The Razer Deathadder V2 improves on everything we love about the Deathadder Elite, which is itself one of the best gaming mice and has been around in various forms since 2016. But the Deathadder V2 is one of the best mice money can buy, with an improved optical sensor, more durable left and right mouse buttons, and a smoother scroll wheel.1]

But the question is not whether the V2 is the best version of the Deathadder (it is best version), but whether it's worth buying, given that it's currently $35/£35 more than the Elite. It might be.

The most obvious improvement is the same Focus+ optical sensor used in the excellent Razer Viper Ultimate Wireless. I'll get to that later, but I was more impressed by the more subtle changes Razer made for the V2, the first being the scroll wheel, which Razer has given the new design the silly name "Instinctive Scroll Wheel Tactility. Razer has given this new design the silly name "Instinctive Scroll Wheel Tactility," but the result is perfect. The tightness is precise. While rotating smoothly, you can feel every notch of rotation, so you won't accidentally scroll over and over again.

Razer's use of a new wire (the equally ridiculously named "Speedflex Cable") also sounds inconsequential, but turns out to be a big deal. I've been using a version of the Deathadder (Expert) for years, and if I have one complaint, it's that the wire is stiff, and depending on how it's placed on the desk, the mouse will sometimes lean to one side. the V2 wire is the most flexible of any gaming mouse I've tried, and like me That means that even if you're not managing the wires, it's unlikely to affect the mouse's movement.

The left and right buttons on the mouse are also more durable than the Elite. Since they are optical (using an infrared beam to record clicks) rather than mechanical, they should have fewer false clicks, lower latency, and a longer lifespan; Razer expects 70 million clicks of durability, not the 50 million clicks of the Deathadder Elite. I don't know how accurate this number is, but it certainly felt as responsive as it needed to be, and there was not a single missed click. In the "Fortnite" and "Escape from Tarkov" games, shooting felt instantaneous and we never had to worry about misfires.

The up and down sensitivity buttons have also been redesigned. The Elite was basically one elongated button divided into two; the V2's are wider and separated by a piece of plastic. It's not as fancy looking, but the gap makes it easier to distinguish between the two without looking, ideal if you need to change sensitivity in the middle of a fight (e.g., if you're a sniper and zoom in).

There is also a new button on the base of the mouse that toggles between custom profiles for sensitivity and RGB lighting; if you are signed in to Razer's Synapse software, you can set an unlimited number of profiles, store five in on-board memory, and and can be used no matter where the V2 is connected. Once profiles are set up, you can easily switch between options without having to log into Synapse.

Next is the material: the Deathadder Elite has segmented thumb rests on either side of the mouse, with the edges clearly separated from the rest of the side panel; the V2 has less separation and instead has a raised, chiseled area on the panel. The grip remains the same, but the look is much sleeker. There are no seams, so dirt adhesion is not a concern. The matte black coating on the top of the mouse prevents the hand from slipping, and combined with the V2's shape (which, like the Elite, is ideal for right-handed people and fits most palms), the V2 is a comfortable mouse to use for hours on end.

Then comes Razer's "party trick" sensor (Deathadder Elite stats in parentheses for comparison). Up to 20,000 DPI/CPI (16,000), up to 650 inches per second (450), and 99.6% resolution accuracy (99.4%). Because there is little difference in day-to-day performance. How often do we need to exceed 16,000 DPI/CPI? Not very often.

My point is that the V2's sensor worked flawlessly. It was accurate, snappy, and smooth, even when used on a desk without a mouse mat. The new PTFE mousefeet (the same material used to coat non-stick pans) glided across any surface, including leather couches. By comparison, the Elite's mousefeet, which are not PTFE, are not as smooth to the touch.

Continuing the trend of recent Razer mice, however, the left and right mouse buttons are a bit flimsy. They feel fine and even sturdy when clicking straight on, but with the slightest sideways effort, they swing off-center. This makes me think that the V2 would not be able to withstand the impact of tossing it into a bag before it flew out the door. This is a relatively minor complaint, but we noticed the same thing with the Viper Ultimate Wireless, so hopefully Razer will fix this soon. Overall, the solid build quality is compromised.

The big drawback is the price: at $70/£70, it is technically the same recommended price as the Deathadder Elite. However, the Elite can be bought for much less. Is the V2 a good mouse? Sure. Twice as good. Absolutely not.

So whether you should buy it depends on how much you can save on the Elite and how much you appreciate the incremental improvements the V2 offers. if you want the absolute best version of Razer's most reliable wired mouse, this is it. But if you're looking to save a little money, you can't go wrong with the older model.