Razer returns to the drawing board for the MOBA-oriented Razer Naga Hex. The result? The Razer Naga Sept Hex V2, which improves upon virtually every aspect of the original Naga Hex—adding Chroma lighting, a more comfortable shape, and an improved sensor. And another damn button, too.
Yes, Razer gave the Naga Hex V2 seven mother*cking buttons. Somewhere a high school Latin teacher just died in the name of eSports.
Of course if we’re counting all the mouse buttons—of which the Hex technically has 14 (7+right/left click, 2 behind the scroll wheel, and 3 for the 3-directional scroll wheel)—that argument falls flat.
But we all know the truth. You cheated, Razer! The original Razer Naga Hex was named for the circular 6-button array of thumb buttons designed for MOBA gamers. This is not the Naga Hex V2. It’s the Naga Sept. (Which is, admittedly, a lousy name.)
Naga Hex V2 feature highlights and specifications
As stated earlier, the Naga Hex V2 is a complete redesign of its predecessor. The Naga Hex basically “bulked up” to become the Naga Hex V2.
The Hex V2 is considrably larger and more bulbous, with more room to rest your third and fourth fingers.
The 7-motherf*cking-button circle is larger, and each button is a little wider and more rectangular.
The center ‘thumb rest’ area is also a bit larger and covered with textured rubber.
Razer Naga Hex V2 technical specifications
- 7 button mechanical thumb wheel
- 14 total programmable buttons
- Rubberized thumb grip
- 16,000 DPI 5G laser sensor
- Tilt click scroll wheel
- Razer Chroma™ lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
- Inter-device color synchronization
- Up to 210 inches per second / 50 G acceleration
- 1000 Hz Ultrapolling / 1 ms response time
- Razer Synapse enabled
- Zero-acoustic Ultraslick mouse feet
- 2.1 m / 7 ft braided fiber USB cable
- Approximate size : 119 mm / 4.68 in (Length) x 75 mm / 2.95 in (Width) x 43 mm / 1.69 in (Height)
- Approximate weight: 135 g / 0.30 lbs with cable\
Like all Razer devices, the Naga Hex V2 is highly customizable through Razer’s intuitive Synapse driver software, where you can program and assign macros, adjust the lighting, and configure things such as sensitivity stages, acceleration, etc. As always, the Synapse software supports highly flexible and powerful macros.
Razer even provides downloadable League of Legends and DOTA 2 profiles from the Razer Naga Hex V2 product page. (about midway down the page).
The Razer Synapse software also stores your settings in the cloud, so they are accessible from other PC’s if you install the software and sign into it.
Performance
The Naga Hex v2 definitely gains improved comfort with its newfound girth. Truth be told, I find it much more comfortable than its predecessor. But after some gaming in the likes of Hi-Rez Studios’ SMITE and Blizzard’s Overwatch, I also noticed the improved comfort comes with a (sort of ) cost.
First, there’s always a cost in learning curve. Once you get a new toy like the Naga Hex V2, be prepared to spend time re-training yourself to use its features. I flat-out sucked big time during the re-training.
But the real ‘cost’ you have to adjust to is the Hex V2’s improved comfort.
Think of the Naga Hex V2 like a big comfortable couch for your hand. If you really want to make full use of that fancy 7-button thumb wheel for your intense MOBA games, you have to get your fat ass (i.e. hand) off the “couch” a little.
You have to stand on the couch. Dance on the couch. You have to jump all over the couch.
Because while the 7-button thumb wheel is easy to reach and use, you’ll still need to reach your thumb (i.e. reposition your hand a tad) to reach every damn button. It’s a bit like the struggle of pulling your ass off of a very comfy chair to reach the remote.
The original Hex was smaller, svelte, and more akin to sitting on a small, uncomfortable folding chair. It’s an action chair. A waiting room chair. A chair you’re waiting and rready to spring out of.
Basically, the original Naga Hex‘s smaller design actually made it more suitable to an active, palm-up grip. It was ideal for doing the five-fingered dance of death across its backside and 6-button wheel and laying the smackdown on your enemies.
The Naga Hex V2 is more comfortable than its tinier predecessor, but more suited to a ‘claw’ (or monkey paw) grip style, where you drape your big-ass banana-fingers over it and settle in.
Thankfully, the buttons on the Hex V2 are still within easy thumbing. And if you’re worried about accuracy, it’s very easy to program them in a way that suits your play style and (probably) big fat thumbs.
For example, I found I often hit the 4 and 5 buttons in lieu of each other (accidentally), so I simply programmed them with the Razer Synapse software to do the same thing–basically sacrificing a button in favor of more reliable accuracy (i.e. compensating for me f*cking up).
In general, I found it easier to program buttons 3 and 7 as the same command, 5 and 6 as the same command, and then assign 1 and 4 their own commands (for a total of 4 functions divided among the 7 buttons). This may not work for you; I just found it the easiest way to accommodate the natural movement and size of my thumb (while keeping my “ass comfortably in the couch” so to speak).
Overall: 9/10-Highly Recommended
I liked the original Naga Hex. I thought it was actually better than the original Naga because 6 buttons are just easier to manage physically and mentally than 12.
The Naga Hex V2 vastly improves on the original Hex in virtually every way, making it a solid recommendation for MOBA and MMO gamers especially.
PC & Video Gaming Examiner 