Less wire, more frags
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is an awesome combination of functionality, brand guarantee, and price in one sleek package. Let’s see what this rodent is made of.
- Game in the Fast Lane: Play with hyper fast, sub 1ms Slipstream Corsair Wireless Technology, or connect with low latency Bluetooth or USB wired
- Weighs Just 99 grams: Lightweight construction, so you can play longer without fatigue
- Simple Setup Gets You Playing Faster: Just connect the wireless adapter to a USB port and switch the mouse on
- Up to 60 hours of Battery Life
- 6 Fully Programmable Buttons
- Compatible with Xbox One to play mouse enabled games
Ergonomics and Design
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the minimalists’ dream. Similar to the Logitech G403, it doesn’t have any glaring gamer details; instead, it just retains a practical approach. It is like a low-key version of Corsair’s Dark Core SE, in terms of aesthetic value. It is for those who find charm in simplicity.
The chassis of the Corsair Harpoon is solid black and has textured grips so you can wave slips goodbye. The top piece is constructed by a single piece of plastic and is seamless to the touch. Thanks to its simple design, it will blend in with any gaming station.
Balance and Weight
When I first saw this rodent, I noticed its compact size, just 4.6 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches. According to Corsair, this model favors claw grippers, though, with minor adjustments.
FPS gamers will find this mouse very friendly thanks to its 99g weight. We can freely classify this as a good FPS mouse, and definitely a mouse suitable for PUBG, thanks to its lightweight build.
Unfortunately, though it can cater to both grips, this is not an ambidextrous mouse. It is designed in favor of right-handers, left-handers would need major adjustments to use it.
Performance and Features
The Corsair Harpoon is powered by an optical sensor and is capable of producing a maximum of 10,000 DPI. Plus, you can choose from four DPI settings. The maximum polling rate is 1000Hz and the minimum 125Hz.
The base of the mouse is an Omron switch with a lifespan of up to 50 million clicks. And it has six programmable buttons.
Buttons
The Corsair Harpoon is not exactly a MOBA mouse nor the best mouse for MMO games due to its many buttons. This number of buttons is sufficient for a few macros and a variety of FPS games.
Aside from the two main buttons, there are a textured scroll wheel, a DPI button, and two thumb buttons on the side. The button layout is pretty nice, handy, and produces a gratifying tactile click.
If you turn the mouse upside down, you’ll see a switch that controls the 2.4GHz or Bluetooth LE 4.2 wireless modes. There is also a small compartment that houses the wireless receiver.
Gaming and Sensor
The price tag of the Corsair Harpoon is reasonable, considering that the brand is reputable. Though the mouse is budget-friendly, the specs are a real deal. The quality build is on par with premium picks, and it’s further equipped with a high-grade sensor.
The 10,000 DPI optical sensor is capable of tracking even the slightest movements. Though the button is far from ideal for MOBA games, the two thumb buttons proved handy during my League of Legends match. I was able to mind my summoner spells to them, and it was quite convenient.
The Corsair Harpoon’s RGB is perfect for shooter games as the responsive sensor helps you aim faster. I tested it on Borderlands 3 and was happy with the performance. No lagging or unintended acceleration encountered! Sadly, there’s no “sniper” button included like that of the Corsair M65 Elite, which, to be honest, is a nice addition for FPS players. But then again, it is evident that the mouse’s design is not optimized for a specific genre, rather it is intended for versatile use.
Charging and Battery
Corsair claimed that the Harpoon RGB Wireless can run continuously for at least 30 hours, even with its lighting turned on and in its 2.4GHz Slipstream Wireless mode. However, if you want to squeeze more juice out of it, just switch to Bluetooth mode and enjoy an extra 10 hours. But if you want optimum performance and robust battery life, you can go up to 60 hours of usage by turning off the RGB lighting and switching the mouse to a power-saving mode. And don’t forget that you can recharge it with the USB cord while gaming, although I found the charging port to be a bit awkwardly placed.
Software and Lighting
The Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) software allows you to tweak the lighting and the DPI levels and program all buttons but the left-click one. You can also use the iCUE to monitor CPU and GPU temperatures, as well as the fan speed – all accessible from the Dashboard.
I can’t skip a noticeable downside, namely the RGB features. Most Corsair mice offer a good light show, but the Harpoon only has one illuminated zone, the logo. This means that you won’t even see it when using the mouse. It is somewhat disappointing since the Harpoon has the word “RGB” in its name.
Connectivity
The wireless modes of the Corsair Harpoon work flawlessly, both USB 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. I encountered no lag or distorted commands, bearing in mind that my house is packed with wireless traffic. Though, I did notice that on a few occasions, the mouse failed to reconnect via Bluetooth after I’d restarted the PC.
Final Verdict
Overall it is apparent that Corsair has focused its resources on producing a well-functioning wireless gaming mouse that doesn’t break the bank. And with that, it has cut off the excess fat of gaming aesthetic, extra features, and fancy RGB.
True, the Corsair Harpoon may not be the cheapest wireless mouse, nor the most feature-rich out there, however, it manages to hit the sweet spot between the two. Unless you really fancy something flashier, it’s hard to come up with a reason to ignore this mouse.
- Game in the Fast Lane: Play with hyper fast, sub 1ms Slipstream Corsair Wireless Technology, or connect with low latency Bluetooth or USB wired
- Weighs Just 99 grams: Lightweight construction, so you can play longer without fatigue
- Simple Setup Gets You Playing Faster: Just connect the wireless adapter to a USB port and switch the mouse on
- Up to 60 hours of Battery Life
- 6 Fully Programmable Buttons
- Compatible with Xbox One to play mouse enabled games
