The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE Wireless Gaming Mouse is the antithesis of a modern gaming mouse. First of all, it is ridiculously heavy: at 142 grams, my wrist got a little tired after the first few days of use. Most gaming mice today weigh less than 80g.

But it doesn't end there. Dark Core goes even further. Its nine customizable RGB zones and side wings look like a Babylon 5 spaceship. Two index finger buttons embedded in the main mouse button, and side wing rests for thumb and pinky (the latter can be replaced if you like). I hope you get the idea.

Nevertheless, this $90 (open in new tab) mouse has everything a modern gamer needs, starting with Corsair's ultra-fast 2.4Ghz Slipstream wireless connection, which delivers near-instantaneous 1ms response, indistinguishable from a wired connection. Plus, low-latency Bluetooth and USB Type-C wired connections for charging and playback; Slipstream is already well established, so I've never experienced any connectivity or latency issues.

As for design, the Dark Core is an oddly attractive mouse. It is made of sturdy black plastic with a warty textured back that fits in the palm of the hand. The side wings not only give it that extra look I mentioned, but also make it comfortable to hold.

Although it feels large, it is actually not that much larger than other gaming mice. What makes it feel big is due to its weight. In reality, however, the Dark Core is very easy to hold and nimble thanks to its PTFE foot.

The shape and weight of the mouse encourages more of a palm grip, but left-handed people should definitely look elsewhere. I also like the tactile thumb buttons, but am not convinced by the top-finger buttons embedded in the main buttons. Its position favors slower, more deliberate movements in productivity work rather than gaming.

The main buttons are mechanical, made by Omron, and are clicky and responsive, withstanding 50 million clicks. The scroll wheel is hard to talk about after the excellent workmanship of Razer's Basilisk V3. the Dark Core has a total of eight programmable buttons, which can be managed with the iCUE software. RGB, DPI, etc. can also be managed here. The mouse has three slots for saving profiles, but the trouble is that they can only be saved with a wired connection.

The Dark Core has an 18,000 DPI optical sensor, which has the rather unique ability to change resolution in 1 DPI steps. This means that oddly specific custom resolutions can be set, such as 793 DPI for gaming. In addition, a fast polling rate of 2,000 Hz complements the accurate sensor, making the Dark Core a formidable tool in the right hands (not mine).

While some mice, like the Roccat Kone XP, try to dazzle us with RGB lights, the Dark Core uses a more subtle and elegant multi-zone lighting scheme. This accentuates the ambiance of the Dark Core and allows for a surprising amount of customization. However, it is still a wireless mouse, so battery life is a concern with this lighting.

The DarkCore only lasts 50 hours in my specific use, or about 10 hours five times a day, and that's with Bluetooth and the lights turned off. Otherwise, it would only last 20 hours with the lights on at 2.4Ghz. Frankly, this is not very good, and one wonders why it is so heavy if the battery doesn't have much power; the USB Type-C makes charging easy, but even better is Qi wireless charging, like Corsair's MM1000 mat, which is compatible With a compatible Qi charging pad like Corsair's MM1000 mat, you can run, gun, and keep charging. It's as if this pad was designed specifically for this mouse.

Overall, I like the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro and if you like big, comfortable gaming mice, you'll love it. The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is one of my favorite mice and is this mouse's main competitor. Once you get used to its weight, you quickly realize how secure and accurate the Dark Core is. It's great for productivity and gaming, but not for those who play a lot of competitive FPS games. But if you spend hours on Red Dead Redemption 2 or Lost Ark, this is a great choice.