ROCCAT is adding to its exceptional Kone product line with a new wireless gaming mouse to deliver usability and feature-heavy specs. The Kone XP Air brings the AIMO lighting ecosystem and rapid charging capabilities. With a price tag of $169.99, does the Kone XP Air deliver its worth in specs and features? Not a huge difference from its wired brother, but is the wireless capability good? Let’s take a closer look.
What’s In The Box
Packaging is tight and well kept, keeping all of the components safe and snug. Everything is tapered down nicely so no loose parts moving about, which is surprisingly uncommon. Contents include the gaming mouse, rapid charge docking station, PhantomFlex USB C cable, USB dongle, and instruction manual. Setup is quite simple and ROCCAT recommends using their Swarm software to enhance the Kone experience further but customizing many settings to your liking.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
The Kone XP Air is absolutely stunning. The Arctic-white tones on the gaming mouse itself as well as the charging dock will upgrade the look of any setup. The AIMO lighting ecosystem truly is a fantastic LED system. Colors are true and fully customizable within the ROCCAT Swarm app. The AIMO ecosystem allows for all ROCCAT AIMO lighting devices to be synced so that all the LEDs illuminate in sync.
The gaming mouse ergonomics are fantastic and fit comfortably in my hand for long gaming sessions. Button placements are all strategically located for ease of use without sacrificing accidental clicks. The DPI switches are located on top of the mouse near the left-click button. They are textured and raised which I found very helpful in indicating when I needed to adjust the DPI level. With my many hours of game time with this mouse, I am happy to report that I have never had an accidental click on any of the mouse buttons. They are all well placed and fit snugly in my hands.
Moving on to the charging dock, it is eloquently featured with AIMO lighting that also functions as a battery indicator when the juice is running low. The charging dock will flash red when the mouse is running below 10% power. On the flip side, it also flashes orange and green when the mouse is charging to help you keep track of the battery level at a glance.
Speaking of charging, this is a rapid charging dock, which can charge the mouse to at least 60% within 8 minutes of being placed on the dock. This sounds like a dream come true, however, I have had a variety of results when attempting to keep track of full charging time. Although 60% power can be obtained in 8 minutes from 0% power, it seems like a 100% charge level could take over an hour to complete. Granted, the mouse advertises 100+ hours of game time, over an hour of charging is a great tradeoff. Unfortunately, I can not report that the 100+ hours are based on pure game time.
Battery life consists of approximately 3-4 days with about 6-8 hours of use a day and the remainder on stand-by. Now, I know most gamers will dock their mouse after each use which will make this point less significant, but it is important to note that if you keep the mouse on standby (even in a power save mode) it still can make a significant drain on the battery. It really would have been great to see this mouse last at least a whole week before needing a charge but thankfully most users will likely use this mouse with their PC setup. Although this mouse is also a great mobile wireless mouse and can be connected via dongle or bluetooth, just be prepared to charge every 3-4 days of use, especially if you keep the mouse on. But with modest energy conservation, this mouse could go on to last a bit longer before needing to refuel.
The mouse can also be used with its included USB C cable which hooks up directly to the charging dock. If you forget to charge the mouse during a heated gaming session, no need to fret. Just unplug your charging dock and stick the USB C into the front of the Kone XP Air and continue playing. You’ll knock out two birds with one stone, continue to game on, and charge the mouse at the same time.
It is also important to mention that the scroll wheel on this mouse is the best I have used. It has a perfect size and the 4D accommodation is a fantastic addition. Being able to button map 5 different functions just on the scroll wheel alone is a huge plus.
Specs and Requirements
Wireless ergonomic 3D lighting gaming mouse
29 assignable buttons
Bluetooth and 2.4GHZ via USB dongle wireless connection options
Rapid AIMO charge dock
Advertised 100+ hour battery life
Titan Switch optical with a 19K DPI optical sensor
Heat-Treated glides
Fully customizable AIMO lighting ecosystem
Krystal 4D wheel including left and right clicks.
Requires Windows 7 or higher and USB 2.0 or higher. Driver software is required via download.
What It Could Have Done Better
Battery performance is decent but I expected a bit better from ROCCAT. Considering this is one of their top-of-the-line gaming mice, it would be great to get at least a week's worth of gaming without needing a charge. Granted, the lighting effects and brightness settings can help inflate that battery performance but it would be great to have all the bells and whistles running and still get that lengthy battery life.
Verdict
ROCCAT really outdid itself with the Kone XP AIr in regards to aesthetics and usability. the wireless function performs well above expectations in regards to responsiveness and accuracy. This thing is a beast, super light coming in at 99 grams, and glides gracefully like a phoenix. This is definitely one of the best gaming mice I have had the pleasure of using and would recommend it for any PC setup. The ease of swapping between wired and wireless is a plus. Even with the disappointing battery performance, this is still one hell of a package. precision, usability, and features all make a great gaming mouse and the Kone XP Air checks all the above.
ROCCAT’s Kone XP Air Wireless Gaming Mouse is available now for $169.99.
