Corsair M65 Pro RGB FPS Optical Gaming Mouse Review

Corsair's newest mouse, the M65 Pro RGB FPS, offering an amazing industry-first 12,000 DPI optical sensor goes under the spotlight today.

Published
Updated
Manufacturer: Corsair
15 minutes & 3 seconds read time
TweakTown's Rating: 89%
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The Bottom Line

Corsair has broken barriers with the 12,000 DPI offered in its M65 Pro RGB. If not for the complicated nature of the software and slightly forward placement of the side buttons, we feel this could have been the complete package deal.

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

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For those of you who are in the pursuit to always stay with the latest and greatest when it comes to mice, or possibly are just looking for a decent mouse with tons of things to brag about, Corsair has delivered something to the market that is worth your attention. Not only does this mouse offer software that is so many layers deep that you can do anything you can imagine with this product, but Corsair is also first to the market with a mouse sporting an astounding 12,000 DPI. At the same time, Corsair is bundling this all together in a shape and form that many Corsair product users are already accustomed to using.

Just to touch on a few things you will find in, on, or around this new mouse, we find that the sensor is optical in this design, and not a laser-based sensor you would expect with a DPI rating so high. There are Omron switches encased inside of an aluminum frame, a weighting system, Sniper button, DPI selection; the list goes on and on. We also find that rather than using software to manually calibrate this intensely fast sensor, it will automatically adjust to the surface it is placed on, to allow the best performance and accuracy, without any work involved from the user. To make this even more user-friendly, once you grab the CUE software for this device, it truly takes the options to a level that most other mice do not offer.

As we take a look at this familiar, yet completely new take on a Corsair mouse, as we look over their new M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse, we hope to cover everything that Corsair has put so much hard work into developing for us. Along with this M65 Pro RGB, we were also sent a very large MM300 mouse pad to utilize with the M65, which is large enough for both the mouse we are looking at now, as well as any keyboard you choose to pair with it. At this point, we may as well dig right in, and see just what sort of performance and control this pair offers, and see if this is marketing hype or something that users can use day to day.

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Going off of what Corsair provides in the above specifications chart, we see that the M65 Pro RGB comes with a two-year warranty, but there are also two versions. There is the black version we have been delivered, and there is also a version with a black frame, but the plastic top section is also offered in white. The optical sensor inside of the M65 Pro RGB offers a DPI range starting at 100 DPI, and will go up to 12,000 DPI, and can be adjusted by 100 DPI increments all throughout that range. There are three RGB LED zones found in this mouse. One of them illuminates around the scroll wheel at the front, another is used to indicate the DPI level in use, and the third zone is found in the heel of the mouse, under the Corsair logo found there. We also see that there is a selectable range for the polling rate from 125Hz through 1000Hz, and the M65 Pro RGB has onboard memory to hold onto everything you can program it to do.

To the right, Corsair explains that the M65 Pro RGB is 135.5 grams in weight all told, but with three weights under it being removed, the M65 can be lightened to a svelte 115 grams. The weights are near the size of a dime, found under the mouse, and this trio can be easily removed to lessen the weight by 20.5 grams, or each weight can be removed individually to change the center of gravity as well. To give the M65 Pro RGB a smooth and easy moveability, Corsair has chosen to offer five PTFE feet. We then are delivered the 118mm length, the 72mm width, and its 39mm height dimensions, we see that CUE software is available for this mouse, that it comes with an 11.8 meter braided cable, and that its primary intention is to deliver FPS gamers the best mouse available right now.

When it comes to locating this mouse for sale, as we read up on what Corsair has to say about this mouse, we find it listed with an MSRP of $59.99. Off to the major e-tailers, we went from there. At both Amazon and Newegg, we find that the pricing does follow the MSRP, with a $59.99 pricing at both, but Newegg offers free shipping to everyone, while at Amazon, you must be a Prime member to get that treatment. Compared to many other mice, this price is pretty good as it is, but we also caught the pricing of the older M65 mouse, and this new version is only $10 more and has a ton more to offer its users. Right out of the gate, things look more than promising for Corsair's new M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse, but we still have to put this all into a practical perspective before we offer our final assessment.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation

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The packaging is typical for a Corsair product, where the box is mostly black, and highlighted with bold yellow accents. On the front of it, we see notations at the top of the 12,000 DPI and the 16.8 million color choices, with a large image of the M65 Pro RGB in the middle. Lastly, we are also offered three key features down the left side, which are also repeated in French.

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Opening the front cover exposes the images of the LED lighting zones at the left, and near the bottom of that panel we are offered a short list of features again. To the right, we find the product naming above a large yellow section, which exposes the M65 Pro RGB behind a layer of clear plastic.

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The next panel starts at the top with the contents found inside, and the system requirements for use. These are then repeated three more times in various languages.

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Around to the back, we find Corsair points out the key features found in this design. Things like the high-mass scroll wheel, programmable buttons, fast precision switches, advanced center of gravity weight tuning, extra-large feet, and the Sniper button are all addressed here.

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The last of the panels on the packaging cover the 16.8 million color options, the 12,000 DPI, and that this M65 Pro RGB uses the CUE software for the utmost in programmability and functionality.

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To keep the mouse from damage, it is placed under clear plastic. To take protection a step further, we see that the edges are built raised so that this cannot be crushed, and if it is dropped, the mouse is nowhere near the edges.

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Along with the M65 Pro RGB, inside of the box, we find the quick start guide, which shows how to connect the device, and where to go to obtain the CUE software download from Corsair. They also include a warranty guide to explain what is covered under the two-year warranty term.

Corsair M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse

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This should look familiar as it is the same as the vanilla M65. There is a slightly textured side panel to offer grip, and on this, you will find a large red Sniper button, along with a pair of buttons near the top. The page forward and back buttons are more highly textured, but are pushed forward and are hard to reach with smaller hands.

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From the back, we can see there is a bit of a built-in thumb rest in the left section, and the rubberized center is smooth and offers the Corsair sails at the back. The right panel is also open in the way it is mounted, to allow a view of the aluminum frame from all sides.

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The right side of the M65 Pro RGB is also textured for grip, it is much smaller than what we saw on the left, and is slightly concave to afford the ability to lift the M65 easily. This panel is also cut short near the back, so we can see the slits in the aluminum frame, for a bit of added style.

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At the front edge, we see that the buttons on top follow the angular frame below. It is also at this point that we notice the USB cable is off-center, leaving a large cavity for the scroll wheel in the middle, as well as allowing the lighting here to be seen much better.

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On the top, we find the Corsair name at the left edge, on the left click button. We also see that behind the scroll wheel, there are DPI selector buttons fore and aft of the LED indicator which shows a different color for each DPI level used.

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Corsair offers a 1.8-meter cable which has a braided cover over the actual cable, and also comes bundled with a Velcro strap to make transporting this mouse much tidier. At the end of the cable is a gray and black connection to help distinguish it in the rear I/O, and the USB 2.0 connection is not gold plated.

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Under the M65 Pro RGB, we find the entire base is made of brushed aluminum. It sports the sensor eye right in the center, with the three weights found around it. As for the PTFE feet found here, there are two at the front, one on either side, and the fifth is a larger one found at the back.

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Using a screwdriver or a coin, you can unscrew the caps, which exposes the disc style weight that can be removed under them. Again, this allows the user to change the center of gravity and adjust things to their specific needs, or they can all be removed to lighten the M65 Pro RGB by a total of 20.5 grams.

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Since this M65 Pro RGB is nearly impossible to tear down, we move onto the LED lighting. The first of which is found under the sails logo, and is currently yellow, as it runs the full gamut of lighting by default.

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As to the other two LED zones, they can be seen here. In front of the scroll wheel, we see one of the two LEDs glowing a light blue currently. The last zone is found at the top, where the teal color is an indication we are currently set to the highest DPI selection available.

CUE Software

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With CUE freshly installed an opened, we are first shown the Profiles tab, and more specifically, the Assignments section of it. This is where you will create various profiles via the top left section, and once named, the show in the larger window below. To the right, you can then pick the various buttons and reassign functionality to other mouse buttons, keyboard functions, and even Macros.

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We then move into the Lighting tab, still within the Profiles section. This allows you to set colors based on profiles, so it is easy to see visually which profile is currently loaded into the M65 Pro RGB. You can select Rainbow, Solid Color, Color Shift, or Color Pulse options in the drop down menu, change the speed, and can also opt to change both LED Zones in the front and back of this mouse.

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The Performance and DPI section offers what you would expect. Here you can select which DPI level to be used by default for the profile you are programming. This is also where you can change the DPI levels for each of the five selectable DPI levels, as well as associating the color to each level. You can change the Sniper DPI level here, adjust pointer speed, use pointer precision, enable angle snapping, and even change the LOD setting.

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The Actions menu goes very deep into what is possible with the M65 Pro RGB. Here you can set Macros, use text commands, record keystrokes, add shortcuts, set the DPI button, use timers, mouse functionality, and multimedia controls. This makes it so that anything you desire from this mouse can be programmed, and is waiting for use with just a single click of the mouse.

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If the earlier LED options were not enough, for each thing you want to program, such as out "testing" programs listed here, you can now adjust things even further. Using the options to the left, you can use solid colors, gradients, a Ripple effect, and a Wave effect. This is where you can set the duration, intensity, which lights are used, and even more.

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Under the settings tab, we then find even more settings. Here you can disable lighting, and adjust the polling rate via a drop down menu. This also shows us the firmware and bootloader versions currently installed, and even tells you if the mouse is operating properly. There is a manual surface calibration option if you wish to use it, and with one click, you can check for firmware updates as well.

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Under the Program tab in Settings, we see there is much more that can be changed as well. Language selection is here, software updating option is here as well, and a bunch of check boxes for various other things as well. You can address the OSD settings here, Macro record options, and select which media sources you want buttons to apply to.

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The last of what is offered is found in the Support tab. Here you can get help from Corsair or look at the manual for this mouse with just one click. You can also get to their support and FAQ via buttons at the bottom. If you need tech support, or want the forums, or even want to view logs, you can do so on the right side, and this software even contains the system information if you need to send a report to Corsair.

Corsair MM300 Anti-Fray Cloth Mouse Mat

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Again, staying with typical Corsair colors, we were also sent this box containing the MM300. With just a hint at what is inside in the middle, the only other thing to see on the front panel are the features listed on the right side.

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Moving on to the next panel, we see Corsair took this panel to use as product placement. There is the MM400 hard mat shown at the left, the MM300 in the middle with three size options, and to the right, we find the dual-sided MM400 option.

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On the back of the box, Corsair lists the features we saw on the front of the box. This time, however, we see that these features have been repeated nine times so that all of their markets are covered.

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The last panel tells us that we have the Extended Edition of the MM300 inside this box. This means this 3mm thick mouse mat is 930mm wide and 300mm deep. Along with a triangular cutout to feel the material, this panel shows us what to expect on top of the mat, by what we see used as the background.

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Corsair is also sure to send out all of the information they can deliver about the one-year warranty offered on this $29.99 mouse mat. Considering its size, and just how well built this is, we don't foresee any issues leading to the need to make a warranty claim on this MM300.

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While we aren't exactly sure if this is abused metal, scratched glass, or even a stone pattern on the MM300, we do like what we see. Along with the large pattern supplied across the majority of the surface, there are large Corsair sails off to the right and the small white logo in the corner.

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The top of the mat is made of a fine weave that is smooth to the hand, as well as the feet under the mouse and is made to deliver control, as well as effortless gliding. You will not have the material lifting from the 3mm foam backing on this mat either because Corsair has opted to have a stitched edge applied to this MM300 to deliver longevity in use as well.

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The underside of the MM300 is pretty typical to many mouse mats on the market. It uses a small pattern of 90-degree angles to ensure there is a grip on any surface, and that this large mouse mat does not slide around under your mouse of choice.

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Just in case you were still not quite sure how large this Extended Edition MM300 is, we went ahead and put the M65 Pro RBG on it for this image. Not only is there plenty of room to move the mouse, but you can also add the keyboard on top of this as well, and still have room for snacks and beverage for those long term gaming sessions.

Final Thoughts

The M65 Pro RGB is the most feature rich and involved mouse we have seen to date. While sticking with an older design, Corsair packed this new edition with plenty to separate it from the crowd. The use of an optical sensor with so much DPI range is a huge feat, and what makes it even more impressive is that you can still control this M65 Pro RGB at 12,000 DPI. It glides well on the many surfaces we tested it on, and the ability for it to read the surface on its own comes in handy. There is plenty you can do with this mouse, and the depth in which the software takes this mouse, on a functionality level, is very impressive, to say the least.

However, at the same time, we did find a few issues as well. First of all, many users will have issues using the side buttons on the M65 Pro RGB, unless your thumb is abnormally long, or you just have huge hands to begin with. We were constantly having to creep up the mouse to use them, and if set for something in the game, that movement could cost you the difference between being a champ, or ending up dead, waiting for a medic or your screen to reload after death.

The second thing, which is less of an issue, and more frustration, is the CUE software. Nothing about it is intuitive or easy to do, and we feel we almost needed a college course to fully understand and wrap our heads around what is going on. Even just changing colors, or swapping functionality is over complicated, and we feel that even though the software is so rich and the potential is so great, there has to be a better way to go about things.

The last thing we need to address here is that we don't see any benefit to the weighting system, or it changing the center of gravity. The M65 Pro RGB is wide enough and flat enough that there is no need to change much of anything with its weight, at least in our experience this is how we felt. Also, we did not like the fact that it is so tough to open up the mouse, as we would have liked to see what was inside without damaging the product.

The MM300 Extended Edition Mouse Mat is a great addition to the M65 Pro RGB, well any mouse for that matter. Considering how little it costs, and how much you get from it, Corsair hit the nail on the head here. Everything from the design on top, the stitched edges, its thickness, and its ability to stay in one place, all has huge benefits to any gamer in need of a new mouse mat. The fact that you can have this product for just $29.99 just makes the deal that much sweeter.

As for the M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse, we feel Corsair is on the right path and has delivered something the industry has never seen before this. The pricing at $59.99 is a great deal to be had, as many lesser equipped mice can cost north of eighty dollars. We just wish that the software was more intuitive and simpler to figure out and use. In the time we had the M65 Pro RGB, we did do plenty of gaming and photo editing, which we have no complaints about, but it feels like we spent twice as long just trying to sort out what CUE is capable of, and just how to get it to do what we want. If you are not a software junky, and your hands are larger, the M65 Pro RGB is a great choice.

The thing is, though, in our mind, it all has to come together and play well as a package deal, and for this reason, the scores to follow will be taking a bit of a hit. All in all, though, it's a good product with plenty to offer, and should be considered if you are looking for a new mouse soon.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

TweakTown award
Performance 80%
Quality including Design and Build 92%
General Features 99%
Bundle and Packaging 90%
Value for Money 85%
Overall 89%

The Bottom Line: Corsair has broken barriers with the 12,000 DPI offered in its M65 Pro RGB. If not for the complicated nature of the software and slightly forward placement of the side buttons, we feel this could have been the complete package deal.

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Chad joined the TweakTown team in 2009 and has since reviewed 100s of new techy items. After a year of gaming, Chad caught the OC bug. With overclocking comes the need for better cooling, and Chad has had many air and water setups. With a few years of abusing computer parts, he decided to take his chances and try to get a review job. As an avid overclocker, Chad is always looking for the next leg up in RAM and coolers.

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