Razer announces the Viper: A lightning fast mouse with optical switches

Razer is not only one of the most popular gaming brands, but a recognized hardware innovator. Its latest release, the Razer Viper is no exception. Announced today and designed in collaboration with professional esports players, this new gaming mouse promises lightning fast performance.

The key to the Razer Viper’s speed is the company’s new optical mouse switches. According to Razer, these are three times as fast as traditional mechanical ones. What makes them so much better? Mechanical switches send electrical signals via physical contact, which creates a momentary bouncing effect. This can result in multiple signals being detected — more clicks than you’ve actually made. Usually, the problem is addressed with debounce software, which tries to block out any additional signals. However, that can cause a slower response time.

The Razer Viper’s optical switches eliminate this problem completely by circumventing the physical contact. When you click, the switch shutter opens, and an infrared light beam passes through to send your click signal to your PC. This makes actuation almost instant and the Razer Viper an ideal pick for competitive play.

The optical switches ensure improved durability as well, with the Razer Viper having a lifespan of a whopping 70 million clicks. Comfort hasn’t been sacrificed either. The mouse features the new Razer™ Speedflex Cable with a low-drag covering, which promises to reduce friction and minimize “edge drag.”

But the best news for FPS fans is that this is Razer’s lightest mouse yet. Weighing only 69g, the Viper is as light as a feather without the need for a skeletal shell. The mouse has already been field-tested by professional CS:GO players, who say it feels “smoother and faster.”

“The Razer Viper has been designed ground up in collaboration with some of Team Razer’s best esports athletes,” says Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s peripherals business unit. “With Optical Mouse Switches and Razer’s market-leading 5G sensor in an ambidextrous, lightweight mouse, the Viper delivers the high-performance precision and control needed to succeed in any of today’s competitive games.”

The Razer Viper’s specs are further proof of that. The mouse features 8 programmable buttons, on-board DPI storage, as well as Razer’s famous 5G Optical Sensor, which sports 16,000 DPI, 99.4% resolution accuracy and tracking at 450 inches per second.

The Razer Viper is available now for $79.99 in the U.S. and €89.99 in Europe through Razer’s official website and authorized retailers.