Razer Mamba

Razer Mamba

Manufacturer: Razer
UK Price (as reviewed): £118.99 (inc. VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): $129.99 (ex. Tax)

'Welcome to the cult of Razer' is the message on the packaging that greets you when you eventually manage the two-man feat of cracking open the Mamba's watch-style display case. Many cults are notorious for taking large sums of money from brain-washed or otherwise hypnotised Hollywood actors so perhaps Razer has decided this is a viable way to make a living and has started charging accordingly. Well, that's what we're going to find out and by the end the review, hopefully we wont have signed away all of our savings to a bunch of crackpots running a cunning mass-hypnosis program.


Like other Razer products, the Mamba is targeted at gamers and with its 5,600dpi capability, it boasts the highest dpi sensitivity of any mouse we've seen so far. However the main attraction here is that the Mamba is a wireless model. If the price tag hasn't already scared you off, don't let the fact that the mouse is wireless either because it can also be used in wired mode which - unlike the Microsoft Sidewinder X8 - uses the cable for data transfer in addition to charging the battery. This is a high end mouse aimed at rich hardcore gamers.


As mentioned, the first thing you will notice about this colossally expensive peripheral is the safe case in which it is shipped. The thick acrylic clips are so stiff that they necessitated enrolling the aid of Custom PC deputy editor, James Gorbold - who was very keen on enrolling the services of a hammer - just to get the damned thing open. While the display case is a cool touch and will, for some, help ameliorate the dent in their bank account buying a Mamba creates, others will see it as unnecessary cost to what is already a very costly item.


Once inside the case, your unworthy skin will be caressed by the subtle, tactile pleasures of the black textured paper used to fashion the inner packaging. Anyone who owns an iPhone will be familiar with enjoying the feeling caused by opening such expensive, technologically superior goodness. In these elegantly fashioned boxes of black card can be found the user manuals, docking station, battery and USB cable with it's superfine braid and gold connectors. If there's one thing that Razer succeeded in with the Mamba, it was getting the illusive shiny factor down to a finely crossed 'T'.

Once your shiny new product is all unpackaged and you've just about dealt with the overflow of endorphins released by the process (see retail therapy) it's time to plug in your new toy. The software downloads directly from the company's website rather than being bundled on an CD - presumably these are too old and clunky to be allowed near a £120 mouse.