Reviews You Can Rely On

Razer Basilisk V2 Review

This mouse balances highly customizable features and high-end performance with a price tag that won't zero out your pocketbook
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Razer Basilisk V2 Review
Credit: Amazon
Price:  $80 List
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Manufacturer:   Razer
By Nick Miley and Austin Palmer  ⋅  May 2, 2021
90
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Performance - 35% 9.2
  • Customization - 35% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 10.0
  • Buttons - 15% 9.7

Our Verdict

If you're looking for the best gaming mouse that can do-it-all and doesn't cut any corners, this unit has your name on it. This machine boasts a flawless sensor, optical switches, adjustable scroll wheel resistance, lights, onboard memory, and a host of other features. Plainly put, this mouse is as deadly as its legendary namesake.
REASONS TO BUY
Optical switches
Onboard memory
Customizable scroll resistance
REASONS TO AVOID
Asymmetrical
Grips hard to clean

Our Analysis and Test Results

Razer packed this mouse with a bevy of features that make it a clear leader in a very competitive class. It has a great optical sensor and fast-operating switches. The onboard memory is able to store several button profiles, while the Hypershift feature allows the user to toggle between profiles with the push of a button. This mouse is lethally effective and has a price that's hard to beat.

Performance Comparison


razer basilisk v2 - this lethal mouse fits a wide variety of gripping styles as well as...
This lethal mouse fits a wide variety of gripping styles as well as thriving across a many gaming genres.
Credit: Jason Peters

Performance


As the name of this metric states, it is an analysis of the performance of the mouse. For those that don't care for long-winded explanations, suffice it to say that the Razer Basilisk V2 checks all the boxes constituting the highest quality and capability in a gaming periphery.

razer basilisk v2 - this mouse looks the part of the lethal gaming device and has the...
This mouse looks the part of the lethal gaming device and has the capabilities to back it up.
Credit: Laura Casner

Without further delay, let's get into the weeds. The Basilisk V2 comes with a Focus+ optical sensor with adjustable dots/counts per inch (DPI/CPI) that ranges from 100 - 20,000 in steps of 50. The polling rate is also adjustable in three steps — 125, 500, and 1,000. If you can get this puppy to spin out, you probably wear a spandex onesie under your street clothes and fight crime in your free time. The switches on this unit are Razer's innovative optical sensor which eliminates latency in button actuation and, by removing the metal contacts, the bounce issues that can send false signals on mechanical switches.

razer basilisk v2 - this mouse pack a full arsenal of gaming specific features that give...
This mouse pack a full arsenal of gaming specific features that give users every conceivable advantage.
Credit: Jason Peters

Right about now you're probably thinking, dang, this mouse has it all. But wait, there's more. The sensor is flawless, too. This is a mandatory feature on any true gaming mouse but is worth mentioning because it means that the “corrective” firmware present on many mice is absent and thus on-screen movements are faithful to the user's hand gestures. Finally, the Basilisk V2 has even glide on both firm and soft pads while its weight is a well-balanced 91 grams.

razer basilisk v2 - the basilisk v2 strikes a nice balance between having a relatively...
The Basilisk V2 strikes a nice balance between having a relatively light weight and having a host of buttons to store micros.
Credit: Laura Casner

Customization


The ability to customize the buttons on one's mouse is as important as the performance specifications discussed above. Less important, but nonetheless cool, is the ability to customize the light array on the unit. Thus, lighting adjustability is included in this evaluation. The Basilisk V2 is highly adjustable in areas commonly found on gaming mice but also unique to Razer products.


Like many gaming mice, the Basilisk V2 allow the user to remap its 11 buttons. Moreover, the mouse has onboard memory that will store up to 5 button profiles — a tremendous advantage when experimenting or playing different types of games. However, what sets Razer products apart in the realm of customization is their Hypershift feature that allows the user to seamlessly toggle between the different stored profiles. On top of that, the Basilisk V2 sports the highly adjustable Razer Chroma RGB lighting on the scroll wheel and shell-top icon. Finally, this mouse has adjustable scroll wheel resistance which is unusual and awesome.

razer basilisk v2 - this unit boasts every feature that a serious gamer could want...
This unit boasts every feature that a serious gamer could want. Heck, it even has adjsutable scroll wheel resistance.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Use


The ease of use evaluation looks at the mouse's supporting software that, ideally, makes programming the unit easier. Additionally, this metric covers on-the-fly programming as well as the cable attaching the mouse to the computer. Despite wireless models having a big advantage in this assessment, the Basilisk V2 is one of the highest-ranking mice.


Why is the Basilisk V2 so easy to use? First off, it uses Razer's Synapse software that makes programming the unit a snap. The software's interface shows an image of the mouse with lines leading to drop-down menus for each button. The dropdowns include commonly used functions as well as the macro option. There are very few limitations to what the sophisticated gaming tactician can program into this unit using this software. Actions like delays, multiple combination strikes, and the like, are all at the user's disposal. Moreover, the software allows one to program and save multiple profiles such that one can use the Hypershift function to switch between them easily and quickly. The software also facilitates adjustments to the lighting on the mouse as well as the DPI/CPI. All told, Synapses is easy to navigate while remaining highly functional.

razer basilisk v2 - durable, flexible, and best of all, nonintrusive -- now that's a...
Durable, flexible, and best of all, nonintrusive -- now that's a cord that won't tie you down.
Credit: Jason Peters

Both the on-the-fly programming and the cable proved more than satisfactory. There is not a whole lot to say about the on-the-fly programming as it depends on the game one is playing. However, the Basilisk V2 does not pose any restrictions. Speaking of limited restrictions, the unit sports a 7-foot braided cord (Razer Speedflex) allowing one to set up their rig however they see fit without worrying about the mouse reaching the tower. Moreover, the cable is among the best in the class for its lack of interference in mouse movement and its durable construction material.

Buttons


The last metric in our mouse evaluation is buttons. In this section, we focus on button action including the scroll wheel, and the sound emitted when these buttons are actuated. Given this unit's record thus far, it should come as no surprise that the Basilisk V2 is a leader in the buttons assessment.


Initially, we expected there to be noticeable differences in the action of the right and left buttons amongst the various models in our review. This proved not to be the case. The resistance across the board was nearly uniform and satisfactory. However, differences emerged in scroll wheel rotation and scroll wheel clicking. The Basilisk V2's scroll wheel is adjustable allowing one to tune the resistance to their liking. Additionally, we found that the scroll wheel switch offered just the right amount of resistance to prevent accidental triggering while not being difficult to depress. The scroll wheel also has tilt clicks side to side of which we were skeptical but quickly became fans of as its resistance was just right and they add that much more functionality to an already action-packed device. Finally, the buttons on this unit are almost silent, which pushed this unit over the line as one of the finest examples of button design.

razer basilisk v2 - from the adjustable scroll wheel with the tilt switch, to the...
From the adjustable scroll wheel with the tilt switch, to the optical sensors on the right and left keys, this device has some of the best buttons with have tested.
Credit: Laura Casner

Value


The Razer Basilisk V2 is not an inexpensive mouse. However, it is an exceptionally well-designed mouse that provides users with every advantage in competitive gameplay. As such, we think this mouse has a favorable cost to benefit ratio that yields considerable value to consumers.

Conclusion


This hands-on review of the Razer Basilisk V2 covered every aspect of design and functionality that one will want to know before making a purchase. Specifically, we looked at the performance of the mouse's hardware, the level of customization afforded to the user, the ease of use as well as the behavior of the buttons and scroll wheel. With this information, one will have all the details needed to make an informed decision on whether or not this is the right mouse for their gaming needs.

Nick Miley and Austin Palmer