Windows Central Verdict
With the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless, SteelSeries actually remembered you're allowed to use fun colors, and make a solid, affordable gaming mouse in the process. The use of disposable batteries will be an immediate turn-off for many, and spending a little more can get you much better performance, but that doesn't stop this mouse from being a capable and colorful companion.
Pros
- +
Fun color options and solid build quality
- +
Dependable wireless gaming performance
- +
Bluetooth is really nice to see at this price
Cons
- -
AAA batteries can be inconvenient and add weight
- -
Just a little more can get you much better gaming performance
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Your mouse arguably has the biggest impact on your gaming performance compared to how much it costs, and you certainly don't have to spend $100 or more to get a great wireless option.
SteelSeries wants you to consider its value-driven mouse with the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless, and this peripheral makes a good case for itself. The performance is there and the design is solid, but there are some surprises here, too.
You don't often see Bluetooth connectivity in these entry-level wireless gaming mice, but more than that, SteelSeries actually gave us fun colors, instead of the same boring blacks, whites, and greys we usually see.
But is that enough at this price?
It's not unreasonable in the slightest to suggest I've spent many thousands of hours with a mouse in mind hand, so I know what companies need to get right to be worth your time or money.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by SteelSeries. SteelSeries had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
Rival 3 Wireless review: Pricing and specifications
This is the wireless version of the SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) that you can get for $34.99 at SteelSeries, but there are a lot more differences besides the addition of a wireless modem.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless offers much better performance, too, and you can pick it up for $59.99 at SteelSeries in black, white, purple, and blue.
You can also get this mouse for $59.99 at Best Buy or $59.99 at Amazon, and I've already seen the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless go on sale for as low as $55.
Spec | SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless |
|---|---|
Sensor | SteelSeries TrueMove Air Optical Sensor, 18,000 Dots-per-Inch (DPI), 400 Inches-per-Second (IPS), 40G max acceleration |
Hardware features | Symmetrical design, mechanical switches (60-million click lifespan), 6 programmable buttons, 100% PFTE feet, up to 1,000Hz polling rate |
Software features | SteelSeries GG Engine support, maco shortcuts, 5 DPI profiles, onboard memory, acceleration/deceleration settings, angle snapping settings |
Connectivity | Wireless via USB Type-A 2.4GHz dongle, wireless via Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery | Up to 200 hours w/ up to 2x AAA alkaline disposable batteries (rechargeable AAA batteries supported) |
Dimensions | 121 x 67 x 38mm (4.74 x 2.64 x 1.5in) |
Weight | 83.5g (0.18lbs) w/ no batteries, up to 106g (0.23lbs) w/ batteries |
Warranty | 1-year standard |
In the box, you'll find the SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless gaming mouse in the color of your choice, the USB Type-A 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and two AAA alkaline batteries. You'll need to supply your own batteries after these die, but the Rival 3 (Gen 2) does support rechargeable AAA batteries.
Rival 3 Wireless review: What I like
The part of the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless that first catches your eyes is also one of its greatest strengths, which makes me a little sad to admit — there's actually some color here.
In addition to the standard black and white colors with which we're all familiar, you can pick up this mouse in purple or blue, the same colors the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless headset I'm also in the process of reviewing comes in.
Apart from the colors, this is a solid design. The Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is a slightly more compact mouse designed for claw or fingerprint grips, with a symmetrical design that favors right-handed users.
Build quality is good, with no body flexing, tight seams, and a dependable feeling to the matte and translucent plastics used. This mouse is also dense, even before you add the AAA batteries, which some users may actually prefer.
The entire rear of the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is the battery door, and it's firmly attached. There's also a garage to store your USB Type-A dongle inside the mouse, which is always nice to have.
When it comes to performance, the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is indeed modest with its 18,000 DPI optical sensor and mechanical switches. The sensor is precise and smooth, though, and the mouse buttons are consistently clicky and bouncy.
The hardware isn't particularly impressive, but SteelSeries does make up for it with its software (more on that later). The smooth PFTE feet and decently balanced weight make it easy to maneuver the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless, despite its hefty mass.
I didn't have any issues with the 2.4GHz wireless connection, either. Latency is negligible, and I never encountered any stutters or lag (apart from occasionally when the mouse wakes from sleep).
Surprisingly, the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless also offers Bluetooth connectivity, which is not a given at this price point. Most users likely won't ever use it, but it's great to have that, and it doesn't affect the gaming performance if you don't touch it.
The third surprise is the software, with the SteelSeries GG Engine app smoothing over some of the weaknesses of a mouse in this price range. You can remap all your buttons, assign macro shortcuts, and enable features like Bluetooth smoothing and high efficiency mode.
On the performance front, there's independent X and Y-axis Dots-per-Inch (DPI) adjustment, acceleration and deceleration sensitivity tuning, and even angle snapping. It's a good number of options that bests even some high-end mice, and there are five onboard DPI profiles and enough memory to store all your other settings on the mouse, too.
As for endurance, the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless does use disposable batteries, which come with obvious weaknesses... But also one specific strength. You can expect up to 200 hours of battery life with this mouse, and that does seem accurate.
This mouse can also run at full strength on a single AAA battery, too, obviously with lessened endurance, and it supports rechargeable AAA batteries if you want to reduce your waste (and frustration at having to swap out batteries every so often).
Rival 3 Wireless review: What I don't like
I've already basically summed up the disadvantages of relying on AAA batteries. The SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is considerably heavier than competing high-performance gaming mice; it doesn't support wired connectivity, you'll have to replace the batteries as they die... You get the point.
This mouse has other weaknesses, too. The scroll wheel is soft and cheap-feeling, and the side buttons are weirdly thin and easy to mis-click. Mostly, though, this mouse's greatest obstacle is that you only have to spend a little more to get a lot more.
A great example is the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed I reviewed. Similarly, relying on disposable batteries, this mouse offers far better performance, a lighter and higher-quality design, and even longer battery life. It retails for $10 more, but I regularly see it on sale for the same price as the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless, too.
Rival 3 Wireless review: Also consider
Rival 3 Wireless review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if ...
- You want a reliable wireless gaming mouse for $60 or less.
- You're looking for a mouse with some actual personality.
- You want to finetune your mouse's performance in the software.
❌You should not buy this if ...
- You absolutely don't want to deal with disposable batteries.
- You'll never use the Bluetooth connectivity.
You don't need to go crazy on your wallet to get a great gaming mouse, and the SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is proof of that. I don't think it'll go down in history as the best-value gaming mouse of all time, by any means, but this is the complete package with straightforward pros and cons.
Want a colorful, symmetrical design with reliable performance and Bluetooth connectivity? This is great. Hate disposable batteries and want the best possible performance you can get? There are better.
I can't stop stating how much I want more companies to embrace color, though. So much tech is boring, reflecting the "modern" minimalism that has sucked the life out of such much of the world. The Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless looks awesome, so keep that going, SteelSeries.
You can buy the SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless for $59.99 at Best Buy or $59.99 at Amazon. While purple is personally my favorite color, I do have to recommend blue if you want the most vibrant design.
The Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is an easy recommendation for those who want a reliable, long-lasting wireless gaming mouse on a budget, especially if you're a fan of color. Disposable batteries will put a lot of people off, though, and you don't have to spend much more (if at all) to get better performance.
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