CM Storm Recon Gaming Mouse Review (w/ Skorpion Mouse Bungee)

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Design and Ergonomics4. CM Storm Skorpion Mouse Bungee5. Software and Operation6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

Building upon the recent success of the Sentinel series, CM Storm has aimed to conquer every segment of the market with the all-round performance-orientated Recon. Intended to offer the utmost in durability, functionality and accuracy, has CM Storm created the FPS gamers’ dream mouse in the Recon?

Equipped with a couple of Omron Micro and one of the finest optical sensors available, Avago’s 3090, ultra-precise tracking and the flexibility of 800, 1600, 3200 and 4000 DPI modes implies that CM Storm’s ambidextrous Recon mouse is perfect for use in a variety of scenarios.

Supplied with red, green and blue DPI-specific and user-customisable LEDs and utilising a non-slip rubberised grip, the CM Storm Recon could be perfect for users wanting a mouse with aesthetic ‘bling’ and functional ‘bang’.

We will be testing the Recon mouse alongside CM Storm’s Skorpion mouse bungee – a seemingly convenient wire-managing, movement-broadening peripheral.

Specifications:

• Avago 3090 optical sensor with 800-4000 dpi
• On-The-Fly Lift-Off-Distance adjustments
• On-The-Fly DPI adjustments
• On-The Fly USB polling rate adjustments
• Up to 1.5m/s or 60”/s tracking speed and 20G of acceleration
• Highest grade Japanese Omron micro switches
• Extra wide 16-bit USB data path
• 1000 Hz polling rate / 1ms response time
• Super Grip coated ambidextrous mousebody

The CM Storm Recon is securely packaged inside a box that is littered with promotional material. Key features and a glance at the Recon itself can be obtained by opening the front flap.

A more detailed breakdown of the specifications is found on the box's rear side.

An extremely basic quick start guide is the sole item that forms the Recon's bundle.

CM Storm has decided to give the Recon an elegant and understated style. It doesn't feature any huge grooves or sharp edges, but instead is more rounded and smooth in appearance. A 13mm separation between the front of the left and right click buttons ensures that accidental activations are avoided.

Excellent positioning of the DPI adjustment buttons makes increasing or decreasing the setting a simple task that won't cause a distraction during gaming sessions. An LED located in both of the ‘up' and ‘down' buttons ensures that you can actually locate them when gaming in a low-light environment.

CM Storm's LED-touting logo is present in the centre of a rubberised grip that covers most of the Recon's upper edge. Providing an extra degree of force absorption and an increased friction value, the rubberised body enhances comfort and grip, ensuring that you don't miss that crucial shot at the end of your lengthy gaming session.

Resembling a figure 8 in shape, the grip helps to comfortably direct the majority of one's palm and both click fingers towards their intended positions. Partially submerged in the 13mm gap between right and left click buttons, the sizable scroll wheel is bordered by a pair of LED strips.

A pair of buttons located on either side of the Recon mouse gives proof that CM Storm wasn't using the ambidextrous feature as little more than an advertising tool. By default, these buttons are used to operate the page ‘backward' and ‘forward' functions, but, when using a custom profile, users can manipulate each of the 4 inputs' role.

CM Storm uses a black cord produced from a plastic material. The material selection was likely swayed by the plastic's enhanced compatibility with the Skorpion mouse bungee, in comparison to a braided cord. A gold-plated USB connector is used to eliminate poor connections.

A transparent plastic window gives potential customers an opportunity to closely examine the Skorpion mouse bungee.

Key features are outlined on the side of the box and are accompanied by the related images.

A quick start guide is supplied with the Skorpion, but, in reality, it does little more than give CM Storm a medium to advertise their other product lines.

Built from a heavy iron core and tipping the scales at 172g, the tripod-esque Skorpion uses a rubberised arm and set of feet to provide enhanced stability via a high value of friction.

Each of the 3 feet is removable giving users the ability to select the Skorpion's height configuration that best suits their needs.

The mouse cord feeds through a channel in the Skorpion's rubberised arm. With the cable clamped firmly in place, the arm has an ability to flex when a small force is applied. This provides an extra few centimetres of mouse movement that users may require at any specific time. When the pulling force is removed, the arm flexes back to its original position in preparation for re-activation.

CM Storm doesn't provide any software with the Recon mouse. The latest software can be obtained directly from the CM Storm website, under the Recon's product page.

Button assignment is reserved for the Recon configuration software's main page. When using a custom profile, each of the mouse's 9 buttons can be assigned with a specific function. Button functions remain untouchable when using the Recon's default profile.

Performance settings can be tweaked under the ‘Sensor' subsection. Four distinct DPI settings in the 800-4000 range can be selected.

The LED colours can be manipulated when using a custom profile. This feature is certain to please users that want the CM Storm Recon to perfectly match the rest of their desk.

There is a section designated specifically to the creation of macros. A large number of unique and user-definable profiles can be selected and saved using the Recon's software.

CM Storm provides a support section that directs you to the company's website, when in need of assistance. A request for feedback is another feature which shows that CM Storm warrants customers' individual opinions.

Using the Recon's default profile, a set of LEDs is used to indicate the current DPI setting. No colour indicates 800 DPI, red is for the 1600 setting, 3200 is signified by the green LEDs and blue indicates the Avago 3090 sensor's maximum mode (for this mouse) of 4000 DPI.

Acclimatisation for use with the CM Storm Recon was completed instantly. At no point did the design feel like it was promoting an uncomfortable or limited full-clench holding style. The 13mm break between right and left click buttons represented the natural gap between index and middle fingers, when using a mouse.

The CM Storm Recon is a very potent mouse for general usage. Suitably positioned ‘forward' and ‘back' buttons, in addition to the large click wheel and ‘spare' pair of easily-adjustable side keys, enhance day to day productivity. Some people may find the loud and stilted nature of the click wheel an issue. Personally, the noise didn't pester me and the substantial scroll distance between each consecutive partial rotation was still within an optimal range.

We liked the CM Storm Recon as a gaming mouse, mainly due to its exceptional comfort and easy-to-access DPI adjustment buttons. Avago's 3090 sensor worked effectively to provide efficient and precise tracking, but competitive gamers with large monitor resolutions may miss the 5000+ DPI modes of competing mice, under certain conditions.

Using a 1920×1080 resolution, the 4000 DPI setting provided a welcomed boost to the turn-rate of a Battlefield 3 helicopter gunner and jet pilot, while the 800 DPI mode was perfectly adequate for long-range sniping.

CM Storm has created yet another competitive mouse in the Recon. Comfort, layout, performance and ease-of-use are all weapons in the Recon's arsenal.

Designed to meet the demands of gamers that insist upon the utmost in durability, functionality and accuracy, we can confirm that the Recon ticks all 3 of those boxes. Durability is the most awkward feature to comment on, but with a market-leading sensor, high-quality materials and a solid design, we can't see a reason as to why the CM Storm Recon wouldn't be a long-lasting, robust gaming mouse.

Comfort is a clear strength for the CM Storm Recon. The rubberised grip and palm-resting design allow a user's hand and fingers to sit comfortably in their respective locations. Conveniently located side buttons ensure that a simple movement of the thumb is enough to operate the page forward and backward controls.

Placing the DPI adjustment buttons behind the scroll wheel allows them to be easily accessed in the blink of an eye… or change of a battle's conditions. Being able to rapidly switch between 800, 1600, 3200 and 4000 DPI modes gives gamers a good degree of flexibility to play a game in the manor that they desire.

General usage was an enjoyable experience with the CM Storm Recon. Precise tracking and a plethora of customisable buttons creates a solid basis for increased productivity to be achieved. Gaming performance was equally impressive, but there is the potential for some users to be disappointed by the maximum DPI setting of 4000.

More of a comment than a complaint, the side buttons that are adjacent to one's outside fingers have the potential to be accidentally clicked. While the inwards-slanting design of the Recon's sides does its best to eliminate the possibility, there is still a slim chance for users with large fingers to accidentally activate the function.

We don't see this as a negative factor because, taking the opposite point of view, it proves that every button on the mouse can be easily accessed by using all fingers. We would advise care to be taken or even a profile-based function adjustment to made when using the CM Storm Recon. This would ensure that a ‘page backwards' button isn't accidentally clicked, causing potential work-losing problems.

For users with a crowded and untidy desk, the Skorpion mouse bungee is a convenient product that is worthy of consideration. The flexible arm and cable-routing channel minimise the potential for point-losing wire snags to occur. To users with a tidy desk and clear route for their mouse cable, the Skorpion is little more than a unique ornament.

At around £12.95, the Skorpion is a relatively cheap way to avoid wire snags. It offers great portability but has a very specific target audience. Only you can tell whether or not the Skorpion is of any use to make it worthy of your money.

With CM Storm claiming an expected retail price of around £41.95, the Recon is suitably priced to become a competitive sub £50 option. Excellent comfort, a well-thought design and good performance make the CM Storm Recon a hot contender to anybody wanting a new gaming mouse.

Pros:

• Comfortable shape and rubberised grip.
• 9 customisable buttons.
• High quality Omron micro switches.
• Customisable LED colours.
• Conveniently located DPI adjustment buttons.
• Truly ambidextrous design.

Cons:

• 4000 DPI may be limited for certain users.
• CM Storm Skorpion mouse bungee is of questionable use.

KitGuru says: CM Storm has done it again! The Recon is a comfortable and easy to use gaming mouse that utilises one of the market's supreme sensors to offer excellent performance in a variety of scenarios.

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