Software

The Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed is fully compatible with Razer's modular software, Synapse 3. Synapse is embedded into an overarching software suite called Razer Central. From there, it is possible to install additional optional modules, such as Chroma Connect, Chroma Studio, or the highly sophisticated macro editor.

All settings are accessible through five tabs. "Customize" houses button remapping, which also includes a HyperShift function to enable a second set of button maps that can be accessed upon pressing a dedicated shift button, along with an option allowing one to configure the so-called "boss key" function. "Performance" is used to adjust CPI for up to five levels, ranging from 100 to 18,000 CPI and in increments of 50. Polling rate can be set to 125, 500, or 1000 Hz. "Lighting" is detailed below. "Calibration" allows one to adjust the lift-off distance between two presets (1/2 mm), along with several mouse mat presets. The fifth tab, called "Power," enables one to set the idle time (in minutes) after which the mouse enters sleep mode. Lastly, profile management is available, too.

All setting changes are applied immediately and saved to the on-board memory, so the software does not need to be running (or be installed) all the time. On my system, Synapse had a RAM footprint of 355 MB on average when running in the foreground, which doesn't change when minimized, be it to the taskbar or system tray. Upon exiting the application, several processes with an overall RAM footprint of 176 MB keep running. Remarkably, these processes continue to load if Synapse is set to not auto-start with Windows. The most convenient way of terminating these processes is to run any recent Razer mouse firmware updater.

Lighting

The Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed has a single physical lighting zone, which is the scroll wheel. Five pre-defined lighting effects are available: Audio Meter (lighting reacts to audio playback), Breathing, Reactive (lighting reacts to button inputs), Spectrum Cycling, and Static. Brightness can be adjusted, and for most effects, the colors are adjustable as well. By using Chroma Studio, creating more advanced effects is also possible. Additionally, the lighting can be configured to switch off in idle or when the display is turned off. Flipping the switch above the brightness slider disables illumination altogether.

Color accuracy and vibrancy are excellent throughout. Here's a short demonstration video in which I go through the Spectrum Cycling and Breathing lighting effects:

Battery Life

Razer states a maximum battery life of up to 285 hours using 2.4 GHz wireless and up to 535 hours using Bluetooth. This refers to continuous usage at a polling rate of 1000 Hz without illumination. With illumination, values will be lower by roughly two thirds for 2.4 GHz wireless and three quarters for Bluetooth; i.e., 95 hours and 123 hours, respectively.

While Synapse includes a basic, non-percentage-based battery charge status indicator, it is based on the discharge curve expected of an Alkaline AA-battery. Thus, the estimate will be largely if not entirely off when using any battery that isn't an Alkaline AA. In addition to the status indicator within Synapse, Windows will display a percentage-based indicator within the Bluetooth settings when using Bluetooth, though this one operates under the same parameters and is merely implemented in order to comply with specifications irrespective of the accuracy of its reported value.

After not moving the mouse for a short period, the Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed enters sleep mode, which is entered after a certain amount of time set in minutes within Synapse has passed, and from which it can be woken up by moving the mouse or clicking a button.