Multi-button thumb pads on mice can be hit or miss affairs; they can be uncomfortable to use and it can be tricky to get used to them as well. However, Corsair has employed a couple of nifty features with its new Scimitar RGB mouse that really make it stand out. Firstly, the 12 thumb buttons grouped together on the side are clearly numbered and backlit, and while they’re positioned at slightly differing angles, they’re all roughly the same size and have an alternating textured finish.
The most useful feature, though, is that the entire group of buttons sits on an adjustable slider, so you can move them backwards and forwards. The pad is fixed out of the box, but there’s a small hex screw in the base that you can loosen using an included tool. It makes a big difference to gamers with smaller or larger than average hands, as you can fine-tune the position to ensure all the buttons are within easy reach.
However, there are no standard thumb buttons and, strangely, none of the buttons on the pad is pre-assigned as forward or back buttons either. However, Corsair’s excellent Utility Engine software makes it a simple task to assign these functions yourself. You also get twin dpi toggle switches, allowing you to flick up and down through the sensitivity range of pre-set dpi options. These settings are fully configurable in the software too, in 100dpi steps with independent X and Y axis tuning.
Meanwhile, the 12,000dpi optical sensor is a hefty step up from the 8,200dpi sensor in the similar-looking Sabre Optical, and it provides a smooth, predictable feel, although resolutions in this extreme range are rarely genuinely useful for gamers.
The Scimitar’s 147g weight also makes it pretty heavy, especially compared with the Sabre Optical’s 100g. The Teflon feet do a good job of dealing with hard or material-based surfaces, but the added weight is certainly noticeable on the latter. You get used to it quickly, though, and when combined with the lag and acceleration-free sensor, the Scimitar is a very pleasant mouse to use. There are ring and pinky finger supports too; however, like the Sabre Optical, the Scimitar isn’t a large mouse and anyone with long fingers, or gamers who prefer a palm grip, may find their fingertips dangling over the end of the main buttons.
There are several different lighting zones too, with full RGB colours available. You can allocate different colours based on the current profile, and there’s a dpi sensitivity indicator too. The software also allows you to record macros and assign them to specific buttons, as well as reassigning any of the buttons on the mouse. The use of game profiles also means that, once they’re set, you probably won’t have to fiddle around in the software again, as profiles can be loaded according to the game being played.
The Scimitar is solid, flexible and comfortable enough to be used as both an everyday and FPS gaming mouse, as well as in the MMO and MOBA-style games for which it’s designed. It isn’t cheap, but if you need all those extra buttons, the Scimitar offers a winning combination of performance, quality and flexibility. ANTONY LEATHER
VERDICT
A solid mouse with a mass of thumb buttons, decent performance and loads of flexibility.
SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor 12,000dpi optical
Connection Wired, USB
Cable 1.8m, braided
Materials Plastic
Extras Adjustable thumb buttons