Built for MMO gamers, the Corsair Scimitar Elite is the brand's latest iteration of their Scimitar series mice. Its most notable feature is of course the number pad affixed to the side of the mouse, placing 12 macro buttons within easy reach of your thumb and freeing up your keyboard hand for more action.
Does it work as well as it claims to though? Let's find out.
Tech Specs
Programmable Buttons: 17
DPI: 18,000
Report Rate: Selectable 1000Hz/500Hz/250Hz/125Hz
Sensor: PMW3391
On-board Memory: Yes
On-board Memory Profiles: 3
Mouse Button Type: Omron
Mouse Button Durability: 50M L/R Click
Connectivity: Wired
Weight: 122g (w/out cable and accessories)
Weight Tuning: No
Cable: 1.8m Braided Fiber
Solidly built, perfect for palm grippers
The surface of the Scimitar Elite features a matte rubber finish that feels smooth and premium, with glossy accents courtesy of the DPI and profile toggle buttons behind the scroll wheel as well as the number pad housing.
A nice touch is having the scroll wheel suspended between the left and right mouse buttons instead of nestling it into the chassis like most other mice.
To the right, you'll find a textured surface to rest your ring and pinky fingers. Personally, although I find it extremely comfortable to rest upon, the surface isn't grippy enough for low-sensitivity claw grip users like myself who tend to lift the mouse more frequently. It is easier to pick up with a palm grip however, due to the increased surface contact between your fingers and the mouse.
As for lighting zones, there are a total of 4 - the front 'headlights', scroll wheel, logo, and number pad. I'm slightly disappointed that you can't light each macro button individually as they share the same lighting zone, but it's certainly not a deal breaker.
In terms of comfort, Corsair did a great job on the Scimitar Elite. Although I still prefer the more arched back and convex side grips of the Ironclaw as a claw grip user, the Scimitar Elite's chassis is perfectly shaped and weighted for palm grip users.
The numberpad moves, you guys
In case having an old-fashioned cell phone built into the side of your mouse wasn't enough, I soon found out that you can actually adjust the position of the number pad as well. The process is extremely easy with the included mini allen key - simply loosen it via a screw at the bottom of the mouse, reposition it to your liking, tighten the screw back, and voila!
It may not seem like a huge deal, but it is an extremely thoughtful addition by Corsair to further tailor your user experience to perfection.
The buttons themselves are well laid out. Each row alternates between textured and smooth surfaces for easier identification, and the '5' button has a notch so you'll always know exactly where your thumb is positioned. I also found that the sensitivity of the buttons are just right - they aren't too hard to press, nor soft enough to be accidentally triggered.
If you have a penchant for fat fingering things, you can always opt to not bind buttons that are directly adjacent to each other to prevent mistakes. Sure, you'll miss out on using some of the buttons, but if you're not an MMO player who utilises every single button, it is a fair compromise.
Boundless possibilities, even for non-gamers
To assign macros, you'll need to download Corsair's iCue software. You can remap keys, assign shortcuts, as well as record your own custom macros. There is a rich selection of options available, which opens up a world of possibilities beyond in-game functionality.
Content creators and other PC users who prize efficiency will also appreciate being able to map all manner of tasks to these buttons - even something as mundane as copy pasting becomes a lot quicker using the side buttons instead of the usual Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V.
You can also program them to launch applications, control media playback, and even paste pre-determined text, which comes in super handy for spamming copypasta or flaming your teammates with a generic wall of text you prepared beforehand.
While the amount of options may seem daunting at first, iCue's clear visual interface aided the customisation process greatly, making it a breeze to use.
Buy or no buy?
If you're looking for a mouse with 17 programmable buttons, the Corsair Scimitar Elite is right up your alley. It's solidly built with a wealth of customisations via iCue to make gaming and mundane tasks easier. Corsair also did a great job laying out the keys for easy identification, while ergonomics was also taken care of, especially for palm grip users.
However, if you're a claw or fingertip grip user who doesn't need that many buttons, you can consider something like the Nightsword or Ironclaw series which come in at the same price point instead.
The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite Optical Gaming Mouse retails for US$79.99 (~RM343). For more information, you may visit their official product page here.
