ROCCAT Kone XTD Review
Introduction
Product on Review: ROCCAT Kone XTD
Manufacturer and Sponsor: ROCCAT
Street Price: €89.99 / USD$69.99 (MSRP)
If you've not heard the name ROCCAT before, where have you been? Established in 2007, the German outfit have been significant players in the gaming peripheral market for years and have gone from strength to strength following the explosive increase in popularity of the Western eSports scene.
ROCCAT have a great reputation for style in their gaming peripherals, utilising an aesthetic flair rarely seen in competitors but running throughout their range. Functional design is solid by contrast, with button layout being provably popular and suitable for a wide variety of games. The hardware development process - curated by ROCCAT Labs - tends to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, focussing on improving internal technology rather than radical external redesigns of mice which have already received excellent feedback from users with regards to shape and button layout. Even so, they can't resist a few tweaks here and there, allowing enthusiasts to customise their mouse or keyboard in subtle ways.
The area in which ROCCAT innovate the most is in software and firmware as they strive for closer integration of their peripherals to the benefit of gamers. In our review of the Isku, David discussed the then-new ROCCAT Talk technology which allowed keyboard modifiers to control certain aspects of mouse performance, resulting in additional control for the users. Easy-Shift[+] by contrast can be used with just a mouse, and effectively doubles the number of functions a mouse button may be bound to. As you might also expect for products which offer almost bewildering choice, the driver software utility is marked by clear layout and customisation depth.
The Kone XTD, on review today, is a mouse grounded firmly in the successful Kone products of yesteryear. It superficially resembles the Kone and (more closely) Kone[+], classic ROCCAT designs in shape and layout, but adds an improved laser sensor and ROCCAT Talk/Talk FX technology to the mix as additional premium features.
About the ROCCAT Kone XTD
Product on Review: ROCCAT Kone XTD
Manufacturer and Sponsor: ROCCAT
Street Price: €89.99 / USD$69.99 (MSRP)
If you've not heard the name ROCCAT before, where have you been? Established in 2007, the German outfit have been significant players in the gaming peripheral market for years and have gone from strength to strength following the explosive increase in popularity of the Western eSports scene.
ROCCAT have a great reputation for style in their gaming peripherals, utilising an aesthetic flair rarely seen in competitors but running throughout their range. Functional design is solid by contrast, with button layout being provably popular and suitable for a wide variety of games. The hardware development process - curated by ROCCAT Labs - tends to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, focussing on improving internal technology rather than radical external redesigns of mice which have already received excellent feedback from users with regards to shape and button layout. Even so, they can't resist a few tweaks here and there, allowing enthusiasts to customise their mouse or keyboard in subtle ways.
The area in which ROCCAT innovate the most is in software and firmware as they strive for closer integration of their peripherals to the benefit of gamers. In our review of the Isku, David discussed the then-new ROCCAT Talk technology which allowed keyboard modifiers to control certain aspects of mouse performance, resulting in additional control for the users. Easy-Shift[+] by contrast can be used with just a mouse, and effectively doubles the number of functions a mouse button may be bound to. As you might also expect for products which offer almost bewildering choice, the driver software utility is marked by clear layout and customisation depth.
The Kone XTD, on review today, is a mouse grounded firmly in the successful Kone products of yesteryear. It superficially resembles the Kone and (more closely) Kone[+], classic ROCCAT designs in shape and layout, but adds an improved laser sensor and ROCCAT Talk/Talk FX technology to the mix as additional premium features.
About the ROCCAT Kone XTD
To build the mighty ROCCAT™ KONE XTD – Max Customization Gaming Mouse, our ROCCAT™ Scientists increased the already formidable capabilities of the legendary Kone[+] – while keeping the legendary design of the Kone[+] 100% intact. The result? A supreme gaming weapon – custom-built for the most battle-hardened fighters – that will thrill Kone[+] fans worldwide.
The XTD is powered by an astounding performance package loaded with the latest 8200 DPI Pro Aim R3 laser sensor, a commanding 32-bit Turbo Core V2 72MHz ARM MCU processor, and the most advanced Tracking & Distance Control Unit around – all working in clockwork unison to deliver world-beating battle ability.
Add to that a plethora of ergonomic features designed for the longest play comfort – and a suite of the world’s most advanced gaming software for max customization – and you’ve got a masterful tool for dominating any world you choose.
The XTD is powered by an astounding performance package loaded with the latest 8200 DPI Pro Aim R3 laser sensor, a commanding 32-bit Turbo Core V2 72MHz ARM MCU processor, and the most advanced Tracking & Distance Control Unit around – all working in clockwork unison to deliver world-beating battle ability.
Add to that a plethora of ergonomic features designed for the longest play comfort – and a suite of the world’s most advanced gaming software for max customization – and you’ve got a masterful tool for dominating any world you choose.
