SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless stands out from other wireless gaming mice for its solid features and low price. For those who prefer a hefty mouse, it feels heavy and dense. This mouse is worth considering if you appreciate a simple design with a touch of RGB aesthetic and the underpinnings to excel in competitive gaming. However, if you're looking for the deepest customization and cutting-edge performance, this mouse is not for you. While some may prefer its AAA battery design to a rechargeable built-in battery, others may not.
Analysis and Our Verdict
SteelSeries Rival 3 uses two AAA batteries to power itself, a unique feature in today's gaming mice. Steelseries claims a battery life of over 400 hours, which is reassuring if you think a rechargeable battery will not last.
SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Gaming Mouse: Performance and Features
A gaming mouse's performance is measured against the demands of competitive gaming. The key specs of the sensor include polling rate, CPI (counts per inch), and tracking speed. Furthermore, we evaluate how smooth the mouse glides across different surfaces, as well as how well the buttons function. While the SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Mouse is a formidable gaming mouse, it also performed at the lower end of this highly competitive metric when compared to all the other mice reviewed.
SteelSeries TrueMove Air optical sensor, which provides sensitivity adjustment from 100 to 18,000 CPI, comes standard on the Rival 3 Wireless. It is possible to select several presets without the software installed, but it is even more customizable when the software is installed. A polling rate of 125,250, 500, and 1000hz can be selected, and the tracking speed is 400 inches per second.
It weighs 107 grams with two AAA batteries installed, making it one of the heaviest mice in the review. Although it isn't an oversized mouse dimensionally, it feels very dense in the hand when using it. While this mouse is heavier than the average gaming mouse, depending on your gaming preferences, this may or may not be a concern. Most gamers agree, however, that lighter mice are better for competitive gaming in many genres of games.
Button Customization
As part of our evaluation of customization options, we examine the mouse's ability to adapt to diverse gaming needs through hardware and software modifications, enabling users to tailor their gameplay experience. Steel Series Rival 3 Wireless failed to rank among the top performers in this metric, as well. The RGB lighting is minimal, but for those who enjoy ambiance on their desk, it only shines through the sides of the scroll wheel, which leaves it behind other RGB-illuminated gaming mice with customizable lighting and multiple lighting zones. Additionally, we've seen others do it better than Rival 3 when it comes to binding buttons to commands and macros.
There is no shift option on the Rival that can be used to alternate every button's assignment, for instance. The Rival gaming mouse does not have a scroll wheel or weight adjustment, unlike the most customizable gaming mice. Although the mouse's design is symmetrical, it could be used by right- or left-handed gamers. Overall, the Rival 3 Wireless is adequate in terms of customization, just not as convenient or robust as the top performers.
Pros and Cons: SteelSeries Rival 3
Pros:
- Click to wake feature prevents accidental movements from waking computer
- Removable batteries require no charging
- Smooth scroll wheel
- Small receiver
Cons:
- Dense and very heavy feeling for a small mouse
- Less customizable RGB lighting than others
- Requires external batteries
User Friendly
A wireless mouse like the Rival 3 doesn't require or include a cable to recharge, so it can be used without any cable stiffness or tangles. It has a robust optional software package with plenty of customization options for button assignments, sensitivity, polling rate, battery power management, acceleration & deceleration, and angle snapping; pretty much everything you could ask for when it comes to software tuning.
Scroll Wheel
You can feel the comfort grooves for your fingers towards the top of the primary click buttons because of this mouse's symmetrical shape. A medium slope down and off the sides of the mouse and light texturing make it grippy and comfortable enough to not elicit any complaints. Although slightly mushier than other mice in this category, clicking on all six buttons is tactile and responsive. Likewise, the scroll wheel is less tactile than some others, but that's not a problem.
Compared to some scroll wheels, the Rival 3 Wireless is smooth with fewer prominent steps when rolling, all while maintaining a good resistance. The scroll wheel takes a little more force to click than other scroll wheels, and it is situated between the primary click buttons in a sort of valley. As your finger may make contact with this area, it might annoy some users. While scrolling, there is only a faint click sound when the wheel is depressed. Generally, it's relatively stealthy, which may appeal to people who are concerned about repetitive clicking annoyances.
Where to buy: SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Gaming Mouse
Conclusion: Should You Buy the SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless?
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless offers solid features, including a high-precision sensor, ergonomic design, and customizable buttons, all at a good price compared to other wireless options. If you favor a simple design with just a touch of RGB aesthetic and the right tech to excel in gaming, this could be the mouse for you. If you're specifically in the market for a wireless gaming mouse over the more tried and trusty wired variety, this one is an excellent value with more than enough performance and customizability for most people. However, if you're looking for the ultimate in capability or bling in a wireless mouse and don't mind spending around double the money, there are even better options. Your options are even more wide and wonderful if you can live with a wire, which is more common among the elite gaming mice.
Leave a comment