Roccat Kone XP Review

The Roccat Kone XP may stand out from the pack for its dazzling RGB illumination, but this mouse offers more than just superficial desktop bling. Thanks to its top-notch hardware and high customizability, the Kone XP performs everywhere it counts. It earned high marks throughout our testing, making it a top recommendation, likely to meet the needs of anyone unopposed to the RGB aesthetic or a somewhat stiff scroll wheel.

Performance Comparison

Performance

The performance metric rates gaming mice by comparing their hardware specifications with regard to the demands of competitive gameplay. We evaluate the sensor for polling rate, dots per inch (DPI), counts per inch (CPI), and tracking speed. We also weigh in on the quality of the switches, the overall weight, and the glide characteristics of each mouse in the review.

The Roccat Kone XP presents well in almost every test of this metric, starting with its flawless sensor. The Owl-Eye 19k DPI optical sensor features software adjustable sensitivity in steps, from 50-19,000 DPI, and an adjustable lift-off distance. It has a tracking speed of 400 inches per second and a selectable polling rate. Altogether, this makes for a highly tunable and precise sensor, a prerequisite for competitive gaming, where speed and accuracy are vital for success.

Likewise, Kone XP's switch feel and response are top-notch. Roccat's Titan Switch Optical technology boasts a mechanical feel with speed-of-light actuation — a fair assessment since it achieves near instantaneous screen response and feedback by leveraging speedy optical beam signaling to relay mechanical button inputs.

At 101 grams, the Kone XP isn't particularly lightweight for a gaming mouse. It's on the heavier end of the spectrum, with the average for all mice in our review being 86 grams and the lightest coming in at a mere 59 grams. The Kone XP's weight doesn't really diminish it, though. In the critical balance of speed and control, the Kone XP's relative heft and smooth PTFE feet skew it slightly more towards a bias of controlled glide, and it handles extremely well.

Customization

When testing for the customization metric, we assess the mouse's overall hardware and software reconfigurability. The Kone XP features 15 buttons and 29 possible function assignments, giving it tremendous programmability, for various game types, without feeling as overwhelming as a mouse with as many physical buttons might (like MMO dedicated mice).

Although it has no bearing on usability or performance, which matters most in this product segment, one of the standout features of the Kone XP is its unique 3D RGB Lighting concept that leverages 22 LEDs and eight light guides to cast a "deep and immersive lighting experience" through the mouse's translucent top shell. If you have an RGB theme running through your gaming rig, you might like this mouse a lot; if you're in the RGB opposition camp, you'll probably want to pass on the Roccat Kone XP.

Where the Roccat Kone XP falls short on customizability is its non-adjustable scroll wheel design, which we found a little resistant but not deal-breakingly so.

Ease of Use

The ease of use metric measures the user experience with regard to the mouse's programmability and cable ergonomics. Once again, Kone XP scores big with its long, light, unobtrusive cable and intuitive software.

At around six feet long, we find the Roccat Kone XP's Phantom Flex braided cable to be long enough for our desktop setup, with average flexibility. We didn't encounter cable drag, snags, or other noteworthy detriments to our user experience.

Within Roccat's Swarm software, users can check drivers, adjust DPI and lift-off distance, program up to 29 button assignments, change lighting effects, configure angle napping, adjust sound feedback, and set debounce. It's all there and easily accessed.

Scroll Wheel

The scroll wheel metric rates the tactility, response, feel, and sound of the mouse's wheel and buttons. We've touched on these characteristics in other parts of the review, but here is where we dig in. This metric is also where the Kone XP gives up the edge over its fiercest competitors in this hair-splitting performance review of the top gaming mice.

One of the few faults of the Roccat Kone XP was its scroll wheel resistance. We felt more resistance from this wheel than others in the class, and while it's probably no dealbreaker for most, we find it worth noting. Our concern with the level of resistance we encountered on the Kone XP's scroll wheel is one of fatigue over time. If your game has you scrolling to survive, you could be in for a workout with this one. Conversely, if you prefer a stiffer wheel, here's a contender, the stiffest one in the review. Other than that, we have good things to report.

Sure, the scroll wheel is stiff, but it's also very tactile and confers a feeling of ultra responsivenesses as if there is immediate on-screen feedback from its actuation. We found the scrolling acoustics to be on the quieter side of the spectrum.

Again, pressing down on the wheel feels stiffer and requires more force than others in the review but rewards you with a somewhat loud and satisfying click response.

Roccat dubbed this a Krystal 4D Wheel because it features lateral tilt inputs in addition to the down click and horizontal scrolling. These could come in handy in various ways in games and productivity, but one that comes to mind is long, lateral spreadsheet navigation.

The buttons on the Roccat Kone XP feel nice, tactile & responsive, and on par with the scroll wheel. The shell design hints at an ergonomic comfort groove to guide the fingers into position without being too obtrusive. However, the left click button has two smaller buttons built into it which may make it feel crowded for larger fingers and potentially lead to accidental inputs. The right-click is slightly narrow as well.

Should You Buy the Roccat Kone XP?

The Roccat Kone XP is a well-rounded, high-performing gaming mouse at a reasonable price point. It's a great choice for anyone who values RGB aesthetics and high customizability, but those who are RGB averse or rely on a more fluid scroll wheel for their games or productivity may want to pass on this one.

What Other Gaming Mouse Should You Consider?