Is SteelSeries’ New Affordable, Colorful Wireless Mouse Worth Your Investment?

Why you can trust me?

I’ve spent way too many hours with a mouse glued to my hand, seriously. It’s almost like an extension of me at this point. So when I say I know what goes into a good mouse? Trust me, I’ve been there.

Alright, let’s talk about this. Your mouse, the one you use every day? It actually matters way more than you think for gaming. And guess what? You don’t need to drop over a hundred bucks to get a decent wireless one. Crazy, right?

So, enter SteelSeries with their Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless. What are they pushing here? Well, it’s all about value. It’s solid where it counts but throws in a few unexpected twists. Imagine colors, actual fun colors, not just the grim blacks and whites we’re used to. Kinda neat, huh?

Is it worth it at this price point? Well, that’s the big question here.

SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless is going for $54.99 on Amazon right now, if you’re wondering. Oh, and just to clarify, SteelSeries was nice enough to send me one to tinker with. They didn’t see this review before it went out, so no funny business there.

Anyway, when it comes to pricing, there are a few interesting bits. Now, this wireless version is tagged at about $34.99 at SteelSeries, cheaper but with a few downgrades here and there. The wireless addition does bump up the performance, though. So, that’s $59.99 if you want it in black, white, purple, or blue. And hey, check Best Buy or Amazon—sometimes these things sneak in a discount. I’ve seen them drop as low as $55.

Okay, picture this: you open up the box, and there it is in your choice of color, the USB dongle, and two AAA batteries ready to go. But, heads up, once they’re done, you’ll need your own replacements. Or better yet, think green with some rechargeables, right?

Wanna know what’s cool about this thing? The color pops out immediately. And yeah, I’m kinda saying it’s sad that the color is the highlight—but hey, it’s a start. You can grab it in purple or blue, and if they sound familiar, it’s probably because they match another SteelSeries product I’m testing—the Arctis Nova 3X Wireless headset.

The design isn’t groundbreaking but it’s solid. Perfect for those claw or grip players. Build quality? Not bad at all. You won’t find creaky spots, and the plastic doesn’t scream “cheap.” It’s dense and weighty, which, surprisingly, some folks like.

Maybe you’re all about performance. The sensor on this is no slouch at 18,000 DPI. Buttons feel crisp, snappy, but sure, the hardware isn’t top-tier, but wait till you see the software. SteelSeries’ GG Engine gives you a smorgasbord of settings to play around with. From button remapping to some wild DPI settings and onboard memory for those custom tweaks – it’s all here. But the funny part? It’s powered by regular batteries. You can get about 200 hours of juice going. Not bad, though single AAA works too, for lesser time.

What’s the downside? Well, it’s those batteries again. That and a scroll wheel that feels kinda flimsy, with side buttons that might just get on your nerves a bit – they’re so darn thin! And sure, add a little more cash, and you might nab something with better specs, like maybe a Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed lurking around with more oomph. That thing sometimes drops to the same price, by the way.

So if you’re eyeing a mouse under $60 with a splash of color and some personality, give this a go. But if disposable batteries are a no-go for you, well, maybe look around a bit more.

And while annoyingly repetitive, can’t help but push this – more colors, please! Can tech not be a snooze fest of bland minimalism? SteelSeries clearly thought outside the box with this one. If you’re mulling over the colors, blue might just win you over with its vibrance.

And there you have it. A tangled mess of musings, and maybe somewhere in there, you found something useful.