Setup & Observation
Setting up is as simple as finding an empty USB port and plugging it in. As there is no software, you don’t have to download anything and windows will install the drivers for you, everything else is taken care of by the mouse. The comfort levels of the CM310 are not the strongest, initially the mouse isn’t too bad, but the more it gets used, the more some comfort issues start to creep in. This is due to the hump around the DPI buttons, it’s quite prominent and puts some pressure on your knuckles - especially if you use a palm style grip. This, in turn, causes some discomfort for short-term use and then gradually worsens if you game for longer sessions. Claw grip users shouldn’t experience this, but if you opt for a hybrid style, then it possibly could. It’s also worth noting that you may not notice this, especially if you are coming from a mouse that features a prominent hump. The side grips are rubberised and feel great, they offer pretty good levels of grip and are comfortable to use. The only downside is that if you have very large thumbs, you may find the grip area a touch on the small side. The feet underneath are a good size and provide a really smooth glide.
RGB illumination
The illumination provided by the CM310 is good, the light output is bright, and the colours are vivid. The lighting is quite full, and it's even bright under direct light from a LED desk lamp. There are a few small hotspots around the bordering RGB strip but other than that minor issue the lighting is good. There are five effects to choose from, and they can be changed using the button located in the middle of the DPI buttons. The effects are quite interesting and very well done for such an affordable mouse. The LED illumination on the scroll wheel and CM logo are good too, you don’t get the same effects as the strip, but the LEDs do change colour when switching the DPI level.
Performance
Everyday performance when web browsing, editing documents and doing some photo work was good, the CM310 performed great thanks to the smooth sensor not suffering from jitter or any stuttering. The scroll wheel is solid and has nicely defined scroll steps while being reasonably smooth. It isn’t the most free-flowing of scroll wheels, but that could be of benefit to some. The left and right clicks are responsive and accurate too. It isn’t without fault though and a little issue with the mouse when using it daily is the DPI options. As there are only 7 settings, not all levels are covered, and there is no in-between the main options. For example, the settings between 500 and 1000 are often the sweet spot for many users, but with the CM310 this isn’t available as you can either pick 500 or 1000 and nothing in the middle. So 500 could be potentially a little slow feeling for some and 1000 may be slightly too fast for others. Software would solve this problem, but there is none to use.
The gaming performance delivered by the CM310 is surprising, we were expecting a commendable performance but what we got was something a lot better. The left and right clicks are accurate, responsive and well sprung so that they don’t feel too slow, nor are they too quick, and they have a nice balance which is great for a variety of different genres. As for the Pixart A3328 sensor, it again impressed, it’s not on a par with something like the 3360, but the performance on offer is great. The sensor feels fast, fluid and is great for tracking. Even though it only has an IPS of 60, it never felt like it hampered the performance at all. The left and right buttons are a touch small which resulted in a few misclicks in the beginning. But given some time, they can be adjusted to. Their in-use experience is good, and though they are a touch softly sprung, that didn’t impede their performance, and they are very passable given the price point. The scroll wheel click is good, it feels quite responsive and is reassuringly tactile. One small problem we noticed with the CM310 was when performing lift offs. When lifting the mouse and placing it back down the cursor does mover a fair amount which can cause some accuracy issues. This issue is worth noting, especially if you find yourself doing this regularly.
