Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE  Mouse Review

Reviewed May 26, 2021 at 10:23am
Tested using Methodology v1.5.1 
Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE
7.0
Work 
8.1
Video Games (FPS) 
8.8
Video Games (MMO) 
8.9
Raw Performance 
 1
  1. Recommended in:
  2. MMO

The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is an outstanding mouse for MMO or MOBA gaming. It feels very well-built and has a soft-touch plastic body, a textured grip on the right, and a 12-button side panel on the left that you can slide forwards or backward to suit your hand size. It has a low click latency, a low lift-off distance, a wide CPI range, and a CPI you can adjust by increments of one. It's well-suited for a claw grip for all hand sizes, suitable for all but small hands using a fingertip grip, and ideal for all but extra-large hands using a palm grip. It also has four independent RGB lighting zones and companion software for customization compatible with Windows and macOS.

Our Verdict

7.0
Work 

The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is good for office use. It feels very well-built, has a side panel with 12 programmable buttons, and is fully compatible with Windows and macOS. It's best-suited for a claw grip, regardless of hand size, but it's also well-suited for a fingertip for all but extra-large hands and a palm grip for all but small hands. Unfortunately, it doesn't connect wirelessly, the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons, and it doesn't unlock for free scrolling.

Pros
  • Plenty of programmable buttons.
  • Feels very well-built.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
8.1
Video Games (FPS) 

The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is very good for FPS gaming, despite being heavy and having a fairly stiff cable. It has low click latency, a low lift-off distance, a wide CPI range, and a CPI you can adjust by increments of one. It feels very well-built, has good mouse feet that glide well on mousepads, and it's ideal for a claw grip for all hand sizes. It's also well-suited for all but small hands using a fingertip grip and suitable for all but extra-large hands using a palm grip.

Pros
  • Plenty of programmable buttons.
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Great click latency.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • Bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
  • Fairly stiff cable.
8.8
Video Games (MMO) 

The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is an exceptional mouse for MMO gaming. It has an adjustable 12-button side pannel, it feels very well-built, and it has customization software compatible with Windows and macOS. It also has great click latency and a low lift-off distance. It's ideal for all hand sizes using a claw grip, but it's well-suited for a palm grip for all but small hands and a fingertip grip for all but extra-large hands. Unfortunately, it has a fairly stiff cable, and its mouse wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons.

Pros
  • Plenty of programmable buttons.
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Great click latency.
  • Software compatible with Windows and macOS.
Cons
  • Bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
  • Fairly stiff cable.
8.9
Raw Performance 

Pros
None
Cons
  • Bulky; may not fit into most laptop cases.
  • 7.0
    Work
  • 8.1
    Video Games (FPS)
  • 8.8
    Video Games (MMO)
  • 8.9
    Raw Performance
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Aug 19, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5.1. This update removes less relevant or redundant elements, including several videos. We've also adjusted our Sensor Latency testing, resulting in minor score changes. See our full 1.5.1 changelog for details.
    2.  Updated Jan 10, 2024: We've updated the CPI graph displayed in the Sensor Latency section of this review. Our results remain the same, but these graphs have two new columns with results from the Delay At Half Movement and Delay To End Of Movement tests.
    3.  Updated Dec 01, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5. This update adds a new Main Button test group, which provides button actuation data and switch information. We've also made minor changes to how we calculate the Office usage score. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
    4.  Updated Nov 08, 2023: 

      We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS in the Sensor Specifications section of this review.

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE RGB is an updated version of the Corsair SCIMITAR PRO RGB, and it has an upgraded sensor with a wider CPI range. The unit we tested is black, and there are no other variants. You can see the label for our unit here.

    Popular Mouse Comparisons

    The Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE RGB is a continuation of Corsair's SCIMITAR lineup. It has the same extremely sturdy-feeling build quality and adjustable 12-button side panel that sets the original apart. It's an outstanding mouse for MMO or MOBA players, but it can be a good choice for anyone who needs a large number of programmable buttons and prefers highly customizable mouse sensitivity settings.

    For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming mice, the best MMO mice, and the best wired mice.

    Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed

    The Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed and the Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE are MMO gaming mice. The Razer is a wireless model that uses AA batteries. It has a few more programmable buttons overall and significantly better-quality mouse feet. Its scroll wheel also has left- and right-tilt inputs and a free-scrolling mode. On the other hand, the Corsair is a wired-only model. It's more lightweight, and its 12-button side panel cluster can be adjusted forward or back to accommodate your hand size.

    Razer Naga Trinity

    The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE and the Razer Naga Trinity are comparable MMO mice. The Corsair feels better built and has a 12-button side panel adjustable to your hand size. It's suitable for all grip types and almost all hand sizes and has a broader CPI range and companion software for Windows and macOS. The Razer has better click latency and is more versatile as it has three swappable side panels with different layouts. It's well-suited for a claw grip for all but small hands, a palm grip for medium and large hands, and a fingertip for larger hands.

    Razer Naga Pro

    The Razer Naga Pro is a more versatile all-around gaming mouse, while the Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is an outstanding MMO mouse. You can use the Razer wired or wirelessly with its USB receiver or Bluetooth, it has swappable side panels with different button layouts, and much better click latency. On the other hand, the Corsair is a wired mouse with an adjustable 12-button side panel, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and a lower lift-off distance. It also has software compatible with Windows and macOS, which the Razer lacks. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types, but the Razer isn't suitable for small hands.

    Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS

    The Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE and the Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS are MMO mice that belong to the same lineup. The SCIMITAR RGB ELITE is an older wired-only model. On the other hand, the SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS is a newer wireless model. It also has an improved sensor with better overall performance.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Type
    Standard
    Coating
    Matte
    Lighting ColorRGB
    Shape
    Length4.7" (119 mm)
    Width3.0" (76 mm)
    Height1.7" (42 mm)
    Grip Width
    65 mm
    Ambidextrous
    No
    Left-Handed Friendly
    No
    Finger Rest
    Pinky

    This mouse has a fairly large, right-handed shape. If you're interested in a similar multi-genre wireless gaming mouse but with a symmetrical shape, check out the Corsair NIGHTSABRE WIRELESS.

    9.0
    Build Quality

    Note: We didn't experience any issues with our scroll wheel during our testing, but some users have reported that their scroll wheel stopped working after anywhere from three months to two years. This issue was also present on the previous version of this mouse, the Corsair SCIMITAR PRO RGB. However, judging from the number of recently reported cases we've observed online, it appears Corsair may have partially fixed the issue with this version as there are fewer reports, and they seem to largely happen after long periods of use. We will continue to monitor this situation and update this and other articles as necessary.

    5.8
    Weight
    Lowest Weight
    107.6 g
    Default Weight
    107.6 g
    Weight Distribution
    Centered
    Extra Weights
    No

    If you're interested in a significantly lighter MMO option, check out the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless.

    Hand Size Recommendation
    Palm Grip Hand Recommendation
    Claw Grip Hand Recommendation
    Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation
    0.0
    Wireless Versatility
    Maximum Of Paired Devices
    Wired
    Bluetooth
    No
    Receiver
    No
    Battery Type
    No Batteries
    Use When Charging
    No
    On/Off Activation
    None
    Receiver Extender
    No
    Receiver Storing
    No
    Battery IndicatorNo

    This is a wired-only mouse. If you're interested in a wireless MMO gaming mouse, check out the Razer Naga V2 Pro. Or, if you'd prefer a version that uses AA batteries for power instead, check out the Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed.

    Cable
    ConnectivityWired
    Cable Length
    6.2 ft (1.9 m)
    Cable Type
    Braided
    Permanent Kink
    Yes
    Port Type: Mouse End
    No Port
    Port Type: PC End
    USB-A
    7.5
    Mouse Feet
    Gliding Experience
    Good
    Material
    PTFE
    Extra Included
    No
    In The Box

    • Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE
    • Allen Key
    • Documentation
    Control
    Main Button
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Switch Type
    Mechanical
    Switch Model
    Omron D2FC-F-K
    9.2
    Additional Buttons
    Total Number Of Buttons
    17
    Number Of Side Buttons
    12
    Number Of Programmable Inputs
    17
    Profile Switching Button
    Yes
    Gesture Support
    No

    You can program all the buttons on the mouse, including all 12 buttons on the side panel. If you're interested in a wireless alternative with a side panel that features a six-button layout with a grippy textured thumb rest in the middle, check out the Corsair DARKSTAR WIRELESS.

    8.7
    Click Latency
    See details on graph tool
    Expected Connection
    5.0 ms
    Wired
    5.0 ms
    Receiver
    N/A
    Bluetooth
    N/A
    8.7
    CPI
    See details on graph tool
    SRAV @ 1600 CPI
    0.39%
    SRAV @ 800 CPI
    0.63%
    SRAV @ 400 CPI
    0.83%
    SRAV @ Fixed CPI
    N/A
    Precision Error Between Speeds
    0.42%
    Precision Error Between CPI
    0.35%
    Worst Tracking Error
    -1.25%
    Minimum CPI
    100 CPI
    Maximum CPI
    18,000 CPI
    CPI Adjustment Steps
    1 CPI
    8.1
    Sensor Latency
    See details on graph tool
    Delay To Start Of Movement
    12.8 ms
    Delay At Half Movement
    7.6 ms
    Delay To End Of Movement
    8.9 ms
    Sensor Specifications
    Sensor Technology
    Optical (LED)
    Sensor Model
    PixArt PMW3391
    Works On Glass
    No
    Minimum Lift Off Distance
    1.2 mm
    Maximum Polling Rate
    1000 Hz

    The Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE RGB's polling rate settings are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. If you're looking for a wireless mouse with a 2000Hz polling rate, check out the Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS.

    Mouse Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Type
    Notched Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Tilt
    No
    Thumb Wheel Type
    No
    Noise
    Click Noise
    Loud
    Operating System And Software
    Configuration Software
    Software NameCorsair iCUE
    Software Windows Compatibility
    Yes
    Software macOS Compatibility
    Yes
    On-Board Memory
    Yes
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment
    Yes
    Polling Rate Adjustment
    Yes
    Profile Configuration
    Yes
    Profile Auto-Switching
    Yes
    RGB On/Off
    Yes
    10
    Mouse Compatibility
    Windows CompatibilityFully
    macOS CompatibilityFully