As wired gaming mice go, the Turtle Beach Kone II ($69.99) is large but reasonably lightweight and packs plenty of quality gaming features. The 26,000dpi sensor, optical button switches, and distinctive Easy-Shift[+] capability make the Kone II a worthy alternative to our two top picks for wired gaming mice, the Roccat Kone XP and the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2. The Turtle Beach’s customizable RGB lighting obliges flair-seeking gamers, and its software is much better than previous versions. Players with smallish hands can skip this beast, though, and most would do well to consider the slightly cheaper and similarly capable but more compact Pulsefire Haste 2. Design: Not for the Small of HandWondering why the latest Kone mouse is Turtle Beach-branded instead of bearing the Roccat name? Turtle Beach acquired the brand in 2019 and has lately been introducing new gaming peripherals such as the Atlas Air headset under its own name. The Kone family of gaming mice is alive and well, though, and members like the Kone XP continue to be sold under the original Roccat label. In addition to the wired Kone II reviewed here, Turtle Beach also offers a wireless version, the $120 Kone II Air, which we’ll be reviewing soon.
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As mentioned, the Kone II is large for a gaming mouse—1.72 inches tall and 3.25 inches wide. But it weighs in at 3.2 ounces, lighter than the Kone XP and the 1.9-ounce HyperX, and moves as easily as similarly-sized mice, like the slightly heavier (3.6-ounce) Razer Basilisk. Turtle Beach positions the Kone II as supporting medium and large hands and most grip styles. We were skeptical at first, but played with both claw- and palm-style grips and felt comfortable. And while we can’t vouch for every hand size, our largish paws felt right at home on the Kone II.
(Credit: Josh Gulick)
However, we think you’ll be disappointed if you have small hands or expect a slim mouse. If you gravitate to travel-size mice like the Logitech MX Anywhere 3S, for example, the bulky Kone II is definitely not your style. The Kone II’s body shape and button placement make it a right-handed mouse. One of those buttons sits at the base of the mouse, just below the thumb. By default, this button activates the Easy-Shift[+] feature, which adds extra functions to the mouse’s six other buttons and scroll wheel. All told, Easy-Shift[+] gives you as many as 23 functions that you can customize. To use it, hold it down and then press one of the other buttons (holding it and moving the scroll wheel down, for instance, to lower the system volume, though it won’t modify the main left- and right-click functions). Turtle Beach offers a handy guide for all the regular and Easy-Shift[+] assignments:
(Credit: Turtle Beach)
If you don’t need the function-swapping feature, you can remap that lower button however you’d like. We assigned the crouch action to that button for first-person shooter games, and now we wish all mice had it. As an added bonus, the button has just enough resistance to make it a good shelf or thumb rest when you’re not pressing it.We also like the scroll wheel, which has great tactile feedback. It also has side tilt functionality and acts as an extra button, all while striking that crucial balance between actuating quickly and resisting accidental pressure.Testing the Kone II: A High-Res Sensor and Optical SwitchesThe Kone II is on the pricey side for a mainstream wired gaming mouse, but the added expense does get you some high-end gaming features, including the 26,000dpi Owl-Eye sensor. You can move the mouse up to 650 inches per second (ips) without the sensor losing tracking. We should note, however, that the cheaper Pulsefire Haste 2 matches this maximum resolution.
(Credit: Josh Gulick)
The Roccat Titan Optical switches provide fast actuation when you press the Kone II’s buttons. The two front buttons are wide, flat, and slightly boring in the looks department, but they are snappy. We liked their responsiveness when we repeatedly clicked to fire short bursts with a rifle or frantically slashed zombies with a katana. Other features include support for Nvidia Reflex (which promises to reduce latency when gaming if you use the Kone II with a Reflex-compatible game and monitor) and onboard memory for five custom profiles.
(Credit: Josh Gulick)
The Kone II connects to your PC via a USB-A connector at the end of a very long (6-foot) cord. We noticed the cord that shipped with our review unit had some fuzzy braiding in a couple of spots right out of the box, but that’s a minor complaint. The package includes the mouse, a manual, and two stickers that you can apply to the sides to increase your grip. As far as that classic showy aesthetic that many gamers seek, the Kone II has a slick RGB LED lighting system. The wheel lights up, as do two strips that run along the back of the mouse. They form three separate lighting zones, which you can customize with the Swarm II software. You can choose colors and lighting patterns to match your style, or turn the LEDs off completely if you’re being stealthy—or just don’t dig lights.Software: A Vastly Improved Swarm of OptionsOne of our complaints about the Kone XP was that the Swarm software looked outdated. Turtle Beach puts that issue to rest with Swarm II, which has a clean interface and plenty of customization options. Swarm II is available for Windows 10 and 11, but not macOS. (there’s an iOS and iPadOS version, but it only works with Turtle Beach headsets).
(Credit: Turtle Beach)
Swarm II’s macro manager lets you quickly gear the mouse toward common functions for mainstream games like Apex Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Fortnite, to name a few.You can also set custom DPI choices for the Kone II’s middle button and adjust several additional features, including the LED color patterns as mentioned above. We like that both the mouse and the on-screen image of it display the different color patterns as you click through the lighting presets. Of course, you can customize the patterns if you dislike the presets.
(Credit: Turtle Beach)
Swarm II also handles driver updates and supports other Turtle Beach gaming devices such as headsets and keyboards. We’re happy to see that the software got the revamp it needed.Verdict: A Mouse for When Size Matters MostWe have no doubt that some gamers will want a smaller clicker, and we know they’ll have no trouble finding good options. The market has plenty of small, light, wired gaming mice including the Editors’ Choice honoree HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2. But gamers with medium and large hands will like the Turtle Beach’s high-end hardware and near-endless customizability. For many, the Kone II will be well worth its price and its size.
Pros
Comfortable for medium and large hands
Excellent optical button switches
High-resolution 26,000dpi sensor
Seven buttons are highly customizable
Adjustable RGB lighting
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The Bottom Line
Big but not unwieldy, the Turtle Beach Kone II pairs quality hardware with loads of customizability to create an excellent wired gaming mouse for larger hands.
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About Josh Gulick
After being assigned to the computer-science wing of his college dormitory, Josh quickly became one of the most tech-savvy English majors around. Upon graduating, he began reviewing computers for the magazines Smart Computing and Computer Power User. After years of covering computer hardware and the PC-modding scene, Josh became Smart Computing’s publication editor. These days, Josh is back at his favorite job: testing new hardware. In his downtime, Josh can be found playing RTS games (poorly) or prepping for his next half-marathon (by obsessing about running shoes).
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