Razer’s Basilisk V4 Pro delivers notable improvements in design, precision, battery life, and customization, but including a default button for the AI Prompt Master tool raises questions about the feature’s suitability for the PC gaming audience.
Razer presents the Basilisk V4 Pro gaming mouse as a comprehensive upgrade to its gaming-focused line, with a more ergonomic design, an optical sensor with a resolution of up to 50,000 DPI, longer battery life, and extensive customization options. In Windows Central’s review, the mouse received a strongly positive rating for performance and everyday use, but the reviewer sharply criticized the decision to assign one of its side buttons by default to launch an AI tool.
Practical Improvements to Design and Performance
The Basilisk V4 Pro’s body is slightly shorter than that of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, a change the reviewer felt would help people with smaller hands. The profile-switch button was also repositioned, moving to the top instead of being located on the underside of the mouse. The three side buttons, including the HyperShift button, were redesigned to make them easier to reach, while the other two buttons can be customized.
The mouse includes 14 programmable buttons, along with HyperShift functions and four profiles that can be stored on the device. It uses Razer’s third-generation Focus Pro 50K sensor, while Frame Sync synchronizes the sensor’s scanning process with the rate at which data is sent to the computer, with the aim of reducing latency and lowering power consumption caused by unnecessary transmissions.
Longer Battery Life and Multi-Device Connectivity
Razer claims up to 200 hours of battery life away from the charger, or 275 hours when using Bluetooth, although the reviewer did not test reaching these limits during the review period. The mouse supports wired connectivity or a 2.4GHz receiver for the best performance, in addition to three other Bluetooth devices that can be switched between using a button on the underside of the mouse.
The polling rate reaches 8,000Hz. The hardware also supports wireless charging through Razer accessories, including the Wireless Charging Puck and Mouse Dock V2 Pro, but the mouse does not work with general-purpose phone charging pads. It weighs slightly less than the previous generation, while the scroll wheel gained a Precision Tactile mode that the reviewer found useful when handling long texts.
What Does the AI Button Change?
The reviewer criticizes the fact that one of the side buttons is configured by default to launch AI Prompt Master. The tool opens a chat window developed by Razer that uses ChatGPT and provides templates for writing emails, summarizing and rewriting texts, and generating images, along with options for modifying results and creating custom templates.
The feature is optional, and the button can be reassigned or the feature removed. It also requires Synapse software to be installed on the computer. However, the review argues that its default presence imposes a function that is not directly related to the mouse’s primary use. Its window even appears over open windows when it is not being actively used. As a result, in the author’s assessment, the addition shifts from a potentially useful feature to a source of annoyance, particularly for an audience that primarily bought the product for gaming.
Price and Who Is the Product For?
The Basilisk V4 Pro will be available starting October 8 for $169.99, alongside the Mouse Dock V2 Pro at $69.99. The review considers the price high, but justifiable for those seeking an advanced gaming mouse that combines performance, customization, and comfortable all-day use.
The upgrade is less convincing for owners of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, as the improvements are real but not a radical transformation. Users of older mice or products from other companies will have a stronger reason to switch, thanks to the ergonomics, battery life, and precision. The editorial conclusion is that Razer improved an already strong product, but weakened the simplicity of the experience by adding a default AI feature that users can disable, while continuing to tie wireless charging to the company’s accessory ecosystem.