Thanks to its combination of usability, comfort, and affordable price, the Corsair Katar Pro XT is unquestionably one of the greatest gaming mouse we’ve lately seen. The mouse is currently available via Corsair’s website for $29 (£34, AU$69), and it will expand to additional retailers across the world in the upcoming weeks. The Razer Viper 8K’s absurdly rapid polling rate has surely spoilt us, so the Katar Pro XT might not be as feature-rich as some other gaming mouse, but it still manages to fit a lot into its featherweight design.
With a maximum resolution of 18,000 DPI, the Corsair Katar Pro XT is accurate enough for all but the most intense rated FPS battles, where its typical polling rate of 1,000Hz will prevent it from competing with more expensive alternatives. Since it is so very light (73g) and has a paracord USB cable, it flies around your desk with ease. This causes teleporting cursors to fly across the screen rather than moving in a more fluid and seamless manner.
Given that this is still the industry standard for mice of all types, we can’t really expect a cheap mouse to perform better than some of its more expensive competitors on that front. In many ways, this is the case with the Katar Pro XT: it’s excellent for what it is, but it lacks some features found in gaming mice that are slightly more expensive. It’s not wholly basic, though. For MOBA and MMO gaming, it has six programmable buttons that can be used to create certain macros. To save you the effort of needing to enter Corsair’s iCue software to make that modification, there is even a button to switch DPI settings instantly.
Corsair Katar Pro XT review: Design and Comfort
The Katar Pro XT’s design doesn’t particularly stick out, but I also can’t really find any fault with it. The rather low-profile mouse quickly felt familiar and cosy in my hands and stayed that way even after several hours of mixed mousing. The clickable RGB-lit rubberized scroll wheel offers exactly the appropriate amount of resistance and a ratcheting feel. The glitzy side buttons are perfectly spaced, easy to press, and precisely where I anticipated them to be.
Additionally, the matte plastic cover prevents smudges and fingerprints and keeps the mouse light without seeming cheap. The entire set seems polished and somewhat upscale, albeit not as high-end as true high-end mouse, like the productivity-focused Logitech MX Master 2S I frequently use. Large, slick PTFE feet on the underside help the Katar Pro XT glide smoothly on mousepads and most other surfaces. A few rubbery grips on the sides are about the only thing I would say I miss. However, Corsair uses textured matte plastic at that location, which feels pleasant and provides extra grip when needed.
Despite weighing 2.68 ounces, the Katar Pro XT seems lightweight (73g). There are, however, lighter mice available if weight is your main issue. At 2.4 ounces, the Roccat Burst Pro is extremely lightweight but almost twice as expensive Additionally, at 2.01 ounces, the SteelSeries Aerox 3 is lighter thanks to its perforated exterior. However, compared to the Katar Pro XT, the SteelSeries is both more expensive and features a sensor with poorer specifications. In order to avoid snagging, the cable is paracord-wrapped and about 6 feet long, which is also a nice length.
Corsair Katar Pro XT review: Features
While the Katar Pro XT’s fundamental functionality is simply plug-and-play, all of the extra features, including RGB controls, are managed by Corsair’s iCue software, which can be downloaded from the company’s website. When you plug in or connect wirelessly to a compatible Corsair product, the programme will instantly detect it and show it. To choose the one you wish to customise, just click.
The first portion of the app is called Actions, and it lets you remap all the buttons on the Katar Pro XT save for the left-click and create macros. There are a tonne of additional options available here, enabling you to launch an application, control media, trigger certain text, start a countdown, and more with just one click.
With six very basic settings ranging from Rainbow to a plain static colour and a whole lot of others for those who want to really have fun with things, the RGB customization is broad. Some of these features include “Type Lighting,” which responds to your clicks, and “Temperature,” which will alter based on the CPU’s current temperature to let you know if you are overworking your system. Considering all the possibilities, it just comes down to how much you enjoy experimenting with RGB lighting. Without numerous DPI adjustment choices, it wouldn’t be a gaming mouse.
Corsair Katar Pro XT review: Gaming Performance
Corsair’s mouse practically disappeared over the course of several hours, becoming an extension of my mouse that was holding a weapon, much as I had experienced with the wireless model. During the most tense parts of the match, the textured plastic shell felt comfortable without ever becoming slippery with sweat. The sensor never let me down; every button was exactly where my fingertips expected it to be.
The paracord wire was long enough to extend from behind my gaming setup to my mousepad without catching on anything. Nevertheless, given the slight price difference, I might be persuaded to choose the Katar Pro Wireless in order to completely eliminate the need for a USB cable.
The Katar Pro XT didn’t grant me any superpowers in my current games of choice due to the lack of additional fancy buttons or intricate pre-programmed macros, but it never failed me down and never got in the way. Instead, it generally gave the impression that it wasn’t there, which allowed me to devote more time to the games, which is often what I look for in a mouse. Similar to how it looked good on my desk, it worked well while I was at work writing and editing text and images.
Corsair Katar Pro XT review: Software
The Katar Pro Wireless may function without any software right out of the box. Whether connected to Windows using the included Wi-Fi adapter or Bluetooth, it is instantly recognised. Even if Corsair iCUE is still available, the Katar Pro Wireless only supports the most fundamental customisation.
With iCUE 4.22, you may update the firmware, establish custom DPIs and matching LED colour signals, remap or assign unique functions to each of the six mouse buttons, and customise Sleep Mode and Power Saving Mode settings. Lift-off distance, angle snapping, and surface calibration cannot be adjusted. A battery level indicator is provided, however it’s arbitrary and merely says “High” or “Low” without providing a percentage estimate.
Final Words
We initially intended to determine whether the Katar Pro XT is indeed ultralight and whether it provides enough for the price. While the mouse is quite light, we were permitted to learn that it is not the lightest. The physical elements, such as the six buttons and the additional patterned surface on the two sides, are surrounded by smart software. Overall, though, Corsair has created a really nice, lightweight wireless mouse that is well worth its €40 price tag.
