Peripherals are very personal tools. Each of us has a favorite flavor; it is the method that we use to interact with our games of choice. While some companies have opted for adding additional weight to their devices, companies like Finalmouse and Glorious PC Gaming Race have sought the path of weight loss, shredding grams for higher speeds. Into this category of mice, Cooler Master enters the fray. This is our review of the MM710 ultralight gaming mouse from Cooler Master.
Specifications
- MSRP: $49.99
- Switches: OMRON
- Sensor: PixArt PMW 3389
- DPI Range: 200 - 16,000
- Programable Buttons: 6
- 7 Programable DPI settings
- USB Polling Rate: 125Hz, 250Hz, 5000Hz, 1kHz
- Customizable Profiles: 5
- Weight: 53g
- Available in Black Matte, Black Glossy, and White Matte
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What Sets the MM710 Apart
At first blush, the MM710 is an odd piece, looking more Swiss cheese than modern mouse. The honeycomb pattern serves as a subtle nod to the Cooler Master logo while providing airflow and reducing the overall weight of the mouse. Coming in at a meager 53 grams, the Cooler Master MM710 has to be one of the lightest mice I have ever laid hands on.
If the design has you worried about exposure to dust, accidental spills in the heat of battle, or sweaty palms (also in the heat of battle), the MM710 is sprayed with a protective coating to repel these elements from the PCB. Cooler Master does warn that the mouse itself (specifically, the encoder and switches) is not waterproof. So, if your dream is gaming poolside with it, be aware that the MM710 is not immune to the effects of cannonballs.
Speaking of the switches, the MM710, much like the MM830 released earlier this year, is equipped with Omron switches. These switches are rated for over 20 million keystrokes over their lifetime. If you are an obsessive clicker when it comes to picking up loot drops, these switches will have no problem keeping up with your clicking needs.
Keeping with this theme of quality components, the MM710 uses a PixArt PMW3389 optical sensor. Belong to a family of highly venerated sensors, the PMW3389 has been used in many high caliber gaming mice, including the Razer Naga Trinity and Deathadder - to name a few of the more notable examples. This sensor can reach speeds of up to 16,000 DPI with programmable polling rates up to 1000Hz and PTFE feet to reduce drag. This means that even at those high speeds, the MM710 will be able to report its position on the screen smoothly around 1 millisecond. However, just because you can go that fast, doesn’t mean that you should.
That’s where this brain of this peripheral comes in. Equipped with a 32-bit ARM Cortex M0+, the MM710 has a total of six programmable buttons including the standard right and left, clickable wheel, DPI selector, and two mounted on the lefthand side.
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Each of these buttons can be controller through Cooler Master’s Portal software. This will allow you to customize every button, create macros, and program the DPI sensitivity at each level of selection. While these are features that are pretty standard within modern gaming mice, Portal serves as one of the nicer software partners to a peripheral.
These details are great, but how does it work?
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Field Testing
In the wild, the MM710 serves its advertised purpose. It provides a lightweight gaming experience that is comfortable and quick. Now, contextually, I have fairly large hand, so I dwarf the poor mouse. As pictured above, it is larger than an Apple Magic Mouse 2, but more demure than the Enhance Theorem.
Initially, I considered the light weight to be a down side with my giant mitt engulfing it. I thought that it might buckle underneath it or that I would get fatigued while compensating for its size. However, even with this considered, whether used in a palm, claw, or fingertip style grip, the MM710 held its own and it left me wishing my other mice were just a little bit lighter!
DPI switching on the fly is always a hit-or-miss option for me. I see the value in it if you are going to spend time programming it, but to have six default settings to cycle through to get back to your perfect seventh could minimize the benefit of having the option available in the first place. If you don’t want our need the DPI switching, reprogramming that button works just fine.
From a longevity standpoint, I do have some concerns about the MM710. The first is stability during travel. The plastic, holes and all, is largely ungiving under pressure. We did notice that on the left-hand side of the mouse, if you press hard enough on the plastic housing, you can click the buttons without even hitting them. This led me to an interesting question: how will the device fare over time in a laptop bag? If this is your weapon of choice for competitive play, I would be concerned about taking it off of the desktop and into an arena.
The second concern is a little bit on the gnarly side of things, but it is worth asking. While the PCB is protected by a dust and moisture resistant coating, over time, how much dead skin will creep into those holes if you are not actively cleaning it? While stylish nooks and crannies make for an appealing aesthetic, they don’t always make it easy to keep your device… hygienic.
Final Thoughts
The Cooler Master MM710 continues Cooler Master’s tradition in 2019 of bringing new and interesting designs to their line-up of gaming mice. From the PixArt PMW3389 sensor to the Omron switches to the Ultraweave USB cabling, the MM710 is built with some of the most sought after industry-leading features at an affordable price point.
We are a bit concerned about this design, it’s ability to be easily cleans and how it will hold up over time, especially in travel situations. However, in our testing, under high pressure and heavy hands, the MM710 showed no signs of budging.
If it’s speed you are looking for, the lightweight construction, PTFE feet, and programmable DPI settings of the Cooler Master MM710 allow for drag-free speeds, ensuring a quickness in whatever arena you find yourself in.
Pros
- Constructed with industry-leading components
- Extremely light weight
- Ultraweave cabling provides maximum flexibility without hindering movement
- PTFE feet reduces drag, creates a smooth gliding experience
- Highly programmable
Cons
- Long-term concerns for stability for travel and how to keep it clean
- Weak points in the structure may cause inadvertent button activation
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
