Software

The DeathAdder V2 Mini is fully compatible with Razer's staple software suite, 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 four 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. "Performance" is used to adjust CPI for up to five levels, ranging from 200 to 8500 CPI in increments of 100. Polling rate can be set to 125, 500, or 1000 Hz. "Lighting" is detailed below. "Calibration" allows one to adjust the lift-off distance by selecting one of the pre-calibrated Razer surfaces; see the previous page for more details. 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, the software had a RAM footprint of 275 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 155 MB keep running. Remarkably, these processes even load when setting Synapse not to auto-start with Windows. The only way to shut off everything while having Synapse installed is by running the firmware updater for the DeathAdder V2 Mini.

Lighting

The DeathAdder V2 Mini has but a single physical zone for RGB lighting, which is the logo at the back. 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: