The only thing as important as a good PC build for gaming is the selection of peripherals that go along with it. While solid PC specs are a good baseline for any experience, that experience won’t be quite the same for those using a lackluster mouse or keyboard. However, peripherals can also break the bank when opting for premium options. Enter the Cooler Master MM720, a gaming mouse that seeks to balance performance with cost-efficiency.
The most immediately striking thing about the MM720 is its honeycomb design. The mouse is dotted with holes aimed at making it feel lighter and letting it glide across tabletops. There’s a noticeable difference compared to other mice during gameplay, meant to make it easier to perform snapshots and turns in the heat of the moment. That doesn't always work out how it should, though, and there's a pretty big tradeoff to boot.
The honeycomb design and the lighter feel make the MM720 feel somewhat cheap. The plastic encasing doesn’t feel too far off of what one will find on something akin to the Razer DeathAdder, though the MM720 is less textured than the typical mouse. Its smooth, light design gives it a sort of fragile feel, which raises concerns about how it will hold up over the span of a few months.
There are a few other design choices that are cause for concern too. The DPI button is on the bottom of the mouse, which makes it harder to hit for on-the-fly adjustments during a match. And it’s a full cycle of switching rather than being able to cycle up and down through the options. That’s not a dealbreaker on its own, but it’s something to keep in mind when playing a game like Halo: Master Chief Collection, where users may want to quickly adjust their settings for different games or weapons.
The MM720 is a wired mouse, though the wire is a bit more of a detriment here than usual. The mouse is light but the wire is heavy, so it tends to pull the mouse around on top of the desk. This can mostly be fixed by adjusting the amount of slack that the mouse has, but that leaves a pile of cables sitting on top of the desk. The cable is a bit ragged, so it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing situation.
While there are similar issues with any wireless mouse, it’s a problem with the MM720 more than other mice we’ve gotten the chance to test simply because it had a tangible effect on our performance in games. In Aim Lab, there was a tangible difference in performance between the MM720 and the wireless Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed, which falls at around the same price point as the MM720. It was enough of a difference to cause a left-aim bias, a major problem for those that are trying to be competitive in FPS games.
The decision not to go wireless is understandable. The goal is to keep costs down and ensure that latency is kept to a minimum, so wired makes sense from that perspective. However, the weight of the cable versus the weight of the mouse feels like an obvious design oversight, which makes it a bit of a head-scratcher. It's difficult to pin down why someone wouldn't opt for a mouse like the Corsair Sabre RGB Pro, which hovers at around the same price.
As far as size goes, the MM720 falls on the smaller end of the spectrum. Users are going to want to use it in a sort of claw position, giving them finer control over the weighty front of the mouse and keeping their fingers from dragging along their desk and throwing off their aim. It’s a relatively comfortable mouse to hold over extended gaming sessions, which is a positive. The honeycomb design also has the benefit of keeping the mouse cool, so anyone with sweaty palms shouldn’t have as much of an issue as they would with some of the other options out there.
Altogether, the Cooler Master MM720’s list of pros and cons point towards it being the right kind of mouse for a specific type of person. Those with serious wrist issues looking to avoid strain and willing to overlook the aim bias caused by the wired cable will find a solid option for a mouse here. Outside of that, it’s difficult to recommend the MM720 for the average user.
Fundamentally, the mouse is a solid concept. It’s the execution where things have gotten a little wonky. If the Cooler Master MM720 was more budget-oriented, it would easily outshine the competition in the lower price range. But with better mice being available for just a few bucks more, buyers might want to look into some of the other PC gaming mouse options on the market before making a decision.
The Cooler Master MM720 is available now for $49.99. Game ZXC was provided a unit for this review.