There is nothing worse than some hardware breaking or not doing what it is supposed to. In short: PC peripherals can either make or break the gaming experience. This is why gamers tend to flock to flagship devices known for their longevity and build quality. The issue, however, is that these devices will often be paired with pricing that may be way outside of the average gamer’s budget. This is why Razer have designed the Razer Cobra – a mouse for both casual and enthusiast gamers; one that does not break the bank while simultaneously taking all of the best qualities from the manufacturer’s already-strong lineup of flagship devices.
Like the Razer Cobra Pro (2024) variant, the Razer Cobra boasts the same iconic sleek design with two side buttons on the left side, some Razer Chroma compatible RGB lighting around the palm rest and back-end of the mouse, as well as the legendary ambidextrous design that put the Cobra lineup on the map in the first place. While the Razer Cobra posits itself as a budget gaming mouse, it still features Gen-3 Razer Optical Mouse Switches, and an impressive lightweight build coming in at just 58g.
Razer have truly elevated their build quality and assurance in the last few years, and even at its truly wallet-friendly $69.99 AUD/R999.99 ZAR price of entry, it still exhibits solid built quality. While there is some flexibility when pressure is applied to the mouse, there is no reason for the average gamer to worry. Moreover, users can expect excellent gliding across most flat surfaces thanks to the mouse’s 100% PTFE Mouse Slides. The overall gaming experience is wondrous thanks to these features, which for the most part, ensures gamers with all kinds of grips and moist under palms will be well taken care of.
Under the hood things are even more impressive. Backed by rigorous testing, the Gen-3 Razer Optical Mouse Switches offer a comfortable clicking experience as well as ensuring longevity by eliminating the risk of unintended double clicks, thus guaranteeing a seamless gaming sessions. These switches not only feel comfortable to use and press, but it really does eliminate unintended double clicks, which I had no idea even was an issue until I had to return to my daily driver. Razer also claims the new generation of optical switches act three times faster than normal mechanical switches, and advertises no less than 90-million clicks over the product’s potential lifetime. This makes the Razer Cobra the perfect option in fast-paced gaming scenarios where actions per minute can mean victory or defeat within the opening minutes of a match (looking at you, StarCraft).
In addition to the optical switches, users can also expect to feel the absolute accuracy of the Razer Optical Sensor installed in the Razer Cobra. With a range of 300 through 8500 DPI, it is more sensible in its offering over some of wider ranges available on the market whilst relying less on software. As such, and in order to compensate and do the maths correctly when users set the DPI to more middle-of-the-road ranges, a lot less work is required from the mouse’s mainboard. With that said, the sensor also features a max speed of 300 IPS, with acceleration of 35 G, which in layman’s terms means it is quite impressive considering its category. With the DPI range as high as it is, the Razer Cobra empowers gamers with precise tracking and swift responsiveness, allowing for pinpoint accuracy in intense gaming situations, such as fast-paced shooters or competitive esports matches.
Naturally all of the great features and abilities can only be used to its full potential once users install the manufacturer’s proprietary software, Razer Synapse 3. Thankfully, it is nowhere near as harrowing to use anymore, and even features a modular interface to ensure users only get what they really care about. In using Razer Synapse 3, users can set the Razer Cobra’s RGB lighting using Razer Chroma (allowing for crazy lighting combinations that even synchronises across other Razer devices). Synapse 3 also allows users to switch out the many macros for each of the mouse buttons, and even includes a HyperShift feature, which adds an additional layer of custom button mapping to every button. Razer Synapse 3 also lets users attach specific mouse macros and shortcuts, as well as DPI profiles and lighting to certain games and apps, for an additional layer of customisation.
The amount of bang for buck with the Razer Cobra is one of the best aspects of the mouse. Gaming feels natural thanks to its ergonomic and ambidextrous design, while the technology inside ensures precise and responsive actions in each and every session. Whether it is first-person shooters or vast open world role-playing games, the Razer Cobra delivers reliable and versatile performance regardless of its budget-friendly entry point.
Verdict:
GOOD
| PROS | CONS |
| Small and lightweight | No fancy bells and whistles |
| Iconic ambidextrous design | Minor flexibility when pressure is applied |
| Synapse gets better by the day |
Device temporarily provided for review by Razer.
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Junior Editor at Vamers. From Superman to Ironman; Bill Rizer to Sam Fisher and everything in-between, Edward loves it all. He is a Bachelor of Arts student and English Major specialising in Language and Literature. He is an avid writer and casual social networker with a flare for all things tech related.
