Corsair RGB Gaming Mouse Round-Up: M55, Glaive Pro, Nightsword, Ironclaw Tested
Corsair Nightsword RGB and Ironclaw Wireless RGB Special Features
Before we wrap up, we want to dive into the special features of the Nightsword RGB and Ironclaw Wireless RGB.
This is achieved by using concentric sensors to detect the shape of the weights rather than measuring the mass directly. The 2.8 gram weights have a hole in the center and only press the outer sensor while the 4.5 gram weights are solid and depress both. Corsair does provide a manual weight entry option which allows users to substitute their own measured weights and still obtain accurate calculations.
The smart weight tracking is cool, but does come across a bit over-engineered. A mouse's weight distribution is either going to feel right or not. Knowing the exact center-of-gravity displacement is unlikely to help users reach peak placement any faster than blind experimentation. It would be a lot more interesting if we could use the software to shift mass around directly and not juggle weights.
To the first point, the Ironclaw performs incredibly in its 2.4GHz wireless mode. We performed a blind test where one option has the USB cable connected and the radio receiver is unplugged and the other option keeps the USB cable connected to the mouse while the other end is unplugged in exchange for the receiver. The user does not know and is unable to see which option is in play.
We were not able to feel any difference between the options. We could not detect even a hint of hesitation that would give away most wireless mice. In regards to interference, we did not encounter any issues placing the mouse next to our router or a running microwave. It is possible environments with a more congested 2.4GHz band could run into trouble, but Corsair has done a great job of keeping the signal clean.
A really handy feature of the Ironclaw is ability to switch it from 2.4GHz when connected to your desktop over to Bluetooth to seamlessly continue with a laptop or tablet. We can certainly appreciate being able cover more bases with a mouse we enjoy.
Unlike 2.4GHz mode, the Bluetooth connection does come with drawbacks. For starters, iCue will not recognize the Ironclaw over a Bluetooth connection. This means you cannot edit your profiles or fine-tune performance until you switch back to a wired or 2.4GHz connection.
The Bluetooth signal is also far more susceptible to issues. Latency is the most common frustration here, but the bigger issue is interference. Even at close range, the signal becomes choppy with an appliance or other source of moderate to significant 2.4GHz radiation. It is a victim of the protocol here though. We have yet to find a Bluetooth mouse without these issues and at least in this case it is a bonus mode of operation.
Finally, there is battery life. We ran into issues with our first review unit whose battery was faulty out of the box and would not hold a charge. Our second unit was able to charge normally, thankfully. Initially, it would only hold a charge for a day or two despite having sleep timeouts enabled. It has since received a couple of firmware updates and now holds its charge very well - we have not drained it yet in the week since.
When the battery does inevitably run low, you can connect the microUSB cable and carry on. Corsair also provides a microUSB to full-size USB adapter the dongle can use. This allows you to keep the receiver close to the mouse for improved signal and have it handy for charging. iCue notifies when the battery is getting low so you never get stuck with a dead mouse while gaming.
Nightsword RGB
We already addressed the physical aspect of the Nightsword's weight tuning system, but Corsair has added a software component as well. In iCue, users can view the weight arrangement in real-time. iCue also calculates the corresponding total mass and center-of-gravity shift automatically.
This is achieved by using concentric sensors to detect the shape of the weights rather than measuring the mass directly. The 2.8 gram weights have a hole in the center and only press the outer sensor while the 4.5 gram weights are solid and depress both. Corsair does provide a manual weight entry option which allows users to substitute their own measured weights and still obtain accurate calculations.
The smart weight tracking is cool, but does come across a bit over-engineered. A mouse's weight distribution is either going to feel right or not. Knowing the exact center-of-gravity displacement is unlikely to help users reach peak placement any faster than blind experimentation. It would be a lot more interesting if we could use the software to shift mass around directly and not juggle weights.
Ironclaw Wireless RGB
The Ironclaw's wireless options have a couple facets to explore. First and foremost, the Ironclaw needs to beat the perception that a wireless connection is laggy and unreliable. Second, there are some key differences between 2.4GHz radio mode and Bluetooth. Finally, how does the battery hold up?To the first point, the Ironclaw performs incredibly in its 2.4GHz wireless mode. We performed a blind test where one option has the USB cable connected and the radio receiver is unplugged and the other option keeps the USB cable connected to the mouse while the other end is unplugged in exchange for the receiver. The user does not know and is unable to see which option is in play.
We were not able to feel any difference between the options. We could not detect even a hint of hesitation that would give away most wireless mice. In regards to interference, we did not encounter any issues placing the mouse next to our router or a running microwave. It is possible environments with a more congested 2.4GHz band could run into trouble, but Corsair has done a great job of keeping the signal clean.
A really handy feature of the Ironclaw is ability to switch it from 2.4GHz when connected to your desktop over to Bluetooth to seamlessly continue with a laptop or tablet. We can certainly appreciate being able cover more bases with a mouse we enjoy.
Unlike 2.4GHz mode, the Bluetooth connection does come with drawbacks. For starters, iCue will not recognize the Ironclaw over a Bluetooth connection. This means you cannot edit your profiles or fine-tune performance until you switch back to a wired or 2.4GHz connection.
The Bluetooth signal is also far more susceptible to issues. Latency is the most common frustration here, but the bigger issue is interference. Even at close range, the signal becomes choppy with an appliance or other source of moderate to significant 2.4GHz radiation. It is a victim of the protocol here though. We have yet to find a Bluetooth mouse without these issues and at least in this case it is a bonus mode of operation.
Finally, there is battery life. We ran into issues with our first review unit whose battery was faulty out of the box and would not hold a charge. Our second unit was able to charge normally, thankfully. Initially, it would only hold a charge for a day or two despite having sleep timeouts enabled. It has since received a couple of firmware updates and now holds its charge very well - we have not drained it yet in the week since.
When the battery does inevitably run low, you can connect the microUSB cable and carry on. Corsair also provides a microUSB to full-size USB adapter the dongle can use. This allows you to keep the receiver close to the mouse for improved signal and have it handy for charging. iCue notifies when the battery is getting low so you never get stuck with a dead mouse while gaming.
