Razer Cobra

[pzogel]

As the successor to the well-received Viper Mini, the ambidextrous Cobra features Razer's cutting-edge optical main button switches, an upgraded sensor, and maintains its weight at 57 g, complemented by pure PTFE feet.

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[Chrispy_]

If Razer ever bothered putting memory on their mice for a FULL software-less way to customise it and then uninstall the bloat, I'd consider them again, but both the last Deathadder (V3) Viper, and Viper Mini saved only some of the settings to the mouse, essentially forcing you to run the Synapse data-collecting bloat-suite for something as obvious as disabling the LED or setting it to something other than green.

Even though the software is one of only two negative points listed in total, that single fault is a total deal-breaker, every time.

 

[Ferrum Master]

If Razer ever bothered putting memory on their mice for a FULL software-less way to customise it and then uninstall the bloat, I'd consider them again, but both the last Deathadder (V3) Viper, and Viper Mini saved only some of the settings to the mouse, essentially forcing you to run the Synapse data-collecting bloat-suite for something as obvious as disabling the LED or setting it to something other than green.

Even though the software is one of only two negative points listed in total, that single fault is a total deal-breaker, every time.

Use OpenRGB for controlling mostly any RGB you have either Windows or Linux.

 

[GerKNG]

i have one as a spare mouse and it's actually pretty decent. lightweight, great shape, solid build quality.

 

[Onasi]

Use OpenRGB for controlling mostly any RGB you have either Windows or Linux.

It’s not about RGB, really, it’s the principle of the thing. That, and settings like LOD and polling for those that are interested/need those. Considering that Zowie had been making mice for more than a decade that can be configured completely without software and that several companies are following suit in having no or minimal/portable software suites, Razer’s ridiculous insistence on heavy, bloated package is just not reasonable. The hardware they have is pretty damn good nowadays (well, mice and some keyboards, their headsets are trash still) and they just turn off potential customers with Synapse, IMO.

 

[JIWIL]

Had a Viper Mini die recently and tried to purchase a replacement, out of stock everywhere, now I know why

Bought a Deathadder Mini to replace it and Synapse wouldn't detect it. About 45 minutes of head->keyboard later I ended up uninstalling/reinstalling the software. Turned off the RGB, set my DPI adjustments, uninstalled. It's awful. Love the mice though.

 

[Chrispy_]

Use OpenRGB for controlling mostly any RGB you have either Windows or Linux.

That's what I did, but it's besides the point really - Mandating Synapse bloatware through shitty design decisions can't be excused because someone other than Razer made a workaround for it. Synapse and all the valid criticisms of it are solely the fault of Razer.

I'd still rather not need background software running at all - especially if I need to do that solely to disable stupid green throbbing lighting effects.
I haven't tried W11's dynamic lighting control yet, that was added as a feature after I returned my last Razer mouse.

 

[Chry]

If Razer ever bothered putting memory on their mice for a FULL software-less way to customise it and then uninstall the bloat, I'd consider them again, but both the last Deathadder (V3) Viper, and Viper Mini saved only some of the settings to the mouse, essentially forcing you to run the Synapse data-collecting bloat-suite for something as obvious as disabling the LED or setting it to something other than green.

Even though the software is one of only two negative points listed in total, that single fault is a total deal-breaker, every time.

On my Deathadder V3 I used Synapse software to set the polling to 4k, uninstalled the software and that's it. It's not hard but yeah, still sux having to use third party software for every piece of HW. Reminds me of having to install Sapphire software to disable the RGB on the 7800XT. Also not nice and also not a deal breaker.

 

[Onasi]

I haven't tried W11's dynamic lighting control yet, that was added as a feature after I returned my last Razer mouse.

Hit and miss as a solution since apparently it’s not enforced by MS and instead is opt-in by manufacturers. From what I heard, some of the latest Razer mice do work with it, but my original Viper and a Huntsman Mini I have knocking around are not picked up by it. So very much a YMMV and far from a silver bullet people hoped for when the feature was announced.

 

[Fungi]

Fine successor to the Viper Mini, but honestly kind of a hard sell when you're in the same price bracket as something like the Attack Shark X3

 

[Mr. Perfect]

Does the Synapse software not require you to create an account and login to it anymore? I stopped paying attention to Razer years back when they instituted that, but this review doesn't mention it even being a thing anymore.

 

[pzogel]

Does the Synapse software not require you to create an account and login to it anymore? I stopped paying attention to Razer years back when they instituted that, but this review doesn't mention it even being a thing anymore.

Never been required in the strict sense, login is possible with a "guest" account. Account-bound functionality such as cloud setting would still require a Razer ID, however.

 

[Pepamami]

the thing, that u can disassemble this mouse without removing pads, is already amazing. I can simply replace switches to White dot blue shell in this one. (ok u can't), but still its more ez to fix broken switches/wheels when you don't have to remove pads to disassemble the mouse.

 

[Chrispy_]

the thing, that u can disassemble this mouse without removing pads, is already amazing. I can simply replace switches to White dot blue shell in this one. (ok u can't), but still its more ez to fix broken switches/wheels when you don't have to remove pads to disassemble the mouse.

That's pretty handy, though in my experience the switches last longer than the pads, so you'd typically be replacing pads and switches at the same time. Still, as you said - it's good for repairing premature switch failures or customising a new mouse.