UtechSmart Venus Gaming Mouse RGB Wired, 16400 DPI High Precision Laser Programmable MMO Computer Gaming Mice [IGNs Recommendation]

So I bought this mouse about a year ago (May 2021) and used it pretty heavily since then. Im always looking for the perfect mouse though, whether wired or wireless, and have tried a few others since then. Ultimately I keep going back to this Venus Pro RGB wireless. Its very comfortable, and I have a smallish hand and tend to use something close to a claw grip. It feels good under my hand, with all the buttons pretty easy to reach. Ill admit, I dont really use all the side buttons --- it has a ton (12 specifically, with feels like a ton to me) --- using just the lower front and lower back (the 1 and the 10) for home/end shortcuts. I also have to use it on a mousepad with a wrist rest, and still feels nice to use. The software took a bit to figure out, as before this I had used a wired version of this mouse. I forget now which version of the software I had to use to access all the features for lighting and DPI adjustments, but once I had the right version its worked well ever since. It has a good range of DPI settings, the ability to change just about every button function (macros, keyboard keys like Home, forward/back navigation, etc), and several lighting options with preset and choose-your-own colors. (The side 12 buttons dont change to match the chosen color though, but they do seem to change to complement your color). The battery life seems to be really good as well. I have forgotten a few times to turn it off at night and come back the next day to find that it must conserve power pretty well by going into lower power mode, even though the lighting remains on. Overall, this wireless mouse was definitely worth the money. Every other mouse Ive used seems to lack something that this one has. Logitech, Corsair, and Razer mice always give me problems, but this one by a less famous company does it right.

This is a great value for a programmable MMO gaming mouse. There are two components to this product: the mouse itself and the software. I will be comparing this to the Logitech G600 MMO mouse, as thats the only other mouse of this type Ive used. MOUSE: The mouse itself is comfortable for my hand, more so than the Logitech. The ring finger rest is great, but the thumb rest is so small it might as well not even be there. Thats not a big deal for me, as Im used to mice with no thumb rest. The main buttons are obviously mechanical and have satisfying clicks and feedback when used. The scroll wheel is smooth; there are haptic notches as you turn the wheel, but theyre fairly subtle. The scroll wheel click is a little stiff, but that may loosen up as time progresses. The side buttons are obviously membrane, but thats to be expected at this price point. They are a little mushy, but definitely usable and not worth dropping a star, in my opinion. The location is comfortable to use for 9 out of the 12 buttons; the last three (#s 10, 11, and 12) are a little difficult to get to, but theres really no easy way around that for any mouse. There is a fire button just to the left of the main mouse button that can be reprogrammed. Since the default profile switch button is on the underside of the mouse, I changed this to switch profiles. Its simply too awkward to reach to use on a regular basis; at least for my hands. The DPI is incredible -- with my limited resolution, it is almost unusable at the max 16,400 DPI. The setting just below, which defaults at 8000, works very well for high-precision applications. I typically leave it at 4000 DPI for normal use. The DPI can be changed on the fly with dedicated buttons on the top of the mouse. SOFTWARE: The software could definitely be improved. The developers seemed to spend a lot of time on aesthetics and design instead of actual functionality, and it is sorely lacking compared to Logitechs offering. You are given five profiles that are saved to the mouse itself. Each profile can be configured independently of the others. The lights can be configured manually, but cannot change on their own -- each profile can have only one color light assigned. It does have a breathing mode where the lights fade in and out that works well. Every button, including the three main buttons on the top of the mouse, can be programmed independently. The programming feature of this mouse is the only reason I dropped a star from my rating. There is no way to open a custom application or web page using a button (Windows Explorer and the RUN command are included as hard-coded options) -- the closest workaround I found is to create a recorded macro that opens the start menu, searches for the name of the app, and hits ENTER. This is slow and kludgy, at best. There is simply no reason why this feature cannot be added, especially since Logitechs software has had this feature for quite some time. The software does have the ability to save and load profiles, which can be handy if you have a lot of games or applications that need specific settings. Also, since all settings are stored in the mouse itself, the software does not actually have to be running unless youre making a configuration change (even when moving from computer to computer!) CONCLUSION: In short, this mouse is a great value and works well for gaming and other applications that have many keyboard shortcuts. For general use, the shortcut feature is limited since one cannot open applications or web pages using a macro button. I dont regret the purchase by any means, but I do wish the software would be improved to allow custom applications and web pages to be added to the macro buttons.

Ive had this for over a year and it its been great. Good fit for small to large size hands, buttons feel good, rubberized plastic feels nice, the overall build quality feels better than some premium mice. Batter life is great, wheel has a nice soft rubber. I bought this mouse to play MMOs and because I really wanted a mouse with a side button next to the left click, this is the only MMO mouse that has that. Cons: the software does the job, but feels very basic, having to download it from Google Drive is basically a leap of faith because you dont really know if its a virus or not until you install it (its not a virus), I wish they would update it to give more options, like adding different game profiles.

My Logitech G600 bit the dust after five long, hard years of usage, so I sought for a replacement. At the time, the G600 faced supply issues and was nowhere to be found, except on eBay for exorbitant prices. So i went with this; the price was similar to that of the G600 and it had all the side buttons I need. Mind you, I dont really use the side buttons when playing games, but instead I use them for power multi-tasking features, such as file operations, volume and media playback control, opening applications, scripts, and macros- whatever I need to do quickly with my thumb, I need at least 12 buttons. Its a huge boost to my productivity. The mouse is similar in shape and feel to the G600. While its quite a bit lighter, the grip and feel (which any MMO mouse will forever change the way you grip any mouse) didnt take me long at all to adjust, close to instant. Theres the same grip corner for you to press your pinky finger against, your thumb sits between the first two sets of thumb buttons (1 thru 6), pointer and middle finger are resting on the left and right mouse buttons respective and its comfortable to easily switch between clicking and scrolling, and theres also an indentation for your ring finger to rest on. Its really comfortable. The response of the mouse is great, really sensitive and precise. Have been able to play all of the games I was accustomed to playing on my G600 easily with this mouse. The software that it requires is actually quite decent, more than decent. You can control the LED lighting (various lighting effects, changing colors, turning the effects off or just turning the lighting off completely) adjust the DPI (the arrow buttons beneath the scroll wheel allow you to set five different levels of DPI adjustment), adjust double-click speed and various other things, but whats the most-impressive is the remappable button assignments, even blowing Logitechs software out of the water. You can assign volume control (up/down/mute), media playback control (next/previous track, stop, play/pause) file management (cut, copy, paste) to even more advanced things like opening, closing and switching windows, changing web browser pages, running macros (!) and swapping profiles. The macro editor is very simple to use and supports delaying keystrokes. Something Ive noticed is that the button assignments are stored in the mouse itself, not the software. The software may be Windows-only, but I switch over to Linux on my computer and the mouses button assignments stick, and function on Linux as intended! Huge props for that. If I were to name a few setbacks, the scroll wheel is the first component of the mouse that wears out. Despite regular maintenance and cleaning, it starts to feel really tacky as if its sliding against something, producing friction and it becomes clunky to scroll at times. It also lacks a tilting scroll wheel, like the G600, where you can physically move the scroll wheel left or right as two more additional buttons; I used that feature all the time for navigating pages back and forth; was a huge finger saver. For the price, it is a great buy, and should the current mouse I am using wear out, become defective or just needs replacement, I wouldnt hesitate to buy this again.

I bought this mouse in 2019 it served admirably in most uses and I enjoyed it. The software included is a bit janky but it does the job. The buttons on the mouse all worked until the end which Ill get into. It lasted exactly 1 1/2 years. This mouse took everything I could throw at it really and Im not a hard user but the laser randomly gave up one day it just was literally burned out. Just DEAD, no reason. If I had dropped it or banged it around at all I would accept that its not the mouses fault but me, but where I game there is no where for the mouse to ever fall except into pile carpet from a 2-3 foot drop. My guess is this laser is the cheapest part of the build. Everything else about it seems to be well put together and I even dismantled it to see if anything just came lose on the inside that I could fix, but alas that was not the problem. Many mice turn their lasers periodically if you dont move the mouse around for a long period of time to avoid burning out the laser but this one does not so if you plug it into a 24/7 machine like I do you may expect similar lifespans. Just a warning, and this is not a problem that you will have if you just get the Logitech MMO mouse that literally costs the same. Ive used a lot of mice and Ill rank them like this: #1 Logitech. Ive only had one logitech mouse fail, most of them just wear out through my use. If they have a problem its with the braided outside cords that always fall apart. Great ergo/build. Smallish though for grown men narrow spacing between the top part and the mmo button area. Ok software, not too much on features but does all you want. The gaming products including their MMO mice are not very comfortable for larger hands. #2 Utech Venus - Its basically good. Unplug it when you arent using it or it burns the laser out. Large Deck might be more comfortable if you have bigger than women hands. Women and children might find this mouse harder to use. Software is the worst part of it. #3 Razer Anything - These are garbage. Ive had so many of them break its not worth mentioning the models. They look good on the outside, but one minor drop and the the insides look like smashed plates. Buttons sometimes stop working due to their button designs usually entirely depending on the top of the mouse being in order to mechanically actuate. Any external damage or drop will usually directly damage a button. (As opposed to the others mentioned here where the buttons are not part of external housing, so they are physically isolated.) The button package internal to the mouse pcb usually separates from the board due due to crap solder jobs. On Razer mice the right and left clicks are extremely vulnerable to impact because they are part of the body of the mouse. There is just a small piece of plastic (or a nub) going from the top of the mouse to the board switch. The nub breaks, your button doesnt work anymore. There is very low Q/A on Razer devices and while they will be the best you can buy while they work they wont work after the first few impacts. Ive owned the Naga, Boomslang, and DeathAdder and they have all failed for similar reasons. Their software is the best, Ill give them that. (At least when they feel like updating it to the latest Windows version.)

So I have had this mouse for 7 years. And Im now replacing it with the same exact model because its worked so well. The 1 2 and 3 buttons on my current mouse are starting to not read prompts which is really annoying. I have such a fear of finding things that dont work and this works!

I moved to this mouse from a Razer Naga 2014. I must say that I prefer the Venus for a variety of reasons. I like the Venus so much, I sold my Naga to a buddy for $45. This review will compare and contrast the two, as I was unable to find a review that discussed a few things I had questions about. Weight: I prefer a heavy mouse. With that in mind, the Naga felt surprisingly light in my hands, almost to the point of being cheap. It weighs only slightly more than the Naga with no weights inside the carrier. Surface: The surface of the Naga was very nice. I actually liked it quite a bit, though I must say I find the surface of the Venus to have more grip. The slick looking portion on actually grips quite well when my hand starts to heat up. The surface of the Venus does need to be cleaned much more frequently, though. It is quite convenient, then, that is much easier to clean than the Naga surface. Overall Construction: The plastic the Venus is made out of seems to be a bit thicker, but just may be slightly less rigid (in a good way). In addition to this, I prefer the shape of the Venus. The Naga felt good when I would first rest my hand on it, yet my hand would ache after extended gaming sessions. I think the Nagas palm rest just didnt quite fit me right. Also of note: the Naga is a $80 that does not even possess event the smallest amount of on-board memory for storing default button mappings (more on this point later). Buttons: This is the primary reason for this style of mouse. The side buttons on the Naga win... by far. A quick click, with just the right resistance. Middle row just slightly raised at one end or the other, to feel where your thumb is on the pad. This is the best feature of the Naga. The Venus side buttons are not bad, just not as good. Pressing the Venus side buttons results in a slightly muted, but satisfying click that requires more force than the Naga. I do like that the Venus has a button just to the left of the primary mouse button, but the Naga has a tilting scroll wheel. Both put the forward/back buttons behind the mouse wheel. Software/Button Mapping: This is where the Nagas feature set is absolutely unacceptable for me. Razer Synapse 2.0 requires you to register to utilize any functionality. This includes button mapping and even local backup of profiles created. As the Naga is recognized by OS and treated as a mouse, with the side buttons registering as 1 through = on the top row, not installing the drivers might be an option. An issue arises, though, because the default mapping (without drivers installed) maps the mouse wheel tilt left/right to scroll up/down, respectively. This eliminates 2 buttons on the mouse when Razer software is not used. This is why on-board memory would be useful. Razer requires you to login to their driver software with your registered account to access your profiles if you wish to use your Naga on another computer. It should also be noted that you have to login to the driver software and be online to backup and restore profiles saved to the local computer. Seriously. On top of all of this, Razer has no plans for Linux drivers. Needless to say, I was disappointed to find that I paid more for limited functionality. The Venus has simple driver software that looks a bit outdated, but works. The Venus also has on-board memory, for 5 profiles. This is important to me, because I was able to install the driver software, configure my preferred button mapping, save this button mapping to the mouse, back up the mouse config to my HDD, and then uninstall the driver software and have my mouse function consistently, regardless of the operating system I boot into. A final note on Lighting. The Venus has more options for lighting than the Naga. The emblem lighting can be on/off/pulse while the Naga only allows off/pulse. I believe it is the same for the side buttons and headlights, but dont quote me on that. I sold the Naga months ago. Colors for the emblem, side buttons, and headlights can be selected from a pallet, with varying shades of luminosity on the Venus. Naga says no, you get green. I was able to match the green on my Razer Tournament Edition very closely. The lighting on the mouse wheel is not configured in this way. There are 5 presets, for the 5 profiles stored on the mouse. These are accessed via software, or a button on the bottom of the mouse. This makes for a strong, consistent indication of the profile one is working in. It should also be noted that any button can be configured for the profile button, if one wishes, not just the bottom one.

Mine eventually broke after like 3-4 years of very heavy use, but at the price it absolutely cannot be beaten for the quality you get. The driver software is also terrible, but thats common across most gaming mice and youll have to play with different versions of it in order to get a configuration that works for you.

I bought this mouse initially because I wanted one that would work well on most surfaces and was rated to have a good response. Cant figure out why computer manufacturers only put USB ports on the left side of laptops when the mouse is always used on the right. I did up using the programable buttons on the mouse, not all of them, I am not a gamer. I needed to set one of the buttons to send a spacebar, in MultiCommander this shows you the space a folder is taking. It makes it a lot easier to hit the button on the mouse then to have to hit the space bar every time I need the folder size. I am on the second of these mice, dropped the first one a few too many times and it became very skippy.

Edit: 8 months later, I still love this mouse! The UtechSmart VENUS Pro wins my award for the Best Ergonomic Wireless Productivity Mouse of 2020. I am a mouse enthusiast, and this is my 9th and favorite mouse. PROs: 1. With 16 buttons, I have been able to program keyboard shortcuts to operate from my mouse, and I love it. My coworkers are jealous of my ability to mute and unmute our conference calls with a dedicated mouse button. 2. The ability to switch between wireless and corded is really cool. 3. The lights are cool. 4. Ergonomics are great. The ergonomics of this mouse are so good I almost forgot to mention it, because it feels so good I quit thinking about it. I have rejected other ergonomic mice because they werent big enough, but this mouse fills up my hand allowing me to hold a nice round shape and reach the buttons comfortably. Most ergonomic mice are too small or flat such that I have to distort or shrink my hand to grip them. Of the 12 side buttons, there are two buttons that I cant reach easily. I suppose I can reach them, but I have to adjust my grip enough that I usually dont bother. If you dont use those 2 buttons, you will still have a 14 button wireless ergonomic mouse, which is better than Ive been able to find anywhere else on the Internet. CONs: 1. The software to program this mouse is only available for Windows. No Mac Software. If you are rich enough to own a Mac, then you probably have an old windows laptop under your bed or in your closet. You can program your mouse on the windows computer and then use your newly programmed mouse, including shortcuts, on your mac. NOTE: The free mac software called Karabiner can act as a substitute for the missing mac software. After youve set it up with Karabiner, you can also use the mouse with the productivity software Better Touch Tool and Alfred. Karabiner and Better Touch Tool can make any mouse programmable. 2. This mouse does not work well on my dark, grey desk. Often it will not track motion smoothly on dark surfaces, as though the laser or light underneath is not strong enough to reflect off of a dark surface. The problem doesnt happen every day, but it happens often enough that I cant use it normally on my black desk. Since its not all the time, Ive tried to figure out what the trigger is for this problem kicking in. Ive decided its either when the battery is low, or else there is some kind of calibration where the mouse thinks its in a dark room and loses focus on my desk. If I use a colored mouse pad, or even a piece of paper under the mouse, it tracks motion great. I contacted the seller, and they were very quick to reply. They offered to send me a free mouse pad. I dont think that mousepad ever arrived, but it wasnt a big deal because I made my own mousepad. 3. The rechargeable battery life feels a little short to me. My other wireless mouse uses AA batteries, and they last at least a month. This mouse lasts about a week if I leave the lights off, or two days if I leave the lights on. Recharging this mouse is easy using the included USB cable, and I can keep using the mouse while its plugged in. Since this mouse can be used as a wired USB mouse, having the fancy lights on makes more sense when its plugged in. Less Important: I dont actually use this mouse for gaming, I use it to program productivity shortcuts (forward and backward in the browser, move between browser tabs, close windows, copy, paste, Ctrl, Command, Shift, Fn, zoom in and out). The scroll wheel on this mouse is the same as most gaming mice I have used: it scrolls with a bump or jump between lines. I actually would prefer a smooth scroll so that my page doesnt jump as I read. The only gaming mouse Ive used that does this is the wired Logitech G502, which could switch between bumpy and smooth scrolling. CONCLUSION: The battery life and lack of windows software have not been a major problem, but I am disappointed that it doesnt track well on a dark grey surface. I have fixed this by using a mousepad, but its the only thing keeping this from being my perfect productivity mouse. Ive spent years testing programmable mice for increased productivity. This is the only one Ive found that meets my 3 most important criteria: 1. Truly ergonomic 2. Wireless 3. More than 11 buttons. If you are ok with fewer buttons, or you arent as picky about ergonomics, then there a lot of other wireless mouse out there that will track on a black desk. You might enjoy the Logitech G602. But for me, the UtechSmart VENUS Pro wins my award for the Best Ergonomic Wireless Productivity Mouse of 2020.