I tested the new Razer Basilisk Mobile and found it comfortable and smooth in action – and the price isn’t bad, either

Is this mobile pointer as potent as its larger brethren?

Razer Basilisk Mobile on plinth with pink background
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The Razer Basilisk Mobile is a well built, high-performing gaming mouse that feels great in the hand and satisfying to use. The third side button and 4D scroll wheel with free-spin functionality are welcome additions, too. The portability aspect may be something of a marketing gimmick, and those with larger hands might not find it suitable, but in all other respects, the Basilisk Mobile is a gaming mouse worth shortlisting – even if you never plan on taking it outside your room.

Pros

  • +

    Great build quality

  • +

    Smooth, satisfying performance

  • +

    Three side buttons and versatile scroll wheel

Cons

  • -

    Lacks performance-related tweaks

  • -

    Might be too small for large hands

  • -

    Battery life not the best

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Razer Basilisk Mobile: Two-minute review

The Basilisk Mobile is a wireless gaming mouse in Razer’s line of ergonomically focused peripherals, but with a smaller form factor than usual. Its looks stay true to the brand’s current design language, with minimal gamer stylings, appearing more understated than its past peripherals. There’s a small and subtle logo at the back that allows the RGB lighting to shine through, which is quite inconspicuous compared to other examples.

It has a sleek form that is aided by the matte finish of its soft-touch material, which also makes it pleasant to hold, thanks to the slightly grainy texture it provides. There’s a more prominent texture on the sides, although this doesn’t provide as much traction as some of the best gaming mouse grips.

Although it’s quite short, the Basilisk Mobile is still reasonably wide and tall, especially at the rear, which makes it more of a satisfying handful than I was expecting. This somewhat calls into question its portability credentials, as in reality I didn’t find it any easier to transport than your typical gaming mouse. Still, its smaller profile may well be a boon for those with smaller hands.

It also features a fairly sharp hump at the rear end, which forces a V-shaped grip from your hand, as the mouse buttons rake downwards at a steep angle as well. This may or may not be to your liking; personally, I found it comfortable for my play style.

The Basilisk Mobile can be customized using Razer’s Synapse 4 software. Here you’ll find plenty of tweaks and options to play around with, from RGB settings to button remapping, the latter of which contains an inordinate selection of shortcut functions and features. Unfortunately, there’s little in the way of performance-related settings, which will disappoint those after elite-level tinkering.

Back view of Razer Basilisk Mobile on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

In action, though, the Basilisk Mobile performs with aplomb. It glides effortlessly and smoothly, while clicks are snappy and precise, offering plenty of speed and feedback. They’re also slightly more damped than your typical gaming mouse, resulting in a more satisfying thud when you hammer down on them.

The Basilisk Mobile also has three side buttons, all of which have a surprising amount of dampening and travel to them, which makes them more tactile and therefore better to use than those adorning other gaming mice.

The scroll wheel is similarly proficient. The notching is smooth, which makes it easy to use, although it might be a little too loose for those after more controlled flicks. It also features a button to release the notching altogether and allow for unimpeded spinning, useful when navigating large menus and the like. There’s also a scroll tilt function, but this is a little awkward to use given the minimal protrusion of the wheel itself between the two mouse buttons.

Front of Razer Basilisk Mobile on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

However, it has an excellent middle click, offering plenty of depth and dampening, while at the same time being quick and effortless to actuate. It’s also stable enough to prevent misscrolling.

Connecting via both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz proved easy, and hot-switching between them is quick thanks to the underside selector. I had no issues in terms of responsiveness or lag in either mode.

The battery dropped to 70% after two days of varied use between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, which isn’t a particularly impressive figure, and seems to undermine Razer’s claimed figure of 105 hours. Still, it’s enough to make wireless play practical.

With a sub-$100 price tag, the Basilisk Mobile is well-priced when stacked up next to its rivals, many of which exceed this threshold. It’s about the same as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which arguably has better gaming performance, but lacks features and Bluetooth capability.

Considering its button selection, build quality, customization options, performance and wireless connectivity modes, the Basilisk Mobile makes a compelling argument for your next pointer. Just ignore the portability aspect and it makes more sense.

Left side of Razer Basilisk Mobile on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Price & availability

  • $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95
  • Available now in black only
  • Cheaper than rivals

The Basilisk Mobile costs $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95 and is available now in black only. It comes with a 2.4GHz USB dongle and a USB cable, but no spare skates.

This is cheaper than many other gaming mice with multiple wireless options. It’s close to the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which is a full-size mouse that’s more basic and focused on gaming performance rather than features, but in the former department, it excels.

If you’re looking for a considerably more budget offering, though, the Cooler Master MM311 is just about the best wireless gaming mouse in this category. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery or Bluetooth, but in all other regards it's an incredible pointer for the money.

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Interface

Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)

Ergonomics

Right-handed asymmetrical

Buttons

10

DPI

Up to 18,000

Switches

Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Weight

2.68 oz (76g)

Should I buy the Razer Basilisk Mobile?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Basilisk Mobile is cheaper than quite a few rivals with similar specs, making it good value in comparison.

4 / 5

Design

The Basilisk Mobile is built to Razer’s typically high standards, and the soft-touch finish is great in the hand – but I’m not sure it’s any more portable than a standard gaming mouse.

4 / 5

Performance

The Basilisk Mobile glides as smooth as silk, and all the buttons are responsive and very satisfying. Some performance-enhancing features are missing, though.

4 / 5

Overall

The Basilisk Mobile is a good value gaming mouse compared to its rivals, and its terrific build quality and enjoyable performance make it a great choice for any gamer, whether you’re on the go or not.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a high-quality construction
The build quality of the Basilisk Mobile is top drawer, and the free-spinning, tiltable scroll wheel and third side button make it versatile as well.

You want great performance
The Basilisk Mobile glides effortlessly and has snappy clicks, while there’s plenty of tactility from its other buttons, too.

Don't buy it if...

You want a solid scroll wheel
The notching on the scroll wheel might be a little too loose for some, reducing its single-flick effectiveness.

You have large hands
I reckon the Basilisk Mobile is thick and wide enough to accommodate most hands, but its short length might not suit everyone.

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0

Razer Basilisk Mobile

Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed

Cooler Master MM311

Price

$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95

$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95

$39 (about £31 / AU$59)

Interface

Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Ergonomics

Right-handed asymmetrical

Right-handed asymmetrical

Right-handed symmetrical

Buttons

10

6

6

DPI

18,000

26,000

10,000

Switches

Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Mechanical switches

Weight

2.68 oz (76g)

1.9oz (55g)

2.7oz (77g)

Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed
The DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed is larger than the Basilisk Mobile, but it’s even lighter and performs brilliantly. What’s more, it's about the same price as the Basilisk Mobile. However, it doesn’t have as many buttons or Bluetooth support, which might be dealbreakers depending on how much you value those aspects. Read our full Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed review.

Cooler Master MM311
The best budget gaming mouse as far as we’re concerned, the MM311 has performance and a very low price point. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery or Bluetooth support, but if these two drawbacks don’t bother you, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better value gaming mouse than this. Read our full Cooler Master MM311 review.

How I tested the Razer Basilisk Mobile

  • Tested for several days
  • Used for gaming and working
  • Extensive gaming mouse experience

I tested the Basilisk Mobile for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which provides the ideal environment for putting peripherals through their paces, as it reveals just how fast and accurate they truly are in battle.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I’ve gained experience of using a great number of mice. I’ve also reviewed many across a broad spectrum of brands, form factors, features, and price points.

Lewis Maddison
Reviews Writer

Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he gained experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.

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