Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Wireless Mouse (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
It's not enough to just offer a gaming mouse, these days. They've got to fit all the pro gaming trends, whether it's being ultra lightweight, having the right "championship" branding that stokes the ego of wannabe e-sports players, and just enough RGB to catch buyers' attention. After having released the Sabre RGB Pro earlier this year, Corsair is ready to unveil that exact same mouse, but this time, with added low-lag wireless action. While the original was a solid gaming mouse, how does this new cordless variant hold up?
The Sabre Pro Wireless is pretty minimalist, when it comes to design. It's very simple looking, with it coming in a subtle all-black pattern, with a single glossy stripe around its matte surface to give it some form of visual flair. As far as gaming mice go, it lacks the sharp edgy design that Logitech or Razer tend to have, nor will it be visible from space, making it ideal for those who just want to get down to gaming business and play.
I do find it to have a nice, low-key appearance, but Corsair's decision to go very minimalist also hurts the mouse, slightly. The matte material is good for extended usage and keeping it from becoming sweaty, but it also lacks any form of texture or grippiness. My only major complaint with the Sabre RGB is that it can feel a little slippery, if you're moving the mouse around in big rapid arcs, like you would in a shooter. Perhaps that's mostly the way I grip the mouse, in a palm method, rather than a claw grip, but it does feel a little harder to keep a hold on compared to other mice. Much like the original, I also find it just as unsatisfying for simple browsing, as my hand tends to slide to the base of the mouse, awkwardly cradling it while my hand rests on the mousepad. The Sabre RGB Pro has one sole focus, and that's gaming, and only gaming.
The transition to the Sabre was actually pretty jarring, coming from a more daily use kind of mouse--the MX Master 3. Immediately, I was able to notice how much more accurate the Corsair mouse was, both with its sensor and dramatically higher polling rate. While the Sabre WL doesn't hit the same heights as the wired version's ridiculous 8,0000hz polling rate, 2,000hz is more than acceptable enough, and feels great to use in all cases, but most especially in first-person games. Couple that with a high refresh rate monitor, and even the slightest movement will seem buttery smooth. Knowing myself, I'm not even that attuned to such details, so hardcore mouse and keyboard enthusiasts will probably see an even more noticeable difference. For reference, Logitech's main line of gaming mice max out at 1,000hz, wirelessly.
Speaking of wireless, the Sabre RGB Wireless can obviously be used without a cable. You can still do so, if you want, through the included USB-C cable, but you likely won't be experiencing much lag, thanks to the Slipstream dongle that comes with the mouse. Comparable with Lightspeed, Corsair's version of wireless technology is near lagless, and I never noticed any perceivable input delay. If that's not enough for you, or you want to keep the mouse syned up to multiple devices, you can also switch it over to Bluetooth mode, which is a great inclusion. While Bluetooth is hardly comparable to Slipstream, it's still very much usable, on say, a laptop or second nearby computer.
In further comparisons to its predecessor, the original was already a very lightweight mouse, especially given that it lacked any aerodynamic hole punches. That applies to the Sabre RGB Pro Wireless as well, though it's gained 5 whole grams in the switch over to wireless. It's still as feather-light as before, making it great for quick, speedy flicks of the wrist when aiming, or large, sweeping spins of the camera. Just as before, you can toggle between five different DPI settings, which can be customized through the proprietary iCue software. This time around, though, the Sabre has a much higher DPI, with an improved sensor that now goes up to 26,000. Realistically, I can't make use of such hyper-specific precision, but it's definitely good for those that utilize high DPI for competitive play.
Corsair has also used that 5 extra grams of weight to their advantage, big time. The Sabre RGB Pro Wireless does not flex or creak when lots of pressure is applied to the center of the mouse, and there were no accidental presses when trying to press down on the plastic around the left and right buttons; this is a much-improved build, this time around. They also packed in an 80-hour battery, which means you won't be dealing with recharging the mouse often. You should be aware that the 80-hours only applies to Bluetooth usage--if you're using the better Slipstream wireless, then you can expect a still reasonable 60 hours between charges.
For $109.99, the Sabre RGB Pro Wireless is a pretty dandy mouse that can really give other hardcore gaming mice a run for their money. Lightweight, wireless, well-made; this mouse has got it all. If you're a palm mouse user, you might not be as impressed, but claw grip gamers should be more than thrilled with what the Sabre RGB Pro Wireless can offer.
Verdict
- Has Bluetooth and Slipstream connections
- Improves on build quality from the wired variant
- Light, without feeling cheap
- You can click ridiculously fast with it
- Needs a more grippy texture/sides are slippery
- Needs iCue to get the most out of it
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