Gaming Mouse Roundup: Corsair Sabre RGB, G.Skill RIPJAWS MX780, SteelSeries Rival 500

First up is the Saber RGB. Corsair has kept this mouse simple and sleek. The Sabre features a matte plastic body with 8 programmable buttons, a textured scroll wheel, and four RGB backlit zones. At 80mm wide, this mouse is wider than most, which may concern users that prefer a narrower grip. Corsair claims this mouse is ergonomic, but the groove on the right side of the mouse may not feel as natural as the other two mice in this roundup. We found that the groove did not have quite enough space for the ring finger, leaving it floating a bit, though it was easy enough to get used to. The grip on the scroll wheel is very durable and enjoyable to use, but unfortunately does not have a free-scroll option. In terms of weighting, the Sabre does not have any adjustability, which may be seen as a con for some users who like to add heft for balance. We found the buttons to be very easy to actuate and required minimal movement to do so. 

There are two top main buttons, two thumb buttons, and a single button behind the scroll wheel. This mouse is geared towards right-handed users and therefore the button layout is unusable for lefties. For lighting, the Sabre offers four programmable RGB zones which are located under the front of the mouse, on the scroll wheel, on the left side, and on the palm. The on-board memory can store up to 5 DPI settings which can then be mapped to a specific RGB color. Corsair decided to use an Avago sensor with a sensitivity range from 100 to 10,000 DPI with a max polling rate of 1,000 Hz. This mouse doesn’t have a sensitivity range as high as the Rival 500, but most users won’t appreciate DPI settings over 10,000 anyway. In testing, this sensor was plenty fast, responsive and accurate with no noticeable lag or cursor jumping. 


Corsair's user interface, CUE2, is by far our favorite software out of the three brands we tested here. The interface allows for "sophisticated" lighting control, quick and easy key mapping, and the ability to sync all your Corsair gaming peripherals. If you game with a Corsair keyboard, the CUE2 allows you to either give each device its own custom lighting, or the ability to unify their effects. The software also provides notifications and live updates to make sure you are always using the latest functionality.

The Corsair SDK interface allows for powerful in-game interactions with the mouse or other Corsair products for developers. Something that stood out with CUE2 is that it contains a wide variety of customization options for the UI itself.

Bottom line:  at its low price point and with solid performance, this mouse is a great option for claw and fingertip style gamers on a budget.