Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro Review: The Big-Hand Esports Mouse, With a Big Price
At 56 g with a true 8000 Hz wireless mode and a 150 hour rating, the DeathAdder V4 Pro is the best-spec ergonomic mouse around. The $169.99 price, loud clicks and large shell decide who it suits.
The verdict
The best ergonomic wireless mouse for right-handed palm and claw grips: 56 g, optical Gen-4 switches, a 45K sensor and 8000 Hz polling over wireless. It is large, the clicks are loud and hollow, and $169.99 is a lot. Small hands and fingertip grippers should skip it, and anyone happy with 1000 Hz can pay less.
Best forRight-handed palm and claw grippers who want a light esports mouse
What we liked
- 56 g is very light for a full-size ergonomic shell
- True 8000 Hz polling over wireless, with six selectable rates
- Rated 150 hours at 1000 Hz, so charging is rare
- Optical Gen-4 switches rated for 100+ million clicks
- Optional HyperFlux V2 dock charges it wirelessly
What we did not
- $169.99 is steep, and the optional charging dock is another $119.99
- Battery drops to about 22 hours at 8000 Hz
- Large shell is too big for small hands and fingertip grips
- Clicks are loud and hollow, which neighbours may notice
- Right-handed only, with a smooth coating that is less grippy than before
The DeathAdder shape has been copied for over a decade, and the V4 Pro is Razer finally taking it wireless without making it heavy. If your hand is big and your grip is palm or claw, this is the version to beat. If it is not, the next few hundred words will save you $170.
What 56 grams buys you
Razer lists the V4 Pro at 56 g, and the white and green editions at 57 g and 58 g. Older full-size ergonomic mice often sat above 80 g, so the drop is large. ProSettings found no perceptible build compromise from the weight loss: the shell does not flex, and the side buttons stay firm.
The comparison people actually make is with the ZOWIE EC1-DW, which has a similar shape. ProSettings puts it at 63 g and less advanced, though the gap is hard to feel in a match.
The shape decides everything
This is a big mouse. A reviewer with 18 by 10.5 cm hands found it slightly too large for precise aiming, and called it a poor fit for fingertip grips unless your hands are very large. We agree with the reading: it rewards a palm that rests on the hump and a claw that arches over it.
If your hand is medium or small, look at a symmetrical shell instead. The coating is smooth-touch, a touch less grippy than the previous model. That is a taste call, but sweaty hands will notice.
Eight thousand hertz, with a bill attached
The V4 Pro polls at up to 8000 Hz over wireless, with 125, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz to choose from. Razer's HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 claims 37 percent lower latency than the last generation.
The cost is battery. At 1000 Hz Razer rates 150 hours, and reviewers report about 22 hours at 8000 Hz. Most players will run 1000 Hz or 2000 Hz and treat 8000 Hz as a bonus for a tournament weekend. We would too: a faster polling rate also asks more of your CPU.
Clicks, sensor and scroll
The optical Gen-4 switches are rated for 100 million clicks. They are crisp, and they are loud: reviewers describe a hollow, clacky sound. If you share a room, you will hear it.
The Focus Pro 45K Gen-2 sensor is far beyond what any hand needs, at 45,000 DPI, 900 IPS and 85 G. The scroll wheel now uses an optical encoder, which cuts the risk of the classic wheel malfunction. There are 8 programmable controls, and the mouse stores one profile on board.
Specs
- Weight
- 56 g (57 g white, 58 g Esports Green)
- Sensor
- Razer Focus Pro 45K Optical Gen-2, 900 IPS, 85 G
- Polling rate
- Up to 8000 Hz wired and wireless
- Switches
- Razer Optical Gen-4, 100+ million clicks
- Battery
- Up to 150 hours at 1000 Hz, about 22 hours at 8000 Hz
- Wireless
- HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2, hemispherical dongle
- Buttons
- 8 programmable, optical scroll wheel
- Memory
- Onboard storage for one profile
- Warranty
- Up to 2 years
