Designed as a compact and light-weight gaming mouse for small-to-medium-sized arms, it is lighter than the earlier Corsair Katar Professional mannequin with improved specs in nearly each class.
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Class
Specification
Programmable buttons
6
DPI
26,000
Sensor
Corsair Marksman optical
Acceleration
As much as 50G
Lighting
Single RGB
Switches
Omron
Sturdiness
60M clicks
Battery life
As much as 110 hours
Connectivity
1.8m cable / USB wi-fi receiver
Weight
69g with out cable
Dimensions
37.8 x 115.8 x 64.2 mm
Corsair Katar Elite: What’s good
Corsair Katar Elite unboxed (Picture credit score: Ben Wilson | Home windows Central)
The gross sales pitch for the Katar Elite revolves primarily round its type issue, professing slick efficiency paired with an ultra-lightweight building. My first impressions upon unboxing this new inexpensive entry from Corsair appear to match the ads; it feels virtually weightless.
Going as far as to name it compact may be a bit extreme; it does not really feel a lot smaller than most no-frills mice you may choose up, but it surely’s not outsized. All sides of the mouse sports activities a raised grip in a well-recognized sample of triangle shapes, paying homage to the entrance panels discovered on Corsair PC instances.
Total, the construct of this mouse is comparatively normal however nonetheless snug. It does have an ambidextrous form, however whether or not or not utilizing two facet buttons along with your left hand is snug will come down to non-public choice. The featherweight construct stands out essentially the most, making fast actions a breeze even on the default raise peak.
Corsair Katar Elite USB-C port (Picture credit score: Ben Wilson | Home windows Central)
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There aren’t any indicators of buttons rattling, and every click on lands with satisfying suggestions from the switches.
Fortuitously, there may be some reality behind the lavish description as a result of the buttons really feel nice. There aren’t any indicators of rattling, and every click on lands with satisfying suggestions from the switches.
There was a slight imbalance between the left and proper buttons, however neither stands out as feeling dangerous, and I see no purpose why the Katar Elite should not hit its marketed most 60 million click on lifespan. The DPI switcher stays out of the way in which with a flush match which helps stop unintended presses, and a multi-color LED matches the chosen sensitivity profile.
Corsair Katar Elite iCUE settings (Picture credit score: Ben Wilson | Home windows Central)
One of the crucial engaging causes to spring for Corsair equipment is having access to its implausible iCUE PC tuning software program. Extending past RGB changes for inside PC parts, settings for the Katar Elite sit alongside helpful efficiency screens and instruments for tweaking extra of your {hardware}. It stays one in all my favourite companion apps, hitting a cushty stability of simplicity and chic UI design.
You may discover all the standard choices for a gaming mouse, with the polling price separated right into a devoted part for the USB receiver in the event you’re utilizing it wirelessly. You may want to make use of the USB-C cable to make the most of the floor calibration perform, however because you hardly ever want to make use of it exterior of changing your mouse mat, it is no drawback.
A brightness slider sits alongside a sleep mode timer to advertise prolonged battery life, or you may toggle a power-saving swap to regulate the quantities. The identical settings menu affords adjustable raise peak, angle snapping, and button response optimization choices which might be saved to the inner reminiscence. There’s solely area for one profile on the mouse, however you may create as many options as wanted with the iCUE app.
Corsair Katar Elite: What’s not so good
Corsair Katar Elite USB receiver storage (Picture credit score: Ben Wilson | Home windows Central)
The Katar Elite carried out effectively sufficient throughout fast-paced gaming and had no indicators of shakes or distortion throughout fast actions, however there are some downsides relating to its building and design decisions. Storing the USB receiver in a compartment beneath is helpful when it wants recharging, however the cowl plate is so skinny and fragile that it borders on pointlessness.
A tiny quantity of drive may snap the tooth holding it in place, and so many different mice supply a easy, flush slot that might bypass the necessity for an additional piece of plastic. It is little question meant to forestall a build-up of mud and filth, however I’ve felt sturdier elements in disposable electronics. Take additional care when eradicating the USB dongle from this mouse.
Praising the mouse clicks earlier, I saved any point out of the facet buttons and wheel for a very good purpose. The scroll wheel has the correct amount of drive wanted to spin however feels too muddy with every flip as if every notch is surrounded by an excessive amount of rubber. Each facet buttons really feel similar however require extra drive than another button on the mouse. I’d settle for the reasoning of stopping unintended clicks, however they’re positioned excessive sufficient for that to be unlikely.
Corsair Katar Elite RGB (Picture credit score: Ben Wilson | Home windows Central)
The PTFE ft discovered beneath the Katar Elite are as easy because it will get, however there may be nonetheless a barely raised plastic encompass to every. This triggered a minor scratching sound once I used it on one other picket desk with no mouse mat, however the precise feeling of motion barely modified. It is one thing to think about in the event you favor a naked desk or plan to journey with no mat.
The colour-shifting Corsair brand with probably lose its novelty for you as shortly because it did for me.
Contemplating the compatibility with its iCUE app, it is smart for designers to place RGB lighting into as many peripherals as potential, but it surely feels pointless right here. Until you are planning to maintain your arms off this mouse for almost all of the time, the color-shifting Corsair brand with probably lose its novelty for you as shortly because it did for me.
Its place underneath your palm negates the attraction of an illuminated part, and the DPI switcher solely reveals its coloration when pressed. Throughout use, this appears like a reasonably normal but snug light-weight mouse. Nonetheless, wi-fi mice with rechargeable batteries are solely as handy as their battery life permits, so often obscured RGB is much less thrilling than it might be.
Corsair Katar Elite: The competitors
Razer Orochi V2 (Picture credit score: Daniel Rubino | Home windows Central)
Becoming into the wi-fi gaming mouse class is not any straightforward activity since lots of of sorts can be found from dozens of high-profile manufacturers, together with the implausible Razer Orochi V2. Contemplating I criticized Corsair for together with impractical RGB, it may appear unusual to notice the dearth of RGB on a competitor. For a model like Razer, Chroma RGB is an enormous a part of its attraction, but there’s none to be discovered on this second-generation mouse revision.
Naturally, this omission is constructive for extending battery life, and the $70 Orochi V2 has a far superior resolution to storing its USB receiver with an inside slot beneath the removable shell. Granted, it wants a disposable battery, however you may select AA or AAA to maintain it at round 70g, just like the Katar Elite. Each are designed for a claw or fingertip grip, so it is a matter of weighing up the professionals and cons.
My earlier mouse was the $50 Logitech G305 Lightspeed, a wi-fi mannequin that has seen vital reductions in gross sales. Lower than par with the Katar Elite by way of specs, however after hours of use, it felt surprisingly related. It is one other battery-powered gaming mouse, however I by no means had points with efficiency on this cheaper variant, and it is nonetheless a powerful contender.
If I had to surrender my present mouse, I would use the Katar Elite over the Logitech G305 to make the most of the iCUE software program. Not a lot separates these two mice in real-world testing, however the comfort of a removable USB cable and a chargeable battery is sufficient for me to suggest Corsair.
Corsair Katar Elite: Do you have to purchase?
You should purchase this if …
You desire a light-weight wi-fi.
You possibly can reliably run a USB cable to the mouse for charging.
You are snug with left-side buttons on an ambidextrous design.
You should not purchase this if …
You are craving intense RGB.
You do not use a mouse pad.
At first look, the Katar Elite does not appear to do a lot to face out from the group. It seems to be a fairly normal wi-fi gaming mouse, however there are some spectacular parts inside this light-weight choice. Extremely snug for a day of labor within the dwelling workplace and a night of intense gaming, Corsair is difficult among the finest wi-fi mice by way of worth.
The position of its RGB brand is curious since you will not see it throughout use, and it’ll solely serve to empty the battery. Nonetheless, it appears fairly throughout idle moments, and the Corsair iCUE software program affords loads of choices for personalization. For this worth vary, the downsides are moderately trivial. It is an ideal wi-fi gaming mouse in the event you’re not searching for something too extravagant.
Corsair pairs a 26K DPI sensor with sturdy Omron mechanical switches inside this light-weight gaming mouse, designed for agility with claw and fingertip grip types.