Razer's Basilisk V4 Pro Adds an AI Button and Longer Battery Life, but Not Everything Fits
A Tom's Hardware review finds Razer's updated all-round gaming mouse lighter and longer-lasting than its predecessor, though two new buttons disrupt its ergonomics.
By News Media House Staff ·
Razer has refreshed its Basilisk gaming mouse line for the first time in two years, and a review from Tom's Hardware concludes that the Basilisk V4 Pro is a strong all-rounder with a few awkward changes. The reviewer, senior editor Sarah Jacobsson Purewal, recommends it for players who want more functionality than a stripped-down shooter mouse but are not after a button-heavy design.
The previous update to the line was the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K in October 2024, which essentially paired the V3 Pro with a new sensor. The V4 Pro keeps the familiar right-handed, contoured shape, bright RGB lighting and extra buttons. It uses Razer's Focus Pro 50K optical sensor, fourth-generation optical switches and polling rates of up to 8,000 Hz, and it connects over 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth or USB-C.
The mouse is priced at $169.99 in both black and white. It launched alongside the Mouse Dock V2 Pro, which is sold separately for $69.99.
The most notable change is the addition of two buttons, bringing the total to 12 programmable buttons. A third thumb button sits in front of the existing two and opens Razer's AI prompt by default. A new button beside the left mouse button switches profiles by default. The reviewer was not a fan of either. The mouse measures 5.02 inches (127.5mm) long, which puts the profile button at the front edge, too far to press comfortably for someone with medium-sized hands and long fingers.
The AI button is a bigger problem, according to the review. Because it is the same size as the other thumb buttons, it pushes the rest of the cluster back, leaving the first thumb button (MB4) too far away to reach comfortably. Although the buttons can be remapped, the reviewer found that all three thumb buttons felt slightly off. The review also questioned whether every mouse and keyboard needs a dedicated AI prompt button.
Weight is down. The black version weighs 3.53 ounces (100g), almost half an ounce lighter than the V3 Pro 35K at 3.95 ounces (112g). The reviewer noted that it is still far from ultralight but is easier to pick up. The tilt wheel offers two tactile modes (24 and 48 steps) and a free-spin mode; the free-spin setting proved too sensitive and prone to backscrolling, while the precision tactile mode drew praise.
On performance, the Focus Pro 50K sensor reaches 50,000 DPI and 930 IPS, and tracks on most surfaces, including glass at least 4mm thick. The fourth-generation switches are rated for more than 100 million clicks and produced no misclicks or double-clicks in testing. The reviewer said the shape suits everything from MMOs to competitive shooters, though perhaps not top-level competition.
Battery life rose from 150 hours on the V3 Pro 35K to 200 hours at 1,000 Hz over 2.4GHz, falling to 54 hours at 8,000 Hz. The Mouse Dock V2 Pro, a small wireless charging dock with an integrated 8,000 Hz receiver and eight RGB zones, also works with several older Razer mice. The box includes a USB-A dongle, an adapter and a 6-foot braided cable, but not one of Razer's flexible HyperFlex cables, and no grip tape is supplied.
Tom's Hardware's verdict lists the feel, lower weight and battery life as strengths, and the AI button's effect on thumb-button layout, the price and the mouse's slightly large size as drawbacks. It positions the Basilisk V4 Pro between the DeathAdder V4 Pro and the more button-laden Naga V3 Pro.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: Tom's Hardware
