CM Storm Recon Gaming Mouse Review

The CM Storm Recon gaming mouse seeks to suit as wide a variety of gamers as possible. The settings allow for a great deal of customization, even to the point of the color of the LEDs. Perfectly mirrored on each side, the Storm Recon works just as well for the right-handed or the left-handed. Claw and wrist grip gamers should both find the mouse comfortable, though the edge may go to claw grip.
The Avago 3090 optical sensor ensure that the cursor does not skip and remains smooth and precise even on higher DPI settings at normal speeds, though it does jitter a little when you move it slowly. For precision photoshop work, you will probably want to switch out to a different mouse, but gamers should have no issues.

Each of the buttons stays tight and have a high enough pressure threshold that they are difficult to press accidentally. The Recon comes with nine total buttons: the main right and left clicks, two buttons on each side, two buttons on the top middle, and the mousewheel button. However, the two top-middle buttons are pre-bound to adjusting DPI, so unless you plan on rebinding them using the mouse’s software or do not find yourself needing the to change the mouse’s DPI on-the-fly, the mouse effectively has only seven buttons that are free. Still, that should be enough for all but the most mouse-enamored gamers.

The material of the mouse has been rubberized, so it feels smooth yet non-slippery. Even when sweat accumulates over hours of gaming or other computer activities, the grip never loosens. The material does not build up residue from hand oils either.


The CM Storm Recon works just as well with a hard mousepad as a soft one, as can be expected from an optical sensor mouse. Mousepads with pictures and widely varying colors do not pose a problem either. Whether you use a mousepad with a wrist rest or not, the grip on the mouse itself is comfortable. The mouse is short enough that people should not have to excessively bend their wrist even without a wrist rest. The pads on the bottom of the mouse are not slippery, but they also do not scratch the mousepad.
The mouse does happen to need a cord, so keep that in mind when considering the CM Storm Recon. The cord itself stretches to almost eight feet (1.8 meters), so staying connected the computer case should never be a problem. The box itself actually has a typo that says 7.86 inches instead of 78.6 inches, but the cord’s length is clearly the latter.

The mouse comes with four DPI settings: 800, 1600, 3200, and 4000. As a nice added feature, the mousewheel, center buttons, and logo change colors depending on which DPI settings you are using, allowing you to immediately know whether or not the mouse is currently set to your preferences when you sit down. The lights shift from blue at 4000 DPI, to green at 3200, to red at 1600 and completely shut off at 800 DPI on the default settings, though you can switch them around on the firmware settings. The lights themselves pop just enough to let you know the mouse is on even in bright lighting without being obtrusive and annoying in darkness or low light. The two center buttons that adjust DPI may feel difficult to reach while holding the mouse normally, but most people do not find themselves changing DPI on-the-fly very often. Remapping those two buttons is not recommended for this reason.

Software allows the user to remap button functions, adjust lift-off-distance, and change USB polling rate. All of the settings can be tied to each of the aforementioned color choices, allowing for up to five unique profiles that can be changed on-the-fly. The integrated memory also allows for up to 36 macros.


The aesthetics of the mouse are simple, yet bold. The variety of colored lights make it even easier to match the mouse with your computer case’s specific color and light scheme. The black and gunmetal gray exterior provide a broad appeal and complements numerous color schemes.
The CM Storm Recon gaming mouse seeks to offer something for every gamer, and it appears to succeed at accomplishing that end. Everything from the color options to the customizable on-the-fly setting profiles to the ambidextrous multi-grip design make the Recon a great choice for all-purpose gaming, especially on gaming platforms with multiple users. There are mice out there with more buttons and more robust customization options, but with the solid build and utility of the Recon and a price of around $39.99 (MSRP), this mouse certainly justifies its cost and represents a huge value to gamers.

Source : gamingillustrated