Razer has produced a string of great gaming mice in recent months, and the Razer Basilisk V2, an updated version of the 2018 Basilisk, is no exception. It overhauls an already solid original, and features customizable scroll wheel resistance (which we wish all mice had), additional programmable buttons, and Razer's latest optical sensor for the best tracking and accuracy.

This is not the first time Razer has upgraded the Basilisk. Since the original was released in 2018, the company has released two wireless mice in the Basilisk range: the Basilisk X Hyperspeed (solid and relatively affordable) and the Basilisk Ultimate (stunning and ridiculously expensive).The V2 is the original V2 takes its design inspiration from these two code-free products, but with a larger, curved thumb rest protruding from the left side of the mouse. The original Basilisk had ridges lining the thumb rest, which I did not like. There are also additional grips on the right side of the mouse for the ring and pinky fingers. The sharp edges and shiny plastic accents make it look more obnoxious than the original, but it is also more comfortable.

The extended thumb grip sets it apart from many other high-end mice. When playing, you can actually put your thumb on the side of the mouse instead of gripping it like you normally would; even after using it all day and playing for hours, my hand never got tired. Sure, that's true of most modern mice, but it's still one of the most comfortable devices I've used.

The Focus+ optical sensor is another excellent addition, and Razer has included this sensor in all of their new top-end mice, and as I wrote in my reviews of the Razer Deathadder V2 and Razer Viper Ultimate, it is the best on the market It's the best on the market. It can track up to 20,000 DPI and 650 IPS (inches per second) and boasts 99.6% resolution accuracy. On the spec sheet, it beats the competition, and we have never experienced any snagging or wayward tracking issues in real-world use. However, if you want the best sensor money can buy, this is the only way to go.

The scroll wheel has also been improved. First, the wheel can now tilt left and right, and two programmable buttons have been added. At first I was skeptical and worried that moving it left and right would feel loose after a while, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the lateral clicks felt solid and did not accidentally click while trying to scroll. The resistance of the scroll wheel can also be adjusted with another small wheel on the bottom of the mouse. This works as expected, allowing for scrolling from frictionless to stiffer than necessary. Scroll wheel resistance is almost entirely a matter of preference, and being able to adjust it is a common sense feature that I wish all gaming mice had.

Other changes from Basilisk include more flexible wires, reducing the risk of the mouse pulling to one side, and optical switches for the left and right clicks; Razer claims these switches last longer than the original mechanical switches ( 70 million vs. 50 million), so there is no need to rush to replace them. Again, these are the same ones Razer uses on its other mice, and the reliability is impeccable: not a single missed click in my testing. The V2 also has 100% PTFE mouse feet (the same material used in non-stick frying pans), which glide more smoothly than the original on a mouse mat or desk. Not that the original's feet were a snagging point, but this is still a step up.

The only real downside is that the left and right buttons on the mouse are a bit flimsy, as with other recent Razer mice. It is solid when I click on it, but it wobbles from side to side when I exert a little sideways pressure. I have a similar Razer mouse and the same wobble has been going on for months now. Still, for $80/80 lbs, something sturdier would be ideal.

I think the price is fair overall; you can get a perfectly good gaming mouse for half the price of the V2. It is also more expensive than the wireless Basilisk X Hyperspeed, but has a better sensor, more programmable buttons, and RGB lighting that the Hyperspeed does not. On the spec sheet, the V2 is nearly identical to the $170/£170 Basilisk Ultimate. The Ultimate has the advantage of being wireless, but still $90/90 lbs.

The Basilisk V2's true competitor in terms of price is the Death Adder V2 ($70/70 lbs.), which has the same sensor and the same optical switch (I gave it an 88 in my review). The Basilisk V2 is $10/£10 more, but it has a customizable scroll wheel and two more programmable buttons. If I could only choose one mouse to use for the next year, I would choose the Deathadder V2. Purely because I sometimes use my mouse away from home and in public, and I prefer the understated design (plus, $10/pound is not ridiculous). On balance, however, I think the Basilisk V2 is a more comfortable gaming mouse.