Basilisk V4 Pro arrives with meaningful improvements over its predecessor, offering an ergonomic design, impressive customization options and longer battery life. However, despite its upgraded features, the premium gaming mouse has a handful of shortcomings that keep it from being an unquestionable winner.
Priced at $169.99, the Basilisk V4 Pro is designed for gamers who appreciate comfort, versatility and plenty of programmable controls. Its sculpted shape makes it particularly appealing to palm-grip users, while its solid construction and textured rubber sides provide a comfortable, secure feel during extended sessions.
Weighing 100 grams, the mouse is 10% lighter than the previous Basilisk V3 Pro, although it remains relatively heavy compared with today’s lightweight gaming alternatives. Its battery performance has also improved considerably, with Razer claiming up to 200 hours over 2.4GHz wireless connectivity and 275 hours using Bluetooth LE, provided the RGB lighting is switched off.
During testing, however, battery performance was noticeably lower with RGB illumination enabled. Starting at 66% charge, the review unit lasted approximately 45 hours under 2.4GHz connectivity at a 1,000Hz polling rate. Based on those results, users can expect slightly less than 70 hours from a full charge with similar settings.
One of the biggest upgrades is the expanded button selection. Razer has added two additional controls, bringing the total number of customizable buttons to 14. This gives gamers greater flexibility when assigning commands, shortcuts and macros, making the mouse suitable for more than just conventional gaming.
An interesting addition is the company’s Perfect 180 feature, which can be assigned to one of the extra buttons. It allows players to instantly turn their in-game characters around by 180 degrees. While potentially useful, the feature could raise competitive fairness concerns, and Razer has acknowledged that some games might prohibit its use.
The primary mouse buttons have also received attention, with Razer adjusting their sound to create a softer, less pronounced clicking experience. They offer satisfying feedback without the sharper, more noticeable sound associated with some competing models.
Another standout feature is the HyperScroll wheel. Users can switch between free-spinning and ratcheted scrolling, with two resistance settings available through the Razer Synapse software. Its Smart-Reel functionality makes the experience even more convenient: a quick flick automatically switches the wheel into free-spin mode, while slowing down returns it to traditional ratcheting.
This makes scrolling through lengthy documents, spreadsheets and webpages considerably easier. However, the mechanism is not without its problems. Switching between scrolling modes produces a fairly loud, grinding sound that can become irritating over time. The wheel’s middle-click action also feels unusually soft and imprecise compared with alternatives such as the Razer Viper V4 Pro.
The additional buttons are another example of an improvement that comes with compromises. Although having more programmable controls is useful, the extra side button can interfere with established finger positioning, particularly for people accustomed to a traditional two-button arrangement.
(Image credit: Future)
RGB lighting adds visual appeal, especially when using the Spectrum Cycling effect, but its practical value is questionable. Since the user’s hand covers much of the mouse during operation, the illumination is rarely visible. Disabling it may be a more sensible choice for anyone looking to extend battery life.
Despite these issues, the Basilisk V4 Pro remains a capable and well-built gaming mouse. Its comfortable ergonomic design, extensive customization options, improved battery capacity and versatile scrolling system make it an attractive choice, particularly for gamers with larger hands who prefer palm grip.
However, its weight, awkward button placement for certain grip styles, noisy scroll mechanism and expensive price tag prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Ultimately, the Basilisk V4 Pro is a substantial upgrade, but not a flawless one. It delivers plenty of features for demanding users, yet some of its design decisions make it difficult to recommend without reservations.
Pricing and Availability
The Razer Basilisk V4 Pro is available now for $169.99 in the US, £169.99 in the UK and AU$289.95 in Australia. This represents a $10 increase over the previous Basilisk V3 Pro 35K.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 6.2 and wired USB |
| Battery life | Up to 200 hours (2.4GHz), 275 hours (Bluetooth LE) |
| Sensor | Razer Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3 |
| Polling rate | Up to 8,000Hz |
| Maximum DPI | 50,000 |
| Programmable buttons | 14 |
| Dimensions | 127.5 x 75.8 x 42.7mm |
| Weight | 100g |
(Image credit: Future)
Is the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro Worth Buying?
The mouse earns high marks for its feature set, receiving five out of five for customization and functionality. Its performance, design and value each receive four out of five, reflecting its impressive capabilities alongside several compromises.
Reasons to buy:
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Comfortable ergonomic construction.
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Fourteen customizable buttons.
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Useful HyperScroll technology.
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Excellent overall build quality.
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Improved battery capacity.
Reasons to avoid:
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Relatively heavy compared with lightweight gaming mice.
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Noisy and somewhat imprecise scroll wheel.
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Some buttons are difficult to reach with smaller hands or fingertip grips.
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RGB lighting reduces battery endurance.
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Premium pricing.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Gamers looking for similar functionality may also want to consider the Logitech G502 X Plus, which combines an ergonomic shape with numerous customizable controls.
Another option is the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless. It offers a more affordable alternative, with ergonomic styling, extensive customization and long battery life.
Final Verdict
The Razer Basilisk V4 Pro is an impressive all-round gaming mouse that combines comfort, customization and strong technical specifications. Its upgraded features make it a worthwhile successor, but the awkward button positioning, disappointing scroll-wheel experience and substantial price prevent it from being an easy recommendation for everyone.
For gamers with larger hands who prefer palm grip and want a versatile mouse for both gaming and everyday productivity, it remains a compelling option.
