Customization and personalization are key buzzwords- who doesn't like having their products made-to-order, whether it's a custom T-shirt or a sandwich with only the ingredients you want. But there is only so much companies can do, since economies of scale make production of most items fairly standard. Hence the variety of skins and cases for your smartphone- everyone might have the same basic phone, but can change the wallpaper, and look/feel.
The ROCCAT Kone XTD Gaming Mouse takes the idea and implements a variety of ways for you to make your gaming peripheral your own. We've looked at many gaming mice in the past- like the unique Mad Catz R.A.T. series- but few offer quite the level of custom control given by the Kone XTD. While many models offer you changeable weights, this one offers you four separate weights that you can combine for the optimal experience (it's still fairly lightweight). And while most mice have a couple of programmable buttons, the Kone XTD gives you eight, and they are all easily accessible and reachable as well.
Let's break it down: mice technology has reached a point of diminishing returns, but there is still a big and noticeable difference between your average consumer mouse and a premium gaming model. 8200 DPI is plenty of precision, and this one can range from 200 up- the A4Tech V5 could do adjustable DPI as well but only went to 3200 for example. Unlike that model's somewhat garish appearance, the cool matte-black XTD offers four lights and adjustable colors that are fairly easy to change. Even more, you can set them independently, which is actually pretty cool. And it's true: mice come with their own processors now, this one included- a 32-bit Turbo Core V2 72MHz ARM MCU processor to be precise. The XTD is wired, which is generally good for gamers, though wireless mice have improved to the point of being able to recommend them without many reservations.
A peripheral isn't only about features though- it's also, or even mainly, about comfort and design. The ergonomics of a mouse are totally personal- we always suggest testing them out, and buying from a place that offers free returns if you don't quite like the fit. With the XTD, folks with larger hands will find the shape nearly perfect, while those with smaller ones might find it a bit over-sized. As with most gaming mice, there are programmable macro options- they are quite customizable, and you can set up different profiles for different games, from MMOs like WoW to the Modern Warfare series. The buttons are fairly raised and easy to find without searching, and feel naturally placed. Instructions on setup aren't great, but the software is solid and fairly easy to use once you get it downloaded, installed, and running properly. You can even tweak the most minute details, which is pretty amazing, if not the sort of thing an average user will want to do.
In short, this is a gamer's mouse worth the pricetag. If you need precision and accuracy, and want a flexible mouse that feels built to last and doesn't have some oversized garish logo branding you, then the ROCCAT Kone XTD is a great pick. Clicks feel solid and the device itself is responsive, and there are plenty of ways to customize. Available now, online and in stores, for around $80.