ROCCAT KOVA 2016 Pure Performance Gaming Mouse Review

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

Since we were made aware of ROCCAT, what we saw then spun our heads a bit. There were just a few companies that had taken to in-depth software controls at that time, but there was no other mouse maker on the planet offering something like the EasyShift system. With a simple idea when it comes right down to it, ROCCAT uses one button on their devices to essentially double the functionality, and all without adding a massive array of buttons. Something else that we seem to recall first from ROCCAT was their ROCCAT Talk system. At the heart of this feature, it allows users to take commands from other devices and set them as functional on their mice and keyboards.

While it seems like forever ago that we saw our first version of this mouse, at that time we were extremely impressed with what ROCCAT was offering then. The KOVA Plus mouse was way ahead of the curve, and being based on an ambidextrous design took nothing away from it. This is where it all starts for this latest submission, and from what we have seen on ROCCAT's site, they have taken things to all new levels of styling with what they are addressing as a sleek and streamlined design. Inspired by automotive lines and Euro car design, ROCCAT has revived the KOVA, and brought new life to that name.

Depending on where you look, you will find this latest mouse called either plainly a KOVA, and in other places we see it called the KOVA 2016. Either way, you want to look at it, the plus has been stripped from the naming, but we have lost none of the features that little plus brings to mind from the past. Basing this newest version of an ambidextrous design, adding an addition three buttons, and doubling the performance of their optical sensor via software just gets us started. ROCCAT is showing still that they are not a company that sits on their laurels and waits for the demand to show, they come out with things that you never knew you needed until a device gives it to you. That being said, let's see what this new KOVA 2016, new SWARM software, and a rejuvenated plan of attack in mouse design has to offer.

In the chart provided from ROCCAT, we see they get right to the meat and potatoes of the KOVA 2016 mouse. The left side starts with the heart of the mouse, with the choice of the Pro-Optic Sensor R6 with up to 3500DPI. This is the Pixart PMW3320 IR LED sensor, and with an Overdrive Mode, the DPI range is raised to 7000 DPI for this mouse. There is an adjustable polling rate which tops out at 1000Hz, and you can adjust the response time down to 1ms. This Pixart sensor can track movements at 20G acceleration, and uses a 12-bit data channel between it and the MCU. Speaking of the MCU, we are given a 50MHz speed, Turbo Core V2 32-bit ARM-based MCU, which is made by NXP. To help with all the settings the SWARM software will allow, the KOVA 2016 is shipped with 512kb of onboard memory, and to connect the mouse to the PC, we are given a 1.8-meter cable that has been braided for a dressier appearance.

On the right side, we do see that they took the time to dole out the measurements, where we find that this KOVA 2016 is 66mm wide, 38mm tall, 131mm long, and weighs in at a lightweight 99 grams. They do not make mention in the chart of a few things, though. First off, this is an ambidextrous design, but it also comes as an all-black option or dressed with white covers, allowing a bit of the black to show through. They also do not make mention of the seven buttons on this mouse excluding the scroll wheel functions, nor do they mention the dual LED zones with full RGB control. Of course, these bits of information can be found on the site in the text, but there just isn't room to show their whole product page here in this review. Lastly, we see the system requirements which show that we need Windows 7, 8, or 10, a free USB 2.0 port, and an internet connection for the driver to take full advantage of the KOVA 2016.

With all the features ROCCAT has put into the KOVA 2016, and the much more aggressive design on the outside, we would have expected the pricing to be much higher than it is. Where most other companies are offering a comparable device much closer to the $80 mark, ROCCAT does their best to deliver top notch gear at an affordable price. So as we looked around for either the black or the white versions, which cost the same by the way, we found that everyone had the same list price. No matter which big e-tailer you go to, you are going to find that the ROCCAT KOVA 2016 will cost only $49.99, and ships without additional cost involved.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS X99-E WS - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• CPU: Intel Core i7 5930K - Buy from Amazon
• Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Memory: KLevv Cras DDR4 3000 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Video Card: ASUS GeForce GTX 980 Matrix Platinum - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Storage: Intel 730 480GB - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: SilverStone TJ11 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Corsair AX1200 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit - Buy from Amazon