Intro
Even though wireless mice can now offer best-in-class latency, a large proportion of the gaming population still uses a wired mouse.
Cable drag is a common frustration when gaming with a wired mouse. A mouse bungee is a somewhat obscure, yet very useful, way of eliminating the cable drag from a wired mouse.
Razer, the king of gaming peripherals, has a whole lineup of mouse bungees. From the original V1, to the upgraded V2, to the newest V3 (and V3 Chroma), Razer has a mouse bungee to suit your setup.
Continue reading for a discussion of the differences between Razer mouse bungees, and guidance on which product is right for you.
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V1 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V2 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V3 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V3 Chroma ~~~
What is a Razer mouse bungee?
A Razer mouse bungee, or any mouse bungee for that matter, is a spring arm that clips to a mouse wire and reduces the drag of the cable. When using a mouse bungee, a wired mouse feels almost identical to a wireless mouse, because the “tug” of the cable is eliminated.
Razer mouse bungees have a weighted non-slip base, which is essential for proper function. The newer devices have a heavier and better designed base than the original. All Razer bungees also have a quality, highly-functional spring, which is one design feature that separates the top mouse bungees from the useless ones.
The Razer mouse bungees available are the V1, V2, V3, and V3 Chroma.
Is the Razer mouse bungee worth it?
For anyone that wants to eliminate cable drag from a wired mouse, a Razer mouse bungee is absolutely worth the purchase price. Although other cord-management solutions exist, the ready-made convenience of a Razer bungee combined with the sub-$20 purchase price makes it an easy decision.
Do I need to use a mouse bungee?
There really is no “need” to use a mouse bungee. The easiest solution for anyone suffering from cable drag is to purchase a quality wireless mouse. Modern wireless mice have extremely low latency and perform on-par with wired versions.
Even if you demand a wired mouse, you can usually manage without a bungee. Unlike early computer mouse wires, which were stiff and cumbersome, gaming mice are now available with flexible and lightweight braided cables or paracords. So, any wired mouse in 2022 will have less drag than a mouse had when you were gaming on a Windows 98 system. This means that mouse bungees are arguably less necessary than they used to be.
Many gamers have also found solutions for mouse cables without the need to purchase another accessory. Generally, with a little creativity and some decent tape, you can secure excess mouse wire somewhere at the back of your setup. This simulates the use of a bungee and also saves you $10+.
What is the difference between Razer mouse bungee v2 and v3?
The primary difference between the v2 and v3 is that the v2 has a square base while the v3 has a round base. Additionally, the v3 is also available in a Chroma (RGB) version. The performance and function is nearly identical between the v2 and the v3, so we recommend that you choose the cheapest product that looks good with your gaming setup.
Razer Mouse Bungee Comparison
V1 vs V2 vs V3
Razer Mouse Bungee V1
The V1 is the oldest, hardest to find, and worst performing of the Razer mouse bungees, so we won’t spend too much time discussing it.
The V1 features a triangular base with prongs at the front to make a sort of tripod. A solid base (rather than the prongs) would have been better, since it would have provided more weight and stability. Thankfully, Razer corrected this with the V2.
The base on the V1 is made of a non-slip material, but the material is sticky enough that it accumulates dust and dirt. So, after a few uses, the material is coated with debris and loses any ability to adhere to a desk. As such, there are many user complaints of the device being unstable.
One final complaint is that the device struggles with thick and/or braided cables. With a standard size mouse cable, the device functions well. But for an unusual size mouse cable, setup is quite challenging.
The Razer mouse bungee V1 was far from perfect. But Razer did a great job of learning from the design flaws and making a better, updated version.
Razer Mouse Bungee V2
Even though a newer version exists, the Razer mouse bungee V2 remains one of the best mouse bungees on the market.
V2 features a rectangular base without the odd prong cutouts, and the base adds some weight relative to the V1 also. Additionally, there are no adhesive issues.
There is some Razer branding on the device, but it is subtle enough that you won’t notice it. So, if your setup uses peripherals from a brand other than Razer, the mouse bungee won’t look out of place.
Ultimately, Razer was able to correct the flaws from the V1 and make an excellent product with the V2.
Razer Mouse Bungee V3
The V3 is largely the same as the V2, except with a round base rather than a rectangular one.
Each device has a heavy, stable base. There are very few complaints related to the base slipping or moving. Build quality on the V3 is just as high as the V2, and both iterations have a spring arm that functions perfectly. Setup is easy, even with thick or braided mouse cables.
Another difference with the V3 is that it has an available Chroma (RGB) version. This is a great feature to have, especially if you are looking to add even more RGB to your setup. But it adds to the price by a significant amount.
Downsides to the Razer mouse bungee
First, none of the bungees by Razer have an adjustable height. Generally speaking, a bungee functions better if the spring arm is located higher. But certain setups dictate a higher or lower height. Competitors like the BenQ Zowie Camade II allow for bungee height adjustment.
Next, as we mentioned previously, there are workarounds that make a mouse bungee unnecessary. Choosing a wireless mouse is the obvious one, but you can also mount, tape, or affix a mouse cable in a position to minimize cable drag. This is nothing against the Razer bungee in particular, but it is certainly a good way to save the ~$20 purchase price.
Alternatives to Razer Bungee
A wireless mouse makes a bungee unnecessary. A creative desk setup also eliminates the need for a bungee.
The common alternatives are the Zowie Camade II and a number of bungees from unknown and questionable companies.
Because a quality Razer mouse bungee V2 or V3 can usually be found for less than $25, it just doesn’t make sense to buy an off-brand product. Many of the cheaper alternatives have a lightweight base that is prone to slipping, which makes the product useless. And some of the other products also feature a low-quality spring, which makes it very challenging to use.
Final Thoughts
Razer mouse bungees are a simple yet effective solution for mouse cable drag.
The original Razer mouse bungee V1 is hard to find and has problems like an unstable, slippery base. The V2 and V3 are similar, except the V2 has a rectangular base while the base on the V3 is round. The V3 also comes in a Chroma option.
Ultimately, the V2, V3, and V3 Chroma are all high-quality, excellent devices that do their job well. Since these three models all function well, choose whichever one is cheapest at the time you buy, or choose the one that looks best with the style of your setup.
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V1 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Razer Mouse Bungee V2 ~~~
