Should you upgrade to the Razer DeathAdder v2?

Same great design, new great features

The important thing to note for DeathAdder fans is that Razer kept the design of the V2 essentially the same as the previous generation. There are minor changes, such as a different scroll wheel and different DPI switching buttons, along with some small changes to the grips. However, for the most part, if you close your eyes you won't be able to tell which one is in your hand.

This is a good th ing because one of the things DeathAdder owners love the most is the ergonomic design. Razer didn't sell more than 10 million of these babies for nothing! By not changing the outside much at all, it makes an easy upgrade for owners of the original to feel comfortable right out of the box.

It's underneath where Razer made the important changes. The DeathAdder V2 uses the new Focus+ 20,000 DPI optical sensor and optical switches found in late 2019's Viper Ultimate and Basilisk Ultimate. It's a little faster, a little sharper, and a lot smarter than the original DeathAdder with features like motion sync (like FreeSync but for your mouse pointer) and auto-calibration.

The DeathAdder V2 is also a good amount lighter than the original, which makes it nicer to use for long periods, whether you're working or gaming.

Onboard storage is a must

Like other recent Razer mice, the DeathAdder V2 comes with onboard storage, something its predecessor did not. This is of particular use for anyone who switches between multiple PCs, perhaps a desktop and a laptop. Razer's target audience is gamers who play at LAN tournaments, but its benefits are more widespread than that.

Onboard storage allows you to have up to five different profiles covering different button maps, as well as storing your DPI stages. This means you don't need to have Razer Synapse 3 installed on every PC you use the mouse with to get access to your customizations. You could even take it to the office with you. It doesn't matter which PC you hook it up to the custom settings will always be there, accessible by a button on the bottom.

Costs less than you might think

The DeathAdder V2 is also well priced considering the technology that Razer has squeezed inside. At $70 MSRP, it's priced about right, especially in comparison to the price most will have originally paid for the original, so it's a fairly affordable upgrade for a high-end gaming mouse.