The Future of Gaming Mice? Razer Viper 8kHz Review

Just a few months ago, Razer released the Viper 8kHz - the first widely available mouse with up to 8000Hz polling rate. With this new entry into their Viper Range, Razer is again aiming to provide esports and competitive FPS players more performance focused features. Before 2021, the polling rate wasn't really a notable feature in terms of mouse performance, with most mice being either 500Hz or 1000Hz. With an 8x increase with the Viper 8kHz, Razer claims to have a mouse that is 8x faster than most of its competitors, providing lower latency and increased smoothness. Here's our experience with the Viper 8kHz.

Design

The design of the Viper 8kHz is very similar to the regular Razer Viper - it is a low, ambidextrous mouse, with side buttons on both sides to accommodate either left or right handed users. It has grooves in the main buttons for comfort, and rubber grips on both sides. The rest of the mouse is covered in a matte coating.

The scroll wheel is quite good for both gaming and productivity, being fairly quiet and fast to scroll with a slight tactile feeling. The Razer SpeedFlex cable is also pretty great. It is a paracord-like flexible cable which is soft and light and reduces annoying cable drag on your desk.

To keep the weight low, Razer kept features such as RGB to a minimum with the Viper range, and this mouse is no exception. The mouse only features a single RGB Razer Logo at the palm area, that can be customised through Razer Synapse 3.

Razer Viper 8kHz Review

Performance

Taking the Razer Viper 8kHz in game, we had no complaints. Playing games such as Warzone, CS:GO, Valorant and Apex Legends, there was definitely a noticeable feeling of smoothness compared to playing with a regular 1000Hz mouse. Whilst 8000Hz polling rate does not necessarily give you a measurable competitive advantage, it will no doubt indirectly help some gamers play better or easier with these benefits.

However, some things need to be considered when running at 8000Hz. As information is sending between the mouse and computer at such high rates, you must have a strong PC, especially your CPU, in order to keep up with the mouse. Otherwise, running at 8000Hz may introduce stuttering, or have an effect on your game performance and FPS. Additionally, certain games and applications may not fully support 8000Hz yet, so the performance can feel inconsistent when switching between games.

Software and Customisation

Customisation is quite simple with Razer Synapse 3 software, which allows you to map buttons, profiles, DPI and DPI stages, polling rate, RGB lighting and tracking distance. The Viper 8kHz features on-board memory to save up to 5 on-board profiles, so you can use your mouse on the go with settings from home. Razer Synapse 3 is Windows-only, so Mac and Linux users will have to access a Windows machine or find a workaround to further customise their mouse.

Razer Viper 8kHz Desc

Verdict

Razer's Viper 8kHz is a great performance-oriented gaming mouse. It felt great in-game with the combination of the Focus+ optical sensor, shape, lightweight feel and of course, the high polling rate which seems to improve the mouse's smoothness and tracking. It is also a truly ambidextrous design, so both left and right handed users with side buttons on both sides.

That being said, this type of mouse may not suit everyone. Casual gamers may not find a huge benefit from the higher polling rate, especially without paired to a decent PC. Additionally, players of MOBA or RTS games may prefer some more buttons, and lighter clicks. For competitive gamers, the Viper 8kHz is definitely worth checking out.

Pros