A Versatile Button-Heavy Gaming Mouse

Mice with numpads are fantastic for people who play MMOs or have spreadsheet-heavy workflows. However, their one-size-fits-all approach makes it hard for some users to comfortably navigate the numpad with their thumb. The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE fixes this by making the numpad adjustable.

Price & Availability

The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE is available for $140 and comes in three colors: black/yellow, gun metal, and white. Included in the box is a six-foot USB-A to USB-C cable, a USB-A 2.4 GHz receiver, and a hex key.

A Mouse That Adapts to Your Grip

The feature that sets the Scimitar apart from its competition (namely, the Razer Naga line) is its adjustable numpad. It slides in a crevice along the mouse’s left side so you can place it in the most comfortable position for your thumb, and you can lock it firmly in place using the included hex key. It’s a simple customization option, but a crucial one as a slight adjustment in position can mean the difference between discomfort and your thumb being able to reach every button without overextending itself.

Critically, the mouse’s unique ergonomic body was also designed to accommodate varying preferences. Long mouse buttons and an angular body work in tandem with the sliding numpad to support both flat and claw grips, as well as a wide spectrum of hand sizes. While its odd shape may belie this versatile fit, that’s actually what helps make it work. Corsair smartly flattened the left side of the base to give thumbs space to maneuver without bumping up against the casing. I do wish the company had also included interchangeable ring/pinky finger rests, as the included one is pretty small, but I ultimately adjusted to it.

The one thing I couldn’t adjust to is the lack of any stand-ins for traditional side buttons. This is something the various Razer Naga models I’ve daily driven over the past 15 years have included, whether placing them behind the scroll wheel or on a mouse button. These two separate inputs are crucial shortcuts for regular actions in MMOs like mounting or sprinting and help the mouse flex to other genres. Given how flexible the Scimitar is otherwise, it’s a bit of a shame Corsair didn’t see fit to include these buttons.

Performant Beyond MMOs

The lack of stand-ins for traditional side buttons aside, the Scimitar is a great choice for general gaming beyond just MMOs. At 114 grams, it’s a notable 20 grams lighter than the Razer Naga V2 Pro, the most popular numpad mouse. That’s still more than twice the weight of the ultralight mice used for twitchy action games, but it’s nimble enough to get the job done for casual play.

This isn’t to mention that a numpad can actually be a boon for genres like shooters where swapping between weapons is often tied to number keys. Don’t expect the ability to perform fast flicks in online multiplayer, but if you go it alone in single player, it’s satisfying to have a better alternative to a weapon wheel or keyboard numerical keys.

This is also a wonderfully performant mouse based on its technical specs. The fast 50 G acceleration, 750 IPS tracking speed, and the mouse buttons’ optical switches help ensure the Scimitar offers a slick responsiveness on par with other mice at this price point. Its polling rate maxes out at 1000 Hz, which is all you realistically need, especially for MMOs. The travel distance for clicks is on the longer side, something I found satisfying, even though I typically prefer a shorter travel distance.

My praise carries over to the numpad as well. Columns are differentiated by texture, and each button has a tactile click to it. There’s a little more of a learning curve than the Naga’s more clearly defined buttons, but once I got over that hump, any struggles dissipated. I still prefer the Naga’s approach, but Corsair did the best it could to accommodate the adjustable design.

One thing worth considering, however, is that the scroll wheel is quite stiff. The force needed to scroll is tiring, something that becomes a real bugbear when using web browsers or navigating game menus. Its alternative “mouse 3” button press input also requires clicking the wheel to the left rather than to the right, as is more standard. It feels unnatural to the point of not being usable. I do appreciate the hefty size of the wheel after having used so many modern mice that have opted for tiny ones.

RGB That’s Actually Useful

I’m not usually a fan of RGB lighting as it eats up battery and distracts from the on-screen action, but the Scimitar proved to be an exception.

Amid the robust RGB customization options in Corsair’s iCUE software is the ability to set the color to reflect your CPU’s temperature. It’s a nifty feature if you want to monitor your computer without using an overlay. Lighting is also practical in this style of mouse as it makes the numpad legible. Bringing this full circle is the Scimitar’s excellent battery life, which I never had to worry about with weekly charging.

I also had no issues with any connectivity mode (2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired) on either PC or Mac. The 2.4 GHz adapter can be conveniently updated through iCUE, and stored inside the mouse for travel or storage.

Should You Buy the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE?

If you play MMOs, a numpad mouse is all but a must and the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE is your best chance of a perfect fit thanks to its adjustable numpad. If you’ve tried others and found them not to fit your hand, this one is the most likely to do the trick. It’s also light relative to its competition, allowing it to be comfortably used for casual play of action-based genres like shooters. It’s easiest to recommend as a secondary mouse as the screen wheel makes it cumbersome for non-gaming uses.

It’s worth noting that you can map Elgato Stream Deck functions to the numpad. However, I don’t think many streamers will be keen to give up that physical interface, but if you want just one device that does it all, that’s another reason to consider the Scimitar Elite Wireless SE.

Weight

114 grams

Sensor

Optical

Brand

Corsair

Dimensions

4.69 x 2.89 x 1.66 inches

An MMO gaming mouse with an adjustable numpad on the side and an ergonomic shape that supports multiple grip styles.