It is a bit curious that Razer names its pointing devices after snakes, noted predator of mice and other rodents. If you think about it, it's stranger still that the naming convention also applies to wireless mice lacking the cord emulating a serpent tail. In any case, Razer says its Lancehead wireless gaming mouse uses the company's proprietary Adaptive Frequency Technology (AFT) to deliver a smooth, lag-free connection between the mouse and the included wireless dongle. The styling of the Lancehead's ambidextrous nine-button body appears to have been inspired by the rear diffusers on McLaren's line of sports and racing cars.
Razer says its AFT tech constantly scans available wireless communication channels 1000 times per second and switches to the clearest channel in order to avoid congestion. The device operates in the 2.4 GHz band used by 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and all kinds of consumer electronics devices like baby monitors and cordless telephones, so the scanning and switching can hopefully help the Lancehead work in that crowded space.
The Lancehead is made by Razer, so the inclusion of a ludicrous-overkill laser sensor with a claimed tracking sensitivity of up to 16,000 DPI and speed up to 210 IPS should come as no surprise. The manufacturer goes on to claim that the Lancehead can still track movements when under 50 G of acceleration. Razer couldn't possibly ship a product in 2017 without RGB LED illumination, and the Lancehead delivers on that front with onboard programmable lighting.
Lighting profiles are set up in the company's Synapse Pro software. Razer says the latest beta version of the software can store the Lancehead's settings in the mouse's internal memory in addition to its cloud service. That move is likely in response to Synapse outages that have left Razer customers without mission-critical macros and life-or-death lighting settings.
The Lancehead comes with a 7' (2.1 m) USB charging cable with braided sleeving. Buyers may need to keep that cable close at hand, as Razer lists the mouse's battery life as "approximately 24 hours," noting that illumination settings affect the actual time between charges. The mouse measures 4.6" x 2.8" x 1.5" (12 cm x 7.1 cm x 3.8 cm) and weighs a light-for-a-wireless-mouse 3.9 oz (110 g).
The Verge says the Lancehead will ship in May or June for $140. A wired version of the Lancehead called the Tournament Edition is available now for $80. The wired version's tracking speed is bumped up to 450 IPS (a bit over 25 MPH). The remaining specs are otherwise similar to those of its tail-less brother.