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Roccat introduced the Kone XP mouse a few months ago, a mouse that intelligently combines the strengths of its Kone Pro and Kone AIMO cousins. The model was able to convince us due to its good comfort and multiple customizable controls, resulting in a versatile mouse capable of accompanying you on the latest multiplayer online role-playing game as well as your Excel tables.
Specification
| ROCCAT Kone XP Air | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 126 x 72 x 40 mm |
| Weight | 99g |
| Sensor Model | Owl-Eye Optical Sensor |
| Max Sensitivity | 19,000 DPI |
| Polling Rates | 1,000 Hz |
| Number of Buttons | 15 |
| LED Zones | 5 |
| Cable | 6 feet, braided |
| Connectivity | 2.4 Ghz & Bluetooth wireless connection |
| Orientation | Right-Handed |
| Software | Roccat Swarm |
Roccat released the wireless Kone XP Air. With 2.4 Ghz and Bluetooth connectivity, the mouse is more versatile. It includes a magnetic charging station.
The Roccat Kone XP Air is available for $169 from the manufacturer. It competes with the Logitech G502 Lightspeed, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, and the recently released SteelSeries Aerox 5 and Aerox 9 Wireless.
The mouse comes in a cardboard box with some graphics and information about it. Inside the box are the following items:
- The Roccat Kone XP Air
- A magnetic charging base
- A USB dongle for the 2.4 Ghz connection
- A USB-C to USB-A cable for charging, docking or wired use
- The usual paperwork
Design & Ergonomics
This new Air model has a design that is very similar to the wired model, with identical dimensions, ergonomics, and the same number of buttons. The mouse’s lines do not change, and you quickly feel at ease with it once your hand is on it. Its natural curves favor a Palm Grip or Claw Grip grip.
Despite the switch to wireless, the mouse loses a few grams, for a total weight from 104 g to 99 g. We are still a long way from ultralight wireless mice , but the Kone XP Air clearly does better than a G502 Lightspeed or a Corsair Ironclaw Wireless.
The model comes in black or white with a plastic design that inspires confidence. Nothing moves when you shake or press the mouse’s chassis. However, everything is not perfect on our copy, with in particular a lower shell which is not perfectly aligned with the side facades.
The model retains its transparent back cover, revealing new RGB lighting with an especially effective 3D effect. On this point, Roccat clearly distinguishes itself from the competition, and the entire system is obviously customizable via the in-house software that we present to you a little further down.
Under the mouse, there are always 4 PTFE pads ensuring good glide to the model. The design of the base is slightly reworked, with an insert allowing you to store the USB dongle when you move the mouse or even a magnetic notch to place it on its charging support.
There are also a few additional buttons to switch between the different connection modes or to activate wireless pairing.
Finally, there’s no change in command. This Air version retains its many buttons and 4D scroll wheel. This is helpful for gamers and office workers.
Left of the left click are a grid of 4 buttons or a thumb button. Count programmable buttons by wheel scrolls. All are responsive and engaging. The M1 and M2 buttons have a slight post-travel and 100 million-cycle Roccat Titan optical switches.
Performance
As with the wired model, there is a Roccat Owl-Eye 19K sensor on this Kone XP Air version. Derived from the PixArt PAW3370, it’s one of the very best optical sensors.
The model is capable of going up to 19,000 DPI and handling speeds of 400 IPS or accelerations of 50 G. You can go there before you see it stall.
In use, the performance is therefore similar to that of the classic Kone XP and the mouse does particularly well in games requiring many shortcuts. The switch to wireless obviously brings additional comfort, particularly pleasant if you are used to playing your favorite multiplayer online game for hours.
Connectivity
Roccat Kone XP Air is wired or wireless via 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. The 1.8m braided USB-A to USB-A cable is for wired mode. Soft and flexible, it lets you play well even if you won’t need it in practice. Not all cables are compatible with the USB-C port’s depth.
If you choose the Air model over the classic, it’s to play wirelessly. 2.4 Ghz is recommended for gaming. A USB dongle automatically connects to your PC or charging station. Our tests showed no latency or signal loss in this connection mode compared to wired use.
Bluetooth mode connects the mouse to a laptop or tablet without a dongle. Holding the “Pairing” mouse button for a few seconds makes the connection. This mode is recommended for office automation or games that don’t require perfect responsiveness.
The USB-C to USB-A cable included in the box connects the small block-shaped support. Front USB-A port for 2.4 Ghz dongle, customizable RGB lighting on base.
Roccat Swarm Software
The mouse is compatible with Roccat Swarm software. This new model is not compatible with the latest Roccat Neon software, despite its updated design and ergonomics. Up to 5 configuration profiles can be automatically loaded based on games or apps.
For each profile, sensor options can be configured, including sensitivity, polling rate (up to 1000 Hz), the lift-off distance or the attachment to the angles.
The software lets you customize the mouse buttons by creating macros or choosing from Roccat’s list. With EasyShift[+], you can assign mouse buttons a secondary action.
The thumb button activates the mode by default. Nearly 30 mouse shortcuts are instantly accessible.
Roccat Swarm lets you customize the mouse and charging station’s RGB lighting. 4 zones on the mouse’s palm rest and 1 on the wheel’s side. AIMO lets you customize these lights with other brand peripherals. Note that the mouse can automatically dim the lights to save battery.
Battery life
The brand claims 100 hours of battery life with a full charge, without specifying connection mode or lighting intensity. It’s hard to verify these values in practice, even though running out of battery is unlikely.
Kone XP Air has a magnetic charging station, like a Razer Basilisk Ultimate. A wireless mouse accessory that allows you to recharge your field mouse in a flash.
By placing the mouse for ten minutes on this station, you benefit from 5 hours of battery life for your gaming session. To put it simply, during our 10 days alongside this Roccat Kone XP Air, we did not plug it in once.
Conclusion!
With the Kone XP Air, Roccat completes its line of gaming mice to meet all players’ needs. Players looking for a simple and effective model can choose the Kone Pro (about $80) or Pro Air (about $100), while those who want greater versatility can choose the Kone XP (about $90) or Kone XP Air.
After 10 days with him, we had little to criticize. The mouse remains versatile, comfortable, and effective. Unlike most wireless mice, this one has a charging station.
The mouse’s $169 price tag is one of the highest in the industry. Even if its price drops quickly, it’s hard to recommend it over the $100 Logitech G502 Lightspeed. Comparable to the recent SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and Aerox 9 Wireless, which offer a design with many buttons for 100-110$.
