Hardware Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless and Scimitar RGB Elite Review

Are you on the market for a gaming mouse for your MMO/MOBA gaming needs? Does it need to be wired or wireless? Do you need more than 15 programmable keys? Well, the Scimitar Elite Wireless or Scimitar RGB Elite from Corsair might fit the bill. Let's take a look at these gaming mice in this review!


While the Scimitar Elite Wireless and Scimitar RGB Elite are similar in many aspects, they do differ in price and certain contents and specs. The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless costs €150/$130 and comes with the following items:


On the other hand, the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite costs €90/$80 and comes with the following out of the box:



Let's first consider the similarities between the two models on the hardware front. They both are very much alike, aesthetically. From the top, the Scimitar Elite mice look almost like regular mice but on the left flank, you'll find a panel with 12 remappable side buttons. Underneath this panel is a patented Key Slider control mechanism. With the provided Allen key, you can adjust the position of the side buttons so that they better fit your hand and grip. This unique feature is a welcome addition as it makes using the mice more ergonomic to use.


Further enhancing comfort and ergonomics is their contoured bodies which fit neatly in the hands. The matte finish provides a nice finish that is pleasant to the touch while providing decent grip. There is also a depressed, textured area on the right side that lets your ring finger rest comfortably while also providing added grip when moving the mice around.

They also pack sturdy hardware that is built to last. The scroll wheel is of high quality and the switches are durable (optical switches for the Elite Wireless and Omron switches for the RGB Elite). Underneath are mouse feet that reduce friction. I'll admit that the switches on the RGB Elite deliver a more satisfying feel but I appreciated the Elite Wireless' lighter build (114g vs 148g).


As for the differences, the Scimitar RGB Elite mouse has an integrated USB cable while the Scimitar Elite Wireless has a detachable one that can be used to charge the mouse and also use it in wired mode. Both cables are braided for added durability but the fact that it cannot be removed/replaced on the Scimitar RGB Elite limits its repairability in case of damage, or simply to facilitate storage.

Underneath the Scimitar Elite Wireless is a concealed USB receiver for its 2.4GHz Slipstream Wireless mode. It is easily accessible and I found this to be a neat design as it ensures that the dongle is carried with the mouse, thereby preventing risks of misplacing it.


On the aesthetics side, there are some lighting differences between the RGB Elite and Elite Wireless. The Scimitar RGB Elite has more integrated lighting, enabling a wider range of customisation via the companion software. However, the lighting on the Elite Wireless can also be customized via the Corsair iCUE software.


In terms of functionality, both the Scimitar Elite Wireless and Scimitar RGB Elite are similar in regards to the RGB customization, button remapping and macro configurations. As you might have inferred, Corsair's Scimitar Elite mice are geared towards competitive gaming. In particular, they were designed with MOBA and MMO games in mind. The edge that these mice provide to these genres is the 12 extra side keys. These can be programmed to perform frequent inputs (or combination of inputs) that you can access with less travel distance. This can in turn save up time, which can be a decisive factor in competitive gaming sessions.

There is a learning curve to using those keys, especially if you haven't used such a mouse before. The positioning of each key and their individual functions will inevitably take some time to get used to. But with frequent use, operating the keys will be left to your muscle memory.

Corsair has designed its Scimitar Elite line to aid in this process. Buttons 4-6 and 10-12 are textured while buttons 1–3 and 7–9 are not. As the side keys are arranged in a 3x4 grid, you can identify which key you are about to press by the touch. It's a simple yet handy feature that assists in minimising misclicks/mistaps.


Once you get the hang of the button placement and their mapped function, they do come in handy in online games such as Final Fantasy XIV and League of Legends. I tend to use the middle row for the main abilities as my thumb tends to rest at that level and is thus the quickest to access. I leave the top and bottom rows for lesser-used abilities.

On top of MOBA/MMO titles, you can also use the Scimitar Elite series with single-player games. It works well with first-person titles such as Still Wakes the Deep. I've mapped the torch, run, crouch and jump controls to the middle row, leaving me to simply use WASD on my keyboard to control movements.


With the free companion Corsair iCUE software, you can map the individual keys (17 on the RGB Elite and 16 on the Elite Wireless) and assign macros. You can further create mapping profiles and luckily, the mice have on-board memory to store profiles. DPI can also be adjusted, with the RGB Elite sporting a 18,000 DPI optical sensor and the Elite Wireless sporting the Corsair Marksman sensor with 26,000 DPI. Both can be customized in single DPI resolution steps and you can swap between DPI settings from each mouse.


During my time with the Scimitar Elite mice, I've encountered no issues in terms of functionality or connectivity (with the Elite Wireless). Each key is responsive and the ability to individually map them gives an unprecedented level of customization on gaming mice. You can go as simple as individual key mapping or as complex as several macros; and it's all up to you based on your needs and use cases.


Corsair has thoroughly designed its Scimitar Elite series to be customizable, particularly on the software front. In addition to remapping virtually any of its keys, you can customize the RGB lighting and DPI settings. With the range of customization, you can really make the mouse your own for multiple games or uses at once. I've even mapped some keys to print out text that I'm using often, such as "Corsair Scimitar Elite", and perform functions such as copy/paste. So these mice are also adequate for productivity uses.


The Scimitar Elite Wireless comes with further hardware customizations as you can use it in both wired and wireless. There are two options for wireless, namely Bluetooth for productivity and general computer use and 2.4 GHz Slipstream Wireless connectivity. The latter relies on the USB dongle and offers a more reliable, sub-1ms wireless connection for competitive gaming. The battery can last up to 120h on 2.4GHz and up to 150h on Bluetooth with the RGB lights turned off.

As for which one you should get, I personally prefer the range of options that the Elite Wireless offers while also being lighter. But if you don't need a wireless gaming mouse option, you might consider the RGB Elite which is also cheaper. The wired RGB Elite also has more RGB effects, so if you prefer a more flashy model, you might consider it. That said, either model will enhance your gaming experience if you need quicker access to in-game functions and macros in a highly customizable fashion.


However, the software can be somewhat unintuitive to use, especially with adjusting the individual lighting on the mice (logo, side keys, scroll wheel). This indicates room for improvement on the software front.

There is also room for improvement on the hardware front. Even if the Key Slider control mechanism enhances comfort and enables a customized positioning of the side keys, the array of keys crammed in that area means that they are rather close to each other. Your thumb will need to move in some awkward positions if you want to access every key. This can lead to some keys being disregarded altogether, raising the question of whether having fewer and more spaced-out side keys would be a better approach. This could be an aspect that Corsair considers in its next MOBA/MMO mice model.

What could also be considered in future models is weight adjustment. Having removable weights to make the mouse lighter or heavier based on your preference and to enable more precise control would be welcome, especially for competitive gaming. Furthermore, having the same model, but for left-handed users would be a nice addition as it would enable a wider pool of gamers from benefiting of such highly customizable mice.


Overall, Corsair's Scimitar Elite Wireless and Scimitar RGB Elite gaming mice are quality products that enhance the gaming experience, particularly for MOBA/MMO titles. They offer a range of customization options, although you'll have to contend with an initial learning curve.