In 2021, a particularly lightweight gaming mouse aimed to impress on the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”, but the deal fell through. How does the product stand today?
What kind of mouse is it? In March 2021, brothers Dominik and Patrick Schmalzried presented a special gaming mouse on the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”: the 23-gram Zaunkoenig M1K.
They showcased their creation as “the lightest gaming mouse in the world” and managed to convince two investors, Ralf Dümmel and Carsten Maschmeyer, of the product made from carbon fiber. The two lions invested €100,000 for 25% of the shares – but the deal with the investors never materialized because a small detail was missing.
Why did the deal with the investors fall through? The investors stated some time after the show that the deal did not go through due to some disagreements. Among other things, they mentioned the mouse’s “pricing” and the lack of a scroll wheel (via X.com).
A niche product with fans in the shooter scene
What is the current status of Zaunkoenig? The Zaunkoenig mice are still available and have developed into a niche product that has a number of fans in the gaming community. The Zaunkoenig M1K, showcased on the TV show, now even has a successor, the M2K, which includes a scroll wheel.
While Zaunkoenig mice are still not designed for casual gamers, there are particularly among shooter players some who swear by the small mouse and its lightweight.
For example, the YouTuber “optimum” stated in a video in 2022:
When it comes to actual gameplay, this thing feels great. As far as aiming and general movement goes, this is actually the best mouse I’ve ever used. Aiming just felt very natural.
optimum via YouTube
optimum produces videos on hardware and tech topics but regularly shows in his videos that he indeed has a shooter affinity and skill in games like Apex Legends. And though he praises the mouse, he clearly states that not everyone will have fun playing with it.
Due to its size and design, Zaunkoenig is only suitable for players who grip their mouse with a fingertip grip. For palm grip and claw grip users, the mouse is rather unsuitable. Also, it lacks any thumb buttons and is wired.
Zaunkoenig sells 444 mice in one day
What’s next for Zaunkoenig? The Zaunkoenig M2K is not going to be produced and sold further. Instead, sales of the new M3K, priced at €340, started in December.
A total of 444 units of the M3K were available, which, according to the manufacturer, were sold out just a day later. These 444 units are now to be produced and shipped by June 2024.
The second production series M3K is to be offered in June 2024 after the first batch has been delivered (via Zaunkoenig).
Are there alternatives to Zaunkoenig? Yes, lightweight gaming mice are becoming increasingly popular – especially among shooter players. Accordingly, there are several mice that aim for a similarly low weight.
The direct competitor to Zaunkoenig is probably the G-Wolves HSK in its various variants. Although it is still a bit heavier at around 30 grams, it is also wireless and available at a significantly lower price as well as with thumb buttons.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller is also still enthusiastic about his Lamzu Atlantis Mini. While this weighs twice as much as a Zaunkoenig, it is designed in a shape suitable for claw grip players. It is therefore not a direct alternative to the Zaunkoenig, but an option for players looking for a mouse that weighs under 50 grams. You can read more about it here: My new gaming mouse weighs as much as 2 Knoppers and costs €110 – Is it worth the money?
