The Razer Viper is a lightweight gaming mouse with an ambidextrous design. Thanks to its short and low-profile body, the mouse's shape is suitable for most hand sizes when using a fingertip grip, but people with small hands may struggle to reach the mouse clicks and scroll wheel. It has extremely low click latency, a wide and adjustable CPI range, and a very low lift-off distance. It's similar to the Razer Viper Ultimate, but the Viper is wired-only. Unfortunately, its cable isn't very flexible, and its customization software is available on Windows only.
Our Verdict
The Razer Viper is good for office use. While it doesn't have an ergonomic shape like some dedicated office mice, it should still feel very comfortable for most hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip, but people with small or medium hands may also be comfortable with a palm grip. It feels very well-built and has many buttons you can reprogram to fit your needs; unfortunately, its customization software isn't available on macOS. Also, it isn't wireless, and some people might find the cable cumbersome.
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Feels excellently well-built.
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Comfortable, ambidextrous design.
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Four programmable side buttons.
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Cable not as flexible as some other options.
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Wired-only design may be cumbersome.
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Software not compatible on macOS.
The Razer Viper is excellent for FPS gaming. It has extremely low click latency and feels responsive. It's surprisingly very light for a mouse without a honeycomb design and feels excellently well-built. Also, its body has a low profile that is great for a fingertip grip, but small hands may struggle to reach some buttons. It has a wide and adjustable CPI range, a high polling rate, and a low lift-off distance. However, the cable is a bit stiff and might create some drag.
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Feels excellently well-built.
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incredibly low click latency.
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Wide and adjustable CPI.
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Comfortable, ambidextrous design.
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Cable not as flexible as some other options.
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Software not compatible on macOS.
The Razer Viper is very good for MMO gaming, but it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice. However, it has extremely low click latency, a wide and customizable CPI range, and a low lift-off distance. It feels excellently built and very comfortable, but people with larger hands may struggle with a palm grip.
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Feels excellently well-built.
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incredibly low click latency.
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Wide and adjustable CPI.
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Comfortable, ambidextrous design.
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Cable not as flexible as some other options.
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Software not compatible on macOS.
The Razer Viper isn't designed for traveling. This wired mouse won't be ideal to use in tight spaces like a plane and isn't very portable.
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Feels excellently well-built.
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Very light.
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Cable not as flexible as some other options.
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Wired-only design may be cumbersome.
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Software not compatible on macOS.
- Office/Multimedia
- Video Games (FPS)
- Video Games (MMO)
- Travel
- Updated Aug 16, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Razer Cobra in the Shape section of this review.
- Updated Sep 16, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 15, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.
- Updated Jun 22, 2022: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1, which revamped our click latency test methodology. We've updated the text to reflect our new results in various sections, including the Click Latency test box, Usages, Introduction, and other locations where we discuss click latency.
- Updated May 30, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Oct 28, 2021: After retesting, we reverted our result of the Permanent Kink test in the Cable box to 'Yes.'
- Updated Sep 10, 2021: Changed Permanent Kink test result in Cable box to 'No'.
- Updated Feb 12, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Oct 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Mar 05, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Feb 28, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Feb 26, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Feb 12, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Compared To Other Mice
The Razer Viper is an excellent gaming mouse that sets itself apart by its design. While it doesn't have a honeycomb pattern to reduce its weight, it's almost as lightweight as some that do. It's also very similar to the Razer Viper Ultimate, but it can't be used wirelessly.
For other options, see our recommendations for the best gaming mice and the best wired mice, and if you'd prefer a wireless design, also check out the best wireless gaming mice.
The Razer Viper and the Razer DeathAdder V2 are very similar performing mice, and their main differences are shape and weight. The Viper has a lower profile body, while the V2 has a higher back hump. The Viper is also lighter than the V2 and has an ambidextrous design, while the V2 is slightly heavier and has a right-handed design.
The Razer Viper is overall a better mouse than the Razer Basilisk, but the Basilisk might be a better choice if you're right-handed and prefer using a palm grip. The Viper has an ambidextrous design that is noticeably lighter, and it has a lower click latency and a better cable. On the other hand, the Basilisk is suitable for all hand sizes when using a palm grip thanks to its ergo-shaped design with a thumb rest on its left side.
The Razer Viper Mini and the regular Razer Viper are both excellent wired gaming mice. The Mini is a bit lighter and smaller, making it better for fans of ultra-light mice or people with smaller hands. On the other hand, the sensor performance of the regular Viper is better, and it has a wider and more adjustable CPI range. The full-sized Viper also has two additional buttons on both sides, unlike just on the left side of the Mini.
The Logitech G Pro Wireless and the Razer Viper are excellent gaming mice that perform similarly, though the Logitech is made for FPS gaming, while the Razer is an ultra-light gaming mouse. The Logitech is a great fit for most hand sizes and grip types, and it can be used wired or wirelessly with its USB receiver. On the other hand, the Razer is wired-only, but it’s lighter and feels more comfortable overall. Both options have the same number of buttons, comparable sensors, and low click latency.
The Razer Viper and the Razer DeathAdder Essential are wired gaming mice with different designs. The Viper is an ambidextrous model with two side buttons on each side. It has a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, a lower lift-off distance, and lower click latency. It's suitable for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes. On the other hand, the DeathAdder Essential is a right-handed mouse with a high back and is better suited for larger hands using a palm or claw grip.
The Razer Viper and Razer Viper Ultimate are nearly identical. The Ultimate is wireless, while the Viper is wired-only. The Viper is a few grams lighter than the Ultimate; other than that, they're pretty much the same. You get a nice RGB charging cradle with the Ultimate, and the USB charging cable is a bit more flexible.
The Razer Viper performs similarly to the GLORIOUS Model O and is almost just as light, even though it doesn't have a honeycomb pattern to reduce its weight. The Viper has two side buttons on each side, and its body is slightly smaller than the GLORIOUS. However, if you have small hands, the GLORIOUS is also available in a smaller size, called the GLORIOUS Model O-. Also, the GLORIOUS cable is noticeably lighter and more flexible than the Razer.
The Razer Viper and the Razer Viper 8KHz have the same shape and design, but the 8KHz has smoother-gliding feet and a thicker cable. It also has a lower click latency and has onboard memory. The biggest difference between the two is the 8000Hz polling rate on the 8KHz, which means its cursor movements should feel more fluid, though we don't currently test this. If you want a future-proof mouse with onboard memory, the 8KHz is an excellent choice.
The Razer Basilisk V2 and the Razer Viper are both amazing gaming mice that perform similarly. The Viper has an ambidextrous design and feels a little more solid, even though it’s quite a bit lighter, making it an excellent choice for FPS and ultra-light gaming. On the other hand, the Basilisk has better feet that glide more smoothly. It also has a lower click latency, a wider CPI range, and more programmable inputs. People with larger hands may have a hard time using the Viper with a palm or a claw grip, while people with smaller hands may not feel comfortable using the Basilisk with a claw or a fingertip grip.
The Razer Viper is a better FPS gaming mouse than the Logitech G502 HERO, but the Logitech may be a better choice if you prefer a palm grip, thanks to its thumb rest. The Razer has an ambidextrous, low-profile design suitable for a fingertip grip. Also, the Razer is noticeably lighter, which is great if you prefer lightweight mice. On the other hand, the Logitech has more programmable buttons, and its software is available on macOS, while Razer's software isn't.
The Endgame Gear XM1r and the Razer Viper are both excellent wired gaming mice with very similar performance. The Razer is marginally lighter and has RGB lighting and two extra side buttons on the right, making it a true ambidextrous design. On the other hand, the Endgame Gear has somewhat ower click latency, a cable that's more lightweight and flexible, and feet that glide much more smoothly on mousepads and desks.
The Razer Viper is a better gaming mouse than the Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed, though they both have the same sensor. The Viper has an ambidextrous design with two side buttons on each side. It’s much smaller and lighter and has more buttons and programmable inputs. However, it may not be a great fit for people with larger hands using a palm or a claw grip. On the other hand, the Hyperspeed is designed for right-handed users with a thumb rest on the left side. It’s well-suited for most hand sizes and grip types, and you can use it wired or wirelessly, making it more versatile.
The Razer Viper is a much better FPS gaming mouse than the ASUS TUF Gaming M3. The Razer is much lighter, has a significantly more flexible cable, and two extra side buttons. It also has a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, a lower lift-off distance, a more consistent sensor, and much lower click latency. On the other hand, the ASUS has onboard memory, which the Razer lacks. Both mice are best-suited for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes.
The Razer Viper is overall a better gaming mouse than the Endgame Gear XM1, but the Endgame might be a better choice if you prefer using a palm grip. The Razer has an ambidextrous, short design suitable for almost any hand size when using a fingertip grip. Also, it has many more programmable inputs, customizable RGB lighting, and a lower minimum lift-off distance. On the other hand, the Endgame's cable is more flexible.
The ROCCAT Burst Pro and the Razer Viper are both great gaming mice that perform similarly. The ROCCAT has a honeycomb-patterned shell, layered with a transparent cover, and its feet are much better. It also comes with better software and has onboard memory to save your preferred settings. The Razer feels slightly better built and is more comfortable, thanks to its lower-profile and textured side grips. It also has more programmable inputs, and its sensor is more consistent.
The Razer Viper and the ROCCAT Kone Pro are both excellent lightweight gaming mice and are nearly the same weight, though the ROCCAT is marginally lighter. The ROCCAT also feels sturdier, has a more flexible cable, and has smoother gliding feet. It also has onboard memory. Comparatively, the Razer Viper has two extra side buttons on the right side, making it a true ambidextrous mouse. Both mice are suitable for all grip types and nearly all hand sizes, though the Razer is best-suited for a claw or fingertip grip, and the ROCCAT is best-suited for a palm or claw grip.
The Razer Viper performs better overall than the BenQ ZOWIE ZA11-B. It has a wider CPI range that you can adjust precisely in its customization software, a lower minimum lift-off distance, and a much lower click latency. You can also remap its buttons and change the RGB lighting. It also weighs much less, making it a better choice for fans of ultra-light gaming mice.
The ROCCAT Burst Core and the Razer Viper are excellent wired gaming mice with similar sizes, ambidextrous shapes, and straightforward design languages. The ROCCAT has lower click latency and better mouse feet but a much higher lift-off distance, a narrower CPI range, less precise CPI adjustments, and only two side buttons. The Razer is slightly lighter, has two side buttons on either side of the mouse, and a better cable, but it isn't suitable for extra large hands using a palm or claw grip. The ROCCAT is suitable for all grip types, but those with small hands may have trouble reaching both side buttons using a fingertip or claw grip.
The Razer Viper and the Sharkoon Light² 200 are lightweight wired gaming mice. The Razer has an ambidextrous shape with two buttons on each side, making it suitable for both right and left hands. Its shape and size make it best suited for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes. Also, it has much lower click latency, and you can set a HyperShift button to enable a second layer of controls. On the other hand, the Sharkoon has a right-handed shape with two buttons on the left side only, and it has a honeycomb cutout pattern over its body. It has smoother-gliding mouse feet and onboard memory. Its shape and larger size make it more suitable for a palm or claw grip.
The Razer Viper is overall a better gaming mouse than the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini, but the Mini is better for a fingertip grip if you have small hands. The Viper has a wider CPI range that can be adjusted more precisely, a lower lift-off distance, and a significantly more consistent sensor. However, the Mini has onboard memory, and its feet glide much smoother.
The Razer Viper performs a bit better for gaming than the Razer Mamba Wireless, but the Mamba is more versatile as it can be used wired or wirelessly with its USB receiver. The Viper is significantly lighter, and it feels better-built and more comfortable overall. It also features an ambidextrous design with two side buttons on each side. On the other hand, the Mamba has a right-handed design that's well-suited for any hand size using a palm grip. It also comes with onboard memory, which is great if you plan on using it with different devices.
The Razer Viper is overall a better gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Sensei Ten, but the SteelSeries is better if you have larger hands and prefer using a palm or claw grip. The Razer has a much lower click latency, a more precisely adjustable CPI range, and a lower lift-off distance. Also, if you prefer ultra-light mice, the Razer weighs much less. On the other hand, the SteelSeries Engine 3 is available on macOS, unlike the Razer Synapse 3.
The GLORIOUS Model D and the Razer Viper are both excellent choices for ultra-light gaming. The two mice have a similar shape and weigh almost the same, but the GLORIOUS features a honeycomb body and has multiple RGB zones, giving it a more gamer-centric look. On the other hand, the Razer has an ambidextrous design that feels more solid overall. It also has two side buttons on each side, while the GLORIOUS only has two standard ones on the left side. Performance-wise, the Razer has a better sensor with a wider CPI range, less CPI variation, and a lower lift-off distance.
The Razer Viper is overall a better gaming mouse than the Razer Mamba Elite, but the Elite might be better for people with larger hands who prefer a palm or claw grip. The Viper has an ambidextrous design that is much lighter, and its low-profile shape might be better for people with small hands using a claw grip. However, if you're a fan of RGB lighting, the Mamba Elite has lighting strips on its side and scroll wheel.
The Razer Viper is overall a better mouse than the Razer DeathAdder Elite, but the DeathAdder Elite might be a better choice if you're a palm grip user. The Viper has an ambidextrous design with two side buttons on each side, which gives it slightly more programmable buttons. It also has a much lower click latency and a lighter weight. However, the DeathAdder Elite has a comfortable right-handed slant, and its CPI range can be adjusted extremely precisely by increments of one.
Test Results
The Razer Viper is a matte black mouse with an RGB-lit Razer logo on its back. It has the same ambidextrous design as the Razer Viper Ultimate, with two buttons on each side.
If you're interested in a wired gaming mouse that shares the same shape but has a scaled-down size that's better suited for medium and smaller-sized hands, check out the Razer Cobra.
Like most wired gaming mice, it isn't very portable. It might be harder to put in a laptop case or use in tighter areas like on a plane or in a bus. However, this shouldn't be an issue if you're looking for a gaming mouse to leave at home with your setup.
This mouse feels very well-built. It's similar to the Razer Viper Ultimate, but the feet don't feel as nice. Overall, it feels solid and durable, and there are no rattles or squeaky sounds. Although the L/R clicks wobble a little, it isn't very noticeable.
Despite not having a honeycomb design, this mouse is very light. It weighs slightly less than Razer Viper Ultimate, but it isn't quite as light as ultralight gaming mice like the Cooler Master MM710 or Finalmouse Ultralight 2 - Cape Town. If you like the Razer Viper and want something similar that's a bit lighter, check out the smaller Razer Viper Mini.
It has a true ambidextrous design with two buttons and nice textured grips on each side, so it should be comfortable for both left- and right-handed people. Because of its rather short and low-profile shape, the Razer Viper is suitable for a fingertip grip by any hand size. However, people with small or medium hands may also be comfortable with a claw or palm grip. If you prefer a mouse that has a right-handed ergonomic shape, check out the Logitech G403 HERO.
Due to its rather short and low-profile design, the mouse is suitable for small and medium hands when used with a palm grip. If you're interested in a similar mouse that's well-suited for a palm grip regardless of hand size, check out the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B.
It's suitable for most hand sizes when used with a claw grip, but it may feel too small for people with extra-large hands.
It's suitable for most hand sizes when used with a fingertip grip, but people with small hands may struggle to reach the scroll wheel comfortably.
This mouse is wired-only. If you prefer a wireless design, check out the Razer Viper Ultimate.
Update 10/28/2021: After a previous retest, we incorrectly labeled that the cable did not have a permanent kink. However, while you're able to remove kinks from the cable, it's only temporary and they return to the same areas. For this reason, we've changed the Permanent Kink test result to 'Yes.'
The cable feels better than the older Razer cables but not as good as the recent ones on their Ultimate lineup. Our unit's paracord-like cable isn't very flexible, but it doesn't retain kinks from the packaging. For a similarly performing mouse with a better cable, check out the Endgame Gear XM1.
The PTFE feet are decent. They provide an okay gliding experience on both desks and mousepads, but there's a scratchiness on desks due to their sharp edges. While it doesn't come with extra feet, there are third-party ones available.
- Razer Viper mouse
- Manuals
It uses optical switches for the main click buttons. Every button can be reprogrammed, including all four side buttons, the CPI switch on the underside of the mouse, and the up/down scrolls. You can also set a HyperShift button to give you a second layer of programmable inputs for as long as you hold the button. While you can reprogram the left click, you need to reassign the left click action to another button first.
The click latency of this mouse is incredibly low and consistent. It provides a very responsive-feeling experience for gaming in any genre.
The Razer Viper has a very wide CPI range that can be adjusted fairly precisely by increments of 50. The set CPI is consistent, but it tends to overshoot a bit more when you move slower than when you move fast; however, this shouldn't be noticeable to most people. It has a low lift-off distance, so the sensor shouldn't track your movements when you reposition your mouse. If you like the Razer Viper and want an even higher polling rate, check out the Razer Viper 8KHz.
It has a standard incremented scroll wheel with no L/R tilt buttons. It has a nice texturized rubber strip that is grippy, but the bumpy feel may bother some people.
The mouse clicks are quiet and shouldn't bother those around you when in a noise-sensitive environment.
It has limited customization with Razer Synapse 3. Although you can customize everything related to button-mapping, RGB lighting, and polling rate, the mouse doesn't have on-board memory, so you can't use this mouse on another computer with all your pre-saved settings. Unfortunately, the software isn't available on macOS. If you want a mouse with on-board memory and excellent software, check out the SteelSeries Sensei Ten.
While it's fully compatible with Windows, the software isn't available on macOS, so you can't remap the controls to anything other than their default settings. Also, the right side buttons don't work on macOS, so you can't use all four side buttons at once. If you want a mouse that has software that can be installed on macOS as well, check out the SteelSeries Rival 310, though it doesn't perform quite as well overall.
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