Everyone has their short list of preferred gaming mice for various reasons and we rarely step outside our comfort zone with these choices, which is why I was excited when Wes offered me the opportunity to take a look at a gaming mouse from ROCCAT. It was an opportunity to take a look at something different from a company we have heard encouraging things about as of late and try out a gaming mouse that offered nearly infinite customization. Join me as I take a look at the Kone Pure and see if its deserving of joining our personal short list.
Product Name: ROCCAT Kone Pure Gaming Mouse
Review Sample provided by: ROCCAT
Written by: Debo
Pictures by: Debo
Specifications |
|
Model Number |
ROC-11-700 |
Sensor |
Pro-Aim Laser Sensor R3 (200-8200dpi) |
Internal Processor |
72MHz Turbo Core V2 32-bit Arm based MCU |
Onboard Memory |
576kB |
Polling Rate |
125-1000Hz adjustable |
Buttons |
7 + 2D Wheel; EASY-SHIFT[+]™ Button Duplicator |
Lighting |
16.8 Million-color Customizable Lighting System |
Size |
|
Dimensions |
Max. Width 7cm x approx. 12cm max. length |
Weight |
Approx. 90g (excl. cable) |
Cable |
1.8m braided USB |
Packaging
ROCCAT leaves little to imagination with their packaging as we are introduced to the Kone Pure right on the front of the box. Accompanying the picture are the features that intend to make this particular mouse stand out in a crowd with 8200 DPI and full customizable color lighting leading the way.
The front is really just a cover though and when we flip it open we get to see the actual mouse in vacuum sealed plastic that lets us actually test out the feel of the mouse immediately. Being such a basic part of selecting the right mouse, this is a great thing to see in consumer packaging. The inside flap also provides an in-depth explanation of the Kone Pure’s EasyShift[+] function which we will get more into later.
Finally the rear of the packaging is where we get the full list of features with short explanations as well as a brief layout of the mouse as a whole.
Inside, with the Kone Pure is a quick installation guide that directs you to the ROCCAT website to download the necessary firmware, drivers and software to get your mouse up and running.
Software
The software for the Kone Pure is a rather impressive suite that lets you crafts up to 5 personal profiles that can be saved to the mouse, itself, as well as your PC or a USB flash drive for backup. The first tab of the software covers your basic speed controls from sensitivity to the scroll speed of the mouse wheel to your double-click speed. The main this of note here is the customizable DPI switcher though. While some mice dabble in this function with preset settings, the Kone Pure allows you to craft up to 5 different settings to be freely switched between for each profile.
The next section of the software gives you full control over the Kone Pure’s button assignments. By assigning one of these buttons as the EasyShift button you can also double the button possibilities of the mouse and switch freely between your individually set profiles. The button assignments do not stop at simple commands or buttons though as the ROCCAT software allows you to record macros and assign them to mouse buttons in much the same way as macro keyboards.
The advanced options allow for even more expandability and personalization of the Kone Pure to your liking. Advanced sensitivity can be enabled to allow adjusted sensitivity on either the X or Y axis of movement as well as tracking and distance control can be tweaked for those who fight themselves lifting their mice more often.
The final thing of note in the software is the color and lighting effect control. You aren’t limited by the brand specific color or a small list of options here and the Kone Pure is capable of nearly absolute RGB color to the point of letting you customize it completely down to the hexadecimal value should you please.
All of these are part of the overall mouse profile and up to 5 of these profiles can be saved to the mouse. Another thing of note is the Kone Pure is ROCCAT Talk compatible for those of you using more than just the mouse.
Features and Pictures
The Kone Pure’s shape looks odd at first, sloping off to the left and appearing almost as if the peripheral was designed purely for left-handed gamers. Once grabbing the mouse in a natural position, however, you notice that the design is actually quite comfortable and offers a place for your ring and pinky to sit rather than just hanging off the side. The coating is a matt satin finish, which I personally prefer as it prevents slippage of you hand. The standard 6ft connection cord is made from braided nylon and feels durable.
The pair of side buttons are placed in a natural position to allow the thumb easy access that doesn’t feel strange or odd, and the sensitivity of these button presses is at a nice median between firm and reactionary, requiring deliberate presses but not so light for accidental commands to register.
The slope of the main buttons is at a natural incline. The scroll wheel is wide and gives a mice tactile response when scrolling which makes the action feel deliberate. The wheel press also gives a very distinct tactile response, which is a must in gaming mice design.
The left side of the mouse doesn’t have much going on but there is a nice space and a small lip to allow you to separate your typically unused fingers into a nice comfortable position. There is also a slight lip here that assists in repeatedly picking the mouse up and down while moving without the worry of dropping it.
The underside of the Kone Pure has two large Teflon gliders as well as this is where we find the Pro-Aim Sensor R3, ROCCATs personal high-DPI laser sensor. The gliders span the length of the front and rear of the mouse allowing you free movement no matter where you place weight.
Performance
I will first begin by touching on the Kone Pure’s comfort. While the initial opinion I had when looking at the design was to question whether this was a left-handed design or not, the Kone Pure is specifically designed for right-handed gamers and it shows. The mouse sits comfortably into you hand. Both sides of the mouse provide lips for a more natural grip when lifting the mouse repeatedly and while that is not my own personal style the more secure grip is easy to notice.
Weighing in at 90g, the Kone Pure is the same weight as the SteelSeries Rival and feels light without a feeling of less than premium construction. Each button press requires deliberate force and offers a distinct tactile response different from the rest of the buttons. In a gaming mouse this is a must.
The included software from ROCCAT is some of the most robust I have seen for a single mouse and the sheer amount of customization available is almost too overwhelming at times. With 5 profiles at your disposal it is possible to create individual profiles for individual games and still not use them all up. It is worth noting that I initially had trouble updating the mouse’s firmware to work with the latest drivers and still had issues from there. This turned out to be a conflict with the SteelSeries Engine 3 installed for other mice. Be aware that you may have to uninstall other mice drivers to get the most out of your Kone Pure.
Finally I will touch on the Pro-Aim Sensor R3. While initially the cursor seemed prone to wide swings in movement when lifted up and set back down, once I worked out the kinks in my software and enabled distance control and calibrated Tracking Control the cursor movement was reduced substantially. The control of the mouse never felt off whether the DPI was set to 200 or 8200 and all in all I was as impressed with the functionality.
Overall and Final Verdict
When you put it all together, the Kone Pure from ROCCAT is a very nice gaming mouse that impresses based on tried and true features rather than crazy design gimmicks. The in hand grip feels natural and comfortable coming from someone who uses a SteelSeries Sensei on a day to day basis. The buttons are firm to prevent accidental pressing and offer distinct tactile response and the included software is an endless rabbit hole of personalization and customization.
The fully customizable color LEDs is a nice touch but I found holes in the range and many colors look the same to the naked eye. The review sample in particular had a hard time displaying orange colors and most looked either washed out red and a darkly tinted yellow. The software also, while powerful and fully featured, can seem a bit overwhelming initially and requires a bit of trial and error to fully appreciate its complexity.
Still, color issues and software conflicts aside, the Kone Pure accomplishes its goal and ROCCAT delivers on one of the most customizable gaming mice available today. On the same level as big names like the Deathadder and Sensei, the Kone Pure is a gaming mouse worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new mouse.