Customer Ratings & Reviews

I wanted another gaming mouse for a new setup I was working on, but it needed to be a wireless mouse that was simply plug and play. I saw that SteelSeries was releasing a refresh on their Rival mouse, the Rival 3 Gen 2 wireless mouse so I decided to pick one up. Pros: - Feels great in hand. - Simple and functional design. - Lightweight. - Very Responsive. Cons: - Windows default mouse settings can cause issues. Setup: SteelSeries hit the mark perfectly with the Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse, delivering a simple yet perfectly functional gaming mouse. The Rival 3 Gen 2 is Plug-&-Play compatible, with preset DPI settings on the lower end but they work without any fiddling in the app. SteelSeries opted for using AAA batteries instead of an internal battery which I like as it doesn’t limit the quality of the mouse due to a dying battery and getting to full power is as simple as swapping out batteries. And if you can only find 1 battery in the heat of gaming, don’t sweat it! SteelSeries designed the Rival 3 Gen 2 to run on just 1 AAA if you wanted a lighter mouse or just have 1 battery. For connections, the Rival 3 Gen 2 can be connected via USB-A Wireless dongle or Bluetooth. Both have additional settings in the SteelSeries GG app to adjust or improve the connection of the mouse. Feel: In-hand, the Rival 3 Gen 2 feels almost perfect, like that first time you switch from a standard mouse to a gaming mouse that fits your play style. The simple yet comfortable and functional design allows you to focus on the game, and not which button or how you’re holding the Rival 3 Gen 2. Even the bottom glides smoothly on both soft and hard surfaces, without issues. The mouse weighs in at 106 g with 2 AAA batteries, 95 g with just 1 AAA. This is one lightweight mouse. The button clicks are also very satisfying and connected, each is solid without that plastic feel or flex that feels like you might break the mouse. Only time will truly tell how durable the mouse buttons are but after using it for a little under a week, I’ve had no issues or noticed any flex in the buttons. The biggest downside I can see with this mouse is that there is no left-handed version, sorry lefties as you’re missing out on a solid mouse. App: The SteelSeries GG is quite loaded with additional features like Moments to capture game play clips and Sonar to adjust your audio, but all you really need with the Rival 3 Gen 2 is to adjust the DPI and Wireless Stability Enhancement. The DPI directly impacts how fast your mouse pointer moves, the Rival 3 Gen 2 can handle down to 200 and up to 18,000 dpi, with 100 DPI steps in-between. You can store 5 preset DPI settings that can be switched between on the fly with a click of the middle button of the mouse. The only other setting I really found helpful was the Wireless Stability Enhancement, as there’s a lot of wireless interference where I’m going to be using the mouse, so any improvement to the connection will be beneficial. Use: The only minor issue I had was initially after installing SteelSeries GG, for whatever reason the Windows Mouse Acceleration conflicted with how SteelSeries controls its mouse speeds and caused the mouse pointer to stutter across the screen. Luckily, SteelSeries had already known about this issue and had a quick link to disable the setting, and vola it all worked. After the initial adjustments, the mouse has worked flawlessly over the almost week of use. I’ve found that I prefer this mouse over my work and other wired gaming mouse because of how smooth and responsive the mouse is in gaming, but also in just general use. I can follow targets with ease while landing the shot without any wasted mouse movement or delay due to wireless connection. The mouse has been a complete dream. Conclusion: If you want a simple yet solid mouse that works almost perfectly, then the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 would be a solid contender to consider. The mouse is simple, lightweight, and fast without any compromises. You might want to adjust the default DPI settings, along with Windows Mouse Acceleration, but after that you’ll be off to smooth gaming and quick shooting! I’ve always loved SteelSeries products and will add the Rival 3 Gen 2 to my list of mouse recommendations.

The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless mouse brings a solid balance of performance, comfort, and style. I spent the last few days playing Marvel Rivals and was happy with the experience even when compared to my much more expensive daily driver. The button clicks are satisfying and quick. Performance is solid with an 18,000K optical sensor, 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. While gaming, it feels lag free and the tracking feels responsive enough. The Rival 3 sits on the smaller side but remains comfortable to use for extended periods. The matte plastic shell fits a little loose in my hand but has enough texture that it doesn’t feel slippery. Perhaps ideal for fingertip grip users or those with smaller hands. I tend to like a larger mouse as I’m typically using a claw grip. Not the lightest build, but light enough to prevent major fatigue. The button placement feels intuitive, and clicks are crisp and tactile. I’m not a huge fan of the ridged thumb side ridged forward and back buttons, but your experience may vary. Aesthetically, the Rival 3 is minimalist but stylish design, although able to check the “gamer” box, the RGB lighting is subtle and that adds a nice touch without being flashy. For those seeking a compact, dependable gaming mouse that doesn't compromise on comfort or flair, the Rival 3 might be for you.

The SteelSeries - Rival 3 Gen 2 Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse has a nice solid feel to it with a bit of weight to it. The 2 included AAA batteries go in easy by sliding the top backside of the mouse off which is where you'll also find the 2.4 Ghz wireless adapter. It also connects easily via Bluetooth, so it's nice to have both options available with the flip of a switch on the underside of the mouse! I find the mouse works just as well on either option. The buttons have a good amount of resistance and tactile click to them. There is a small button behind the scroll-wheel for quickly changing the DPI setting of the mouse. The scroll-wheel has a nice solid feel to it and an RGB light that lights up when you're connecting the mouse. It glides smoothly across the mouse surface with the little pads on the underside of the mouse. Aesthetically it has a nice look to it and is a bit less bulky than my SteelSeries AEROX 5 gaming mouse. The SteelSeries software allows you to adjust all sorts of properties of the mouse and save them in configurations for quickly choosing as needed. Without the flashy RGB lighting like some gaming mice I'm expecting the battery life to be quite good in comparison. I'm torn on whether I would've preferred this to have a rechargeable battery setup or the replaceable alkaline batteries. Overall, this is a great wireless gaming mouse / everyday mouse at an affordable price that connects easily and has lots of configuration options. I would definitely recommend to a friend.

SteelSeries, a leading manufacturer in the professional gaming industry, was founded in 2001 by Jacob Wolff-Petersen. "JWP" was an incredible Counter-Strike player in Copenhagen. He began working with Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries' Chief Technical Officer. They began pro team relationships, which developed into partnerships. This provided critical input on what gamers really wanted. The rest is history. From the very beginning, the highest priorities of SteelSeries were Gaming Performance & Reliability. The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse features an industry leading optimized click latency of 1.9ms, combined with a powerful 18K 400 IPS optical sensor. Reliability is an integral part of this mouse, with 60 Million Click Guarantee! A WiFi 2.4 GHz dongle is included in the mouse, perfectly centered for ideal weight distribution between 2) included AAA batteries. A switch on the bottom of the mouse selects between WiFi & Bluetooth. I use Bluetooth, because I can initiate gaming on the go without connecting the USB A dongle. CONCLUSION: SteelSeries' early campaign slogan: "Winning Is Everything" clearly applies to their latest mouse. A high performance mouse with impeccable feel, the Rival 3 Gen 2 is the culmination of the latest technology with expertise gained since 2001 & earns my highest recommendation.

Overview ========================= The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Gen 2 isn't the fanciest mouse around but it does come in at a great price and has some older, but useful features that practical gamers may actually prefer. It's not as fancy or gaudy as some true high-end gaming mice, but that doesn't mean it's not good! It has a USB-A dongle that gives it dual-mode connectivity: 2.4 ghz wireless or BT that's controlled by a switch at the bottom. It has the same 18k sensor from previous versions and all 6 buttons are programmable. Interestingly enough, it can run from 1 battery or 2. Up to 200 hours on 2.4 ghz and 450 on BT is way more than I could ever test. As for the batteries, they're AAA so you could use rechargeable ones. More on that later. Setup ========================= There's not much to say here, and that's fine. It's a mouse. SteelSeries includes two AAA batteries (not rechargeable) so you can get started right away. Just plug in the dongle and get started. The option for 1 or 2 batteries allows you to tune the weight from 95g to 106g though the mouse is "rear-heavy". The toggle switch on the bottom allows you to use BT, 2.4 or turn the mouse off to save batteries. The auto-off functionality can be customized in the "GG" software as well as the button assignments, DPI, etc. Switching to AAA rechargeable batteries makes this really handy. If you've got some charging, you'll always be ready to go. The battery flexibility is nice also in case you just have one handy. Performance ========================= I'm no pro, but overall, this was a nice gaming mouse! I focused on 2.4 ghz performance via the USB-A dongle, but I also took it on the go and used it in BT mode which was just fine as well. I didn't notice any latency nor drop outs. Tracking was great on multiple surfaces including a mouse pad, wooden desk, stone counter, and more. The Rival 3 claims super-fast clicks and it certainly is responsive! SteelSeries claims 1.9ms click latency, and I can't argue with that. It's lightning fast! It's not loud like a clicky Razer mouse I had, but a bit damped. Not as damped as an old Logitech G602, though. I don't loooove the scroll wheel, but it works. It is a racheting type, but the notches are so big that you can sometimes feel that you're somewhere in-between. It's not as sweet as the kinds you can switch from clicky to smooth, but that's OK at this price point. It never caused a problem, but you may not love that feeling. Conclusion ======================= I really do like this mouse. I think it's a great mouse for practical gamers that like using rechargeable AAA batteries for ease-of-use and environmental issues. The performance is great and well above my abilities. I like it for an all-around, take-anywhere mouse that I can use via 2.4ghz for gaming at home, then BT for a work trip that may involve some handheld gaming. SteelSeries makes great products and this Rival 3 Gen 2 is the next evolution of their great mid-range gaming mouse.

This is the mouse for true gamers. This fully customizable mouse has Six buttons. It has two options to connect to your device of choice. It can be used on PC, laptop, PS5 or Xbox. It can even be connected to your tablet or phone. You can connect via Bluetooth with an included dongle or wirelessly. The initial installation connection to my gaming laptop was very easy and super fast. The gaming mouse comes with Two AAA batteries. Once the batteries are installed, the mouse goes into Bluetooth mode. There is a blue light flashing to indicate the mode. My laptop picked it up very quickly and connected right away. Once the mouse was paired I downloaded the app from the manufacturers website. This app comes with practice games. The games are fun and helps train how to use the mouse while gaming. It even records your scores of each game played. The performance of the mouse itself was beyond my expectation. It responds super fast and clicks rapidly. The mouse is superlight and feels good on the hand. Overall, this is a great mouse for the price.

If you run through the gaming mouse section at any store, you'll see a lot of different products from just as many brands. Steelseries holds a special place in my heart as they have delivered quality devices for a long time. I have owned about 5 mice from them and they were - aside from one exception - excellent. Now, here's the Rival 3 Gen 3 refresh, which is an affordable wireless version of the Rival. Let's have a quick look at what Steelseries put together. When you open the box, you won't find anything really exciting in it. The mouse, a USB dongle (a little receiver that plugs into a USB port and allows for a steady connection), 2 AAA batteries and that's about it. I'm going to be brutally honest: I don't think there should be any more mice running on battery power. It generates a lot of waste and will cost you quite a bit of cash over time and you might even find yourself running out at the worst times. I have some rechargeable AAA batteries that I use around the house, but a simple, rechargeable internal battery would have been a largely better option and most likely wouldn't have cost much more to add. The mouse itself is fairly light in terms of weight, some will like it and others won't. It sports an optical sensor that is precise and can handle rapid clicks and movements. The buttons sound alright, maybe a little too "clicky" for my taste but that's a personal choice. The wheel works well and doesn't show signs of turning into a squeaky toy (I've had a couple that did that even after a deep clean). It runs great on most surfaces. Since this is a wireless mouse, there are things to consider, such as battery life (which should last at least a week). Also, if you're going to use the dongle, you'll have to say goodbye to one of your USB-A ports. The mouse goes to sleep on its own, but I would advise to turn it off if you aren't going to use it for a while. Last but not least, it doesn't have any fancy lighting aside from the mouse wheel, which in my case is a great thing. All in all, it's a solid, mid-range gaming mouse which performs nicely, but relies on batteries for power which is a bit of a let-down. I am using it with a laptop at this time and it's great for that. I do still recommend it, but I think the price/value is a bit off, as it's more of an entry-level device that should be slightly more affordable.

Right out of the box it comes ready for action, with two copper top AA batteries included. The mouse’s 2.4g adapter fits neatly inside of it, hidden right between the batteries. It also comes with a small manual, that’s mostly information about the Steel Series GG software, as this mouse takes little to no setup. Even though it’s branded as a “lightweight mouse” it is slightly weighted, but that’s more than likely just the weight of the batteries; and isn’t necessarily noticeable unless you’re holding it in your palm. There are two buttons on the side for those who enjoy the option of having extra keybinds on their mouse, and a DPI switching button right below the mouse wheel complete with five different presets with colors pertaining to each one. The second you connect them to your PC it installs the Steel Series GG Software, which is the one stop place for all of the mouse’s settings, and even has an aim training game available for free. The GG software is perfect for anyone that has more than one Steel Series Device, as all devices appear there. Included in the GG software is a feature that automatically saves a video clip during highlights of your gameplay, and a shortcut to manually record a clip of prior gameplay. This of course is optional, and can be disabled at any time. In addition to that option, the GG software can be used to customize everything about your mouse from the colors, to the DPI presets. Using the mouse for the first time I had very high expectations as I have had many Steel Series products in the past; and I am pleased to say they did not disappoint. In fact, they even exceeded my expectations. The mouse itself is very smooth, and its shape makes it feel natural gripping even after extended periods of play. As a user with smaller hands, normally there tends to be some awkwardness that leads to fatigue when playing a game where I’m pressing the buttons on the side frequently; but that isn’t the case with this mouse. It’s even, square-like design is much more comfortable than a longer or larger model. After an admittedly shamefully long session of gaming, there wasn’t any aching or feeling like I need to pop my wrists. There are no complaints that I can think of other than the personal preference of other users not liking battery operated accessories, but even that is a simple trade off that is very much worth it for such a high quality. Overall, this mouse earns its 5/5 rating from me, and I would gladly order another simply as a spare for myself; or even if a friend or family member wants a suggestion for a high quality wireless mouse. As it stands, the Rival 3 lives up to its name, and raises the already high bar for the future of gaming accessories for Steel Series.

Feels super light, glides very smoothly, and has amazing battery life. Been using it for months and haven’t replaced them once

Quality mouse. The mouse does feel heavier compared to other steelseries models such as the Aerox of course, but that can be expected. I had a problem with the aerox where it would freeze my mouse and keyboard until it reconnected every few seconds. Got this mouse in a hurry and it fixed it. I would prefer if you could charge the mouse instead of batteries but no big deal for me.

My gaming became smooth when I bought this. It is light and easy to clean

We bought this mouse for my son to try out before upgrading to one of the rechargeable ones. It works great and the battery life has been really good

I think I wrote a review for the white version of this mouse but I will say it again. This is a great wireless mouse for 60. It's modest but does a great job. The only issue is that you cannot charge it and require AAA batteries

Works amazing! No delay, super quick speed, and there is no resistance.

My daughter and I really enjoyed this product. It fit nicely in our hands. It works much better than the last one.

For the price it’s a quality mouse clicks are nice and the tracking is good.

Works as it should with no wires getting in the way. I bought both the wired and non wired version. I will return the wired one as the non wired one as without the wired it is not encumbard with an attached wire

Fast and effective gaming mouse, handles all my needs

Good mouse for what I needed. Good value and functions with this product.

I needed a replacement mouse and wanted one similarly shaped to what I was already using. This one is the perfect shape, and the lavender color is beautiful!