underneath, you'll find a toggle for power and wireless connection mode, toggling between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth options, as well as a DPI button. That's pretty common for esports-minded mice, with the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro opting to tuck the DPI shifter underneath the rodent. If you're looking for on-the-fly control, though, the Turtle Beach Burst 2 Pro has a top-side DPI button but it's pretty difficult to reach. The Razer Cobra Hyperspeed, however, offers a central DPI clicker for $50 less than the competition.

The scroll wheel lacks any side-to-side action, but feels tight and tactile under the finger. There's a fairly wide notch between each groove, but each step feels particularly precise - this is one of the best weapon-wheel experiences I've had so far.

Software

• Lightweight web-based controls
• Support for all daily customization options
• Reliable and intuitive

Like many brands, Corsair is rapidly moving away from downloadable configurator tools. Instead, the Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG is personalized via the Corsair Web Hub program running in-browser. That means you've got access to everything from key assignments to DPI presets as a webpage rather than a full download.

Anything that leaves iCue in the gutter is worth celebrating.

Everything is clearly laid out and quick adjustments to macros and DPI settings are simple. It's the former that often trips up web-based software, removing the ability to record and save macro customizations (Glorious falls victim to this). Everything just works here.

My only gripe (and it's pretty much insignificant considering how small it is) is the fact that sensor features like lift height and angle snapping are hidden away in a separate 'Device Settings' menu that doesn't quite feel as polished as the rest of the system.

Connection

• Versatile Bluetooth connection included
• 8,000Hz 2.4GHz polling rate

A rarity among esports-focused gaming mice, the Corsair Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG uses both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth to connect wirelessly. While the latter isn't going to take advantage of the rodent's top speeds, it's still excellent from a productivity and versatility standpoint. Similarly priced competitors like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX and Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro drop the connection completely. Of course, you can also just plug in as well.

There's an 8,000Hz polling rate in here for the ultra-competitive, but most players won't need to move too far past the standard 1,000Hz as battery life takes a significant hit higher up the scale. That's pretty common even among the best wireless gaming mouse models on the market.

Battery

• 120 hours on 1,000Hz / 2.4GHz
• Beats Logitech's Superlight 2
• Short of Razer's DeathAdder V4 Pro

Corsair claims that a standard 2.4GHz connection running at 1,000Hz will last you 120 hours, 10 hours more than Logitech's Superlight 2 range but 30 hours less than the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro. Considering the Ultralight only has enough juice for 70 hours, that's pretty good going.

I ran the Corsair Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG as I usually would for two weeks. That's around eight hours of work, sleep mode for a little while, and then a couple hours of gaming if the wind's blowing in the right direction. At this pace, I only needed to plug in once, largely matching the brand's suggested battery life.

Of course, that juice time is extended up to 170 hours on Bluetooth, but running at the full 8,000Hz will cut things down to just 21 hours.

Sensor

• Smooth tracking across a variety of surfaces
• Solid sensor specs for the price
• Razer and Logitech IPS is higher

At this point in gaming mouse design, any brand that messes up its sensor has much bigger problems to worry about. The Sabre V2 Pro Wireless MG uses the Corsair Marksman S sensor, capable of running up to 33,000 DPI with a 750 IPS tracking speed and 50G acceleration. That's a fairly standard sensor that tracks just as fast as it needs to while still maintaining stability during faster movements and across different surfaces. It's rare that I come across a mouse sensor from a major gaming brand that doesn't tick these boxes, though.

Instead, it's worth noting that you're missing a little extra IPS tracking speed compared to Logitech's Hero 2 sensor (888 IPS) and Razer's Focus Pro Gen-2 (900 IPS). Both also extend to higher DPI sensitivities, but it's this max tracking speed that actually separates truly competitive mice from casually fast ones.

Of course, that's information for the tournament-level players among us. In my more casual CS2 runs, I never experienced any drops in tracking and everything responded just as it should.

Switches

• Slightly larger travel distance than true competitive mice
• Snappy and satisfying

Each main click is serviced by an unnamed mechanical switch, but it still feels crisp and clacky under the fingertips. It's got a larger travel distance than you'll find in slightly more premium alternatives, which means repeat presses aren't quite as natural. There's instead a fraction of a second's resistance behind each click that will detract from a pro's top speed, but won't make much of a difference to the rest of us.

It's a nicely sharp sound and feel overall, though, with a soft landing that keeps things rattle-free and comfortable.

Should you buy the Corsair Sabre Pro Wireless MG?

The Corsair Sabre Pro Wireless MG has plenty going for it. That magnesium alloy construction holds a particularly luxurious finish that does wonders for temperature control in particular. The surface is refreshingly cool no matter whether I've been gripping this mouse for hours of gameplay or I'm returning to it for the first time in the morning. That in itself could well be reason to investigate the Sabre Pro Wireless MG, anyone who feels the struggle of a sweaty palm during heated gameplay moments will appreciate this pretty unique construction.

It's also impressive that Corsair has managed to use this denser material without inflating the weight too far. Yes, it's not as lightweight as the Sabre V2 Pro Ultralight, but it's still up there with the best from Razer and manages to beat Logitech's plastic flagships as well. Whether or not the holes on the back (and the lint they will inevitably allow inside) are worth that low weight might be a different question.

At the end of the day, the Corsair Sabre Pro Wireless MG is cheaper than Razer and Logitech's flagships. At $149.99 it's by no means a mid-ranger, but it leans more into style and feel than raw performance specs, shaving between $10 and $30 off the final price compared to the top dogs. If that magnesium alloy construction appeals, it's well worth the leap for both casual and competitive players. However, if you're after a low-weight gaming mouse that still feels solid in the hand this isn't enough for me to stop recommending the V2 Pro Ultralight.

How I tested the Corsair Sabre Pro Wireless MG

I used the Corsair Sabre Pro Wireless MG for two weeks, spending a few days with a couple of other mice in the rotation as well. During that time I was using the rodent for my daily work as well as play and more direct testing in the evening. That meant it was up against CS2, Planet Coaster, Doom: The Dark Ages, and The Sims 4. I tested in both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connection modes, with polling rates set to 1,000Hz for two weeks and 8,000Hz for a few days separately. For more information on how we test gaming mice, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

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