Razer Cobra Pro

Razer has released another series of mice - having the four different shapes of Naga, {Basilisk}, Deathadder and {Viper} (yes, I know there are technically more, but these are the main ones) - isn't enough, now we also get the {Cobra} series that are slightly more narrow than the {Viper} series, very much akin to the {Viper Mini}. Shedding some weight and featuring a Bluetooth transmitter, they look like the same, and have the same 30K sensor, same third gen contacts, and the exact same shape.

It is objectively is a very nice mouse that is very precise to use. It comes with Razer's Hyperspeed system that is lag free, and has a battery that lasts forever with 100 hours promised on normal use and 30+ hours on 4000Hz refresh rate, and trust me, 1000Hz is enough for casual gaming. The {Focus Pro} 30K optical sensor is extremely precise, and its DPI range is enough, perhaps too much, even when playing on a large 4K monitor. The third gen {Razer Optical Mouse Switches} are clean and crisp with every click, and the button springs back to its start position like a rabbit.

There are 11 RGB zones, and the RGB is very clear, and especially the under-glow is fantastic for someone who is so old that he played {NFS Underground} when it came out, and it takes less battery life than I expected. The weight is 77 grams, so pretty light, and just verging on being too light for my taste, but I know you ultra-light-mouse-fans number in the many, so this might be just for you. It connects with USB-C, and I still like the frictionless cable that Razer makes.

There are all the modern features, 10 customisable controls that can have double functions via Hypershift, five onboard memory profiles, and {Razer Synapse} is still some of the best driver software on the market with a fantastic interface - I only wish it didn't take up as much storage space as an indie game.

In fact, I have nothing bad to say about the performance of the wireless connection, nor the precision of the sensor, or the crispness and speed of the contacts. The shape is also nice, although it is verging on being too small, in my opinion. It also functions just as well as a wired mouse, which in my world is the highest form of flattery you can give a wireless product.

I do however have a few issues we need to address... First of all - why is there no charger with a wireless mouse? And why can't it charge wirelessly out of the box? While going to QI wireless charging is brilliant, I was rather disappointed to find out that the round disc on the underside of the mouse, brilliantly named a "puck", was made of just plastic, there also was no spare one in the box that would enable me to just put in on a random QI charger to remain constantly topped off. I need to pay €25 for it, and €100 if I want it together with a matching Razer QI charger. In the "old days" when Razer used their own charging system with physical contacts, a charger was included. This means the real price of the mouse, with a charger, with a charging puck, is actually €250, and luckily, there is a discount buying it as a bundle, but its still very far from the €150, which is already a lot of money for 77 grams of plastic.

Not including the wireless charging puck in the package might earn Razer a lot of extra money from "accessories" sales, but will leave an ugly taste in your mouth as accessories are supposed to extras, vanity items, not something that holds basic core functionality of the product. Razer has often been accused for being greedy beyond compare, and this does not help to alleviate that reputation, if anything, it cements it.

Secondly, the mouse wheel, as with most other mice, could use some work. It's simply not the same quality as the housing of the mouse, and yes, I am aware that it's due to weight saving - but I think I'm entitled to a decent mouse wheel for 150 hard-earned Euros. Razer has made great mice wheels before, why not use them this time?

And finally, I can't seem to place it. The existing ranges of mice cater to different opinions on form factor, but the {Cobra} series, besides being a great name, has the same shape as the {Viper}, and I see no point in having two {Viper} series at the same time. Including special editions, Razer currently offers at least 45 different mice. Yes, some products like the special editions and the {Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition} at €320 are not actually available to buy, but the point is, Razer already has so many different shapes and weights that adding more doesn't make much sense, at least to me.

{Cobra Pro} is at its core actually a good mouse, but making an entirely new line and especially not giving the user the option of wireless charging while demanding €150 for the product, that is stretching it too far, even for Razer.

So, great mouse in almost all aspects - but what a shame that Razer are too cheap to give the user the option of wireless charging without buying something as cheaply made as a charging puck on the side. If the charger and puck had been included, and the price had been dropped €20 or €30, this would have been a no-brainer.