CORSAIR SABRE RGB PRO CHAMPION SERIES Review

👤by Tim Harmer Comments 📅08-04-21
Conclusion
The SABRE RGB PRO is the second CORSAIR mouse we’ve reviewed in recent months, and in our estimation is by far the better of the two even accounting for their clear design differences. That’s not to say it’s perfect, but as a daily mouse to use in an office environment and then shift things up with fast-paced gaming it fits the bill in most major aspects.

As good as it is however, it’s likely that the SABRE PRO will take some getting used to. The size to weight ratio really throws you off at first, particularly if you’re using a solid mousing surface rather than a traditional mat. Once adapted however it’s extremely easy to use, and won’t inflict quite the same level of fatigue in long gaming sessions that is often the case with heftier mice of similar size.

And for that reason it’s fair to say that the SABRE PRO will be too large for some hands. That’s not necessarily to the mouse’s detriment, but a slight trim here or there might have made it a little more universal. By the same token gamers with larger hands will welcome its chonky dimensions that don’t lapse into parody.

We found two causes for concern in the long run. By far the most important was the mouse button wobble on the main two buttons, a problem we’ve not experienced for some time. They didn’t affect responsiveness but planted that seed of doubt, and could be a major issue if it starts to degrade long-term. Given the emphasis CORSAIR place on QUICKSTRIKE this did come as a surprise.

The second concern was to an extent swiftly dispelled as sensor calibration showed its value by resolving a tracking issue. We previously thought consumer calibration was a rather minor feature, but in this instance it more than proved its worth. That being said, we still don’t know the underlying cause of the errors.

Speaking of welcome minor features, the low resistance cord made a return from the KATAR PRO XT. It might not look as attractive as a tight mesh braid, but is perfectly suited to lightweight mice and doesn’t catch on fabric surfaces as some heavyweight braids have in the past.

There’s also a missed opportunity in a particular feature: the DPI indicator and Stage setting process. From a practicality standpoint it leaves a lot to be desired, and its flexibility in both customisation and configuration aren’t up to iCUE’s usual standards. Simple things like not being able to set stages and lighting by profile, or even assign each stage an individual colour, were strange omissions.

Nonetheless, the hardware DPI Stage setting is a good addition for console gaming. Changing DPI levels on the fly without software is novel, but welcome for pure console gamers who don’t necessarily have a PC to act as a convenient intermediary.

And of course CORSAIR’s lighting continues to be vibrant and consistent across devices, even if the two lighting zones don’t quite give it an opportunity to show its power.



In general therefore the SABRE PRO doesn’t really have any particular 'wow' factor for the majority of gamers. Each aspect is good, even great at times, but nothing quite puts it ahead of the curve as a class leader either individually or in totality. For competitive gamers the AXON-enabled ‘up to’ 8000Hz hyper-polling should be it, with a great effect here than the keyboards in which the feature is present.

NVIDIA's internal tests for Reflex, measuring average left mousebutton latency, currently places the SABRE PRO mouse family at the head of the pack, easily out-performing the Deathadder V2 and Logitech G502. A more complete picture of the competitive landscape is swiftly being built-up as more mice are tested and added to the results, but for now CORSAIR's SABRE PRO & SABRE RGB PRO are the class of the field.

CORSAIR’s SABRE RGB PRO enters a market where you can already get plenty of bang for your buck. It offers plenty of the former for not a lot of the latter, but doesn’t quite distinguish itself in any one aspect and falls short once or twice. The chunky size in particular marks it out as one for fans of older designs rather than compact modern rodents, but its lightweight 74g mass isn’t out of place amongst the elite below £45.

Pros

+ Light weight
+ Vibrant iCUE-powered lighting
+ Up-to 8000Hz USB Polling via AXON processor
+ Responsive buttons
+ Improved side buttons
+ DPI Indicator
+ On-board DPI level configuration for console gamers.

Cons
- Developed a wobble wobble in the main buttons
- Some default sensor issues rectified by calibration
- Scope for more functionality from the DPI indicator

Of Note
= For best results use with CORSAIR iCUE software


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