14 DAY TRIAL // Razer Basilisk Essential sounds like it’s offering the bare minimum users need. It’s full of surprises and much more versatile than we would expect.
Gaming mice needn’t be too complicated to do their job, and uncomplicated would be an excellent word to describe the Razer Basilisk Essential. Although, it would be just a little bit too reductionist to call it uncomplicated.
Before getting onto the more technical details, we need to establish where in the market the mouse fits. We know for a fact that serious gamers know exactly what they want when they choose a mouse. But it’s also fair to say that choosing a mouse is a matter of taste as well. Not all mice are created equal, and the design usually addresses different types of customers.
There are two major categories in the gaming community when it comes to mice, encompassing a classic design and a futuristic one. There’s some space in between, but companies tend to follow these directions, at least for gaming mice.
It’s also important to mention the fact that gamers usually have a much higher standard for their chosen hardware. They don’t settle with just the simple functionality. They are after performance, ergonomics, weight, customization, and many other aspects. Any company that builds a mouse and says that it’s for gamers will have to live up to a very high standard.
Design and ergonomics
One of the reasons why it’s called Razer Basilisk Essential is the design, which might seem a little bit simplistic, at first glance. But it’s factually a much more intricate design than it lets on. It has a high profile so that the hand sits comfortably on the mouse, and it can accommodate people with longer fingers as well.
The bottom part, on the left side, has a small elongated zone that increases the size of the base, and which is used by people to rest their thumbs. You might not feel like it’s something important if you didn’t have something like this before. Once you’ve tried it, you won’t go back to dragging your thumbs on the mouse pad.
The back part of the mouse houses the colorful Razer logo, which is controlled by the Synapse software. It’s nothing much, but it can be synchronized with other Chroma-powered Razer devices if you have any.
As for the ergonomics, the Razer Basilisk Essential seems to be very well thought out in terms of dimensions and proportions. It has a weight of 95g, which is right in the sweet spot, which means that it’s not too light and not too heavy.
Usage and specs
People look for specific features in gaming mice, with the quality of the optical sensor being the most important. Since Razer Basilisk Essential is a wired mouse, users don’t have to worry about latency, and the 6,400 DPI optical sensor works like a charm.
Of course, the 6,400 DPI number is the maximum, not the default value. Users will need to install Synapse 3 to get full access to all of the features, including the option to change the DPI sensitivity to anything you want. In fact, there’s a dedicated button next to scroll wheel which can be used to quickly switch between different values, which can be defined at will.
Interestingly enough, users also have access to the polling rate, which is basically how fast the mouse updates the information. By default, the polling rate is set 1000 Hz, which is to be expected for a gaming mouse, but it’s possible to choose 500 Hz as well.
Two extra buttons are placed above the thumb, which can be rebound to pretty much everything you want form Synaptic. The most exciting feature is, of course, the sensitivity clutch. When you take the mouse out of the box, you will notice a small metal flap stored separately.
At the end of the thumb rest, there’s a rubber piece which can be removed, and the clutch magnetically attached. While the button is pressed, the DPI is reduced considerably, allowing for finer control. The function is handy in games which require precision shooting, for example.
The sensitivity clutch takes a little time getting used to, but once you integrate it in your gameplay, it becomes an essential part. It’s also a nice touch on Razer’s part to add it as a separate metal plate and not merely as a button. It gives the Razer Basilisk Essential a nice touch.
The last aspect I have to mention is the use of Razer mechanical mouse switches, which sound good and are designed to work for a very long time. In fact, Razer is confident enough to say that they should be good for up to 20 million clicks. How many clicks are we using regularly? Impossible to determine, but it’s likely a lot less than 20 million.
The Good
The sensitivity clutch is the star of the show, and multiple ways in which it can be customized makes it a lovely addition to the mouse. The metal flap and the magnetic lock lend a quality feel, which is impossible to ignore.
Finally, I need to give props to the use of mechanical mouse switches, which might sound like a marketing term. You might think that a mouse button can’t be all that different from all the other buttons you've used until now. It turns out that you can feel the difference, and it’s a big difference.
The Bad
Conclusion
The Synaptic software advanced over time, and it’s now much more reliable, especially since it’s necessary to make full use of the mouse. The sheer number of customizations is more than impressive, and, except for the left click, everything can be changed.
At $49.99, the Basilisk Essential is a great tool for gamers, even the more exigent ones. It checks all the relevant boxes, including weights, optical sensor, build quality, and speed. If we add the sensitivity clutch, the package is complete.
