REVIEW: Roccat's Kone XTD Mouse and Isku FX Keyboard

Gear Review Games about 11 years agoby Jason Williams

For the past month, I’ve been enjoying the greatness that is the Roccat Kone XTD mouse and Isku FX keyboard. Sure, they have some weird names, but that does not take away the fact that these are simply two great peripherals to add to your gaming rig.

Kone XTD

Let’s first begin with the Kone XTD. When it comes to any mouse, whether they be for gaming or just regular use, comfort is the #1 thing I look for. The Kone XTD fits perfectly in my hand, and I never get tired of using it. My thumb easily rests on the left side of the mouse, and the arch of the device never leaves your hand with that weird cramping feeling.

The DPI of the mouse goes from its lowest at 200, all the way up to 8200. The best part about this is that you can change the DPI setting on the fly thanks to a wonderful easy-access button located on the top of the mouse. As long as you have the Roccat Talk drivers installed, you will actually hear a voice speak out to you informing you exactly what DPI setting you are on each time you change it. This is perfect for when you want to change it on the fly while playing your favorite game.

The mouse has 4 LED lights that illuminate the two strips located on both the left and right sides of the mouse. These strips can shine bright in a multitude of animations including “blinking,” “breathing,” or just plain ol' “solid”. The mouse wheel, simply dubbed the “Titan,” is very smooth to operate and does not feel clunky when trying to move it in either direction.

Along with the above great features, the mouse also includes 4 weights (4 x 5G) that you can add to the mouse, to make the feel a little sturdier while playing. I went ahead and added all 4 of them, and it’s a completely different feel than not having any.

Last but not least, working with the Roccat Talk software + drivers, the Kone XTD works in perfect harmony with the Isku FX (or any other Roccat Talk enabled device). There are so many customization options available that I would probably need another article (or two) to even explain them all. Just know, whatever you can think of is probably possible. You can change macros on the fly with either your keyboard or even just the mouse, and that’s what makes the Roccat Talk software a true gem.

Technical Specifications

Pro-Aim Laser Sensor R3 with up to 8200dpi
1000Hz polling rate
1ms response time
12000fps, 10.8megapixel
30G acceleration
3.8m/s (150ips)
16-bit data channel
1-5mm Lift off distance
Tracking & Distance Control Unit
72MHz Turbo Core V2 32-bit Arm based MCU
576kB onboard memory
Zero angle snapping/prediction
1.8m braided USB cable

Isku FX

When it comes to keyboards, people have different things that they look for. Some people want the ability to have endless amounts of macros, or be able to adjust precisely how the keys feel when you press down on them. For me, I look for a wrist area that will I be comfortable using while typing or gaming. While looking at Roccat’s site, they say the wrist area “acts like a sofa for your hands,” and I’d have to agree with that statement.

But there is much more to this great keyboard. Just like the Kone XTD mentioned above, the Isku FX has the ability to shine bright in many different colors. This of course can be in sync with your Kone XTD or any other Roccat Talk enabled mouse. On top of that, thanks to some special “magic” within the drivers of the device, the Isku FX lighting can react to what’s happening on your screen. If you’re getting attacked by big bad enemies, it can instantly change the keyboard lighting. Meanwhile, if you are exploring the fields in a game like Skyrim, the lighting will change to somewhat match that scenery. How cool is that?!

The Isku FX comes with 36 macro keys, along with a live macro recording option. So you should have no problem whatsoever getting just the right combination of macros set for your favorite games. Along with the macro keys, you will have the media keys located at the top of the keyboard. I don’t know about you, but I love having these shortcuts on any keyboard so I can instantly bring up my browser, “My Computer” area, or even just adjust the volume. It seems that more and more keyboards leave this option off, so I was happy to see it on this device.

You can set different profiles for the Isku FX (you can do the same with the Kone XTD), 5 profiles to be exact, so no need to worry if you have multiple people using the computer or if you just want completely different options setup for yourself and available on the fly.

Technical Specifications

Illuminated keyboard with 123 keys
Enhanced anti-ghosting capability
3 programmable Thumbster Keys (T1-T3)
5 programmable Macro Keys (M1-M5)
20 additional Macro Keys (Easy Zone)
5 Profile-Status LEDs
3 Status LEDs (Caps Lock, Easy Shift[+]™, Num Lock)
1000Hz polling rate, 1ms response time
2m USB cable

Overall Score: 5/5

Yup, that's right, both the Kone XTD and Isku FX receive a glowing review. I couldn’t be happier with these devices, and I know I have only begun to unlock their combined potential utilizing the Roccat Talk software. This would be a fantastic addition to your gaming rig.