Corsair Dark Core RGB PRO SE: crammed with modern technology

With the Dark Core, Corsair has a mouse at the start that, thanks to its ergonomics, is intended for players with larger hands who want to be happy wirelessly and with a few extra buttons. The last variant of the rodent appeared in 2018, now Corsair has added an upgrade with the Dark Core RGB PRO SE, which should fix one or the other small weakness of the predecessor.

At first glance, the new Dark Core RGB Pro from Corsair differs only slightly from its predecessor. The massive design, designed for right-handed people with palm grip, has been largely retained. At 133 grams, the rodent is anything but lightweight and its format is more suitable for larger paws.

Differences can be found in RGB lighting, which is always configured via iCUE software and now comprises nine zones instead of the previous three. The most striking difference is the two thumb switches, which replace the previous thumb rocker. Good thing, because it was not so tingling. The rubber coating on the sides has given way to a textured surface, which on the whole creates good grip. The right side part is interchangeable again, there is a rather smooth variant and one with a bulge that serves as a finger rest. Underneath is a storage compartment for the USB dongle.

Otherwise everything is there, what you expect. Two smooth mouse buttons with Omron switches, a clickable mouse wheel with rubber coating, which is very sensitive when clicked, so be careful when scrolling. In addition to the left mouse button, two further switches are installed in a recess. There is enough space for the index finger not to accidentally click on it. Then there are the thumb buttons and a mode switch on the bottom for wireless and Bluetooth operation.

The mouse can be used via cable, but slipstream wireless in 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth are also possible. The latter is more of a second choice for gamers due to the Bluetooth-typical latency. Cable operation is also possible, the USB to USB-C charging cable then serves as a connection cable. The SE variant for 109.99 euros can be charged wirelessly with any Qi-compatible loader, the normal variant for 99.99 euros is fed by cable.

Corsair has installed a lot of modern technology in the interior. An optical PixArt PAW3392 works as a sensor with up to 18,000 DPI, adjustable in 1-DPI steps. The sensor works well and prec isely, the special design also uses low power, so the battery life without lighting is at least 50 hours.

The high polling rate is surprising: while most mice work at 1,000 Hz, the Dark Core RGB Pro uses a whopping 2,000 Hz. In practice, however, you don't really notice the higher sampling rate, at least not as an Otto normal player. As always, the mouse is configured using iCUE software, whereby up to three profiles with settings, key assignments and macros can be stored directly on the rodent.

The mouse did not make any mistakes in practical operation, it worked precisely and with pinpoint accuracy. There was also little (Bluetooth latency) to nothing (slipstream mode) to complain about in wireless operation. We found the mouse wheel to be a little too sensitive when clicking, here and there we accidentally clicked it while scrolling. A matter of habit. Thanks to the additional two mouse buttons, the Dark Core can be properly assigned functions, which the target audience of FPS and MOBA players will certainly appreciate. The rather large and heavy case is a matter of taste.

Conclusion

by Andreas Philipp

Massive chunk with a lot of technology

One thing is clear: the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is not a mouse for everyone. The quite high weight and the massive housing make the mouse more interesting for gamers with large paws who really want something in the (right) hand. The equipment of the mouse leaves nothing to be desired thanks to additional buttons, wireless and Bluetooth operation as well as a strong sensor and doubled polling rate. The changes compared to previous models, especially the better thumb buttons, also please. Except for the somewhat too sensitive click behavior of the mouse wheel, we have nothing to complain about in the rodent, provided that the conditions mentioned at the beginning are met by you.