Cooler Master’s first wireless mouse isn’t exceptional, but nice design and Qi wireless charging offset a couple of inelegant aspects.
In the last two or three years, wireless mouse technology has reached a point where you can use one to play games without fear of extra input lag. As a result, more and more mouse makers have slowly been adding wireless options to their product lineups. Cooler Master is the latest to cut the cord with its newest gaming mouse, the $79.99 MM831. (The MM is short for “Master Mouse.”) Like many first-time wireless models, it’s an upscale take on a simple six-button design, with a strong sensor and some premium perks like Qi wireless charging. It isn’t without its flaws, but the MM831 is a solid wireless mouse if you’re looking to make the jump. Master Mouse Learns to Fly
The Cooler Master MM831 is a sleek, if not especially novel-looking, six-button gaming mouse. Measuring 1.72 by 5 by 2.6 inches, it looks rather tall, but it’s actually just a little thin for its length. That distinction doesn’t affect its shape, though: The MM831 has a solid, low-profile chassis that feels good in hand, even without the ergonomic hump you normally look for in a right-handed mouse. At 4.34 ounces, it’s a little heavy for competitive players, though it’s not far off from other wireless esports mice, which tend to weigh a little more because of their onboard batteries and other components. In my mind, a good grip is definitely worth the weight.
The button design is standard six-button right-hander fare: You have two clicks and a scroll wheel between them, with a DPI preset selector (the optical sensor offers up to 32,000 interpolated DPI) in the center column. On the left side, you’ll find forward and back buttons. In addition to the customizable buttons, you’ll find two connectivity-related inputs on the underside: a three-setting switch that toggles among wired,2.4GHz, and Bluetooth modes, and a pairing button for setting up a connection via Bluetooth.
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Having both wireless connection types is a nice perk. The 2.4GHz connection, established via USB dongle, is a better connection for gaming, as it’s perfectly stable, but not every device has a USB port free, so Bluetooth support makes the MM831 more versatile.
