Roccat Kone Pure gaming mouse

The Kone series of mice fall in the upper range of Roccat’s product portfolio, and variations include the regular Kone Pure, the Kone Pure Colour, and the Kone Pure Optical. For this review, we’ll look at the basic version of Kone Pure, which lacks the colour selection of the Pure Colour and optical sensor of the Pure Optical. We found the more affordable Roccat Savu to be a solid gaming mouse, so expectations were high for the Kone Pure.

Same but smaller

The Kone Pure is more of an evolution of its predecessor, the Kone XTD, than a revolution. It comes with the same centrally-placed 8200DPI Pro Aim R3 sensor and internal components as the XTD, albeit in a more compact package. Roccat has worked on reducing the size of the Pure, which is now approximately ten per cent smaller than XTD.

The reduction in size means the mouse fits better in more palm sizes, and thus feels nimbler overall. The exterior is covered in soft-touch plastic while the base is covered in low-friction feet. As a right-handed mouse, the Pure has a groove on the left hand side for the thumb to comfortably rest.

The mouse comes with a 1.8 metre braided USB cable that ends in a Roccat-branded USB plug. The unique design of the USB plug makes it easy to spot where the mouse is connected to the back of the PC amongst all the other cables. The tightly-woven braid cable adds a premium feel to the mouse, though it runs the risk of being damaged on the end of a sharp-edged mouse mat.

Button and colour customisation

There are six programmable buttons and a mouse wheel, as well as an Easy-Shift [+] key that is the hallmark of Roccat products. The Easy-Shift [+] key enables a wide range of profiles to be used with the mouse, though its unique design will limit its appeal. You will need to retrain yourself to become familiar in using the function on the fly, and many users will likely rely on the existing buttons.

The customisation of the Kone Pure goes beyond just the key functionality. The rear of the mouse is fitted with a colour LED that illuminates the Roccat logo, and it is capable of displaying one of 16.8 million colours. Selecting the colour of choice with the mouse software takes only seconds, and the illumination can be set to permanent or pulsating.

If you are upgrading from a simpler mouse, such as the Roccat Savu which only has a 4000dpi Pro Optic R3 sensor, then the Kone Pure is a significant step in quality and performance. The highly responsive laser sensor may be overkill for some casual games, so the cheaper Kone Pure Optical, which has a 4000DPI sensor, could be the better option. Either way, the comfortable design and decent pricing makes the Kone Pure hard to pass up.

Roccat Hiro mouse mat

A mouse is often only as good as the surface it is used on, and Roccat addresses this with its Hiro mouse mat. Like the Kone Pure, it is a premium product that comes at a price. It is also one of the larger mouse pads on the market, measuring 350 x 250 x 2.5mm

One common problem with mouse pads is a tendency to move around during use, though the Hiro counters this with a non-slip base. Combined with the substantial size and weight of the mouse pad, the base does a good job of keeping it in place. The Hiro also features a no-fray edge design, ensuring the braided cable of the Kone Pure does not get damaged.

The large size of the Hiro may be a bit off-putting for smaller desk spaces, and the high retail price may limit its appeal to enthusiasts. The Roccat logo on the surface looks to be printed, so it may run the risk of wearing off after prolonged use. Even so, the Hiro is a worthy company to any gaming mouse, whether it is Roccat or not.