Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless Mouse Review

Conclusion

Corsair have absolutely got a handle on their peripheral range in recent times, with pretty much everything that comes out of the Fremont company ticking a lot of boxes. We can’t recall a single lemon in their midrange and above product list. The original Dark Core mouse had a huge amount to recommend it, being comfortable and accurate. The updated Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless has all the elements of that mouse, but with the couple of very minor issues smoothed out.

Mice, more than anything, are the connection between your subconscious and the machine. There is a reason they are labelled as Human Interface Devices. Barring the day when we jack in like Johnny Mnemonic it’s the closest thing to an extension of ourselves that we currently have available. We use mice without thinking for a moment how much movement is necessary to get the pointer or crosshair where we want. So comfort is a primary factor and the Dark Core Pro is a beautiful size and weight. The combination of the different textures – rough palm and thumb section, ultra smooth right hand side (if you run the default side piece) and crisp buttons – is very pleasing to our tactile sense whilst keeping the Dark Core under our full control at all times.

Whether you run with a claw grip or a palm grip the Dark Core Pro is comfortable with all the buttons exactly where you’d expect them. One of the slight problems with the original was the side button layout, but that has been redressed here and it will be familiar to anyone who has used a modern rodent, and particularly those of you who like the Corsair Nightsword but fancy a wireless take on the formula. The placement of the additional buttons has always been the one area where manufacturers haven’t yet reached a consensus, but we think that placing them next to, but not in the way of, the left mouse button is the perfect solution. Our index fingers are comfortably the ones we have the most control over, so putting the buttons there keeps them within easy reach. With the thumb rest and additional optional one for the right hand side the Dark Core Pro Wireless is probably best suited to palm grip players, but claw does work too.

Being comfortable and an extension of your arm is all well and good but we want the sensor to be accurate and the wireless to be lag free too else it’s all for naught. If you’ve experienced the Corsair Slipstream wireless technology before you’ll know what to expect, but if you haven’t it’s as painless as any wireless system on the market. The receiver dongle is tiny, the switch on the bottom of the mouse to choose between wireless, wired or Bluetooth is responsive, and pairing is near instant. There is more than enough range even if you’ve got your PC at the limits of the monitor cable length and in our time with the Dark Core Pro Wireless we didn’t experience a single hiccup or unexpected movement. Equally great is the sensor which tracks smoothly and accurately across a variety of surfaces. Our testing time was largely spent with the enormous MM500 3XL mouse pad, but naturally we tried a few different pads and even the bare desk and it was responsive at all times. Of particular note is the lack of angle snapping nor lethargy in those small movements. Sometimes even with angle snapping off there is a tiny bit, and sometimes making a small movement needs a big one to make the sensor respond, but not with the Dark Core Pro.

It’s comfortable, there are enough lighting possibilities to keep even the most demanding user happy, the software is easy to use and the mouse itself responds instantly and consistently at all times. If you want the freedom of a wireless mouse the Dark Core Pro RGB Wireless is an absolute star and wins our OC3D Enthusiast Award.

  

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