At first glance, the DeathAdder Chroma with its black simplistic design could be mistaken as a basic no-frills mouse. However, as you delve deeper, you notice the subtle contours which offer a surprising level of comfort. The ergonomic right-handed design of the buttons offer your fingers a natural resting position that really doesn't feel forced. Whilst there have been left-handed versions of the earlier DeathAdders available, there is currently no sign of a left-handed version of the DeathAdder Chroma as of yet.
As with the rest of the Chroma range, the main difference between the DeathAdder Chroma and the previous edition of the DeathAdder is the added customisable RGB lighting on the Razer logo and scroll wheel. With a selection of 16.8 million colour options, it's impossible to not find a colour to your liking.
Using Razer Synapse you can select between the Static, Breathing (Logo only) and Spectrum Cycling modes individually for both for the Scroll Wheel and the Razer Logo. The Spectrum Cycling mode will gradually shift between a selection of colours whilst Breathing pulsates between two colours of your choosing.
Another Chroma specific feature allows for you to apply the same lighting mode configurations to any other Chroma devices that you also own. So if like us, you also have the BlackWindow Ultimate Chroma or the Kraken 7.1 Chroma, you can have all of your devices lighting up in the same manner. For example, I have all of my new Razer peripherals running the Spectrum Cycling mode, and it's amazing to see all three of the devices shifting colour at the exact same time.
The DeathAdder Chroma includes a wide scroll wheel which is clickable in-between the two standard left and right grooved mouse buttons. Along both sides of the mouse are textured pads for your other fingers to rest against. Just above the thumb rest are two additional mouse buttons that by default act as backward and forward navigation in your web browser but can also be re-programmed to perform a multitude of functions using Razer Synapse. In-fact every button except for the left hand mouse button can be repurposed to your preference. They can be bound to one of the keys on your keyboard, or they can even be used to run macros - a pre-defined sequence of commands.
If you wish to use different macros or key assignments whilst playing different games, it is also possible within Synapse to setup multiple profiles that you can quickly switch between. These profiles can even be attached to specific games so that when a certain game is launched, it will automatically switch to the attached profile. Within these profiles you can also apply different sensitivity and lighting setups, although I think it would be confusing to use a mouse that varied it's sensitivity based on the game I was playing.
Whilst I wouldn't consider myself an expert in judging the performance of a gaming mouse, the DeathAdder has performed admirably for me in its role as an all purpose mouse. I've used it to play fast paced games such as League of Legends which require a lot of clicking as well as using programs that require precise movement such as Photoshop and I've had no issues at all. The accuracy and general precision of the DeathAdder is pretty much flawless, the powerful sensor worked well for me on a wide range of surfaces and through Razer Synapse it can be calibrated specifically for the surface you are using.
In terms of specifications, the DeathAdder Chroma has a impressively sounding 10,000dpi optical sensor and 1000Hz Ultrapooling, both of which again can be customized to your preference through Razer Synapse. The braided USB cable comes at a very generous seven foot length which should comfortably accommodate almost all PC setups. This is a top all-round gaming mouse, it feels incredibly comfortable during long periods of use and whilst the DeathAdder Chroma has primarily been designed around the palm grip, it still works well with the claw grip.
The DeathAdder, originally released in 2006 has earned itself a tidy reputation as one of the best gaming mice around. Now after a couple of weeks of use I can safely say that this reputation is richly deserved. The ergonomic mouse has received several refinements over the years but it still remains one of the most popular all-round gaming mice and I now understand why. Whilst incorporating a fantastic build quality Razer have still managed to retain a very high level of comfort.
Being released at £64.99, the same price as its predecessor, the DeathAdder Chroma is being seen as a direct replacement. Whilst the Chroma range is effectively a gimmick, it is a very attractive gimmick that will appeal to lots of gaming enthusiasts. I don't feel that there's been enough added to this edition to recommend upgrading from an earlier iteration of the DeathAdder. However, if you're currently looking to buy a new mouse and more specifically a gaming mouse, I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending the DeathAdder Chroma.