Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse Assessment

If you consider MMO mice, likelihood is {that a} very particular image involves thoughts. They’re snug, however comparatively heavy and clunky enter units which are made for all-night raids, slightly than excessive efficiency. The Razer Naga X, a primary wired model of the corporate’s just lately redesigned Naga Professional, subverts that status a bit. The $79.99 Naga X stands out from the pack, as a result of it’s a reasonably gentle MMO mouse. Though the Naga X can’t compete with the extremely low weights which are frequent in primary esports mice, it will get shut. To be able to make that weight, the Naga X drops most of the Naga Professional’s greatest options, together with its scene-stealing modular thumbside panels. Nonetheless, the Naga X is an affordable pickup in the event you’re prepared to decide to the MMO mouse design.

Mild Cruiser

The Naga X’s form and look typically mirrors the Naga Professional. Measuring 1.50 by 2.94 by 4.56 inches (HWL), it’s also large and flat, with a groove in the precise facet to assist your ring finger. Ring finger assist is pretty frequent with MMO designs; the additional assist for the “nonessential” finger enables you to comfortably maintain and transfer the mouse with out gripping the perimeters. Does that make the mouse considerably bigger and heavier? Sure. But it surely additionally makes it lots simpler to carry the mouse for hours on finish. Within the Naga X’s case, the ring finger groove is ready decrease than the clicking panels, guiding your hand right into a calmly angled, ergonomic grip.

Since 1982, PCMag has examined and rated hundreds of merchandise that can assist you make higher shopping for selections. (See how we check.)

The Naga X’s premiere function is its weight. Whereas one of the best esports mice would scoff, the Naga X’s 3-ounce weight is considerably lighter than every other MMO mouse we’ve examined. As a rule, they climb above 4 ounces, which is about as heavy as a gaming mouse will get. In actual fact, the Naga Professional weighs 4.02 ounces. At 3 ounces, the Naga X is heavier than most competition-ready mice, nevertheless it’s as gentle or lighter than most gaming mice that includes additional buttons or options. That is an accomplishment, given the Naga X’s wider form and buttload of buttons. I used the Naga X to play Name of Responsibility: Black Ops Chilly Conflict, and it carried out effectively and remained snug, even in a aggressive setting. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t take it over a mouse with a extra acceptable form.

Full Facet Buttons

Despite the fact that its weight is probably the most novel function, the Naga X’s 16 buttons are its stars. The highest inputs are customary fare: Two click on panels, a clickable scroll wheel, and a DPI cycle button within the middle column. As is customary on MMO mice, the Naga X ditches the traditional ahead and again buttons on the left facet panel, changing them with a numbered 12-button keypad. (By default, the only digits correspond to the quantity keys [1-9]. The ten maps to 0, the 11 to “sprint,” and the 12 to “=”). I consider a 12-button facet pad as a “full set,” as a result of it enables you to map both the quantity keys or the perform row to your mouse. Plus, I’ve by no means seen a mouse with greater than 12 facet buttons.

The Naga X’s facet buttons are good, however not excellent. They’re a superb dimension and top. The numbering begins within the decrease entrance nook, the place your thumb naturally rests, and escalates in columns: I discover that makes it simpler to maintain observe of the numbers on the pad with out wanting.

My one grievance is the shortage of a significant tactile information that can assist you navigate the buttons by contact. There are a number of button variations that provide some consciousness; for instance, the highest row buttons are barely longer than the others, and plenty of buttons are set at barely completely different angles and heights. Nonetheless, I discovered that it’s straightforward to lose observe of your place, particularly when transferring across the central buttons. Finally this can grow to be a moot level in the event you follow a selected mouse profile, as you’ll acquire muscle reminiscence. That mentioned, texturing one of many middle buttons or including a tactile bump would have been a useful, additional step for individuals who bounce between setups.

Even supposing it has so many inputs, it will have been good if Razer put extra Naga Professional premium options within the Naga X. Particularly, I want extra mice had tilting scroll wheel inputs, that are nice for macros and miscellaneous keys in customized setups. I additionally wouldn’t have minded if Razer saved extra RGB lighting. Because it stands, solely the scroll wheel and facet pad numbers gentle up. I assume these options have been taken out to chop down on weight and/or value, however they’d have gone a good distance in direction of making the mouse really feel extra substantial. With solely weight and the usual MMO facet pad to set it aside, the Naga X feels a bit primary on paper.

Lastly, let’s speak about what’s underneath the hood. The Naga X options Razer’s 5G Optical Sensor, which tracks at up 18,000 DPI and is correct at as much as 450 inches per second. That is greater than sufficient precision for an MMO mouse, which is usually meant for much less twitchy video games and experiences.

Razer Synapse Software program

The Naga X depends on Razer Synapse—the corporate’s configuration software program—for button mapping, RGB customization, and different setting modifications. The app has a clear interface that makes it straightforward to seek out and alter any setting you need. For the Naga X, particularly, Razer Synapse incorporates a separate display screen for customizing the facet buttons, which cuts down on litter and makes it straightforward to see what you’ve mapped to every button.

With Synapse, it can save you as many native, customized mouse profiles as you want. Sadly, the Naga X’s onboard reminiscence solely helps a single profile. That is a low quantity contemplating the mouse’s value.

Bringing Stability to MMO Mice

Regardless of being a “primary” MMO mouse, the Naga X is a robust, fashionable recalibration of the shape. Reducing the load makes it extra interesting for genres outdoors the standard niches that pair effectively with the heavier, button-rich design. At $79.99, the Naga X falls inside the present customary value vary for a wired MMO mouse. The Naga X may use extra standout options to offer it an expensive really feel that is worthy of such a value. At this level, $80 counts as high-end for a wired mouse, whatever the design. For now, although, that’s the base fee for a facet pad, and the Naga X might be the only option for that function south of $100.