Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite Review

In a competitive class of gaming mice, the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite stands out for its sheer number of programmable buttons and customization options. The supportive iCUE software is quite sophisticated and allows one to remap all 17 buttons, build complex macros, layer effects on the 4 light zones as well as build and save multiple profiles for various gaming activities. When you add all the features up, this mouse is designed for elite-level play but is not for the casual user if you want to bring out its full potential.

Performance Comparison

Performance

Gaming hardware is all about performance. Well, customization, too. But we'll get to that below. What do we mean by performance? This is an assessment primarily of the sensor tracking the mouse's movements which we rate with specs like DPI/CPI, polling rate, and tracking speed. However, we also look at the button switches as well as the weight of the mouse (sans cord) and the feet that allow the mouse to move smoothly across the pad. While the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite made a great showing in this assessment, we should acknowledge that all the mice in the class did as well. Essentially, high performance is what sets a gaming mouse apart from other mice.

Okay, generalities aside. Let's get down to the naked facts. The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite sports a PMW 3391 sensor that can be set to function flawlessly (meaning no corrective firmware such as angle snapping). The sensor has a polling rate that maxes out at 1,000 Hz, and a tracking speed that is fixed at 400 inches per second. Really though, 400 inches per second? Who can move that fast? Okay, here's the interesting part, the Scimitar has an adjustable DPI/CPI that goes from 100 to 18,000 in steps of 1. If you're playing with this level of nuance and sophistication then our hats are off to you.

Moving on. The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite uses the much lauded Omron switches for the left and right buttons. It also has four feet — one in each corner — that offer a stable, even glide. Finally, the unit is quite heavy at 119 grams. This makes it a poor candidate for FPS games as aim and quick wrist flick are difficult. When you add it all up, this behemoth packs a heavyweight punch but surfers some where speed is concerned.

Customization

Customization, it's as important to the gamer as performance. One without the other and you don't have much of a gaming mouse. Our analysis of mouse adjustability primarily focuses on button remapping and macros and, to a lesser degree, lighting, weight, handedness, and scroll wheel resistance. The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite is highly customizable, only lacking adjustments in non-critical areas.

It's hard to imagine a mouse with more buttons to program. Seriously, there are so many buttons on the side (12 in total) that the thumb pad itself is adjustable to mitigate the issue of being able to reach them all. There are also 4 light zones (front, scroll wheel, thumb side, and shell top logo) all of which can be programmed in the RGB spectrum with game-specific effect and layering options. Unfortunately, this mouse only works for right-handed folks and it lacks adjustment to the scroll wheel's rolling resistance and the overall weight. Yet, given all the other options, it's almost a relief to not have to worry about these last two features.

Ease of Use

We all like when things go easy. As such, we assessed the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite for the effort required to learn and operate its software, the ability to easily make on-the-fly button assignments, and how the cable affects mouse gestures, and how one sets up their gaming rig. While the Scimitar isn't as hard to program as, say, a universal remote (man, those things are a pain), it does require more engagement than most other models in the class.

We do not want to paint the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite as an especially difficult mouse to set up. In essence, it has the same basic software, on-the-fly adjustments, and cord as all the other mice in the class. What sets it apart in this evaluation is the depth at which this unit functions. With 17 buttons that can be remapped and highly detailed software to allow the user to be as creative as they want to be, the whole operation requires more effort to learn and use. Moreover, the unit has a relatively short cord at just 6 feet. This may cause some to have to rethink the location of their tower. All in all, this is one of the more difficult mice in the class to use but for good reasons.

Buttons

This metric looks at, you guessed it, the buttons on the mouse. Specifically, we look at the actuation of the left and right buttons, the scroll wheel resistance, the scroll wheel clicking switch, and the noise produced by the operation of these components. Overall, the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite came in slightly below average in the evaluation primarily due to its relatively high scroll wheel resistance and stiff clicking switch.

So, what do we mean by high resistance and stiff clicking? Let's first start with our evaluation of the scroll wheel. Having tested many of these devices, we have found that there is a happy medium between an infinite scroll (no resistance at all) and a scroll wheel that tires out one's finger and the Scimitar falls on the latter side of the line. Moreover, the scroll click switch is a little hard to depress. These two characteristics are particularly noticeable (and annoying) when performing non-gaming tasks like working in a spreadsheet or surfing the web. Aside from that, the right and left buttons actuate Omron mechanical switches that have a nice action and produce very little noise. Likewise, the scroll wheel is nearly silent.

Value

The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite is on the high end of what one can expect to pay for a corded gaming mouse. However, it offers substantial benefits for serious MMO and MOBA players. As such, we find the unit well worth the money if you are regularly engaging in games where hardware of this kind offers a competitive edge. However, if you fall outside of this niche, this mouse is overkill and thus not worth the extra dough.

Conclusion

This hands-on review of the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite covers all the key aspects of high-performance gaming mice. Specifically, we look at the hardware such as button switches and sensors and how these components compare to one another. We also look at customization options (lighting effects, button remapping, etc.) and the ease of operation from set-up to in-game adjustments. Finally, we assess details of the interface such as button action, noise, and scroll wheel resistance. All told, this article provides the information needed to quickly decide if this is the right mouse for your gaming needs. If you don't need all the bells and whistles of a gaming mouse, you might consider finding the best wireless mouse instead.