Razer, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle electronics peripherals, is the pioneer of the 3rd Generation (3G) sensor technology for gaming mice.

To date, the 3G Infrared Sensor, maxing out at 1,800 DPI, has been incorporated into the Razer DeathAdder, the Razer Diamondback 3G, the Boomslang Collector’s Edition and the Razer Salmosa. The Razer Lachesis is the first mouse to sport the 3G Laser Sensor, which maxes out at 4,000 DPI.  

The 3G Infrared Sensor technology offers a compelling alternative for many gamers, especially those who play at low sensitivity settings and move the mouse at high speeds. Two key advancements in technology with the 3G Infrared Sensor is the increase in Inches Per Second (IPS) and the minimized lift-off distance. With the 3G Infrared Sensor Technology, gamers can experience improved tracking with 120 IPS on majority of surfaces, and even higher in optimal conditions. Currently, this is the best-in-class performance among all sensor types.   

Gamers who move the mouse rapidly across a smaller distance, physically lift the mouse back to its original position on the pad and repeat the movement will experience small erratic movements of the curser at the moment of lift-off. All sensors will continue tracking for a short distance after being lifted from the surface. The 3G Infrared Sensor technology offers improved lift-off performance by minimizing this
distance, achieving lift-off distances as low as 2.1 mm before the sensor ceases tracking on many surface colors, an improvement of the 2.4 mm minimum of the previous generation optical sensors.

With the introduction of the Razer 3G Laser Sensor, Razer unveils the first mousing sensor to offer true Dots Per Inch (DPI) increments modified by hardware, as opposed to other sensors that use smoke and mirrors via software interpolation to estimate the user’s defined DPI. The 3G Laser Sensor makes a quantum leap by being able to achieve specific DPI figures (in multiples of 125dpi) falling in between preset values, by means of hardware instead of interpolation.

Some manufacturers apply software interpolation to artificially inflate the DPI specifications of their mice. However, when software interpolation is applied to the mouse sensor, the image capture, and accordingly the movement in a mouse, becomes exaggerated, but does not improve the accuracy of the sensor.

To enhance the gaming experience, Razer’s scientists and engineers are continually researching new technologies and listening to gamers to find out what they need in their gear. 

Quote from Razer’s president
“We always have an ear to the ground to innovate gaming peripherals which truly enhance the gaming experience,” said Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, president of Razer. “Razer’s 3G Sensor technologies have established the benchmark for gaming mice sensors, with true DPI increments, 120 IPS and minimized lift-off distance. We are excited at some of the technologies we have been researching and hope to bring them to market very soon.”