At around $30, the SteelSeries Rival 3 boasts a stylish appearance, configurable buttons, and stunning RGB lights. The cost of gaming mice may be very high. The Logitech G502, our preferred wired model, costs $80, but wireless variants may easily cost over $150, especially if you want upscale charging mouse pads to go with it. That’s why the news of the SteelSeries Rival 3 shocked me so much.

    At under $30, this mouse has a stylish appearance, configurable buttons, and stunning RGB illumination. This is the price you would anticipate paying for a low-quality Amazon imitation rather than a finely constructed item from one of the top peripheral makers.

    However, for the most part, the Rival 3 does deliver. The design isn’t ambidextrous or ergonomic, the profile is unexpectedly tiny, and the sensor isn’t as sophisticated as it might be.

    Pros & Cons

    ProsCons
    + Excellent value– Not ergonomic or ambidextrous
    + Strong performance– Some strange sensor behavior
    + Good software
    + Probably superior to mice of a similar price

    SteelSeries Rival 3 design

    The Rival 3 is best described as “unassuming.” The black plastic chassis has a few elegant curves and is covered in a cozy, sweat-resistant cloth, so it doesn’t appear cheap. However, the sole decorative element is an LED strip on the underside, which is, to be honest, a very interesting feature for a mouse this inexpensive. With dimensions of 4.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches, the gadget is extremely compact and low to the ground.

    Despite the fact that there is no definitive definition of “ergonomic,” I do not believe the Rival 3 qualifies as an ergonomic mouse. It lacks ergonomic angles, textured grips, and finger rests, and its shape is almost symmetrical. Other than the fact that ambidextrous designs are typically used in place of ergonomic gaming mouse, this isn’t really an issue.

    SteelSeries Rival 3 design

    Since the Rival 3 features two thumb buttons on the left but none on the right, it is also not genuinely ambidextrous. Perhaps this is the only option available at this price, though, since adding two more buttons would have raised the cost and removing buttons would have reduced the mouse’s functionality.

    The Rival 3 features two tiny thumb buttons, a left and right button, a clickable scroll wheel, and a button for adjusting the DPI. A vibrant LED strip runs down the bottom of the mouse, and the SteelSeries logo illuminates on the palm rest. Both claw and fingertip grips can be used with the mouse, although palm-grip players—especially those with large hands—will find it too small.

    SteelSeries Rival 3 features

    The software used by the Rival 3 is called SteelSeries Engine 3, and it is typically straightforward to understand and operate. Reprogramming buttons, making macros, modifying RGB lighting settings, and adjusting DPI levels are all possible.

    Let’s start by addressing the negative issues. The LED strip on the more expensive SteelSeries mouse is not nearly as smooth. Despite each hue’s high brightness and richness, color changes did not flow effectively throughout the three lighting zones. Additionally, lighting does not sync with other SteelSeries equipment, so you will need to manually configure lighting settings for every item.

    Best Wireless Mouse

    SteelSeries Rival 3 feature

    Other than that, the program is rather simple. Up to five DPI levels may be cycled through, and programming commands seem easy. However, keep in mind that you cannot sync your gaming profiles across different devices when you create them. Similar to the absence of light synchronizing, this adds a little more labor that is unnecessary for more expensive SteelSeries items.

    SteelSeries Rival 3 performance

    Over watch, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Throne breaker: The Witcher Tales, and World of Warcraft were among the titles in which the Rival 3 did well overall. I spent some time in advance reprogramming the thumb buttons for every title. After enduring the poor performance of several genuinely inexpensive gaming mice, it was a complete delight to discover that, at least for casual play, the Rival 3 (when paired with the right mouse pad) is nearly as excellent as any of SteelSeries’ more expensive models.

    Because the Rival 3 employs a True Move Core Optical Sensor instead of a True Move 3, it is significantly less expensive than other SteelSeries mice. Unlike the True Move 3, which has a maximum of 12,000 DPI, this sensor has a maximum of about 8,500 DPI. You won’t ever need to set the DPI that high, so that’s not an issue, but it does show that the sensor isn’t as strong.

    SteelSeries Rival 3 performance

    Therefore, I do not advise using a firm mouse pad with the Rival 3. Every few seconds, my pointer flew in all directions, indicating that the surface was causing the sensor to mistrack my motions. Fortunately, when I switched to a wooden work top and later a soft mouse pad, this problem vanished.

    Conclusion

    With features and performance that significantly outweigh its sub $30 price tag, the SteelSeries Rival 3 stands out as an outstanding low-cost gaming mouse. Its high performance, sturdy construction, adjustable RGB lighting, and reliable software make it an appealing option for casual gamers on a budget, despite certain disadvantages including a lack of ergonomic design, restricted ambidextrous capability, and sporadic sensor oddities on firm surfaces. The Rival 3 demonstrates that you don’t have to shell out a fortune to get a dependable and entertaining gaming experience, even with little drawbacks.



    SteelSeries Rival 3

    7.0
    • Design 7
    • Software 8
    • Performance 6
    • Price 7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0
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