Features
- Dimensions: L = x26mm / W = 72mm / H = 40mm
- Kind : right-handed
- Weight : 99g (without cable)
- Charging cable: 1.8m detachable USB-C to USB-A
- Autonomy: 80 hours of play
- Connectivity:
- STELLAR WIRELESS 2.4 GHz via USB-A adapter
- Bluetooth
- USB-A
- Sensor: 19,000 DPI ROCCAT Owl-Eye optics
- Switch: ROCCAT Titan Switch Optical
- Guarantee : 2 years
- Software : SWARM
- Price : €169.99
Unboxing
Here is what awaits you when you open the ROCCAT Kone XP Air mouse:
- ROCCAT Kone XP Air (Ash Black) / (Arctic White)
- Charging station
- PhantomFlex charging cable
- Quick Start Guide
Frame
Design
Mouse exclusively for right-handed people, the Kone XP Air breaks down into three distinct areas which are the sides, the rear and the clicks. The former have a ribbed coating, combined with a hollow frame, in order to improve grip. The back includes a clear plastic area to make room for the Underlying RGB. This aspect of transparency rubs off slightly on the front zone where the clicks are located to give an aura effect to the mouse and not to leave too abrupt a stop. Coating level, the mouse is entirely made of plastic.
The Kone XP Air sits among the medium-to-large sized devices, although we might find it a bit wider than usual. All of its chassis take advantage of rounded curves and/or smoothed to keep a certain consistency while offering a refined rendering.
RGB
Accustomed to eccentricities, ROCCAT comes back to us with an atypical under-palm lighting system. However, do not be fooled by the quality of rendering on the manufacturer’s photos.
The desired effect is present, but it is much less pronounced than expected, in question: the rate of transparency and visual granulosity of the rear chassis. Moreover, with all the lights off, the latter offers a more mixed rendering which remains at the discretion of everyone. As for the charging stationit is a real visual pleasure both in terms of its shape and its RGB rendering.
All possible configurations are directly visible from the ROCCAT SWARM software.
Ergonomics
grip
Very pleasant from the first grip, the Kone XP Air surprises only by its weight and width under the palm. However, it does not become imposing or too complex to move. Despite buttons in all directions, none of them interfere with use or come to activate inadvertently. The tilt of the mouse is slight, but sufficient, associated with the buttons on the left side, to justify its exclusive use in the right hand. To finish, even if all grips are welcomeit is more pleasant to use it in Palm or Claw since the clicks are more easily activated forward than close to the palm.
Buttons and features
Like autonomy, the number of ten buttons available on the Kone XP Air makes it a powerful attraction. They are distributed according to the following model:
- Clicks equipped with the famous ROCCAT Titan Switch Opticaloffer a fairly discreet auditory rendering for effective activation.
- The 4D wheel with horizontal use, although not disengageable. The latter is notched while the rotation is slightly slowed down in order to prevent it from being too fast (according to the appreciation of each).
- Two buttons on the side of the left click.
- Four buttons located on the left side and following the curvature of the latter to avoid inadvertent use.
- A button under the thumb that serves as a duplicator Easy Shift[+]because yes, if all these buttons were not yet sufficient for you, it is still possible to activate this one and take advantage of 29 programmable inputs.
Note that the activation of the buttons is quite intuitive, despite their unusual positioning and even if you are not used to them.
Performance
Sensor and in-game use
Always in the race for the realization of the best sensor on the market, each manufacturer is jostling in this direction, with the aim of offering a house or associated with an endemic brand. Here, ROCCAT once again honors its in-house sensor, in association with PixArt : the optical sensor ROCCAT Owl-Eye.
With a maximum of 19000 DPI, even if you will never use such a wide range, ROCCAT makes it possible to focus on DPIs below 2000. Thus, the range being adapted to all users, the Owl-Eye offers an even cleaner rendering on low DPI. A new opportunity to prove its versatility. To top it all off, the mouse is supported by four PTFE pads that offer a suitable glide without being excessive.
We asked her in game and for office automation. The Kone XP Air accompanies you with ease, fluidity and precision, although its shape does not suggest a weight of 99g which will have already cooled the fans of ultralight mice (60g). Finally, if the device responds perfectly to requests for FPS-type titles, the association with the set of buttons and configurations available tends to benefit more players of the RTS type or licenses like Fortnite requiring a plethora of shortcuts for constructions .
Connectivities
We are close to faultless. Indeed, the mouse offers three different connection methods, with STELLAR WIRELESS 2.4 GHz via USB-A adapter, Bluetooth, USB-A (wired). Using the select button under the mouse, easily switch between them without much difficulty. let’s remember that STELLAR connectivity will always outperform Bluetooth which is above all intended to be versatile, although here the manufacturer offers high-performance Low-Latency Bluetooth connectivity.
Finally, the connection to the dongle (wireless key) is instantaneous while it is possible to connect it to the charging station. Thereby, you do not multiply the ports used and enjoy on-the-fly charging as a bonus of a visually pleasing station to share on your desktop.
Software
To configure all the possibilities of the mouse ranging from the response of the sensor, to the DPI through the button shortcuts or even the RGB, everything is possible from the software ROCCAT SWARM. This being the case, the latter is starting to age a little and we would not be against a refresh allowing us to better appreciate the possible modifications while making them more fluid. Anyway, overall, the software meets the expectations we can have of it while harmoniously linking the brand’s peripherals, but remains quite unintuitive and aging.
Autonomy
It’s hard to talk about autonomy when the product natively offers an on-the-fly charging solution. If the first few times seem counter-intuitive, it becomes almost a reflex in the long run to put the mouse on its charging station when you are not using it. That said, we had to try to empty it as much as possible. During our test with daily use of 3 to 4 hours (excluding weekends), the Kone XP Air still showed a good forty hours of use, which is about double.
Finally, if it is possible to use it wired, you will quickly drop this option. Indeed, in view of its 80 hours of wireless battery life and the possibility of recovering almost five hours of autonomy for ten minutes of charging via the magnetic station, it is almost unlimited wireless autonomy which is available to you.