If money’s no constraint, the best gaming mouse with a symmetrical design we’ve tested is the Razer Viper V3 Pro. It costs $160, but if you play a lot of competitive PC games and can afford the price, you’ll find little to complain about.

With its slightly grooved edges, noticeable but not aggressive hump, and slight flare-out at the back, the Viper V3 Pro’s shape should be comfortable for a range of hand sizes and grip types. It’s a little wide, and it probably works best with a claw or fingertip grip, but it’s not so short or flat that it can’t accommodate palm grippers.

The main mouse buttons are laid out in a way that gives your fingers a natural resting place, and there are small ledges on either side to guide them into the right place when you’re moving around in a game. In other words, it’s one of the most secure shapes we’ve tested.

The Viper’s build quality is excellent. It’s impressively light at 54g, making it easy to move around in fast-paced games, yet its matte plastic frame isn’t covered in dust-attracting pores, unlike many other options of similar weight. We’ve noticed no signs of creaking, flexing or rattling after months of testing. The finish shows some fingerprints, but it’s comfortable to grip and pleasantly soft to the touch.

The main click buttons use durable optical switches, but aren’t particularly loud. Although they’re not as full or clear as the best mechanical switches, they’re still easy to press, neither too hard nor too light. The two programmable side buttons are well-sized and easy to reach. The scroll wheel, meanwhile, is tight and quiet, with clearly defined steps and a textured finish.

Performance, as with many high-end gaming mice these days, is effectively flawless. Razer’s Focus Pro 35K optical sensor Gen-2 – five times faster – is basically overkill from a technical standpoint, but still makes the mouse exceptionally accurate and consistent. There’s generously sized, smooth-gliding PTFE feet and a rock-solid connection with the included “hyperpolling” dongle.

The latter lets the mouse reach a maximum polling rate of 8,000Hz, but as explained below, few people will actually see any benefit from jumping that high. Mostly, it’ll reduce battery life: Razer says the Viper V3 Pro can last up to 95 hours at 1,000Hz, which is fine for this market and roughly consistent according to our experience, but it drops to just 17 hours at 8,000Hz.

If the price didn’t make it clear, the Viper V3 Pro is for gaming enthusiasts. As such, it doesn’t offer some of the benefits you’ll find on more mainstream mice: there’s no RGB lighting or Bluetooth, while the power button/DPI switcher is located on the bottom of the device, making it difficult to press accidentally. Since the device uses a special dongle rather than a traditional receiver, it requires you to run a separate USB-C cable from your PC or gaming laptop.

Thankfully, you can connect with that cable when the battery is low, but it’s relatively thick. And while Razer’s Synapse software makes adjusting settings fairly simple, it’s somewhat resource-intensive. It’s also Windows-only. These are all minor quibbles, though. The Viper V3 Pro is excellent, and it will feel right at home in the hands of committed FPS players.

If you want a premium gaming mouse with a more ergonomic shape, get the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro. It has the same features as the Viper V3 Pro, but it has a taller, slightly wider and more dramatically protruding design that’s geared toward right-handed users.

Most people with medium to large hands will find it a natural fit with a palm or claw grip, though it’ll probably be a bit too chunky for people with smaller hands and fingertip grips. This shape isn’t as easy to maneuver as the Viper, but its higher, side-sloping bulge will provide a more comfortable place to rest your hand throughout the day.

Razer sells two variants of the DeathAdder V3 Pro: one with the same soft-touch finish as the Viper V3 Pro, and another with a more textured matte plastic coating. We tested the latter; it’s not as grippy or smooth to the touch, but it’s still nice, and it’s much less of a fingerprint magnet.

Plus, the side buttons are larger, closer together and a little less tight, but they’re still hard to press accidentally. The design is 63 grams heavier, but still seriously lightweight. The PTFE feet are tiny, but still glide reliably. And while the sensor is technically a generation old, performance is effectively flawless.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a similar feature set. The optical main buttons are satisfying and consistent, but not overly sensitive. The lightly notched scroll wheel is soft, quiet, and resistant enough, if not firm. Battery life is rated for 90 hours, and you can connect a lighter and more flexible USB-C cable in a pinch.

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