Razer Taipan Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse Review

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Razer Taipan Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse Review
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By David Shields

Manufacturer: Razer Inc.
Product Name: Taipan Ambidextrous PC Gaming Mouse
Model Number: RZ01-00780100-R3U1
UPC: 879862004736 EAN: 88886419331018
Price As Tested: $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Razer.

Razer is a common name in the peripherals market, with many, many products including mice, keyboards, speakers, and even their own customized clothing lineup. They are likely best known for their gaming mice line, such as the Ouroboros, Deathadder, and Naga gaming mice. The Razer Taipan is an ambidextrous gaming mouse designed to appeal to a wide variety of gamers who might looking for a comfortable mouse to use during those long gaming sessions.

With nine macro enabled buttons (with Razer Synapse 2.0), ergonomic design, and a fast 8200dpi sensor, does the ambidextrous Taipan have a place in Razer’s lineup? In this Benchmark Reviews article, I will give an overview of this mouse, Razer’s Goliathus Control pad and Synapse 2.0 software before delivering my final verdict on the package.

Features & Specifications

• 8200dpi 4G laser sensor.
• Ambidextrous form factor.
• Razer Synapse enabled.
• 9 programmable Hyperesponse buttons.
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling.
• Up to 200 inches per second / 50g acceleration.
• Length: 124mm / 4.88”
• Width: 63mm / 2.48”
• Height: 36mm / 1.42”
• Product weight: 95g / 0.21lbs without cable, 132g / 0.29lbs with cable.

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Razer Taipan Overview
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The Razer Taipan is designed more for comfort than for sheer number of features, so from a looks standpoint it’s pretty basic. On the top you get two buttons that control your DPI (up/down) and a simple wheel that glows green to either side when the PC is on. At the back is a Razer logo with a green LED that pulses on/off when the mouse is plugged in.

On each side you get some rubber padding for comfort along with dual silver buttons, which can be assigned macros functions via the Synapse software. My main gaming mouse is also ambidextrous, so I felt comfortable using the Taipan.

The front features a pair of decorative plastic vents, and we get another look at the mouse wheel, especially the ridges that assist with grip.

Finally the bottom of the mouse shows off the 8200dpi 4G laser sensor along with three smooth plastic pieces to help the mouse move along more quickly. I found that the Taipan was very responsive and moved over the pad quite easily.

Again, it’s not designed for extensive features but for simplicity and use of ease. In that, the Taipan performs well, and this is a great product for those looking for a mouse that you can really just plug and play.

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Razer Goliathus Control Edition Overview
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Manufacturer: Razer Inc.
Product Name: Razer Goliathus Control Edition – Soft Gaming Mouse Mat
Model Number: RZ02-01070800-R3M1
UPC: 87986200858 EAN: 8888419317081
Price As Tested: $19.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Features & Specifications

• 294mm x 920mm / 11.57″ x 36.22.
• Heavily textured weave for precise mouse control.
• Pixel-precise targeting and tracking.
• Optimized for all mouse sensitivities and sensors.
• Highly portable cloth-based design.
• Anti-fraying stitched frame.
• Anti-slip rubber base.
• Available in four different sizes: small, medium, large, extended.

Razer provided us with their 2014 Goliathus Control mat along with the Taipan. This mat comes in numerous sizes, but we got the extended edition, which is a long version stretching across the desk. It’s 920mm wide, which may not work for those with smaller desks. It is however not very tall, and I found this to be a small problem for me, because my regular mouse movements often caused the mouse to go off the edge.

With a grippy rubber base, this pad won’t be moving around while you game, and it was pleasantly thick and of a high quality. A textured weave makes up the top, and its a great surface for your mice, with fast and smooth movement.

One big advantage that Razer’s gaming mats offer is that you can use Razer Synpase 2.0 to calibrate every mouse specifically for that mat. In the next section we’ll look at this and the other features offered by Synapse 2.0.

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Razer Synapse 2.0 Software Overview
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Razer’s Synapse 2.0 software, which I also covered in my review of their Deathstalker Essential, offers a number of features to your gaming mice, and if you plan to do any custom macros or in-depth calibration/sensitivity settings, you’ll need it for the Taipan.

The main tab is the profile selector. It shows all your buttons and lighting along with what functions each button is currently assigned. Each function can be changed by selecting a button and using the menu.

The next tab controls sensitivity, acceleration, and polling rate. This are basic settings for a gaming mouse, and makes sure you can customize your Taipan to suit you.

This tab controls the basic lighting options. The only options are scroll wheel on/off and logo on/off.

Here you can change the surface calibration, choosing for the many Razer mats or from a variety of pre-installed presets. It’s clear however, that it’s designed to work best with Razer’s own mats.

Macros programming is available for the nine buttons on the Taipan, so you can customize to suit you or your game. Anyone who has done macros programming will be familiar with creating a macro, and then it can be assigned to a button via the main page.

Aside from the special calibration options for Razer mats, Synapse 2.0 is really no different than most other simple software packages designed to get you the most out of your peripherals. You can plug and play the Taipan right out of the box no problem, but for those who want more control, you’ll find this software easy to use.

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Gaming Mouse Final Thoughts
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The Razer Taipan is marketed as an ambidextrous mouse designed to appeal to a wide variety of gamers, left handed or right handed, small or large grip, macro or no macros, etc. In that it suceeds, boasting excellent capabilities right out of the box, capabilities that only get better when paired with Razer’s mats and Synapse 2.0 software. Most of us don’t need much more than what the Taipan offers, and that makes it an excellent product.

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Razer Taipan Gaming Mouse Conclusion
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The Razer Taipan was responsive and smooth when I used it. My only gripe might be that it’s a little TOO responsive. The side buttons in particular seemed to recognize a keypress by just brushing against them, which led to a few untimely clicks for me.

This isn’t specially designed to be a looker, but even so it pulls it off with a matte black casing and green LEDs. Then again, that sort of color scheme has always worked well for Razer, so why change it now?

This mouse is made from plastic and and a little rubber, but it’s absolutely solid. Braided cabling is always nice to see as well. The Taipan will last you for a good long while.

It doesn’t have as many buttons as some competitors in its price range, and that could be a turn off for some, especially MMO gamers. On the other hand, it’s very easy to use and program compared to others, so it’s great for those who don’t want to be bothered with that.

As of December 2014, the Razer Taipan was available online for $69.99 (Amazon | Newegg). Plenty of gaming mice offer more customization options (especially with macros) in the same price range, like the Vengeance M95 from Corsair. As a result, I have to deduct a few points from value. But remember, this mouse isn’t about buttons or macros, but ease of use, and you really can’t get a better value for that purpose than this.

It’s simple, well built, and has enough functionality to suit the average gamer. This is yet another winning Razer gaming mouse that will likely prove popular for years to come.

Pros:

+ Great looks and sturdy construction.
+ Responsive and smooth operation.
+ Easy to use right out of the box.
+ Still has nine programmable keys.

Cons:

– Many mice offer more features for better/same price.
– Side buttons are more than a little twitchy.

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.25
• Construction: 9.25
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 8.75

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Final Score: 9.05 out of 10.
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Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.