For a long time, there have been mice of various formats for any occasion of life: both to work and to play. Miniature laptop mice have always stood apart. What happens when you combine the two categories – gaming and laptop? The answer is simple – a compact mouse Razer Orochi V2 tailored from branded chips of the company.
Orochi V2 Mouse Specifications
- Number of buttons: 6.
- Sensor: Razer 5G optical.
- Polling rate: 1000 Hz.
- Sensor resolution: up to 18,000 DPI.
- Speed: 450 inches / s.
- Switches: Razer 2nd generation mechanical switches, 60 million clicks.
- Body materials: hard rough plastic with small glossy inserts.
- Connection: wireless via USB transmitter or Bluetooth.
- Power supply: one battery, AA or AAA to choose from.
- Dimensions: 108 × 60 × 38 mm.
- Weight: no more than 60 grams, depending on the battery.
The appearance and ergonomics of the Orochi V2 mouse
At first glance, the Orochi V2 reveals the features of modern Razer mice. This is a special look and the arrangement of elements and non-marking rough plastic. This material is tested for years of operation – it is not scratched or rubbed. Gloss is found in the details and only emphasizes the shape without compromising practicality: on the central insert and the chamfers.
There is no backlighting typical for gaming devices, and the Razer logo is applied with glossy embossing. The appearance of the black mouse is rigorous. The white version has a radically different style due to the contrast with the central insert, scroll wheels, and side keys.
Dimensions are tiny: only 108 mm long and 60 mm wide – this rodent is designed for mobile gaming. Our heroine looks compact even against the background of the 79-gram Viper Ultimate.
Despite this, the grip is fully comfortable: there are grooves on the sides when gripping, the thumb rests against the side buttons, and the main keys are slightly piled down. This, as well as the small weight of up to 60 grams, makes the mouse ideal for claw or finger grips.
Improving ergonomics with Universal Grip Tape
You can only quarrel about the lack of rubberized pads on the sidewalls. As a result, even slight fogging of the palm leads to slippage. The Universal Grip Tape is designed to solve this nuance, which can be glued at your own discretion. The thing is universal and contains segments of different shapes. The material – textured polyurethane – fits well on any shape and remains grippy even after the skin is fogged. The 3M adhesive backing adheres securely and leaves no residue after removal. The unstuck segments can be reused if necessary.
I put one large hexagonal segment on the left side for the thumb and a couple of rectangular ones on the main keys. This proved to be enough to improve ergonomics significantly. Now the mouse is easy to pick up regardless of the skin condition.
Iron and performance
The primary keys are based on Razer’s proprietary 2nd generation mechanical switches. A clear movement distinguishes them without backlash and a resounding click. There are no complaints about reliability: no double positives were noticed, the guaranteed resource is 60 million clicks. The stepped wheel with a rubberized pad is inherited from other Razer mice. Scrolling requires a little more effort, and there is a noticeable noise from fast scrolling.
The first additional button, responsible for switching DPI, is located between the main ones. Next to it is a universal indicator that informs about the selected communication mode, DPI, and insufficient charge level.
A place for two additional buttons was found on the side under the thumb of the right hand. The force and click from actuation correspond to the main ones. The difference is in the long spring-loaded stroke after triggering.
The Razer 5G optical sensor has a true 18,000 DPI without interpolation or other software gimmicks. This is a top-end solution, which is notable for its smoothness and accuracy. No breakdowns were noticed.
Sphex V3 rug
The Razer 5G sensor works equally well on all surfaces. However, the test was paired with a 0.4mm Sphex V3 tough polycarbonate mat. The material is slippery and offers no resistance to the mouse compared to conventional fabric options. At the same time, there are no problems with control or cursor drift.
In my hands was a small version of the Sphex V3 with a size of 270 × 215 mm – this is the optimal size for a miniature Orochi V2. From the decor in the upper right corner, there is a label with the brand logo. It looks more than appropriate.
The rug itself is very light, so it is supposed to be glued to the table. On the back, there is an adhesive base under a protective film. With proper care, the Sphex V3 can be re-glued a couple of times, but it’s better to find the perfect place right away. No glue marks remain on the table.
Connection
Before us is a wireless mouse with a connection via a USB transmitter or Bluetooth. Your own receiver is considered the priority method of connection since Bluetooth has several limitations. Among them: a limited polling rate of 500 Hz, not all settings in the utility, and a long way out of sleep for 5 seconds. And USB reconnects instantly. Otherwise, both interfaces work equally well.
The magnetically fixed top panel conceals a miniature USB transmitter and hybrid battery slot.
Only one battery is required to power. Razer gives a choice to use a heavier AA AA battery or a lighter AAA little finger. In any case, the slot is centered and slightly diagonal for perfect weight distribution. The declared operating time from the Energizer Ultimate finger battery is 425 hours, and the use of Bluetooth extends the autonomy up to 950 hours. Such figures are not available to competitors with a lithium battery.
Razer Synapse Utility
Razer’s peripherals are controlled by good software with a modern interface. The primary function is to reassign all keys except the main left. The list of possible actions is rich. There is support for Hypershift combinations and turbo mode, which repeats pressing a certain number of times while holding the button.
Next, you can change the sensor’s sensitivity in the range from 100 to 18,000 DPI and adjust the polling rate.
Tracking can be disabled when the mouse is raised by 1 mm or 2 mm. There is no individual adjustment of the lift-off and landing distances. And also calibrated to fit one of the Razer rugs. The tested Sphex V3 is not on the list yet, only its previous version. Fortunately, they are similar in properties of the polycarbonate surface.
When working via Bluetooth, the utility window looks a little different. There is a lack of an item with calibration for specific coverage and polling frequency settings.
To partially solve the issue with a long awakening of the mouse via Bluetooth, you can increase the timeout for switching to sleep mode.
Razer software has been installed on my computer permanently for two years. There have never been any problems with unreasonable resource consumption, regardless of the version used: 7 background processes take up no more than 200 MB of RAM.
Recall after two weeks of use.
For me personally, Razer is a kind of benchmark among gaming peripherals: stylish, high-quality, and rich in nice features. Tested Razer Orochi V2 fully complies with these statements. The only noticeable nuance is the lack of a wired connection if there is no replaceable battery at hand. Slippery sides are fixed with Razer Universal Grip Tape, and the lack of backlighting is a common feature of battery-powered models.
Mat Sphex V3 is designed for high-speed gaming when you need to move the cursor as quickly as possible. Gluing the surface to the table solves the problem of random displacement during hot battles. The used polycarbonate is quite wear-resistant. There are no problems with chipping the edges.
Pros of the Orochi V2 mouse:
- compact, lightweight body;
- quality Razer hardware;
- two wireless interfaces;
- precise sensor with high resolution;
- hassle-free and functional software;
- the ability to adjust the weight using a battery;
- long battery life.
Cons of the Orochi V2 mouse:
- lack of wired connection.
What You May Not Like About Orochi V2 Mouse:
- side panels made of slippery hard plastic;
- lack of backlight.