Razer Naga


Top (from left to right): Naga Hex, Naga (2012), Naga Epic, Naga
Middle left (from closest to farthest): Naga Molten, Naga and Naga Epic
Middle right: Naga Chroma
Bottom: Naga Hex v2 side-on
ManufacturerRazer Inc.
Introduced2009
TypeGaming mouse
PortsUSB
DPI
DPINaga, Naga Epic, Naga Hex
5,600
Naga 2014, Naga Epic Chroma
8,200
Naga Chroma, Naga Hex v2, Naga Trinity
16,000
Naga Pro, Naga Left-Handed Edition
20,000

]]]]

The Razer Naga is a series of gaming mice released by Razer Inc. designed specifically for massively multiplayer online (MMO) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games like Dota 2 and League of Legends. The name is believed by many to be based on the Sanskrit word for "snake", as well as possibly Naga, a World of Warcraft race.

There have been eleven iterations in the Naga series, not counting the redesigned versions, with release dates spanning from 2009 to 2020. The mice are, in order of release: the Naga, Naga Epic, Naga 2012, Naga Hex, Naga 2014, Naga Epic Chroma, Naga Chroma, Naga Hex v2, Naga Trinity, the 2020 release of the Naga Left-Handed Edition, and Naga Pro. All except the Naga Epic, Naga Epic Chroma and Naga Pro are wired and connected through a USB port. The Naga Hex and the Naga Hex v2 are the only iterations to have less than twelve buttons, with six and seven respectively. The Naga Trinity and Naga Pro have an interchangeable amount of side buttons, though both have a maximum of twelve. The colors of the mice vary.

Most of the Nagas, except the Naga Epic, Naga Hex, and Naga Hex v2, which received mixed reviews, were met with positive reviews from critics. The primary reason for the Naga Epic's mixed reviews was because of its price, although reviewers liked its wireless capabilities. The main criticism of both the Naga Hex and Naga Hex v2 was the arrangement of the buttons.

History

The name Razer Naga is believed to be based on both the Sanskrit word for "snake" and possibly Naga, a World of Warcraft race.[1] The first Razer Naga was announced at Gamescom 2009[1] and released in August 2009.[2] The first version of the Naga had a total of seventeen buttons,[3] with twelve being on the left side of the mouse, and a switch on the underside of the mouse that maps them to the keyboard's top number buttons or its numeric keypad.[2] The original Naga had a maximum sensitivity of 5,600 DPI.[3] DPI stands for "dots per inch", and is a unit for measuring the sensitivity of a mouse, with a higher DPI equaling a higher sensitivity.[4] Downloadable software by Razer called AddOns allowed the user to map what each key did.[2] The Naga Epic, which was released in November 2010, was the first installment in the Naga series to have wireless functionality. It was also released with an interchangeable side panel and the ability to change the color of the lights from a pool of sixteen million colors.[5] A redesigned version of the original Naga, called the Naga Molten,[6] was released in early 2011.[7]

In the second quarter of 2012, the Naga 2012 was released.[8] Similarly to the Naga Epic, it came with interchangeable side panels.[9] The Naga 2012 supported Razer's Synapse 2.0 software allowing all the buttons to be programmed and that information to be stored online.[10] The other 2012 installment was the Naga Hex, the first mouse in the series to have only six programmable side-on buttons.[11] Razer noted it was made for multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs), such as League of Legends and Diablo 3, instead of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs).[12] In May of the same year, the Wraith Red edition was released. The only difference between the versions was the coloring.[13] In March 2013, after the announcement of a partnership between Razer and Riot Games, a League of Legends style Naga Hex was released,[11] with the only difference being the design and the change from a plastic to a matte surface.[14]

The Naga 2014 was released in July 2013 and featured "more pronounced, redesigned individual buttons, allowing for easier recognition and more precise button presses."[15] It had a total of nineteen programmable buttons, twelve of which are side-on. It was the first iteration in the Naga series to have a maximum sensitivity of 8,200 DPI, and is the only Naga which has both left-handed and right-handed versions,[16] though the left-handed edition was eventually discontinued for insufficient demand.[17] The only other iteration which has a maximum sensitivity of 8,200 DPI is the Naga Epic Chroma, released in November 2014. The Naga Epic Chroma is wireless and also featured nineteen programmable buttons of which twelve are on the side.[18]

The Naga Trinity without a side panel. This allows the user to choose how many buttons they want.

The first mouse in the Naga series to possess a maximum sensitivity of 16,000 DPI and a "5G optical laser sensor" was the Naga Chroma. Released in November 2015, Razer said it "brings the world's most advanced mouse sensor to the world of MMO gaming" and now "the Razer 5G laser sensor is capable of tracking up to true 16,000 DPI down to 1 DPI increments".[19][20] Released in June 2016, the first Naga with seven buttons on the side was the Razer Naga Hex v2.[21] The Naga Hex v2 also featured a 5G laser sensor and a maximum sensitivity of 16,000 DPI.[22] All of the mice have a polling rate of 1000 Hz. The polling rate of a mouse is how many often it notifies the computer of its location each second, with each Hz equaling one register.[4] In November 2017, Razer introduced the Naga Trinity. This mouse has interchangeable side panels, meaning the user could choose how many buttons they wanted. With this addition, Razer intended it to replace both the Naga Hex v2 and the Naga Chroma.[23] A left-handed version of the Naga Trinity was planned, but after an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign, raising only US$80,000 of the desired $1.3 million, the model was cancelled.[24]

In 2019, Razer announced that they would be re-releasing the discontinued left-handed Naga with improved specifications.[17] Similar to the failed left-handed release of the Naga Trinity, Razer asked for those interested to pre-register due to the costly nature of releasing an unpopular product.[25] Released in August 2020, the Naga Left-Handed Edition was the first mouse in the series to have a maximum DPI of 20,000, accomplished through the implementation of the "Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor".[26] In September, the Naga Pro was released, also with a maximum DPI of 20,000. The Naga Pro, like the Naga Trinity, has a replaceable side panel.[27] Naga X, released the following year, did not include modular thumbside panels.[28] Razer updated the Naga lineup in 2022 with the release of the Naga V2 Pro and Naga V2 Hyperspeed.[29]

Specifications

Side view of the Naga Molten
A redesigned version of the original Naga, called the Naga Molten
Naga Hex designed in collaboration with League of Legends
A League of Legends version of the Naga Hex was released to commemorate the partnership between Razer and Riot Games.

Each mouse was released with different specifications. This table does not include redesigned mice, such as the Naga Molten and the League of Legends Naga Hex.

MouseRelease dateDPIConnectivityLaser sensorPolling rate (Hz)Side buttonsLeft or right handedLED colorsRefs.
Naga August 2009 5,600 USB Optical (3.5G) 1000 12 Right-handed Blue [30][31]
Naga Epic November 2010 USB or wireless Chroma[a] [5][32]
Naga 2012 Q2 2012 USB Green [9]
Naga Hex 2012 6 Red or green [12][33][34]
Naga 2014 July 2013 8,200 Optical (4G) 12 Both Green [15][35][36]
Naga Epic Chroma November 2014 USB or wireless Right-handed Chroma[a] [18][33]
Naga Chroma November 2015 16,000 USB Optical (5G) [19][37]
Naga Hex v2 June 2016 7 [22]
Naga Trinity November 2017 Multiple Options (2, 7, 12) [38]
Naga Left-Handed Edition August 2020 20,000 Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor 12 Left-handed [26]
Naga Pro September 2020 USB, Bluetooth or wireless Multiple Options (2, 6, 12) Right-handed [27]
Naga X January 2021 18,000 USB Optical (5G) 12 [39]
Naga V2 Pro November 2022 30,000 USB, Bluetooth Focus Pro 30K Optical 1000 12 Right-handed Chroma [29][40]
Naga V2 Hyperspeed November 2022 30,000 USB Focus Pro 30K Optical 1000 12 Right-handed Chroma

Reception

Most of the Nagas received positive critical reviews, with Wes Fenlon of PC Gamer, a video gaming magazine, listing the Naga Hex v2 as one of the best gaming mice,[41] and Marshall Honorof of Tom's Guide website listing the Naga Epic Chroma as 2016's best MMO mouse.[42]

The original Razer Naga had a positive reception, although many pointed out the obvious targeting towards MMO gamers. Nicholas Deleon on the tech site TechCrunch said the Naga is a good and comfortable mouse. He noted that it is not any better than using a keyboard, and how the usefulness of the mouse would depend on how much the user is willing to practice and learn how to use it.[43] Ben Kuchera, of Ars Technica called it a "niche product", stating the buttons were unappealing to people who did not play MMO games.[2] The redesigned version of the Naga, called the Naga Epic Molten, received positive reviews for its design.[6][7]

Critics had mixed feelings about the Naga Epic, with many believing the price was too high. Rich Brown of CNet said the mouse does not warrant the high price tag and awarded it an overall rating of 7.3/10.[44] The reviewers at PC Magazine thought the Epic was expensive, but commended the mouse's attractiveness and wireless feature.[45] Mathew McCurley of Engadget commended the long-lasting battery and the wireless capability of the mouse and stated that "if you're interested in trying something new, give it a shot."[46] He said that it takes time to get used to the design and feel.[46]

Reviewers thought the Naga 2012 was a good mouse overall. Russell Holly of the technology site Geek.com said he would recommend it to anyone[10] and David Daw of PC World said it would be difficult to find a better gaming mouse for the same price.[47] Daw believed that having seventeen buttons may have been overkill, but continued by saying that "a little bit of overkill is okay."[47]

The Naga Hex received mixed reviews, with the most prevalent dislike being its surface. Sean Buckley of Engadget disliked the Naga Hex because of its plastic surface and how the arrangement of the buttons on the side resulted in them feeling cramped.[48] Brian Westover of PC Magazine said the hexagonal layout of the buttons made them easier to understand and use, but felt the placement of them was sub-par.[49] Westover said that after using the mouse for long periods of time, the surface becomes "slick".[49] The redesigned League of Legends version of the Hex was praised by Westover.[14]

The Naga 2014 received positive reviews, with many reviewers enjoying the comfort and the feel of the buttons. Nate Ralph of PC World said the Naga 2014 has a more comfortable design compared to the previous versions.[16] Hayden Dingman, also of PC World said the nineteen buttons may be over the top for most people, but for those who need it, it's the best option.[50] Matt Smith of Digital Trends said the mouse was comfortable and the buttons felt robust. He noted that the button arrangement may "take some time to get used to".[51] Rob Keyes of GameRant said that when compared to the previous iterations, the Naga 2014 has better buttons and is more user-friendly. He recommended the mouse to people who liked the previous iterations and to people who wish to have better control in MMOs.[15] Marshall Honorof said the mouse is guaranteed to appeal to MMO fans, but isn't very useful for other genres.[52]

Both the Naga Epic Chroma and the Naga Chroma were praised by reviewers. Marshall Honorof liked the quality and design of both mice.[53] Honorof commended the wireless capabilities of the Naga Epic Chroma, along with the lighting and comfort.[53]

As with the Naga Hex, the Naga Hex v2 received mixed reviews, with the major criticism being its button arrangement. Amanda Yeo of the website Gizmodo said that if the reader liked the Naga Hex, the Naga Hex v2 is a definite upgrade. She noted that newer users might be thrown off by the button configuration.[54] Marshall Honorof's biggest criticism of the mouse was that "most people won't need one", though he continued to say that for those who do, it would work exactly as expected. He said that at first, the button arrangement threw him off.[55] Michael Crider of Digital Trends said that once the user gets used to the button layout, the actions are "quick and responsive."[56] Matthew Buzzi of PC Magazine also believed that the user would like it if they play MOBAs, but if not, another mouse might be a better option. He also asserted that the Naga Hex v2 is reliable and well made.[57] Kane Fulton from TechRadar listed the Naga Hex v2 as one of the ten best gaming mice.[58]

Similar to historical Naga mice updates, the Naga X had mixed reviews from critics, mostly since it dropped one of the Naga Pro's defining characteristics, the swappable side plates. Mike Epstein from PCMag noted the dropping of the modular side panels, wireless charging, and tilting scroll wheel as some downsides of the Naga X.[59] However, reviewers at Setup.gg noted that the tradeoffs may be worth it for some gamers, particularly since dropping some of these features helped the Naga X reach the low 85-gram weight, which is light compared to competing MMO and MOBA gaming mice.[60]

Notes

  1. ^ ^ Razer devices with Chroma support means the user is able to change the color of the lighting from a pool of 16.8 million colors.[61]

References

  1. 1 2 Schramm, Mike (August 19, 2009). "Razer announces the Naga MMO mouse". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kuchera, Ben (August 23, 2009). "A mouse and a phone got drunk: the Razer Naga MMO mouse". Ars Technica. Condé Nast Digital. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Buchanan, Matt (August 20, 2009). "Razer Naga Gaming Mouse's Dad Apparently Had Sex with a Phone". Gizmodo Australia. Univision Communications. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Mouse DPI and Polling Rates Explained: Do They Matter for Gaming?". How To Geek. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Yonzon, Zach (October 14, 2010). "Razer unleashes epic version of the Naga gaming mouse". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Simms, Craig (October 17, 2011). "Razer Naga (Molten Special Edition) review". CNET. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  7. 1 2 White, Charlie (December 19, 2010). "Razer Naga Molten Special Edition Could Be the Ultimate Gaming Mouse". Mashable. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ Trew, J. (May 9, 2012). "Razer Naga MMO mouse gets some work done, fresh for 2012". Engadget. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Trew, James (May 9, 2012). "Razer Naga MMO mouse gets some work done, fresh for 2012". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Holly, Russell (August 10, 2012). "Review: Razer Naga 2012 edition mouse". Geek. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Gilbert, Ben (March 5, 2013). "Razer Naga Hex gets League of Legends-flavored edition, available now for $90". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Brown, Rich (January 10, 2012). "Razer Naga Hex gaming mouse targets Diablo III gamers". CNET. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Fingas, Jon (May 3, 2012). "Razer Naga Hex mouse gets Wraith Red edition for manic Diablo III clicking". AOL. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Westover, Brian (March 19, 2013). "Razer Naga Hex League of Legends Collector's Edition". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 Keyes, Rob (August 16, 2013). "'Razer Naga' MMO Gaming Mouse Review". Game Rant. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  16. 1 2 Ralph, Nate (July 30, 2013). "Review: Razer's Naga 2014 gaming mouse makes 17 buttons look good". PC World. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Lilly, Paul (August 14, 2020). "Razer brings back its Naga gaming mouse for left-handed MMO players". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  18. 1 2 Parrish, Kevin (October 30, 2014). "Razer Lights Up MMO Gaming With Naga Epic Chroma". Tom's Hardware. Purch Group. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  19. 1 2 Fagioli, Brian (November 9, 2015). "Razer announces Naga Chroma MMO gaming mouse". BetaNews. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Razer Upgrades World's Best MMO Gaming Mouse With State-of-the-Art Sensor and Chroma RGB Lighting". Yahoo Finance. Yahoo!. November 7, 2015. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  21. ↑ Honorof, Marshall (June 22, 2016). "Razer Naga Hex V2 Review: Made for MOBAs". Tom's Guide. Purch Group. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Johnston, Rae (June 15, 2016). "Razer's Naga Hex V2 Mouse Is Built Especially For MOBAs". Gizmodo Australia. Univision Communications. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  23. ↑ Chan, Leon (November 3, 2017). "Razer Expands Peripherals Line With Naga Trinity Mouse, Tartarus V2 Keypad". Tom's Hardware. Purch Group. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  24. ↑ Walker, Alex (August 14, 2020). "Why Razer's Making Another Left-Handed Mouse". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  25. ↑ Abent, Eric (November 7, 2019). "Razer takes requests for a new left-handed mouse for gaming". SlashGear. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  26. 1 2 Dwiar, Rob (August 13, 2020). "Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition gaming mouse review: "A literal and genuine game-changer"". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  27. 1 2 Faulkner, Cameron (September 3, 2020). "Razer's Naga Pro is a wireless modular gaming mouse with loads of buttons". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  28. ↑ Epstein, Mike (April 20, 2021). "Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse Review". PCMAG. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  29. 1 2 Sean Endicott (November 10, 2022). "Razer launches Naga V2 Pro and V2 Hyperspeed for MMO games". Windows Central. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  30. ↑ Teglet, Traian (August 20, 2009). "Razer Wants You to Get Imba with New Naga Gaming Mouse". Softpedia. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  31. ↑ Brown, Rich (August 20, 2009). "Razer Naga mouse targets online gamers with built-in keypad". CNET. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Razer Naga Epic Rechargable [sic] Wireless MMO PC Gaming Mouse Specifications". CNET. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  33. 1 2 "Razer Naga – MMO Gaming Mouse". Razer. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Razer Naga Hex specs". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Razer Naga 2014". The Verge. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Razer Naga Chroma". Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  37. ↑ Estrada, Maren (June 21, 2016). "The world's most precise gaming mouse is actually as nuts as it looks". Boy Genius Report. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Razer Naga Trinity Gaming Mouse Review 2017". WhatGamingMouse. November 17, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  39. ↑ Epstein, Mike (April 20, 2021). "Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse Review". PCMag. Ziff Davis. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Buy Razer Naga V2 Pro | Gaming Mice | Razer.com". Razer. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  41. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (August 20, 2016). "The best gaming mice". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  42. ↑ Honorof, Marshall (June 22, 2016). "Best Gaming Mice 2016". Tom's Guide. Purch Group. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  43. ↑ Deleon, Nicholas (November 16, 2009). "Review: Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse". TechCrunch. AOL. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  44. ↑ Brown, Rich (March 11, 2011). "Razer Naga Epic Rechargable [sic] Wireless MMO PC Gaming Mouse review". CNET. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Razer Naga Epic". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  46. 1 2 McCurley, Mathew (February 17, 2011). "Reviewing the Razer Naga Epic mouse: 12 buttons you never knew you wanted". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  47. 1 2 Daw, David (May 29, 2012). "Razer Naga Expert MMO Gaming Mouse Review". PC World. Archived from the original on August 31, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  48. ↑ Steele, Billy; Murph, Darren; Buckley, Sean (April 6, 2012). "IRL: Blue Mics Yeti, Western Digital My Passport and Razer's Naga Hex gaming mouse". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  49. 1 2 Westover, Brian (April 30, 2012). "Razer Naga Hex". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  50. ↑ Dingman, Hayden (September 12, 2014). "Razer Naga 2014 Edition review: The MMO specialist". PC World. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  51. ↑ Smith, Matt (July 30, 2013). "Razer Naga review". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  52. ↑ Honorof, Marshall (May 9, 2014). "Razer Naga Review – Buttons, Buttons Everywhere". Tom's Guide. Purch Group. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  53. 1 2 Honorof, Marshall (December 18, 2014). "Razer Naga Epic Chroma Gaming Mouse Review – MMO Money, MMO Buttons". Tom's Guide. Purch Group. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  54. ↑ Yeo, Amanda (August 17, 2016). "Razer Naga Hex v2 Gaming Mouse: Australian Review". Gizmodo. Univision Communications. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  55. ↑ Honorof, Marshall (June 22, 2016). "Razer Naga Hex V2 Review: Made for MOBAs". Tom's Guide. Purch Group. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  56. ↑ Crider, Michael. "Razer Naga Hex V2 review". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  57. ↑ Buzzi, Matthew. "Razer Naga Hex V2". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  58. ↑ Fulton, Kane (November 14, 2016). "10 best gaming mice: best gaming mouse to buy". TechRadar. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  59. ↑ "Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse Review". PCMAG. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Razer Naga X Review - Setup.gg". January 29, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  61. ↑ Wong, Raymond. "Razer's trippy Chroma PC gear can glow 16.8 million different colors of rad". Mashable. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
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