5 6
80 % 90 %
Wireless mice
GROUP TEST
5
Its key appeal is in the charging dock. While several
mice offer wired and wireless functionality, few also
have a dock on which to rest and charge it. This
makes using the Mamba that much more
convenient as it quickly becomes a habit that you
just dock the mouse after every use. Its wired option
only comes into play for very long gaming sessions,
or if you just prefer to game in a wired mode.
It also helps that the Mamba looks great,
although it isn’t quite as nice as some of Razer’s
wired mice when it comes to ergonomics. It’s just a
touch more compact and the top surface isn’t quite
as grippy as some.
The biggest problem with this mouse, though, is
its laser sensor. It’s good for tracking on a variety of
surfaces but isn’t as good as optical for providing
smooth and stable tracking on fabric mousemats.
The tiltable scroll wheel is also unnecessary for a
gaming mouse. If you can get past this,
though, then the Mamba remains an
excellent wireless mouse.RAZER MAMBA
http://www.razer.com £150
Part of the reason it manages to be so cheap is that
it uses disposable AA batteries rather than
rechargeables, but nonetheless it’s impressive stuff.
What’s also worth noting is how well put together it
is. Pry open the top and you can access the battery
compartment wherein you’ll also find the stowage
location for the tiny USB wireless adapter.
This clever system means you can toss the
mouse into a bag without fear of losing the adapter.
And if the need does arise, the Atheris can also be
used in Bluetooth mode. Running off disposable
batteries also allows this mouse to last a whopping
12-and-a-half days of use before it runs dry.
Of course, there are compromises, the most
obvious of which is the small size. Such a cramped
design means it isn’t as comfortable as large mice
for long sessions. Also, although ambidextrous in
design, you only get back/forward buttons on the
left side of the device.
Overall, though, this is one of the
finest travel gaming mice you can buy.RAZER ATHERIS
The Mamba has been one of the most desirable mice
on the market ever since the first version arrived nearly
ten years ago. And after all these years, it remains one of
the best you can get.The Atheris is a real surprise package from Razer. This
tiny wireless device packs in all the core technology that
you’d hope for but at a fraction of the price of most
wireless mice. It’s the cheapest one on this test.