Razer Naga

Razer Naga



Top (from left to right): Naga Hex, Naga 2012, Naga Epic, Naga
Middle left (from closest to furthest): Naga Molten, two Naga Epics
Middle right: Naga
Bottom: Naga Hex v2 side-on
Manufacturer Razer
Introduced 2009
Type Gaming mouse
Ports USB
Color Depends
DPI Naga, Naga Epic, Naga Hex
5600
Naga 2014, Naga Epic Chroma
8200
Naga Chroma, Naga Hex v2
16000

The Razer Naga is a series of gaming mice released by Razer designed specifically for massively multiplayer online (MMO) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. 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 eight iterations in the Naga series, not counting the redesigned versions, with release dates spanning from 2009 to 2016. The mice are, in order of release: the Naga, Naga Epic, Naga 2012, Naga Hex, Naga 2014, Naga Epic Chroma, Naga Chroma, and Naga Hex v2. All except the Naga Epic and the Naga Epic Chroma 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 2014 is the only mouse in the series to have a left-handed version. 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 belly of the mouse that maps them to the keyboard's top number buttons or its numeric keypad. The original Naga had a maximum DPI of 5600.[3] DPI stands for Dots Per Inch is a way of 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 installation 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]

A redesigned version of the original Naga, called the Naga Molten
A League of Legends version of the Naga Hex was released to commemorate the partnership between Razer and Riot Games

In 2012, the Naga 2012 was released. Similar to the Naga Epic, it came with interchangeable side panels.[8] The Naga 2012 supported Razer's Synapse 2.0 software allowing all the buttons to be programmed and that information to be stored online.[9] Also released in 2012 was the Naga Hex, the first mouse in the series to have only programmable six side-on buttons.[10] 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).[11] In May of the same year, the Wraith Red edition was released. The only difference between the versions was the design.[12] In March 2013, after the announcement of a partnership between Razer and Riot Games, a League of Legends style Naga Hex was released,[10] with the only difference being the design and the change from a plastic to a matte surface.[13]

The Naga 2014 was released in July 2013 and featured "more pronounced, redesigned individual buttons, allowing for easier recognition and more precise button presses."[14] It has a total of nineteen programmable buttons, twelve of which are side-on. It is the first iteration in the Naga series to have a maximum DPI of 8200. The Naga 2014 is the only Naga which has both left-handed and right-handed versions.[15] The second, and last iteration which has a maximum DPI of 8200 is the Naga Epic Chroma, released in November 2014. The Naga Epic Chroma is wireless and also features nineteen programmable buttons of which twelve are on the side.[16]

The first mouse in the Naga series to possess a maximum DPI of 16000 and a 5G optical laser sensor is 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".[17][18] Released in June 2016, the first Naga with seven buttons on the side was the Razer Naga Hex v2.[19] The Naga Hex v2 also features a 5G laser sensor and a maximum DPI of 16000.[20] All of the mice have a polling rate of 1000MHz. The polling rate of a mouse is how many often it notifies the computer of its location each second, with each MHz equaling one register.[4]

Specifications

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

Mouse Release date DPI Connectivity Laser sensor Polling rate (MHz) Side buttons Left or right handed LED colors Refs
Naga August 2009 5600 USB Optical (3.5G) 1000 Twelve Right-handed Blue [21][22]
Naga Epic November 2010 5600 USB or wireless Optical (3.5G) 1000 Twelve Right-handed Chroma [23][5]
Naga 2012 2012 5600 USB Optical (3.5G) 1000 Twelve Right-handed Green [8]
Naga Hex 2012 5600 USB Optical (3.5G) 1000 Six Right-handed Red or green [24][25][11]
Naga 2014 July 2013 8200 USB Optical (4G) 1000 Twelve Both Green [26][27][14]
Naga Epic Chroma November 2014 8200 USB or wireless Optical (4G) 1000 Twelve Right-handed Chroma [24][16]
Naga Chroma November 2015 16000 USB Optical (5G) 1000 Twelve Right-handed Chroma [28][17]
Naga Hex v2 June 2016 16000 USB Optical (5G) 1000 Seven Right-handed Chroma [20]

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,[29] and Marshall Honorof of Tom's Guide website listing the Naga Epic Chroma as 2016's best MMO mouse.[30]

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 that its "use to [a player] is 100 percent dependent on [their] willingness to learn how to effectively use it."[31] 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.[7][6]

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.[23] The reviewers at PC Magazine thought the Epic was expensive, but commended the mouse's attractiveness and wireless feature.[32] 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." He said that it takes time to get used to the design and feel.[33]

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[9] and David Daw of PC World said it would be difficult to find a better gaming mouse for the same price.[34] Daw believed that having seventeen buttons may have been overkill, but continued by saying that "a little bit of overkill is okay."[34]

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.[35] Brian Westover of PC Magazine said the hexagonal design of the buttons made them "more intuitive" to use, but felt the placement of them was sub-par.[36] Westover said that after using the mouse for long periods of time, the surface becomes sweaty.[36] The redesigned League of Legends version of the Hex was praised by Westover.[13]

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.[15] Hayden Dingman, also of PC World said the nineteen buttons may be over the top for most people, "but if you need that kind of firepower, there’s nothing better."[37] 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".[38] 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.[14] Marshall Honorof said the mouse is guaranteed to appeal to MMO fans, but isn't very useful for other genres.[39]

Both the Naga Epic Chroma and the Naga Chroma were praised by reviewers. Marshall Honorof liked the quality and design of both mice.[40] Honorof commended the wireless capabilities of the Naga Epic Chroma, along with the lighting and comfort.[40]

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.[41] 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.[42] Michael Crider of Digital Trends said that once you learn the layout of the buttons, it "feels quick and responsive."[43] 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.[44] Kane Fulton from Techradar listed the Naga Hex v2 as one of the ten best gaming mice.[45]

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 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. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 1 2 Brown, Rich (January 10, 2012). "Razer Naga Hex gaming mouse targets Diablo III gamers". CNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. 1 2 Westover, Brian (March 19, 2013). "Razer Naga Hex League of Legends Collector's Edition". PC Mag. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. 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.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Brown, Rich (August 20, 2009). "Razer Naga mouse targets online gamers with built-in keypad". CNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Razer Naga Epic Rechargable Wireless MMO PC Gaming Mouse Specifications". CNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Razer Naga – MMO Gaming Mouse". Razer. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Razer Naga Hex specs". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Razer Naga 2014". The Verge. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Razer Naga Chroma". Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  28. ↑ Estrada, Maren (June 21, 2016). "The world's most precise gaming mouse is actually as nuts as it looks". Boy Genius Report. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  29. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (August 20, 2016). "The best gaming mice". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ "Razer Naga Epic". PC Mag. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. 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.
  35. ↑ 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.
  36. 1 2 Westover, Brian (April 30, 2012). "Razer Naga Hex". PC Mag. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  37. ↑ 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.
  38. ↑ Smith, Matt (July 30, 2013). "Razer Naga review". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  39. ↑ 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.
  40. 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.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ 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.
  43. ↑ Crider, Michael. "Razer Naga Hex V2 review". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  44. ↑ Buzzi, Matthew. "Razer Naga Hex V2". PC Mag. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  45. ↑ 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.
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