Our Verdict
If you're looking for a small, wireless gaming mouse then the Razer Orochi V2 looks to be a compelling choice. A lack of RGB might put off some gamers, but with customizable faceplates, long battery life, and sharp clicks more than make up for it.
For
Battery and connectivity options
Fast 18,000 DPI sensor
Customizable designs
Against
Unsuitable for larger hands
Awkward without grip tape
Expensive for what you get
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$69.99
at Amazon
$69.99
at Best Buy
$79.99
at Razer
Two minute review
The Razer Orochi V2 is a petite mouse that offers some interesting features for both the gaming community and those looking to jazz up their workspace a little.
You can buy the Razer Orochi V2 from $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$114.95, with an optional extra of the Razer Universal Grip tape suggested on the page to 'enhance your experience', and from our own testing we would recommend that you consider doing so, especially if you're used to gaming mice with some form of textured surface.
Its design supposedly accommodates all of the common mouse grip styles despite its small size, though if you have larger-than-average hands then you might run into a few issues. Our reviewer has average-sized female hands and found that the size of the Orochi V2 was easy to switch between fingertip, claw and palm grip styles. While you
can
use the mouse without any grip tape, we found that our grip didn't feel as secure after a few hours, and adding grip tape to the product immediately solved the issue.
You're getting around the same hand real estate as another offering from Razer, the DeathAdder V2 Mini, so this isn't an unreasonably
small mouse
by any means, but it has clearly been optimized to be as lightweight as possible, without going for a more 'gamerish' honeycomb design as seen on the Cooler Master MM710.
The shape is also comfortably ergonomic if you have the hands to accommodate its size, and we found that after a week of testing prolonged use didn't cause any cramps or aches. There are six buttons on the mouse, the standard left and right-click, two buttons on the right-hand side panel, a thumb wheel, and a DPI cycle in the center column. All of these are well placed and comfortable to reach, though the right-hand orientation will likely be disappointing for any lefties.
On the hunt for the
best gaming mouse
on the market? Look no further.
(Image credit: Future)
Razer Orochi V2 (Black) at Amazon for $69.99
One of its most advertised features is the ability to order it (for a small additional fee) with a
custom printed chassis
with a wide array of designs to choose from, though If you don't want anything fancy then the standard Orochi V2 mouse comes available in either black or white.
This obviously doesn't have any bearing on the performance of the mouse itself, but where many modern gaming peripherals include LED or RGB lighting, the Orochi V2 doesn't include anything on the original versions that isn't beneficial, likely opting to not include them as a weight-saving measure.
As a result, the mouse weighs in at just 2.11oz / 60g (not including batteries) which is hugely beneficial to anyone playing FPS titles like
Call of Duty: Warzone
, especially given the lack of wires you need to contend with. You have two options for connectivity, standard Bluetooth wireless and a 2.4GHz dongle. While the Bluetooth connection is fine and a nice inclusion for anyone needing a mouse for devices that lack a USB-A port, you'll want to stick to using to the dongle for any competitive games as it provides a more stable signal.
You can find the dongle and battery slots by removing the top chassis panel, something that came off easily and was a cinch to place back together. Under the hood you'll notice that you can use either AA or AAA batteries with the Orochi V2, but only one type can be used at a time, the idea being that users who need longer battery life can opt to use a chunkier AA battery, while those saving precious grams can instead opt for the slimmer AAA power option. The chassis panel is also sturdy and doesn't pop off if you throw the mouse into a bag, so there is little risk of finding loose batteries rolling around.
Razer claims the Orochi V2 can run for 450 hours with AA batteries using a dongle connection or 950 hours with a Bluetooth connection, though this drops to 42 hours over 2.4 and 317 hours on Bluetooth when using a AAA battery. There is also no way to read battery life on the mouse itself, though Razer Synapse will give you a five-step reading that will let you know if your power is half drained or near empty.
(Image credit: Future)
The size and weight make it very easy to glide across your desk at speed, which makes it a good choice for Esports players, particularly now that in-person events should be making a comeback. While it likely won't be many professional players main mouse of choice, its portability and connectivity options make it a great option for anyone looking for one mouse that can do everything – you can hook it up to your work device via Bluetooth and be game-ready in a pinch on another laptop via the dongle.
And the senor used in the Orochi V2 is certainly better than what you'd typically get in a 'travel-friendly' mouse, tracking at up to 18,000 DPI. The mouse is also equipped with Razer’s 2nd-gen mechanical switches, which are apparently rated for a 60 million click lifecycle. We never found the mouse to be unresponsive and the latency remained consistently low throughout weeks of use and across a wide variety of games.
In short, this is a great mouse – especially for anyone who hates wires during gameplay and wants customization options for grip, design and connectivity, though we find the price is a little steep considering the minimal gaming-optimized features and the compact size could prove problematic for anyone with larger-than-average hands.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You need one mouse for work and play
If you travel for work and don't like keeping a mix of peripherals in your bag then the Orochi V2 is a great all-in-one solution for gamers on the go.
You hate wired mice
There will always be a place for wired mice, but even wireless mice that need charging might frustrate people who like to keep a tidy desk. Using batteries, this could be a great alternative for PC users who like to keep a minimalistic workspace.
You're sick of boring designs
RGB is nice, but most peripherals these days are either black or white. The Orochi V2 on the other hand can be customized with numerous funky designs to suit your colorful or branded setup.
Don't buy it if...
(Image credit: Future)
You need a lot of buttons
You're only getting two-side buttons on this mouse, so if MMO's are your bag then you might want to look at other products like the Razer Naga.
You have large hands
You can use different grip styles with the Orochi V2, but that doesn't mean it will be a comfortable fit for everyone owing to its petite size.
You want RGB
fancy lighting will hardly make or breaky how a mouse performs, but you'll find non of that on this mouse despite RGB being a prominent features across many products by Razer.
Here are the
best gaming laptops
you can buy right now
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
$69.99
at Amazon
$69.99
at Best Buy
$79.99
at Razer
Jess Weatherbed
Jess is TechRadar's Computing writer, covering hardware, PC gaming and peripherals. She also likes to dabble in digital art and can often be found playing games of both the PC and Tabletop variety, occasionally streaming to the disappointment of everyone.