For Gamers Who Like Claw Grips, The Razer Viper V4 Pro Is Second To None

The DeathAdder V4 Pro and Viper V4 Pro look nearly identical upon first glance. You’ve got to hold them in your hands to identify the subtle design differences. The DeathAdder has a curve at the center of its body, which holds your hand in a more natural, ergonomic position—ideal for players with larger hands who prefer a full palm grip—whereas the Viper is flatter and lends itself to claw- and fingertip-grip styles. It’s sort of like choosing a flat shoe versus a heeled one, a decision guided by preference and comfort.

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

A detailed comparison with the Viper V3 Pro is in order to better illustrate the fourth-generation improvements. First, the optical switches have been upgraded. According to Razer, these new switches deliver even stronger competitive performance, feature a 100-million click lifecycle, and have 12% lighter actuation for cleaner, faster clicks. While 12% doesn’t seem like a lot, the lighter actuation point means that your hands won’t tire as easily during marathon gaming sessions.

What I like about the Viper V4 Pro’s new switches is that they provide plenty of tactile feedback. It might just be my hands playing tricks on me, but I feel like the switches are even more tactile than those on the DeathAdder V4 Pro, which feels more hollow in comparison. (This is weird, because both mice actually use the same switch.) I still appreciate the benefits of optical switches over mechanical ones, though. Optical switches actuate via light rather than metal contacts. This removes debounce delay, prevents mechanical wear, and eliminates issues like accidental double-clicking. Optical switches are not new to the DeathAdder V4 Pro; we’ve seen them in older mice like the Logitech G502X Plus.

Razer Viper V4 Pro mouse

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

The next noteworthy upgrade is to the sensor. The Viper V4 Pro comes equipped with a new sensor that offers a maximum resolution of 50,000dpi, a big bump over the Viper V3 Pro’s 35,000dpi ceiling. Higher resolutions—measured by how many pixels a cursor moves on the screen for every inch the mouse physically moves—mean a more sensitive (i.e., faster) mouse. This is the highest resolution I’ve seen on a mouse I’ve reviewed, though other Razer mice have come within striking distance, like the DeathAdder V4 Pro’s 45,000dpi ceiling.

The drawback of faster movement is less precision. If you’re playing a game that requires quick flicks of your wrist, the higher resolution can definitely help. But I don’t believe that sky-high resolutions like this make a significant difference in overall game performance, even though I appreciate that the range on the Viper V4 Pro gives you plenty of room to experiment.

Most premium gaming mice let you adjust sensor resolution, but the Viper V4 Pro takes things a step further: It lets you customize your sensitivity by 1dpi at a time, rather than just select from a few presets. It also lets you adjust the sensor’s tracking angle so horizontal swipes stay straight, regardless of grip style. This and more can be tweaked in Razer’s software utility, Razer Synapse (more on that later in the review).

Razer Viper V4 Pro mouse side view

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

Back to the mouse’s design: It’s classic Razer through and through. While the Viper V4 Pro lacks RGB lighting, the shell is remarkably similar to previous models. The mouse weighs 1.7 ounces and measures 1.6 by 2.5 by 5 inches (HWD). I tested the white color scheme, but black is available as well. Two extra buttons sit on the left side of the mouse, easily accessible with your right thumb. Sorry, lefties, this is a right-handed mouse only.

Between the mouse’s primary clickers is the optical scroll wheel. As with the DeathAdder V4 Pro, the Viper V4 Pro’s optical wheel is 3.3 times longer than mechanical scroll wheels, Razer says, thanks to its lack of physical contact points. In testing, the scroll wheel was accurate, and I never missed an input or had an accidental movement, whether I was scrolling through my gear in-game or scrolling down a web page.

Razer Viper V4 Pro

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

I’m not a pro gamer, so I spend more time playing Peak and RV There Yet? than Marvel Rivals. But whether I was falling off a cliff or escorting a chariot from point A to B, the mouse felt great in my hand. This is despite my personal preference for the DeathAdder V4 over the Viper V4 because of how I grip my mouse. The Viper V4’s lightweight body makes it an easy recommendation for fans of shooters, though.