When Corsair introduced their new Harpoon RGB Wireless gaming mouse would price simply £49 / $50 again in January earlier this 12 months, I believed there have to be some form of catch. A wi-fi gaming mouse for a mere $50? You have to be having amusing. Now, I do know I haven’t reviewed that many wi-fi gaming mice to date, however the two I have checked out, specifically my best gaming mouse champ, the Logitech G Pro Wireless, and Razer’s Mamba + FireFly Hyperflux combo, will each set you again not less than 100 quid, if not considerably extra. Is Corsair’s new cordless competitor actually all it’s cracked as much as be? Here’s wot I believe.
Based on the common model of Corsair’s Harpoon RGB mouse, the brand new wi-fi mannequin appears to be like kind of precisely the identical as its wired sibling. It’s bought the identical rubbery textured grip on both aspect of the mouse, plus an equivalent pair of programmable buttons alongside the right-handed sculpted thumb groove in addition to a central DPI button. The solely distinction is that the latter button now has a little bit RGB LED alongside the highest of it that will help you establish which of its 5 DPI / sensitivity settings you at present have enabled. Otherwise, it’s just about equivalent.
The fundamental distinction (aside from the very fact it’s wi-fi) is its new PMW3325 sensor, which bumps the unique Harpoon’s most velocity of 6000 DPI all the way in which as much as 10,000. You’re in all probability by no means going to want that additional 4000 DPI in all honesty – not until you’ve bought bionic eyes that may by some means detect subatomic-level actions throughout the display screen – but it surely by no means hurts to have the additional little bit of flexibility.
It’s additionally a fraction heavier than the outdated Harpoon, now weighing 99g versus 85g. It nonetheless feels a lot mild sufficient to maneuver round comfortably, although, and at no level did I really feel prefer it was a chore to swish it left and proper whereas I used to be enjoying games. I believe that’s as a result of it’s a bit brief and stubbier than different gaming mice I’ve been utilizing lately, so it doesn’t really feel like such a wodge underneath the palm. Corsair really say it’s extra of a ‘claw-grip’ model mouse versus a palm or fingertip-style mouse, however I bought on completely advantageous with it it doesn’t matter what place I occurred to have my fingers in on the time.
The fundamental enchantment, in fact, is the very fact it has each 2.4GHz wi-fi help and low-latency Bluetooth because of Corsair’s new Slipstream tech. With a claimed vary of as much as 65ft and apparently twice the velocity of Corsair’s final gen wi-fi customary, Slipstream makes a compelling elevator pitch, particularly since Corsair say it’s additionally in a position to always seek for the most effective frequency by way of its new Intelligent Frequency Shift characteristic (or IFS) to assist maintain your wi-fi connection good and steady.
Now I’ve bought all method of wi-fi units at house, and in apply I’ve to say it held up extremely properly. During day by day use, I couldn’t detect any distinction in any way in comparison with Logitech’s G Pro Wireless mouse, and it felt equally responsive when enjoying games, too – which isn’t any imply feat contemplating its considerably cheaper price. The solely minor bugbear I had throughout testing was that it generally took the Harpoon RGB Wireless a beat to get up after I’d stopped utilizing it for some time, which I’ve by no means needed to fear about with the Logitech. Still, it’s a really small criticism within the grand scheme of issues, and one thing I’m very happy to place up with given it’s a lot cheaper.
Turn the mouse over and you’ll change between its 2.4GHz wi-fi and Bluetooth modes by way of the little change on the stomach of the mouse, in addition to open up the small plastic flap to retailer its Slipstream USB dongle.
Another space the place the Logitech has the Corsair beat is battery life. While each can handle a most of 60 hours with their respective RGB zones switched off, the Harpoon RGB Wireless is barely in a position to obtain this sort of stamina over Bluetooth. Over 2.4GHz wi-fi, it tops out at 45 hours, which is a good distance off the Logitech’s 60. It’s an analogous story once you depart every mouse on their default RGB lighting as properly. While the Logitech can muster an honest 48 hours on its customary lighting profile, the Harpoon RGB Wireless can solely handle 30 hours over wi-fi and 40 hours over Bluetooth.
Again, it’s not likely that unhealthy contemplating the Logitech is a lot dearer, however I’ll admit to grumbling a bit once I stored having to cost the Corsair up so typically. While I’m virtually sure the Logitech’s battery life isn’t actually price the additional £80 / $86 you find yourself paying for it, its capacity to go that additional day or two certain actually makes all of the distinction with regards to ease of use and my total notion of it.
Still, as I mentioned earlier, the Harpoon RGB Wireless is actually fairly the steal at £49 / $50 and to complain an excessive amount of would merely be churlish. Its fast and nippy Slipstream wi-fi know-how is correctly good for such a relatively low cost mouse, and aside from the variations in battery life I’d say it’s simply the equal of Logitech’s significantly dearer G Pro Wireless.
Throw in a complete of six programmable buttons that can be utilized for something from recordable macros and media controls to particular keyboard instructions and DPI Sniper features (the latter of which might ship your DPI velocity plummeting all the way down to a minimal of 200 DPI for lining up these all-important headshots in games), and the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is my new best gaming mouse suggestion for price range wi-fi mouse patrons.
