Testing the mouse
Testing the mouse
Reviewing a mouse is tricky (almost like with audio devices). Usually, I use a Corsair Makalu 67, and you must remember that I have massive palms.
I liked the experience with the Darkstar Wireless series, although it was a pretty new experience for me. The design is very good, and the weight is ok (96g / 0.21 lbs.)
The polling rate (2000 Hz) is achieved and stays close to the value that the manufacturer declares.
For gaming tests, I’ve used the typical:
- PUBG,
- Battlefield 1,
- Call of Duty: WW2
But also the:
- PlanetSide2
- Guild Wars 2
The Corsair Darkstar Wireless series did excellent in all cases because it’s responsive. The main buttons are responsive; they use OMRON optical switches, which use IR light to detect a mouse click events instead of metal contacts. Overall it was the first time I tested a mouse with fifteen buttons (all programmable in the iCUE software). I was able to get used to it and take advantage of them in the MMO games. A six-axis gyro and accelerometer create a low liftoff distance for more accurate tracking, and programmable tilt gestures enable you to tilt the mouse upward to perform in-game actions, which worked very well. The Corsair Marksman 26K DPI sensor does its job as it should. The sensor responds very well with no noticeable interpolation or angle snapping. We didn’t have to go further than 3200 DPI for our gaming needs. The wireless connection was flawless; there was nothing to complain about in the latency and responsiveness department. Movements are registered as they should be. We did not encounter undesirable phenomena in the tests or when gaming (such as the pointer moving by itself), and the level of precision was high. DPI selection works friendly and fast: click the DPI + or – button (on the left side of the top of the mouse).
The lighting effects are nice; you have seven “zones”/bar. The grip is very good, but you must remember that it’s mainly aimed at the palm grip style. The size is relatively big (so more than ok for my massive hands). The battery life is close to the advertised result; it could reach about 70 hours w/o the lighting and using Bluetooth (Corsair states 80 hours). With the Slipstream and the RGB, I achieved 15h of usage (Corsair claims “up to 20h”). The battery is possible to be charged via the bundled USB cable.
