STEELSERIES RIVAL 3

Take a good thing, make it cheaper

STEELSERIES’S RIVAL LINE of gaming mice is a dependable set of products, bringing solid performance and vivid RGB lighting with full software control in durable casings. The product line previously started at $60 with the now-discontinued Rival 300, while further iterations, such as the 600 and 710, offered more features in exchange for more cash. Steelseries has dropped the zeros for this new model, perhaps indicating the newly wallet-friendly price point.

The Rival 3 retails at just $30, an absolute steal even just considering the sensor being used here. Although the sensor inside the Rival 3 is just an adapted mid-range Pixart model, it’s virtually impossible to find a cheaper mouse that can match the 8,500 maximum CPI. The sensitivity is a clear step below the rest of the Rival range, but it’s a fair compromise given the price.

At first glance, the Rival 3 could be an ambidextrous mouse, but despite the symmetrical design there are only two additional buttons on one side of the mouse. It actually has more in common with the $60 Rival 310, sharing a button setup and the same matte plastic casing, but the Rival 3 has a smaller, ergonomic chassis. The soft matte black finish is comfortable and grippy, and Steelseries assures customers that the casing is durable enough to last for years.

This promise of longevity extends to the buttons, too, with a firm rubberized scroll wheel and Steelseries’s own mechanical switches, rated for 60 million clicks. To put that in real-world terms, that’s a lifespan of nearly three years based on average mouse usage. In practice, the buttons feel resilient, easily matching the physical click feedback of mice twice this Rival’s price (try saying that five times fast).

That ABS plastic might be durable, but it’s also lightweight. The mouse—not including the non-detachable cable— only weighs 2.7 ounces, and the generous lift-off distance makes using it a breeze. The only part of the Rival 3 that doesn’t feel like it’ll last for ages is the rubbercoated USB power cable, although finding a $30 mouse with a high-quality braided cable is a fool’s errand.

The "TrueMove Core" sensor isn’t anything to write home about, but it gets the job done. Everyday computer use is snappy and responsive, and the sensitivity is perfectly adequate for first-person shooters and MOBAs. DPI adjustment is handled by a dedicated button behind the scroll wheel, and while it defaults to just two modes, the Steelseries Engine software can be used to save up to five custom configurations directly onto the Rival 3’s on-board memory.

A MOUSE ON A DIET

The Steelseries Engine software also allows for RGB lighting control; the Rival 3 packs three separate RGB zones, the LEDs of which are surprisingly bright. A strip of light runs around almost the entire lower edge of the mouse, colors spilling out from underneath your hand even when the illuminated Steelseries logo is obscured. The lighting incorporates well into the overall design; simple but appealing.

While the Rival 3's smooth domed shape is comfortable under the palm, and it glides across mousepads on three wide feet, we can’t help but think that this mouse might be a little too ergonomic for its own good; so much bloat has been eradicated that the Rival 3 is actually quite small, and extended use might pose problems for those who are gifted in the hand-size department. Left-handed people are also out of luck.

If that doesn’t bother you (maybe you have small hands?), the Rival 3 is a strong contender in the budget gaming mouse arena. Representation from the other heavy-hitting brands is quite feeble at the $30 mark, with a smattering of individual offerings from the likes of Corsair and Cooler Master drowning in the endless flood of cheap knock-offs and unheard-of brands. If you don’t want to spend too much on peripherals, the Rival 3 is a decent choice; far from topof-the-line, but reliable and excellent value for money.

VERDICT 7

Steelseries Rival 3

FRIENDLY RIVAL Amazing value; robust construction and buttons; super lightweight.

MORTAL ENEMY On the small side; sensor is just average; not for lefties.

$ 30, steelseries.com