Razer Basilisk Ultimate gaming mouse reviewed.

I’m fussy when it comes to mice.

It’s weird but I tend to value comfort and performance over everything else…but sometimes I’d fall for a cheap, no frills mouse than go for something premium.

The Razer Basilist Ultimate isn’t cheap that’s for sure, but does it still get a pass from me?

Read on.

What is the Razer Basilisk Ultimate?

The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is the latest in the Razer’s Basilisk line of premium FPS gaming mice. The mouse’s meant for right handers (sorry lefties).

It features 11 customizable buttons (with optical switches for lightning fast response), 14 customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting zones and up to 20,000 dpi (via its Razer Focus+ sensor) for when you really, REALLY need precision.

It’s Razer Synapse 3 compatible, though you can adjust multiple settings (scroll wheel sensitivity, profile changes and dpi settings) without using the program.

The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is also wireless (up to 100 hours of battery life without lighting), powered by Razer’s HyperSpeed wireless tech and comes with its own awesome dock. It can also be used while wired (charging) so there’s really no downtime for the mouse.

The mouse’s dimensions are 130mm (Length) x 60mm (Grip Width) x 42mm (Height), and it’s weighed at 107g.

The Razer Basilisk Ultimate goes for $269.90.

Performing made easy.

Before switching to the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, I was using the Roccat Kova (which is also an excellent mouse) but I can honestly say, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate impressed me right off the bat.

I love the textured side grips; they feel really good to touch and (after playing a TON of Overwatch) is sweat resistant too! Unless you experience heavy sweating on your hands, the mouse should serve you well.

It fits like a glove too. My finger rested comfortably in the grooves of the two main buttons, with my palm covering the body and my thumb on the thumb rest. The dpi buttons are right under mouse wheel, depressed just a tad so you don’t accidentally hit them when you don’t want to.

I love that Razer actually went this route; I’ve accidentally hit a ton of dpi mouse buttons on a ton of different mice by mistake simply because they were raised higher than I’d like.

The notched mouse wheel also gets some plus points from me.

The scrolling’s incredibly smooth and if you have any issue with the resistance, there’s a handy mini-wheel under the mouse that allows you to adjust it. I love ratcheting it up all the way, as I love the feel of a wheel going up or down a notch. Very tactile, very fun.

Unlike most mice, the wheel can also be tilted to the left or right side, which are recognized as button presses. It did take some getting used to (mainly due to me forgetting their existence) but once you remember they’re there, the only limit is finding what keys you want to bind them to.

Thumbs up!

On the left are three more buttons for your thumb.

My thumb had zero issues with the two longer buttons on the mouse’s left side though I did find myself wishing they were depressed a bit…or at the very least contoured.

There’s also another button/paddle that attaches on the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s left too, which is meant for sniping (it automatically lowers your sensitivity).

It’s an awesome feature (which can also be found on other Basilisk mice too) and the paddle is just the right length for me to hit with the upper part of my thumb while also still being able to hit other buttons on the side.

The thumb rest’s also one of the best I’ve ever experienced. It’s curved just right, allowing the thumb to rest inside without being obtrusive when you’re actively playing.

Buttons are responsive for every single one on the mouse. Razer’s kitted them out with their optical mouse switches, which cuts down milliseconds of lag. I can’t say whether this is true or not; all I can say is there’s no noticeable input delay that I’ve felt between presses and the actions registering onscreen.

Another thing of note on the Razer Basilisk Ultimate; the 20,000 (not a typo) dpi sensor, with up to 650 inches per second (ips).

It might sound like just a bunch of numbers but what it boils down to is that the mouse can be incredibly responsive. If you’re a multi-screen user, you’ll LOVE this since you’re able to jump screens with barely a twitch of your wrist.

One other minor matter of note; it’s great that the Razer Bailisk Ultimate has a mini storage compartment for the wireless dongle underneath it.

Even if you’re using it wired, the dongle is always within easy reach if you need it. Plus, you don’t need to remember where you keep it! It’s always with you in the mouse if you don’t use it!

Dongle trouble.

Unfortunately, since it’s using the wireless dongle for connectivity, the mouse doesn’t have any other wireless options. Bluetooth is sadly missing (perhaps it conflicts with Razer’s tech?) but it’s a decent trade-off to make.

I REALLY hate how the dongle is hard to grip though.

It’s made from a smooth casing, which makes it a pain when you want to remove it from whatever port it’s attached to.

In my testing, I had to attach it to my notebook USB port, a PS4 Pro USB port (the ones in front) and an Xbox One X USB port (the one in front). It was a pain trying to remove it every single time because the dongle is teeny and there’s not much surface area to grip once it’s inserted into a port! A textured or grooved casing (for your nails to hook on to) would’ve been much appreciated.

Now, as for the results of said tests…The Razer Basilisk Ultimate works on the Xbox One but not the PS4. The console doesn’t even detect the mouse (wired or wireless dongle).

The Xbox One does detect the mouse, but ONLY in games with mouse support (I tried in Gears 5). The dongle DOES work, so you can use it wireless if you want.

Bling me up.

For those who want to look good while playing great, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s got you covered there too.

There are grooves lined along the mouse that light up, making it look ultra snazzy. Unlike most mice I’ve tried, the lighting’s at 14 locations that (mostly) aren’t covered by your hand, so you can admire the pretty colors while you wait for your next match to load up.

Razer’s Synapse 3 app makes it pretty easy to tweak the mouse settings.

Whether you’re looking to configure buttons, dpi presents or even the lighting on the mouse, it’s all done through intuitive menus.

It’s also awesome that Synapse 3 allows you to log in as a guest (unlike some other hardware manufacturer’s config programs).

Yeah, your profiles won’t be saved to the cloud but it’s a small price to pay if you just want to tweak stuff without signing up to Razer.

Ready to rumble.

While the Razer Basilisk Ultimate is supposed to last about 100 hours (without lighting), I found that mine lasted about 5 – 7 days, with about 10 hours usage per day. This is with lighting brightness turned all the way up, which I assume will drain the battery faster.

Recharging can be done 2 ways; via a micro USB cable that connects to a port on the mouse’s front, or through the charging dock included with the mouse.

If you’re opting for a cable (and have lost the one Razer included), you’ll want to find one with a slim profile. Some of my cables simply can’t fit into the recessed cavity where the port is.

Charging via the dock is quick and painless. You just place the mouse on top of it and the magnet will gently nudge it into the correct position to charge. The base is sturdy and the magnet prevents the mouse from slipping off accidentally.

It took me about 3 hours to get a full charge from 12% so it’s best to keep the mouse on the dock once you’re done for the day so that it’ll always be charged.

The bottom line.

I can’t express how much I love the Razer Basilisk Ultra.

Nearly every single aspect of it is well thought out, and its performance is nothing short of amazing. There are minor niggles here and there (the micro USB port and the wireless dongle for example) that shows that there can be improvements made to the design but they’re hardly deal breakers.

In fact, the one thing that might put off potential buyers is the asking price. $269.90 is a lot of cash to ask for a mouse, even one with all the bells and whistles the Basilisk Ultimate has.

If that doesn’t faze you, then go right ahead and get the mouse. It’s definitely one of the best (if not THE best) money can buy.

TLDR:

Expensive but more than worth it.