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The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a much welcome update to a beloved classic

By Koh Wanzi - on 14 Jan 2020, 11:59pm

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a much welcome update to a beloved classic

Razer Deathadder V2

Razer has announced the DeathAdder V2, an updated version of its iconic gaming mouse. It's now far lighter and features the company's new 20,000DPI Focus+ optical sensor and optical mouse switches, so it's got all of Razer's latest tech crammed in.  

The DeathAdder has been a mainstay in the esports and gaming space since it was first introduced way back in 2006. Since then, it's become immensely popular, and there have been so many DeathAdder editions that I'm having trouble keeping track of all of them, from the DeathAdder Chroma and Elite to the multiple special game editions for hit games like Overwatch. There's even a left-handed version of the DeathAdder, testament to how much demand there has been for it. 

However, the DeathAdder isn't quite what comes to mind anymore when you think of a top gaming mouse today, what with the deluge of excellent ultra-light and wireless options available now. That said, if you like its right-handed, ergonomic shape, you'll be happy to know that the DeathAdder V2 is now a lot more competitive compared to today's slate of top mice. 

For starters, it weighs 82g compared to the Elite's 105g, a huge drop in weight that is immediately apparent when you pick it up. The cable has been upgraded as well, and it now uses the same soft and supple Speedflex cable that Razer has been putting on all its newer mice. In addition, the feet are pure PTFE and measure 0.8mm thick. These are the same ones used on the Viper Ultimate, and they were pretty smooth and slick on that mouse. 

Razer Deathadder V2

The optical mouse switches are the same as those used on the Viper mice. They're supposed to actuate faster since there's no need for any debounce delay, but my experience with both the wired Viper and Viper Ultimate says that better reliability aside, they really don't feel all that different.

Meanwhile, Razer says that it has made small tweaks to the DeathAdder's familiar shape in order to eliminate "unnecessary finger drag points" and reduce stress on your hands. The DeathAdder V2 is still a really big mouse however, and it's been designed specifically for palm and claw grip users with medium to large hands. 

The appearance of the DPI buttons has changed too. They still sit below the scroll wheel, but they're more square-ish than elongated now. The mouse will store up to five profiles in its onboard memory, each of which can be customised in Razer's Synapse 3 software. 

The DeathAdder V2 retails locally at S$109.90

Razer Basilisk V2

Separately, Razer also announced the Basilisk V2, which shares many of the same upgrades as the DeathAdder V2. However, it retains the distinctive feature of the Basilisk series with its signature DPI clutch paddle and customisable scroll resistance. The number of programmable buttons has also gone up from eight to 11 – this seems a little excessive for a mouse originally marketed to FPS players, but hey, I guess you have more options now. 

The Basilisk V2 will cost you S$129.90.

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