Recently, Corsair released a new gaming mouse: the Corsair RGB Pro. This is probably their attempt to make a wedge in Logitech's dominance over the wireless user crowd. This mouse seems pretty good, but it just seems like Corsair is trying to copy the immensely popular G502. The shape is the same, the buttons are the same, and even the battery indicators are the same. Look at side by side pictures of the G502 and the Dark Core Pro; they're ridiculously similar. They have the same two side buttons on the left side of the left click, same thumb rest, and same battery indicator placement.
However, Corsair has added some of their own style and upgrades. There is RGB everywhere, and one of Corsair's signatures: an interchangeable side plate. This mouse also charges via USB-C, which is more or less the next generation of charging after micro-b. With lights off, the battery life is a satisfactory 50 hours, although with all those lights, the battery life is probably more like 30 hours.
Corsair released two versions of the Dark Core Pro. One of them is $90 and can charge with Qi wireless charging, and one is $80 and has standard USB-C charging. They are both about the same, but the one without Qi charging includes one of the big selling points of this mouse, a 2000hz sensor. The Dark Core Pro also uses Corsair's "slipstream" wireless technology, which is essentially their version of Logitech's Lightspeed. Lastly, Corsair included one of their "specialties": an 18000 DPI optical sensor.
These features make Corsair's version of the G502 LIGHTSPEED a viable option for a wireless mouse. And keep in mind, I'm not saying that making a modern revamp of an OG mouse design is bad; I love the G403, which is similar to the Razer Deathadder. However, I feel that this time around, all the features are impractical and come at a huge cost; not in terms of money, but in terms of weight.
The main highlight of Corsair's Dark Core Pro was the 2000hz sensor. That's crazy- not only is that sensor polling faster than almost any mouse, it's doing it on a wireless one! However, here's why this feature is a pure gimmick (like the 18000 DPI sensor). The human eye is only capable of perceiving 1000 frames per second, and it really stops making much of a difference after 300 or so. tl;dr, any polling rate beyond 1000 is not going to make a difference at all, because your eyes couldn't detect it anyway.
Additionally, the 18000 DPI sensor is and always will be useless. Higher DPI does not make your mouse more accurate, it merely increases your sensitivity. Think you could use 18000 DPI? Well, most gaming mice today go up to 10,000. Humor me and turn your mouse up to 10,000 DPI, and see how that feels!
Whether it's because of the beefy sensor, 2000hz wireless connector, or multitudes of RGB zones, the Dark Pro Core is extremely heavy. Even for a wireless mouse. You thought the G502 was a chunky boi at 114 grams (btw, the industry standard for gaming mice is 100 grams or lower)? Well, you'll be shocked to find the Corsair Dark Core Pro is an astronomical 133 grams. Coming from an average 100-gram gaming mouse, this thing is going to feel disturbingly dense.
The Verdict
Although this mouse does pack many cool features, we can't figure out who would use it. The advanced sensor would indicate an FPS audience, but it's far too heavy to be used as an FPS mouse. And the many buttons would indicate an MMO mouse, but then why does it need to be wireless? Despite all the cool features Corsair included, like an interchangeable side plate for your pinky, it would be hard to recommend this mouse as it is far surpassed by other wireless alternatives such as the G900 or Razer Mamba Wireless.