Razer Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed Review (2024)

Razer is not quite done with the Deathadder V3 series just yet. After releasing the Deathadder V3 and V3 Pro, both of which received high scores in our reviews, the company is adding another version into the lineup with the Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed.

It’s supposed to be the middle child in the lineup (at least in terms of pricing), being slightly more expensive than the wired V3 at $99.99 (vs. $69.99), and slightly cheaper than the V3 Pro ($149.99). However, instead of being a stripped down version of the V3 Pro, Razer has in fact reworked the entire device for those that want even more edge for their competitive plays.

It’s considerably lighter than the V3 Pro, has a slightly smaller shape, features a new optical sensor, and offers a larger battery. Just like the other Deathadders in the series, the V3 Hyperspeed is a fantastic piece of hardware that offers a no-frills, tried and tested design that allows you to focus on winning games and nothing else. And the fact that it is a cheaper wireless version in the series makes it an easy recommendation.

Design and Features

At first glance, the Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed looks like a spitting image of the other two Deathadders in the series. However, Razer has tweaked the design in small ways, making the mouse lighter and slightly smaller than the V3 Pro.

For instance, the V3 Hyperspeed has shed some weight at 55g which, at least in terms of mouse design, is considerably lighter than the V3 Pro’s 64g. Not that 64g is heavy by any means and could still be considered an “ultra-lightweight”, but after having used increasingly lightweight gaming mice in the past, including my daily driver, the Zaopin Z1 Pro (45g), the benefits of a lighter mouse has to be experienced. As such, the V3 Hyperspeed’s new diet regime is a welcome change and makes the mouse a little bit easier to manage for quick reflexes.

Razer has also shrunk the size of the V3 Hyperspeed after consulting with a number of “pro-players”. It’s not a drastic change - and one that you may not like if you are accustomed to the Deathadder’s more classic shape - but I, personally, did not notice it to be any worse. Let’s talk specifics, according to the chart provided by Razer, the V3 Hyperspeed’s length has been reduced to 122.21 (vs. V3 Pro’s 127.19mm), width to 64.82mm (vs. 67.42mm), and height to 41.33mm (vs. 43.03mm). The length to hump has also been reduced to 61.34mm (vs. 63.79mm) as well as the scroll height to 3.83mm (vs. 5.03mm). However, the side button height has been slightly increased to 10.50mm (vs. 10.47mm) while its width has been slimmed down to 37.38mm (vs. 39.02mm).

As you can see, the changes are minute and almost imperceptible, but it could make a huge difference for those that are finely-tuned to their device. I am an average joe with a negative KD ratio in almost all competitive games, so for me, the V3 Hyperspeed remained as ergonomic as the others in the series, but a bit more comfortable to move around with due to the lighter bodyweight.

Besides that, the mouse is nearly identical to the V3 Pro. It has the same smooth-touch texture as the newer versions of the V3 Pro, which provides a solid grip even when things get a touch too sweaty. You have the same two-piece left and right mouse button which houses the Razer Optical Gen-3 switches, and the two ever-reliable side buttons that are easy to reach and press.

On the back, you will find the single double-duty power and DPI button, the brand new Razer Focus X 26K Optical Sensor, a USB-C port for charging, a small dongle storage compartment, and slightly larger PTFEE feet, offering a buttery smooth glide on most surfaces.

Software and Performance

The Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed obviously requires the Razer Synapse software for customization. I have to give credit to Razer for continuously improving the software and making it a lot less intrusive, and much more resource-friendly and reliable. At least, I am not filled with dread whenever I have to install the software for any new product review, so that’s something.

Synapse offers the standard options for customization, and for a no-frills device like the V3 Hyperspeed, there aren’t many. You can re-assign any of the buttons on the mouse to another function (except the Left Mouse Click), which includes mouse and keyboard functions, launching apps, switching profiles, etc.

Elsewhere, you can also change the sensitivity of the sensor to your desired value. You get a maximum of five sensitivity stages, which can be further customized by adding separate values for X and Y movements, or simply turning it off altogether and using a single sensitivity level. You can also set the polling rate to a maximum of 1,000Hz, however the mouse is capable of 8,000Hz as well if you buy a seaprate wireless dongle for it.

However, the biggest addition to the V3 Hyperspeed (as far as I remember, this wasn’t available in the V3 Pro) is the new Dynamic Sensitivity option. If you have ever used the DualSense Edge for the PS5, or any ‘pro’ controller that allows you to change how the analog joystick behaves, then you will know exactly what this is.

Dynamic Sensitivity lets you set a predefined sensitivity ‘curve’ for the sensor to follow. Basically, depending on the curve, the sensor will match the speed of your movement and ramp up the sensitivity as and when required. This should, under ideal circ*mstances, allow you to do a quick 180 degree turn in a single swipe, rather than swiping the mouse twice or thrice depending on your sensitivity level. This is especially beneficial for those that play on an extremely low sensitivity (such as 400DPI or 800DPI) as it provides them a finer control over the sensor’s speed than otherwise possible.

It takes a while to get used to it, however. I usually play at around 800DPI depending on the game (like Halo Infinite), and while turning around was certainly possible on a single swipe using the Natural dynamic preset, I had to fight my instincts to not lift the mouse again after a swipe to turn further. Once you overcome that, the Dynamic Sensitivity is definitely a tool you would want to have in your arsenal. Doing a quick turn on a small radius to pop off enemy heads from behind almost feels like something that shouldn’t be allowed, and this was while maintaining perfect accuracy and wrist movement.

The new Focus X 26K optical sensor is another fantastic invention from Razer. It is, however, a slightly stripped down version of the Focus Pro 30K optical sensor from the V3 Pro (which explains the price drop, eh?). Not that it matters a whole lot, of course. However, for those that are sticklers for statistical detail, the 26K optical sensor, besides the obvious drop in max DPI, also has only 500 IPS (vs. 750) and max acceleration of 40 (vs. 70). Again, I am an average joe that only casually plays competitive games, so the difference between the two sensors are almost imperceptible to me.

However, when it comes to the performance, the Focus X 26K optical is just as good as the Focus Pro sensor (or any other sensor available in the market). I don’t want to say I have never aimed better in Halo Infinite, but it really did feel like I had a far superior control over my shots than ever before. My accuracy rating shot up from an average of 28% - 35% to nearly 41%-45%, which is pretty impressive. I found myself tracking enemy movement with ease whether it be around a corner or them jumping around like a rabbit, while delivering precise bursts of my BR75 near the head or the chest area. Usually, I am just floundering around trying to land a shot, but not this time.

Finally, in terms of battery life, Razer promises around 100 hours with the V3 Hyperspeed, which is a slight bump over the 90 hours claimed with the V3 Pro. I would say the figure is largely accurate as I went from 80% to 43% in a week, with around 4-5 hours dedicated to gaming while the rest was for general desktop use.