Steelseries Rival 3 Wireless Mouse (Gen 2)
Feature
Design & Comfort
The Steelseries Rival 3 Wireless (Gen 2) boasts a flatter profile compared to some of its counterparts, making it an excellent choice for users with smaller hands or those who frequently travel. Its compact design allows it to slip easily into laptop bags without adding bulk. The Lavender design of our review unit certainly caught the eye, immediately appealing to a younger demographic – in fact, it was instantly claimed by my daughter, suggesting a strong appeal to female gamers.
Weighing in at a mere 106g, including its two AAA batteries, this mouse is remarkably lightweight, contributing to fatigue-free gaming sessions. A thoughtful design touch is the dedicated slot for the USB dongle within the battery compartment. This clever integration ensures you won't misplace the dongle, a common frustration for wireless peripheral users on the go.
Features & Customization
The Rival 3 Wireless (Gen 2) comes equipped with six buttons, each guaranteed for a robust 60 million clicks, promising long-term durability. These include the standard left and right mouse buttons, a scroll wheel button, and two conveniently placed side buttons. The middle button, by default, serves as an on-the-fly DPI switcher, allowing for quick adjustments to sensitivity up to a high 18,000 DPI. A neat visual cue is provided by the scroll wheel's changing colors, indicating the current DPI setting.
Customization of these buttons is a strong suit for the Rival 3 Wireless, handled seamlessly through the Steelseries GG Engine software. Within this reasonably intuitive application, users can reconfigure each button to suit their specific needs. Whether you want to launch applications, assign complex macros for in-game commands, control media playback (play, pause, fast forward), or simply map them to a specific keyboard key, the software provides extensive flexibility.
Performance & Battery Life
As a purely wireless mouse, the Rival 3 Wireless (Gen 2) offers complete freedom from cables. It operates solely on two AAA batteries (conveniently included), meaning it cannot be charged via a cable. Battery life is impressive, offering up to 200 hours when connected via 2.4Ghz wireless, and an even more extensive 450 hours when utilizing Bluetooth connectivity, making it a reliable companion for extended use. Being battery only could cause an annoyance if the batteries die in the middle of a gaming match or whilst away for work, as you’ll need to find a couple more replacements. But with that said, you can pick up batteries practically anywhere, whilst cables are harder to come by if you forget it on a business trip.
Movement with the Rival 3 Wireless was consistently smooth and precise. The PTFE feet on the underside of the mouse allowed it to glide effortlessly across various mousepads, providing a fluid and responsive experience during intense gaming moments. One minor observation during testing was the initial sensitivity of the scroll wheel button, which occasionally triggered the automatic scroll feature unintentionally. However, with a short period of adjustment, this became a non-issue, and its responsiveness proved beneficial in the long run.
Verdict
The Steelseries Rival 3 Wireless Mouse (Gen 2) stands out as a solid contender in the wireless gaming mouse market, particularly for those who prioritize portability, a lighter feel, and a more compact design. Its impressive battery life, customizable buttons, and smooth performance make it a worthy consideration for both casual and competitive gamers. While the scroll wheel sensitivity required a brief adaptation period, it's a minor point in an otherwise well-rounded and capable wireless gaming mouse. And with a range of colours, there will be one to suit all styles.
In the Box
Rival 3 Wireless Mouse
2.4Ghz Dongle
2 x AAA Batteries
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