SteelSeries Rival 3
MouseProduct Gallery
Product Overview
SteelSeries Rival 3 is a mainstream wired mouse that is to the Rival 3 Wireless as the Aerox 3 is to the Aerox 3 Wireless: the same design from the wireless version is retained, while an older TrueMove Core optical sensor is used.
Despite the use of a lower-resolution sensor, having been released months earlier, the Rival 3 edges out its wireless sibling with 3-zone RGB lighting.
The same mechanical switches by SteelSeries can be found in the Rival 3, and they are rated for 60 million clicks. It also has an on-board storage for five profiles for quick adjustments in-game.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Excellent performance for a $30 gaming mouse
- Very bright tri-zone RGB lighting
Cons
- Lacks wireless connectivity
What external reviewers found
External score 70%
Pros
- Excellent ergonomics
- Good battery life
- Excellent sensor performance
- Sleek design
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Lacks a TrueMove 3 sensor
- Not nearly as good as some SteelSeries mice
- Not nearly as many programmable buttons as dedicated MMO mice
- No RGB lighting
- Only one mouse sensor
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Price Comparison
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Specifications
Related Products
- Excellent ergonomic design
- Comfortable for left-handed and right-handed use
- Works with multiple devices simultaneously
External Reviews
gizmodo[1]
Reviewer score 84% (normalized by Neofiliac)The SteelSeries Rival 3 has pretty much everything you could want. Its TrueMove Core optical sensor features 8,500 CPI (counts per inch) and true one-to-one mouse tracking. The mouse is relatively light, weighing in at 77 grams, while its matte plastic body helps cut down on fingerprints and smudges.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Three-zone RGB lighting
- Great price
Cons
- Only one mouse sensor
- No way to adjust its brightness
laptopmag[2]
Reviewer score 87% (normalized by Neofiliac)The SteelSeries Rival 3 is an excellent gaming mouse for anyone looking to save money without compromising on quality. SteelSeries' TrueMove Core sensor supports a CPI (counts per inch) between 10 and 8,500 at a 1,000-Hz-per-millisecond polling rate. The mouse did an excellent job tracking the pinpoint movements required to select marines and siege tanks.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Accurate TrueMove sensor
- Easy to use
Cons
- No braided cable
- Lacks Lift-Off Distance
pcmag[3]
Reviewer score 76% (normalized by Neofiliac)At 2.7 ounces without cable, the Rival 3 is lighter than SteelSeries' ambidextrous Sensei Ten. The shell creates a curve so your hand has somewhere to go, though I wouldn't call it supportive. There's a molded ridge on the pinky side of the mouse, which makes it uncomfortable to hold the mouse palm-style.
Pros
- Lightweight, comfortable design
- Comfortable back buttons
- Good battery life
Cons
- Makes it uncomfortable to hold the mouse palm-style
- Molded ridge on the right-handed side
rtings[4]
Reviewer score 54% (normalized by Neofiliac)The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a decent mouse for office or multimedia use. While its straight design may not be as comfortable for extended periods as a slanted more ergonomic mouse, it's comfortable enough to reach all the buttons. While it doesn't have nearly as many programmable buttons as dedicated MMO mice, all of its buttons can be reprogrammed.
Pros
- Excellent sensor performance
- Comfortable for all hand sizes
- Low click latency
- Very lightweight
Cons
- No horizontal wheel or L/R tilt buttons
- Not nearly as many programmable buttons as dedicated MMO mice
techradar[5]
Reviewer score 69% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Steelseries Rival 3 sports a six-button configuration on an ambidextrous body. Lefties will be disappointed, as only the left side of the unit has buttons on it. The mouse feels decent in the hand, if a tad small. SteelSeries' TrueMove Core is a low-tier optical sensor designed specifically for this mouse.
Pros
- Elegant, ambidextrous design
- Excellent ergonomics
- Comfortable wrist rest
Cons
- Only one side of the mouse is symmetrical
- No RGB lighting
tomsguide[6]
Reviewer score 66% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Rival 3 runs on the SteelSeries Engine 3 software, which is generally comprehensible and easy to use. The mouse accommodates both claw and fingertip grips, but it's not nearly big enough for palm-grip players. The LED strip is not nearly as smooth as what you get on fancier SteelSeries mice.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Easy to use
- Comfortable, sweat-resistant body
Cons
- Lacks a TrueMove 3 sensor
- Not nearly as good as some SteelSeries mice
tomshardware[7]
Reviewer score 73% (normalized by Neofiliac)SteelSeries built the Rival 3 around its TrueMove Core sensor, which supports CPI settings between 100 and 8,500 in 100 CPI increments. The mouse fit my smaller hand well (more so than the DeathAdder V2), and my palm grip always felt good. It's light enough to use for extended periods but not so light that it's easy to accidentally fling it.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Three-zone RGB lighting
- Easy to use
Cons
- Cable isn't braided
References
- ^ SteelSeries' Rival 3 Has Everything You Want From a $30 Gaming Mouse. [gizmodo].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 review. [laptopmag].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 Review. [pcmag].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 Mouse Review. [rtings].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 review. [techradar].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 review. [tomsguide].
- ^ SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse Review: Entry-Level Without (Much) Compromise. [tomshardware].
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