By We anticipated an incremental update when we initially learned that Razer was bringing the iconic DeathAdder esports mouse up to date. However, the firm has shown us to be mistaken by updating every feature of the mouse. The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro ($169), which is one of the greatest esports mice Razer has launched, wins our most recent Editors’ Choice award for that type of mouse thanks to its new ultra-high-resolution sensor, enhanced optical switches, and redesigned wireless dongle.
Design
With good cause, the DeathAdder mouse line has long been linked to esports gaming. Because of their superior ergonomics, lightweight construction, and powerful sensors, they are highly recommended for both casual and die-hard gamers who can afford the cost.
The DeathAdder V4 Pro keeps its recognizable form and physique. The mouse is 1.7 by 2.7 by 5 inches (HWD), weighs under 2 ounces, and comes in black or white. The DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is slightly smaller than the DeathAdder V3 Pro, but these dimensions are almost the same. In contrast to Razer’s glowing products, the V3 Pro lacks RGB lighting, which is an extraneous feature for a mouse that is primarily focused on performance.
The mouse feels weightless in the hand. First-person shooter players will love a lightweight mouse like the DeathAdder. The DeathAdder V4 Pro is ideal for a palm grip and suits my hand nicely. A Power/DPI switch is hidden on the mouse’s belly, and two buttons are arranged along the mouse’s left side. Between the two left and right clickers is a textured scroll wheel.
An esports mouse’s inside parts are equally as crucial as its external features, and the DeathAdder V4 Pro has a lot more going on inside than earlier Razer mice. To put it briefly, the DeathAdder V4 Pro boasts completely redesigned switches, a better scroll wheel, and a higher-resolution sensor than its predecessors.
To begin with, Razer has fitted the DeathAdder V4 Pro with new Gen-4 optical switches, which, according to the firm, provide a 12% lighter actuation force and almost completely remove debounce delay. The brief period following a button press is referred to as debouncing in a mouse. One of the numerous advantages of doing away with mechanical switches is that lower debounce times avoid unintentional double clicks or multiple inputs from a single press. Razer’s latest mouse is an advance over its predecessors, but optical switches are not new to the DeathAdder V4 Pro; we’ve seen them in older mice like the Logitech G502X Plus.
Even though the lighter actuation force is excellent, the clicks felt hollow and a little louder during testing than the Logitech MX Master 3S and Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, which I always use. Although it may be a small complaint, I do enjoy a good button press, which is why I prefer mechanical keyboards like the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Pro for both writing and gaming.
A Razer first is the revolutionary optical scroll wheel. Razer claims that the scroll wheel’s lifespan is 3.3 times longer when there are no physical contact points. In addition, the new design does away with reverse inputs and ghost scrolls. The changes to the scroll wheel are readily noticeable to users who cycle through item or weapon menus, or even browse the web.
The optical sensor on the mouse has also been updated. Razer’s most sophisticated optical sensor to date is the new Focus Pro 45K. This is one of the most sensitive mice available since it raises the resolution to 45,000 dpi. It surpasses rival esports mice like the ROG Harpe Ace Mini and ROG Keris II Ace from Asus, which both peak at 42,000 dpi, as well as other Razer mice like the Basilisk 35K.
Additionally, some new functionality is made possible by the new sensor. The most practical is probably Dynamic Sensitivity. This feature allows you to effectively have two DPI settings active at the same time for various use scenarios rather than limiting yourself to just one. For instance, you may want to choose a faster DPI level for turning and a lower DPI value for aiming. Depending on your chosen curve profile and hand speed, Dynamic Sensitivity lets you switch automatically between low and high sensitivity.
Wireless Connectivity:
Most gamers would be satisfied with the DeathAdder’s improvements, but Razer didn’t stop with mouse enhancements. The HyperSpeed Wireless dongle from Razer, which is now widely associated with the company’s esports mouse, has also undergone a complete redesign in terms of both appearance and functionality. The redesigned dongle’s hemispheric design replaces its previous trapezoid body. In addition to having a nice appearance, the new form factor of the dongle (seen below) adds weight, which keeps the tiny gadget planted on your desktop.
Razer claims that even in high-interference settings, such as busy gaming venues or competitions, an enhanced antenna offers a stronger, more dependable signal transmission. Three indications for connection status, battery life, and the chosen polling rate are located on the dongle’s base.
The HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 technology from Razer is incorporated into this upgraded dongle. According to Razer, it is designed to provide 37% less latency and 63% more power efficiency than the previous version. This data processing optimization allows the mouse to have an average latency of only 0.29 ms.
The polling rate of the new DeathAdder can reach up to 8,000 Hz. The polling rate of a mouse is the frequency with which it communicates its location to the computer. The mouse will communicate its position more often if its polling rate is higher. 8,000 times per second is reported via an 8,000Hz polling rate.
The hard-core gaming community can appreciate high polling rates the most, but even casual gamers can see a noticeable increase in responsiveness. To save battery life, a useful feature called the Smart Polling Rate Switcher lowers polling rates when you’re not playing a game and then ramps them back up when the game resumes.
Software
As with previous Razer devices, you will need to use the Synapse software application to get the most out of the DeathAdder. In addition to many other capabilities, such as the previously mentioned Smart Polling Rate Switcher and Hypershift, you may adjust RGB lighting and macros here. Additionally, you can make customized profiles.
Razer Exchange, a recent addition to Synapse, is intended to optimize workflows by providing pre-built macros for a variety of tasks, both AI-assisted and not. It allows you to download pre-made macros to open websites and apps automatically, which is different from the AI Prompt Master that came with the Razer Pro Click V2 and V2 Vertical. Some of these macros swiftly reword, translate, and summarize text by using well-known LLMs like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini. To make the process feel more efficient, you may even add lag time between app launches. This way, it won’t feel like 20 tabs are appearing on your browser at once.
Although changing and creating your own custom functions is more difficult than on Logitech’s app, this capability is similar to Logitech Smart Actions. I stuck with the pre-made things during testing. For instance, I downloaded the Music Time macro, which, you guessed it, launches Spotify. After downloading it, I set it up on my mouse and designated one of the buttons on the side. That’s how simple it is.
Conclusion
The DeathAdder V4 Pro firmly establishes itself as the top esports mouse, and Razer goods are among the greatest PC gaming accessories available. With remarkable improvements all throughout, Razer has created one of the year’s top gaming mice. It’s not a mouse for everyone due to its exorbitant cost, but those who can afford it will undoubtedly like it. With many customizable settings to maximize performance, the DeathAdder V4 Pro is a comfortable clicker for serious gamers, tournament pros, and amateurs alike.
