Hands-on review: Corsair M55 Wireless gaming mouse
The Corsair M55 Wireless is an unassuming symmetrical gaming mouse for those after a more reserved experience.
Opening the plastic-free packaging, I pulled out the M55 mouse and wireless dongle. I then shook the box, wondering where the USB charge cable was. But, like a throwback to a bygone age, the M55 uses a standard AA battery instead of an internal rechargeable battery.
Located under a cover on the mouse's palm rest is a single AA battery. It's a little old-school, but Corsair does promise up to 185 hours of use from one battery. There's also something to be said for just changing a battery, and continuing to use the mouse wirelessly, rather than having to plug it in and charge it.
The mouse's underside has a single switch to turn it on, which also switches the mouse between Bluetooth and the 2.4 GHz low latency Slipstream wireless receiver dongle. There's a slot to stow the dongle when not in use, which is a good idea and makes you less likely to lose it.
The dedicated wireless receiver provides no-nonsense connectivity across all your compatible devices with a USB Type-A socket. You just plug in the receiver, and away you go with no fear of disconnection. Similarly, the option to use Bluetooth is handy with devices that do not have a USB Type-A slot, such as the ROG Ally handheld gaming PC. For the ROG Ally, I simply connected the mouse via Bluetooth.
The left and right buttons on the top of the mouse have very responsive microswitches that work no matter how you hold your mouse. The very positive scroll wheel is also the third/centre button. Below the scroll wheel is a button for adjusting the customisable DPI up to 24,000. The left side of the mouse has two buttons for forward and backward.
The mouse feels very comfortable in your hand. It's light at only 65 grams and glides effortlessly across the mouse mat.
The symmetrical design means that even if you are a hardcore left-hander who insists on using a mouse in your left hand, you are going to be able to use the M55. It may still be a bit of a challenge to use the buttons on the side, but at least it won't feel like gripping a potato.
There's no distracting RGB to raise eyebrows in the boardroom, but that doesn't mean the mouse doesn't look good. The top of the mouse is emblazoned with the Corsair logo, with "M55" etched into the left button. The shiny triangular pattern on the sides offers a subtle bit of detail to the otherwise understated design.
The M55 uses Corsair's unified iCue application software for upgrades and customisation. The iCue software is available for download for free from the Corsair website and is a one-stop shop for all your Corsair products. Upon loading up the iCue software it automatically detected both the M55 mouse and the wireless receiver, prompting for firmware updates. All it took was one click to update the mouse and dongle.
The Corsair M55 Wireless gaming mouse does a great job. I love the retro look. The simple, symmetrical design and lack of lighting take me back to my early days of PC gaming. But it's still got a modern responsiveness and light feel in the hand. The M55 is worth a look if you favour function over form and are after a decent budget gaming mouse from a well-known brand like Corsair.
