Corsair Dark Core RGB SE + MM1000 Qi Review
Category : Mice
Published by Luca Rocchi on 26.04.18
The Dark Core RGB SE is Corsair's latest gaming mouse. This particular product combines a very attractive design with good build quality and Qi charging. Apart from that there is an optical sensor with 16'000 DPI resolution. We're actually pretty curious to find out if the Dark Core RGB SE is able to convince us or not. In order to charge the mouse with the Qi module you have to combine it with the MM1000 Qi mouse pad. On following you will find our thoughts on this product too.
| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |
Photo Gallery
| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |
Features
| Model number | Dark Core RGB SE |
| Keys | 9 |
| DPI | 16000 |
| Materials | ABS + Softouch |
| Polling Rate | 1000Hz |
| PMW3367 PIXART | |
| Interface | USB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 126 x 67 x 43 mm |
| Cable | 1.8 m |
| Weight | 128 g |
| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |
Closer Look
Already at a first glance it becomes clear that the Dark Core RGB SE doesn't feature a classic shape. Thanks to a rather big body there is plenty of space for five buttons on the left side, which can be programmed. This makes the Dark Core a rodent that is especially useful for FPS games due to the sniper button. Corsair decided to use high-quality materials and in combination with high-manufacturing standards you get a well-made product. The top of the mouse sports a smooth surface paired with a textured one, which makes everything a bit grippy.
On the design side of things you get a black-matte top and back, and three RGB zones. All the individual areas are fully customizable using the the software you can download from Corsair's website.
The Corsair Dark Core RGB SE gaming mouse features a total of nine buttons which are fully programmable via software. The top of the mouse features two buttons to adjust DPI setting on the fly as well as a solid rubber wheel. All the buttons have been place precisely where they belong, and even the top ones are easy to reach and not prone to accidental clicks. We are not in love with every design element, for example the back and forward buttons feel a little too spread out. While the sniper button is rather easy to press, the other two buttons on the same side are a bit too far.
The MM1000 is a hard surface mouse mat from Corsair which measures 350mm x 260mm x 5mm. The killer feature of this mouse mat is the integrated Qi charging spot, placed in the top right-hand corner of the mat. Once you placed it in the right spot, you will be greeted by a green LED indicator. Just to be clear, the mouse will charge only when is placed on the Qi location. The Dark Core RGB SE will not charge when moving. Since the Qi is a widely adopted standard, you can charge your smartphone as well. If your smartphone isn't compatible with this standard, that isn't an issue since Corsair included a Qi charging dongle complete with adapters.
Back
Corsair equipped the Dark Core RGB SE with a Pixart PMW3367 sensor, which features a maximum resolution of 16000 DPI and that is way more than any gamer would ever dare using. The optical sensor has been placed in the center basically underneath middle of your plam. Corsair decided to provide the Dark Core RGB SE with four medium-sized teflon glide pads, which are supposed to last for a very long time.
The Dark Core RGB SE can be used with the sleeved cable plugged in or with the wireless module. Corsair provides a 2.4GHz WiFi module as well as a bluetooth one for wireless connectivity. Unless you use the MM1000 or another Qi charger, you will need to connect a cable directly to the mouse at some point in order to charge it.
| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |
Software
Corsair doesn't include the software inside the package but you can always download the latest version from the official website. The software GUI is perfectly in line with the attractive design of the mouse and it is practical and easy to use. It allows you to configure the four zone lighting as well as all the different buttons. Apart from that the DPI settings can be adjusted and you can save macros.
| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |
Conclusion
| General | + | - | |
| The Corsair Dark Core RGB SE is a solid product, and overall, we were impressed by the build quality and the comfortable shape. The build quality as well as the materials used are perfect. On the underside there are reasonably sized glide pads, which have been made from teflon. Due to the nine buttons the size of the Dark Core RGB SE is above the average and so is the weight with 130 grams. If you like heavier and larger mice this could be a model you might want to have a look at.
The MM1000 Wireless Charging Mouse Pad is a good product too but the current implementation isn't perfect. At some point in the future, we hope that the whole surface will be a charging plate that keeps the mouse battery at top at all times. Furthermore we don't like the sound that the PTFE feet make on the surface area. |
- Design
- Mouse performance - RGB |
- Implementation MM1000 | |
| Performance / Ergonomics | + | - | |
As usual, we used the gaming mouse in both 2D and 3D environments during our testing period. After a few days of using it with standard office applications we can say that, despite being a gaming mouse, the Dark Core RGB SE does well in any scenario. One reason for that is the software allowing you to change almost anything you like. Thanks to the sniper button, this rodent performs best when playing FPS games.
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- Sensor
- Comfort - 9 buttons - Battery life |
- Mouse pad surface | |
| Software | + | - | |
| The Corsair software is well-structured, easy to use and there is a ton of options. You will be able to change anything you like including the RGB lighting, that has been split into four different zones. |
- Easy to use
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| Recommendation / Price | + | - | |
| The Dark Core RGB (SE) and MM1000 are part of Corsair "unplug and play" range. We believe that Corsair released a nice first generation of products, however while we like the mouse, we have some reservations about the mouse pad. The Corsair Dark Core RGB SE is a well-built mouse, which allows for a high level of customization. Apparently feature-packed and well-built products are never cheap and checking Geizhails, we find the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE listed for 99 Euro. If you don't like the Qi module, you can buy the not-SE version for 89 Euro. In our opinion both prices are overall good and match the features of the mouse.
Regarding the MM1000 we think that the price is a bit too steep. The Corsair MM1000 Qi costs almost 80 Euro and since the implementation isn't perfect, we can't give a good recommendation. However if the price and the charging spot aren't an issue for you, you might still buy this mouse pad since you will getting rid of another visible wire. This isn't the end of the world, but we know that there are enthusiast users that would remove every cable from their desks. |
- Price mouse | - Price mouse pad | |
| Rating | |||
| The Dark Core RGB SE from Corsair receives 5 out of 5 stars. | |||
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| The MM1000 Qi from Corsair receives 3 out of 5 stars. | |||
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| Page 1 - Introduction |
| Page 2 - Photo Gallery / Delivery |
| Page 3 - Features |
| Page 4 - Closer Look |
| Page 5 - Software |
| Page 6 - Conclusion |