As gamers, we are always looking for the next big thing to edge out our competition. Look no further: the Roccat Kone AIMO has all the great features you have come to know and love, including programmable buttons and easy access configuration. What makes the Kone AIMO special is its Easy-Shift technology that takes the 11 Programmable buttons and, with the press of the button, doubles that amount. The AIMO Intelligent Light System sets a new standard in the RGB world, and the remarkably accurate Owl-Eye optical sensor keeps you on target. Is it worth the $79.99 MSRP? Read on to find out and hear rour thoughts on Roccat’s next evolution of the gaming mouse.
Specifications
- MSRP: $79.99
- Sensor: ROCCAT Owl-Eye optical sensor with 12000dpi
- Switches: ROCCAT exclusive 50 Mio. lifecycle switches
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Acceleration/Speed: 50G acceleration, 250ips maximum speed
- Mouse Acceleration: No
- Angle Snapping: On/Off
- Lift Off Distance: Adjustable
- CPU: ARM Cortex-M0 50MHz
- Memory: 512kB onboard memory
- Cable: 1.8m braided USB cable
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Evolutionary Leader
Roccat’s latest iteration of the Kone is focused on evolving RGB illumination while also delivering the performance gamers expect. They are achieving this by way of the new AIMO Living Light System, intelligent RGB that learns the more you use it. It learns when to dazzle the gamer and when to take the proverbial backseat when you’re focused on making that next frag.
If you are not interested in the AIMO Intelligent Lighting, there are of course other options as well: Colorwave, Snake, Fully Lit, Heartbeat 2.0 and Breathing 2.0, each with customizable color settings and preloaded themes you can customize as well. The four lighting zones are independently changeable, as well, to give the user more control than any other mouse I’ve used.
The Kone shares the lineage of the 2007 release, but offers many of the same improvements found on the Kone Pure released earlier this year. The biggest is certainly the Owl Eye optical sensor, Roccat’s improved version of the PixArt 3360. The Owl Eye sensor has a staggering 12000 DPI.
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There has been some debate on Optical vs Laser driven mice. In the past, this was most definitely a “thing,” but in today’s market the gaps have shrunk. If you are using a glossy surface, a laser driven mouse wouldn’t be ideal, as it can interfere with the sensor, but on most mouse surfaces you would be hard pressed to feel a difference. Gamers will appreciate the ability to switch to a different DPI at the drop of hat thanks to the quick-switch buttons near the mouse wheel. I have tested this mouse with various games from FPS to MMOs and the Kone AIMO never let me down over my week of testing. Once the review period is done, it might even become my go-to mouse!
Roccat’s markets the AIMO with the tagline “Speed of Light.” This seem fitting as, coupled with the Own eye sensor and the Easy-Shift Technology, everything you do seems lighting fast. Coming soon the Horde AIMO keyboard will be released and features the same lighting system. Together they will work in tandem to produce a beautiful display of lighting that learns as you play.
The Kone AIMO seems very durable with its all plastic design. The mouse does seem a bit bigger when compared to my Naga Epic, but it’s easy to use and surprisingly light once you get used to its size. There are no rubberized grips to worry about wearing down during heavy use. The ergonomics have been beautifully mastered as each button is easy to press and requires no odd movements to reach. The Tri-Button thumb area is very well designed, allowing your thumb to rest near the Easy-Shift button for lightning fast expansion of your usable buttons. Roccat’s exclusive switches have a 50-million click lifespan, which is virtually an eternity, and should help prevent any of the double click issues that seem to crop up in mice over time.
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Customizable
One of the best things about the Kone AIMO is the ability to customize nearly every aspect of the mouse to fit your needs. You can change the key bindings on each key as well as store 5 separate profiles on the mouse’s 512kB of onboard memory. This means your profiles come with you no matter where you want play. With Roccat’s Swarm editor, you can change nearly everything from vertical scroll speed to the different levels of DPI on the DPI Switcher.
Final Thoughts
I am the type of gamer that is always on the lookout for a mouse that lets me play exactly how I want without sacrificing performance or draining my pocket book. This mouse is comfortable and seems suited for hours of game play without minimal fatigue. The Kone AIMO seems to have the perfect weight as it’s not clumsy or hard to move over time. It has enough buttons to make it a great mouse for nearly every game I tested it on. I still like the thumb grid for World of Warcraft, of course, but for a non-MMO/MOBA mouse, it works well. Move over Naga.
Is it worth $79? When you factor in the comfort, reliability, and functionality it offers, along with the unique and excellent AIMO Intelligent Lighting System, it almost seems too low. Its easily one of the best mice I have had the pleasure of using and has more than earned its place on my desk.
Pros
- AIMO Intelligent Light is impressive and looks great
- Easy-Shift doubles your buttons, making it a good fit for any genre
- Great software offering lots of customization
- Sturdy, durable build
Cons
- Larger size than some users may expect
The unit was provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of review.
