Corsair Katar Elite Wireless Gaming Mouse Review

A couple of years ago, I reviewed the Corsair KATA Pro XT, one of their more popular ultra-lighting gaming mice. It was surprisingly affordable but came with a killer sensor, Omron switches and rock-solid performance. So, surely there's not much room for improvement there, right? Corsair has equipped this new version with a new sensor, new switches, and even their class-leading Corsair Slipstream Wireless technology and plenty more beyond. The end result is the price has pretty much doubled, but on paper, it looks like it's a significantly upgraded mouse, so I'm eager to see what it can do! Cosrair Katar Elite Wireless The old mouse had some decent hardware, with an 18,000 DPI optical sensor. However, it now has a truly exceptional Corsair Marksman sensor with 26,000 DPI that can be adjusted in 1 DPI steps for extremely accurate fine-tuning of your performance. The Corsair Quickstrike Buttons are precision-mounted Omron switches with zero gap, allowing for a faster and higher click response. Plus, with Slipstream Wireless, Low Latency Bluetooth and 2000Hz Hyper-Polling in USB mode, you'll be getting exceptional connectivity here too. However, I think the most impressive thing is that despite going from wired to wireless and upgrading the internals, the wireless version actually weighs LESS than the wired version. Going from 73 grams down to 69 grams. MM700 3XL For a bit of added fun Corsair has also sent me the MM700 RGB EXTENDED 3XL mousepad. Clocking in at 1220 x 610mm, this thing is an absolute beast, and while I said it'll fit on my desk with all the confidence in the world, now that it's here, I'm not so sure, but we'll find out later in this review. Features Ultra Lightweight at Just 69g: Makes for effortless and extremely agile mouse movements for extended gaming sessions.CORSAIR MARKSMAN 26,000 DPI Optical Sensor: With an astonishing native 26,000 DPI and 650 inches per second (IPS) tracking at up to 50G acceleration, the MARKSMAN sensor captures every mouse movement.Hyper-Fast SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS Connection: SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS offers a sub-1ms wirelessconnection to your PC or Mac, or alternatively connect with versatile Bluetooth® and USB wired.Up to 110 Hours of Rechargeable Battery Life: A single charge lets you play uninterrupted, match after match.110-hour battery life with Bluetooth. 60-hour battery life with SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS.CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE Buttons: A spring-loaded design delivers zero gap between the primary mouse buttons and their OMRON switches, so your clicks, shots, and spells are faster than ever.Large 100% PTFE Glide Pads: Mouse feet built from ultra-low-friction PTFE pads offer the smoothest glide and quickest movements, easily replaceable if they get worn down on your journey to the top.2,000Hz Hyper-Polling: Delivers inputs up to 2x faster than standard wireless gaming mice.Onboard Profile Storage: Six fully programmable buttons that support button remaps and custom macros you can take on the go with onboard profile storage.Switch DPI on-the-fly: Switch between DPI settings without having to interrupt your game.Unite Your Setup: Powerful CORSAIR iCUE software enables vivid dynamic RGB lighting control, macro programming, and full-system lighting synchronization with all compatible iCUE devices throughout your setup. What Corsair Had to Say "Weighing in at just 69g, the CORSAIR KATAR ELITE WIRELESS gaming mouse packs amazingly agile performance in a compact design that’s ideal for claw and fingertip grips. A CORSAIR MARKSMAN 26,000 DPI optical sensor captures every mouse movement with extreme precision, enabling you to manoeuvre with ease. Connect via sub-1ms SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS for a hyper-fast, ultra-stable connection. CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE buttons provide zero gap between the primary buttons and their OMRON switches, so all your actions, spells, and clicks are accurate and lightning-fast. Wield the KATAR ELITE WIRELESS as a top contender in lightweight design and heavyweight wireless performance." - Corsair Specifications Packaging The box for the Katar is similar to all the other Corsair products right now, with that bold black and yellow that really pops. On the front of the box, you can see the mouse with a clear photo, and a little run down of some of the key features. Around the back, a nice labelled breakdown tells you a little more about the connectivity, switches and sensor, but otherwise, it's all straightforward stuff here. In the box, you'll find the mouse and a nice USB-C cable that can be used to charge the mouse and for using it in USB wired mode. It's a nice enough cable too, with custom Corsair headers and a lightweight rubber design. A Closer Look & Performance The Corsair Katar Elite Wireless looks very similar to the old Katar Pro XT Ultra, but there have certainly been a few improvements if you look very closely. For starters, the old one has the front buttons finished with point sharp corners, whereas the new model has been smoothed and rounded making it look sleeker, and more comfortable too, those pointy corners won't catch your fingertips now. Down the side, the Katar has two navigation buttons, as well as a hard moulded textured finish to help with overall grip. However, it also adds to the overall aesthetic too, it just looks cool. At the back, the Katas is nicely rounded with a really smooth finish, so it fits very comfortably in the palm of your hand with no hot spots. Even the RGB logo is etched in, keeping it very smooth indeed. The LMB and RMB have undergone some tweaks. As I said, the front edges and corners have been rounded and smoothed, and it looks much better for it. The panel is a little thicker looking too, so the mouse retains the same feel in your hand, but the switches have zero gapping from the top panels. This gives the mouse a very tight and instant click response. The scroll wheel looks great too, with a nice fat rubber grip coating and it's nicely recessed, but still easy enough to click should you need that extra button. On the underside, there are two large PTFE feet, as well as a small oval one in the middle around the sensor. The mouse is already very lightweight but combined with the low friction pads, it glides like it's on ice. There's a switch on the underside, allowing you to turn the mouse off completely, but also to choose the pairing method, so you can easily toggle from USB mode to 2.4 GHz mode. If you're using the 2.4 GHz mode, you'll want to use this handy Corsair Slipstream dongle, which can be neatly stored in the bottom of the mouse while not in use. Oh, and if you already have another Slipstream dongle for other Corsair peripherals, you'll only need one of the dongles. I totally told Corsair that this mouse mat would fit, and I was mostly telling the truth. The width is not an issue, but I thought my desk was a little deeper than it actually is. However, there's no doubt that it looks stunning, it's silky smooth and gives me plenty of room for all my peripherals. As you can see, it kicks up a little at the back, but I don't mind, by the time I put my controller stands, monitors, speakers and all that jazz back, I can't actually see the back bit anyway. Of course, it has Corsair iCUE RGB built into the edge. You can use the button on the mouse pad to change the colour, or the downloadable software to sync it with other Corsair hardware. The Katar has RGB built-in too, but it's kept to a minimum, with just an RGB logo on the back. This is great for a little customisation, but its practical use is better, as I can see what profile or DPI level I have by assigning colours to each mode. The ultralight design is great, if you're a fast-paced gamer that likes to make small and lightening fast movements, this will get the job done. That being said, it's just less effort to move this mouse in general, and gliding it around a huge mouse mat while using low DPI really shows you how smooth and accurate this new sensor is. The wireless and wired performance are both flawless, as has been the case for Corsair peripherals for years now. Really, it feels a lot like the old Katar did, but that's no bad thing. The real improvement is the much higher and more responsive switch mounting. For firing off high APM in games, it just feels more responsive. It being a little lighter and wireless on top of that are certainly welcome bonuses though. How Much Does it Cost? The Corsair Katar Elite Wireless launches today with an MSRP of £69.99, which is quite a lot more expensive than the previous Katar models, but then again, this is a much more advanced mouse. You can get the Corsair Katar Pro Wireless for just £44.99 right now, and it's very nice indeed. Then there's the more Katar Pro XT Ultra, which is just £39.42 right now but it is wired not wireless. However, while the new model is more expensive, it has by far the most advanced sensor, it's the lightest, has the longest battery life, and has the more refined click and ergonomics. So yes, you're paying more, but you're getting a better mouse for the extra investment. Overview Corsair really know what they're doing, and it's pretty much expected that their peripherals will be damn near perfect when it comes to testing, and the Katar Elite Wireless does not disappoint at all. When it comes to ultralight gaming mice, it's one of my favourites. It's a very simple design, with a fairly traditional button configuration and I just light like the simplicity of it. It's very comfortable in your hand, it's light, it's nimble and it's very fast thanks to the ultra-low friction PTFE feet. It's got one of the best sensors on the market today, with Corsair's Marksman 26,000 DPI optical sensor, you could use this mouse on an eSports level if you really wanted to. It's pixel-perfect, and it tracks beautifully smooth throughout the entire DPI range. Plus, being able to tweak it in 1 DPI levels may seem like overkill, but if 18671 DPI is where your sweet spot seems to be, then that's where you can set it. The wireless technology is flawless, but Corsair has been leading the pack with its Slipstream tech for years now anyway, so that's hardly surprising. You get ultra-low latency in both Slipstream and Bluetooth, but even in USB mode, it'll run a 2000 Hz polling rate, so you'll always have some kind of speed advantage here. The ergonomics are very comfortable on this mouse, and Corsair has done little to change the great shape we know and love from the Katar series. The only tweak seems to be on the front of the mouse, with those sharp corners traded for rounded corners, and the edges have been softened, making the mouse look and feel better overall. Plus, the zero-gap mounting of the switches makes the click feel even tighter and more responsive than ever. Should I Buy One? From eSports to spreadsheets, the Corsair Katar Elite Wireless is a versatile beast. It's light, fast, comfortable, extremely accurate and has very flexible connectivity options. While some gamers may want even more buttons or even more RGB, the Katar Elite is a little more focused and simple mouse, but one that is done to a very high standard.