Razer today is announcing for immediate availability its new Atheris wireless mouse built for the professional who wants more bang for their buck.
Featuring a reported 350 hours (14.5 days) of continuous usage off a pair of AA batteries and its new wireless Adaptive Frequency Technology (AFT) for improved signal correction the Atheris looks to be an outstanding accessory that won't make your wallet cry.
Fetching just $49.99 (U.S.) / EU €59.99 the Razer Atheris seems like a spinoff of the recently reviewed Razer Lancehead, but with some toned-down specifications and a tamer look:
Razer Atheris specifications
- 350-hour continuous use on a single pair of AA batteries (On Bluetooth mode)
- 7,200 DPI optical sensor
- Dual connectivity
- Inbuilt Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE)
- 2.4 GHz connection with Adaptive Frequency Technology (AFT)
- Ambidextrous ergonomic form factor
- Compact and mobile ready (Dongle fits in the mouse, no extra carrying case required)
- Five independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
- Approximate size: 99.7 mm / 3.9 in (Length) X 62.8 mm / 2.5 in (Width) X 34.1 mm / 1.35 in (Height)
- Approximate weight 66g / 0.14 lbs (Excluding batteries)
The biggest differences between the new Atheris and the Lancehead besides price ($50 vs. $140) is the lower DPI setting (7,200 vs. 16,000), optical vs. laser sensor, no Chroma lighting, but the addition of Bluetooth LE for those who wish to ditch the 2.4 GHz AFT-enabled dongle. There are also some subtle design shifts too.
Razer's co-found and CEO Min-Liang Tan remarked about the company's motivation behind the new Atheris in a press release:
We created the Razer Atheris to be the ultimate mobile productivity mouse – allowing users to bring their A-game in any situation whether it's in the boardroom or the gaming arena. The Razer Atheris outperforms and outlasts the competition with unparalleled reliability.
It's an interesting shift for a company who has primarily been known for just gaming gear. The new gunmetal gray Razer Blade Stealth and Razer Blade Pro with THX-certified audio and display suggests the company is gradually expanding to professional markets beyond premium gaming.
As noted in our Lancehead review Razer's AFT looks to remove signal distortion from the wireless mouse by prioritizing channel hopping on the 2.4 GHz frequency. That makes this mouse still a solid choice for casual gamers who want a wireless solution but without any loss in movement accuracy or signal disruption. For non-gamers, using the built-in Bluetooth LE solution should be great for productivity tasks.
Overall, we rated the Lancehead a 4.5 (out of 5), and it will be interesting to see if this new lower-cost Atheris can maintain that score.
The Razer Atheris is available now at RazerStore.com for $49.99 (U.S.). It will be available worldwide in sometime in Q4 (EU €59.99).
