Razer Viper Ultimate review: "Astonishing performance, but slightly lacking customization"

Holding the Razer Viper Ultimate for the first time, it’s difficult to comprehend how such performance can be so featherlight. At first glance, Razer’s ambidextrous esports mouse could be mistaken for cheap it’s so lightweight, but don’t be fooled - this isn’t your average pointer. Much like the standard Razer Viper or the smaller Razer Viper Mini, the tech packed inside such a streamlined shell makes for blitzing speed and accuracy. It's potentially the best wireless gaming mouse we've seen in the last year or so.

Features

The Razer Viper Ultimate packs a serious punch; a combination of a super lightweight frame and some considerable tech packed into it. While we never quite needed to hit that 20K DPI fully, the freedom to reach those lofty competitive heights is well worth considering if you're at tournament level. Plus, those Razer Optical switches are particularly snappy as well. 

We didn't detect any latency in our testing, thanks to that HyperSpeed wireless connection, and with an IPS of up to 650 we were flying across the board. It only took a few hours to reach a fully charged battery, but it's worth noting that the 70 hour battery life in much of Razer's marketing is based on a low level of play. With full RGB and plenty of settings whacked up, I was pushing for around 30 - 40 hours underhand. That's still pretty impressive, but don't expect three days of power here. 

Still, there are very few ambidextrous gaming mice with this spread available for competitive fps players these days. You're usually compromising on several factors when picking up a left-hand friendly pointer, or even just by going wireless with your lightweight design. 

Design

An unassuming aesthetic and slimline profile make the Viper Ultimate sit perfectly on any desk. There’s no glaring LEDs poking out of every corner, but a simple matte finish over the classic Razer logo makes a satisfying statement nonetheless.

This matte covering evades prints nicely, with a textured grip down each side keeping everything under your control to create an incredibly tight experience overall. In other words, it's pretty much the same as the standard Viper (a contender for best gaming mouse when it comes to first-person shooters).

If you’re looking for a mouse conducive to a lighter touch fingertip grip, the smaller profile and squat design makes the Viper Ultimate a seamless extension of yourself. If, however, you prefer a heavier claw design, you might struggle to gain purchase on the skinnier frame, especially with larger hands. If you’re looking for a gaming mouse designed to fit directly into an esports player’s hand, however, you’ll be after this lighter form factor anyway. 

Performance

The Razer Viper Ultimate may be light and sleek but it’s certainly not lacking in sheer power. Inside this nimble exterior sits some serious tech, with Razer’s optical sensors and switches working to deliver an effortless scan across the battlefield that still keeps up with twitch reflex clicks. 

The effect is just as noticeable in everyday work, and after a week’s continuous use in both work and play, switching from the larger Logitech G502 Hero to the Razer’s nimble form makes every pinpoint movement feel even fresher.

Speed, of course, isn’t everything. Rest assured however, the responsiveness of the Viper Ultimate doesn’t come at a detriment to its precision. Even the newest of PC gamers will appreciate the smooth tracking and astonishingly low latency. 

It’s not just fast for a wireless mouse either, spinning backwards to deliver a panicked headshot to an attacking Raptidon in The Outer Worlds, the Viper Ultimate served up a speed and accuracy that many a premium wired mouse would be proud of.

Overall - should you buy it?

The Razer Viper Ultimate gives a platter of premium tech, yet it still manages to present all that in a featherlight, ultra-responsive chassis. The result is impressive. 

That’s if you’re willing to pay, however. This pointer certainly doesn’t come cheap, especially considering the limited customization options in both programmable macro buttons and weight.