Razer Atheris Review

Key Specifications

• Review Price: £54.99
• 350-hour continuous use on a pair of AA batteries
• 7200 DPI optical sensor
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.4 GHz with Adaptive Frequency Technology
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling
• Razer Synapse 3 enabled
• Approximate size: 99.7 mm x 62.8 mm x 34.1 mm
• Approximate weight 66g (Excluding batteries)

What is the Razer Atheris?

The Atheris is the latest small-form-factor wireless mouse from gaming heavyweight Razer. Unlike most of the company’s other mice the Atheris is being marketed for office use as well as PC gaming, and features a staggering 350-hour quoted battery life.

As an office or laptop companion, the Atheris gets a lot right and is a great productivity aid for students, office workers and gamers who are regularly on the move. But ongoing issues with Razer’s software stop it being a knockout success.

Related: Best gaming mouse

Razer Atheris – Design, build and features

Visually, the Atheris is pretty unassuming. The pebble-like mouse looks like a stripped-down version of the Razer Lancehead, featuring the same smooth top and grooved rubber sides. The big difference is that the Atheris doesn’t have any lighting and monochrome black colouring.

Measuring in at around 3.9 x 2.5 x 1.3 inches, the Atheris is about as compact as a gaming mouse gets – which is a blessing and a curse, depending on how big your hands are. I was fine using the mouse for quick CoD matches and sporadic gaming sessions on the go, but our larger mitted news writer found it a little too small to comfortably hold for long sessions.

The more significant issues for me are that it has only left side buttons, and with the batteries plugged in it weighs around 113g, which is way heavier than I’d like when gaming.

Related: Best gaming keyboard

Razer Atheris – Performance

The 7200 DPI optical sensor is more than sensitive enough for gaming and office work and, although I had some issues using it in busy signal areas in Bluetooth LE mode, it works a treat when gaming on the go. Coupled with the 1000Hz “Ultrapolling” – polling – rate, I never felt like a death in CoD or PUBG was down to my hardware using the Atheris. It did take me a couple of games to get used to the increased drag that results from its increased weight, however.

The only serious experienced stemmed from the shortage of multi-function keys and slightly difficult to navigate Synapse 3 software. You can adjust the DPI manually using the middle button under the control wheel, but If you want to setup custom game profiles or manually programme key inputs, you’ll have to download Razer’s Synapse software.