Cooler Master MM520
A decent budget option.
It’s rare that the words ‘ budget’ and ‘gaming’ can both be used to describe the same peripheral, but Cooler Master has introduced a pair of very affordable gaming mice that cover both territories well.
The MM520 and MM530 are functionally the same mouse but in a claw-grip and palm-grip form factor, respectively. We reviewed the MM520, but most points can be applied to both.
Deciding to focus on each particular grip style has paid off for Cooler Master, as the MM520 is a pleasure to wield. The material is nice to the touch, if not a little cheap feeling, with a textured plastic covering most of the mouse and a rubber grip for your pinky finger. Despite the Omron switches, the primary buttons feel a little clunky and loud, the scroll-wheel is comically large, and the side buttons get close breaking the sound barrier and are a chore to press. Don’t worry, the rest is all good news.
The software is exceptionally detailed and easy to use. With up to five profiles, you can customise three independent RGB zones, complete with effects, and any setting you could imagine for tweaking how the mouse performs. You can assign all six buttons how you please and with Cooler Master’s TactiX feature, you can add secondary functionality to every button when you hold down the appropriate key.
While the component quality seems a little average, it’s to be expected at $59 and, considering the fully-featured software capabilities, this is certainly the mouse we recommend for gamers with tight wallets.
Verdict
While the feature list may seem underwhelming, the price and grip-specific designs are great.