Razer’s finally outdone it again.
Six years after the launch of gaming’s first mainstream mouse for left-handed players, the company has heard a demand to bring it back. Its latest Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition for 2020 updates the original unit to serve a bigger community of users. This also removes the barriers for left-handed gamers looking for a premium option, as most top-notch releases are predominantly geared for righties. Users with disabilities and unable to control right mice are also given a device which works just as good for utility as it does for a comfortable gaming experience.
The Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition is essentially a mirrored version of its flagship right-handed mouse. It’s also a statement in giving left-handed gamers all the features of its main series of mice. RGB, thumb commands and 20,000 DPI are all taken from the best parts of various Naga mice. This also makes it one of Razer’s most definitive mice to date, under a surprisingly comfortable mold that doesn’t hold back. I spent a week navigating through games, the web and even content creating to find the Naga Left-Handed Edition is a rare product which includes everything out of the $99 USD price tag.
What blew me away was also the amount of design choices Razer took to making its sole left-handed mouse from Naga‘s 2020 line of mice. It carries one shape that fits different types of left-handed grips without cutting off circulation. This makes the Naga Left-Handed Edition more of a relief for users adjusting themselves for right-sculpted mice, which offer less grips and overall control in browsing or games. Razer’s mouse is so accessible, it’s even learnable for right-handed players looking for a change.
I couldn’t help but feel the Naga‘s comfort right away. Its all-matte finish feels much more polished, compared to other mice including the Razer Basilisk HyperSpeed and quickly adjusts to the left hand like a warm glove. Razer has taken a smarter design choice in its 2020 version of the mice, through the same materials thick enough for the strongest left-handed grips (but thin enough for bleeding RGB light through). As my index and middle fingers rest on their respective left and mouse clicks, they feel just as I imagined them to be. Razer has inadvertently removed the pet peeve of swapping clicks manually through system settings, making sure they work inverted from right-handed controls out of the box. It’s an incredibly satisfying feeling to be instinctively navigating through the screen, clicking on the most random items to get a grip. A special mention goes out to its scroll wheel, which stays quiet and feels smooth with a reaffirming “thud” inside. It can also be clicked from side-to-side for certain web pages, while left-handed content creators can especially find it handy for side-scrolling over Adobe Premiere and Photoshop. Like its counterpart, Razer has taken great care to making the Naga Left-Handed Edition just as tactile (if not slightly better).
It becomes harder for players to take their left hand of the mouse, given Razer’s attention to functionality for the left and right edges of the Naga. A special resting spot for your left ring finger is roomy. A rubber grip clings to your pinky, with new texture patterns giving users better control as they glide along the mousepad. I somehow found the left-handed Naga much more tailored for the left-hand by giving each finger its own bed. This created a more natural experience which doesn’t cramp up hands, thanks to the Naga‘s elevated height for relieving pressure. It’s also worth noting the resting divots for the mouse extend halfway down the mouse. Though a seemingly subtle design choice, it’s extends the same level of comfort for players with a claw or fingertip grip. The same applies for the left and right clicks, which can be pressed with the same pressure down the middle for smaller left hands.
In true gaming mouse fashion, the left-handed Naga features 12 programmable buttons for MMORPG and general use. Like the predominant right-handed mice, this gives the thumbs an extra edge for instant item swapping without using the keyboard. Players in shooters can also program them for grenades or for making actions out of reach for the right hand during intense firefights. During Marvel’s Avengers, the thumb commands were incredibly useful as secondary keyboard duplicates and chaining together attacks without overextending my right keyboard hand. Of course, each key is easily programmable with a click away and responded instantly without any problems. Despite there being 12 buttons, it wasn’t hard to recognize each of them after some much-needed practice. This comes from each button being deliberately unique in shape and size for left-handed thumbs. It’s a subtle detail which goes the extra mile for new users, while they’re also programmable for some handy shortcuts on Windows. This is where left-handed users can switch Chrome tabs, go forwards and backwards or instantly equip a tool for content creators.
But in creating a definitive Razer mouse for lefties, I would have loved to see gamers get the same extended options for righties. Its comparable Razer Naga Pro Trinity mouse offers more than its 12 buttons, including an interchangeable forward/backward click and a seven-button ring. For left-handed gamers, it’s a missed opportunity from Razer to include its full variety of opposable commands. This is where one of the pitfalls of releasing a single product for left-handed users keeps them behind as more innovations are made for right-handed mice.
In a step up (and back) from the 2014 edition, Razer has integrated the latest model with its Synapse driver. It’s worth noting new users might have some trouble seeing their mice detected after a few updates. For some reason, the tool is also plagued with a new update more often than usual and can make the Naga invisible again. This can be annoying for those looking to customize their left-handed mice with some fun and extensive options. Synapse is where users can change the Naga‘s RGB, as with all of its right-handed products if they include lighting.
From patterns to custom solid colours, these add to the feeling of having a no-compromises gaming mouse for lefties. As with all Synapse-integrated mice, each button can be reprogrammed to however users want them. Each mice’s overall configuration for controls and RGB can also be saved in online profiles. Left-handed users new to using a Razer mouse might be greeted with some addictive features, including custom up-and-down DPI levels and an on-screen indicator every time you switch them. Even though it’s still unreliable, the Synapse integrations give the 2014 Naga a much needed upgrade as it makes a long-awaited return to the mainstream market.
Across a relatively unfair market for right-handed mice, Razer has reaffirmed its commitment for giving lefties a real tailored flagship gaming mouse. Its 2020 release addresses more left-handed gamers and players with disabilities who have a premium option. Gamers of all levels are also treated to a left-handed mouse they can customize beyond the clicks. This makes it more surprising to wonder why Razer discontinued it from the market since the 2014 unit was eventually pulled off of shelves for player who needed it. Though overdue, it feels great to see the mouse return. Its hardware-to-software integration with Synapse keeps the Naga Left Handed Edition a step away from a perfect score, though users would be too lost in its comfort and natural relief to care.
