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Razer Basilisk Mobile: Two-minute review
The Basilisk Mobile is a wireless gaming mouse in Razer’s line of ergonomically focused peripherals, but with a smaller form factor than usual. Its looks stay true to the brand’s current design language, with minimal gamer stylings, appearing more understated than its past peripherals. There’s a small and subtle logo at the back that allows the RGB lighting to shine through, which is quite inconspicuous compared to other examples.
It has a sleek form that is aided by the matte finish of its soft-touch material, which also makes it pleasant to hold, thanks to the slightly grainy texture it provides. There’s a more prominent texture on the sides, although this doesn’t provide as much traction as some of the best gaming mouse grips.
Although it’s quite short, the Basilisk Mobile is still reasonably wide and tall, especially at the rear, which makes it more of a satisfying handful than I was expecting. This somewhat calls into question its portability credentials, as in reality I didn’t find it any easier to transport than your typical gaming mouse. Still, its smaller profile may well be a boon for those with smaller hands.
It also features a fairly sharp hump at the rear end, which forces a V-shaped grip from your hand, as the mouse buttons rake downwards at a steep angle as well. This may or may not be to your liking; personally, I found it comfortable for my play style.
The Basilisk Mobile can be customized using Razer’s Synapse 4 software. Here you’ll find plenty of tweaks and options to play around with, from RGB settings to button remapping, the latter of which contains an inordinate selection of shortcut functions and features. Unfortunately, there’s little in the way of performance-related settings, which will disappoint those after elite-level tinkering.
In action, though, the Basilisk Mobile performs with aplomb. It glides effortlessly and smoothly, while clicks are snappy and precise, offering plenty of speed and feedback. They’re also slightly more damped than your typical gaming mouse, resulting in a more satisfying thud when you hammer down on them.
The Basilisk Mobile also has three side buttons, all of which have a surprising amount of dampening and travel to them, which makes them more tactile and therefore better to use than those adorning other gaming mice.
The scroll wheel is similarly proficient. The notching is smooth, which makes it easy to use, although it might be a little too loose for those after more controlled flicks. It also features a button to release the notching altogether and allow for unimpeded spinning, useful when navigating large menus and the like. There’s also a scroll tilt function, but this is a little awkward to use given the minimal protrusion of the wheel itself between the two mouse buttons.
However, it has an excellent middle click, offering plenty of depth and dampening, while at the same time being quick and effortless to actuate. It’s also stable enough to prevent misscrolling.
Connecting via both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz proved easy, and hot-switching between them is quick thanks to the underside selector. I had no issues in terms of responsiveness or lag in either mode.
The battery dropped to 70% after two days of varied use between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, which isn’t a particularly impressive figure, and seems to undermine Razer’s claimed figure of 105 hours. Still, it’s enough to make wireless play practical.
With a sub-$100 price tag, the Basilisk Mobile is well-priced when stacked up next to its rivals, many of which exceed this threshold. It’s about the same as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which arguably has better gaming performance, but lacks features and Bluetooth capability.
Considering its button selection, build quality, customization options, performance and wireless connectivity modes, the Basilisk Mobile makes a compelling argument for your next pointer. Just ignore the portability aspect and it makes more sense.
Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Price & availability
- $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95
- Available now in black only
- Cheaper than rivals
The Basilisk Mobile costs $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95 and is available now in black only. It comes with a 2.4GHz USB dongle and a USB cable, but no spare skates.
This is cheaper than many other gaming mice with multiple wireless options. It’s close to the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which is a full-size mouse that’s more basic and focused on gaming performance rather than features, but in the former department, it excels.
If you’re looking for a considerably more budget offering, though, the Cooler Master MM311 is just about the best wireless gaming mouse in this category. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery or Bluetooth, but in all other regards it’s an incredible pointer for the money.
Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Specs
|
Interface |
Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth) |
|
Ergonomics |
Right-handed asymmetrical |
|
Buttons |
10 |
|
DPI |
Up to 18,000 |
|
Switches |
Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 |
|
Weight |
2.68 oz (76g) |
Should I buy the Razer Basilisk Mobile?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The Basilisk Mobile is cheaper than quite a few rivals with similar specs, making it good value in comparison. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
The Basilisk Mobile is built to Razer’s typically high standards, and the soft-touch finish is great in the hand – but I’m not sure it’s any more portable than a standard gaming mouse. |
4 / 5 |
|
Performance |
The Basilisk Mobile glides as smooth as silk, and all the buttons are responsive and very satisfying. Some performance-enhancing features are missing, though. |
4 / 5 |
|
Overall |
The Basilisk Mobile is a good value gaming mouse compared to its rivals, and its terrific build quality and enjoyable performance make it a great choice for any gamer, whether you’re on the go or not. |
4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Razer Basilisk Mobile |
Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed |
Cooler Master MM311 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95 |
$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95 |
$39 (about £31 / AU$59) |
|
Interface |
Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth) |
Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A) |
Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A) |
|
Ergonomics |
Right-handed asymmetrical |
Right-handed asymmetrical |
Right-handed symmetrical |
|
Buttons |
10 |
6 |
6 |
|
DPI |
18,000 |
26,000 |
10,000 |
|
Switches |
Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 |
Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 |
Mechanical switches |
|
Weight |
2.68 oz (76g) |
1.9oz (55g) |
2.7oz (77g) |
How I tested the Razer Basilisk Mobile
- Tested for several days
- Used for gaming and working
- Extensive gaming mouse experience
I tested the Basilisk Mobile for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.
I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which provides the ideal environment for putting peripherals through their paces, as it reveals just how fast and accurate they truly are in battle.
I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I’ve gained experience of using a great number of mice. I’ve also reviewed many across a broad spectrum of brands, form factors, features, and price points.
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lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison)
