Cooler Master MM712 Gaming Mouse review

Looking for a gaming mouse with versatility? The Cooler Master MM712 can tackle everything from marathon shooter sessions to protracted workdays. Save for the accompanying app, it does it all with elegance and featherweight refinement.

The search for an ideal computer mouse can often feel as insurmountable as the pursuit for the Holy Grail. Whether you’ll be whizzing across spreadsheet rows or issuing attacks across an RTS map, ergonomics play a critical role in the decision. After all, an input device is something you’ll probably wrap your hands around for hours at a time. Beyond comfort, there’s also a myriad of other variables, from performance, build quality, weight, and price. And even when you think you’ve found the ideal amalgam of form and function, there’s always at least one minor detail that seems to thwart flawlessness.

Back in the twenty-teens, I stumbled upon a consummate model. It was a sub-thirty dollar, wired Cooler Master that was built for a claw grip. It felt custom-made for my hand and operated flawlessly with every first-person shooter and real-time strategy title I tossed at it. When it came time to work, the device also delivered. The Cool Master sped the cursor around images in PhotoShop with pin-point precision and prohibited me from growing frustrated with the substandard trackpad built into my laptop. I cherished that little workhouse right up to the day that the red metallic paint caught the eye of a thief. (I think others adored it too; prices for used ones soared in price.)

Opening the Cooler

So, when I got the opportunity to review another Cooler Master peripheral, I jumped at the opportunity. Upon opening the housing that the MM712 Gaming Mouse arrived in, I realized that the Taiwan manufacturer has kept up with the times. Weighing a wispy 58 grams, the MM712 feels almost unnaturally light. When I received the Glorious Model O Gaming Mouse two years ago with its cutaway shell, I assumed that a mouse couldn’t shave any additional weight.

But the device does undercut the Model O by about 9 grams, and it’s immediately noticeable. You might expect a peripheral that’s this lightweight to feel flimsy. But pleasingly, the MM712 doesn’t use the honeycombed cutout of most mice in its weight class. While I never experienced any issues with the Glorious Model O, there was a concern over dust accumulating inside the exposed chassis. Having a sealed mouse offers one less thing to worry about. Best of all, the plastic shell exhibits minimal flex or creaking when given a vigorous squeeze.

Love at First Touch

But arguably one of the best aspects of the build is the premium feel. When placed side by side against last generation’s Cooler Master MM711, the difference is palpable. The MM712 doesn’t rattle as much as its predecessor when given a gentle shake, offering a more premium feel. But that’s not to say that the Cooler Master 712 is completely silent. Although the scroll wheel is rather hushed, the two topside and pair of side buttons all exhibit a conspicuous clack. The MM712 shares the stout shell of some of its peers, with a prominent, rounded back. Four testers who had various hand sizes used the device for an hour. Each agreed that it was comfortable, with two commenting on the smoothness of the four polytetrafluoroethylene (commonly referred to as PTFT) feet. Others appreciated the performance offered by the optical sensor, which scales up to 19,000 DPI. The 712’s exterior earned recognition for a chassis that was just a bit grippy. Should you require the tiniest bit of tackiness, the device ships with four rubberized 3M stickers you can place on the periphery.

Master of All Trades

The MM712’s other strength is its versatility. Want a rock-solid wireless connection? Then use the bunded 2.4GHz dongle that’s housed inside the mouse. But if all your USB ports are filled, a switch on the bottom of the unit allows for a Bluetooth connection. Pairing proved fast and the connection was extremely stable.

Finally, if you want the fastest connection possible, you can use the bundled USB-C cable, which also charges the MM712’s internal battery. Much like the mouse itself, the accompanying 1.8-meter cable feels first-class and is protected by woven fabric. Just make sure that the unit isn’t in wireless mode. The Cooler Master won’t charge unless the connectivity switch is in the wired (middle) position.

Under heavy daily use, the MM712 proved to be a power performer. Across a multitude of mouse-driven first-person shooters and real-time strategy titles, execution equaled the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro. The PixArt Optical Sensor operated flawlessly, while the optical switches used in the left and right buttons sensed every tap and press. When it came time to perform some quick Photoshop touch-ups, adjusting the MM712’s DPI was easily performed by pressing a recessed button on the underside. While that might seem unintuitive, we didn’t encounter any accidental change in sensitivity.

Apply That Firmware Update

Disappointingly, Cooler Master’s software isn’t as elegant as its hardware. The Masterplus+ application allows for customization across the company’s product line, interacting with everything from mice, to headsets, keyboards, and even illuminated mousepads. The first time we loaded the program up, it alerted us that both the MM712 and dongle needed a firmware update. But when attempting the upgrade for the first time, Masterplus+ became unresponsive.  We were forced to quit the application and start the process anew. Other times the software didn’t recognize that the mouse and dongle were connected.

But there is a distinct lack of explanation in the app. You’ll need the Masterplus software to turn off the LCD lighting on the top of the mouse if you want to maximize battery life or just want to personalize the colors. While settings for a single hue and a breathing tint were intuitive, variations like color range were less intuitive. Unlike many accompanying apps for premium-priced peripherals, there’s no granular tweaking, so you can’t program the MM712 to cycle from say, cyan to cobalt. Creating macros for the mouse’s two left-mounted side buttons should be a stress-free experience. While the Masterplus+ app gets the job done, you’ll have to experiment with the cumbersome UI that doesn’t offer any assistance.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a mouse that can handle StarCraft II just as well as spreadsheets, the Cooler Master MM712 is a solid contender. Despite being a flyweight, it offers a durable shell that product its capable components. Save for the software, it provides unbeatable performance and is ideal for the kind of person who is obsessed with shaving grams from their commute bags.

Tech-Specs
Materials: ABS Plastic, Rubber, Plastic
Sensor: PixArt Optical Sensor
Connectivity: Wired, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.1
Battery Capacity: 500mAh
Battery Life: Bluetooth Mode: 180hrs, 2.4GHz Mode: 80hrs
Polling Rate: 2.4GHz/Wired Mode: 1000 Hz, BT Mode: 125 Hz
Tracking Speed: 400 ips
CPI/DPI: 400-800-1200-1600-3200-8000-19000
Operating Systems: Windows 8+, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Manufacturer Warranty: Two years