SteelSeries Rival 3 - Gaming Mouse - 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor - 6 Programmable Buttons - Split Trigger Buttons - Black

I recently picked up the SteelSeries Rival 3 gaming mouse, and it’s been a solid addition to my setup. The 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core optical sensor is super responsive, and I can definitely feel the difference in precision during fast-paced games. The split-trigger buttons are also a nice touch, making it feel more responsive and comfortable when I’m clicking rapidly. The mouse itself feels really light and comfortable in hand, even during longer gaming sessions. The shape is ergonomic, so it doesn’t strain my hand, which is a big plus. I also like that it has 6 programmable buttons, giving me plenty of options for customization without feeling too cluttered. The black design looks sleek, and it has a minimal yet modern vibe. It doesn’t have any unnecessary flashiness, just a clean look that works well with any setup. Overall, this is a great mouse for gamers who want solid performance without spending a ton. If you’re looking for a reliable, responsive mouse with customizable features, the Rival 3 is definitely worth checking out!

DATE OF PURCHASE: March 2018 TL; DR: It's a great mouse. A great design that fits well in the hand, however it suffers from one or two unnecessary feeling shortcuts that keep it from being the last word in mouse peripheral design. The Steelseries Rival 600 solves one major problem (for me at least) - a mouse that I can actually use with big hands while having my palm resting on the mouse. For many big handed people like myself who also opt to rest the palm of their hands on the mouse while using a PC, most mice on the market (even now after three years of use) are still designed for people to use the claw-grip, due to the smaller size of the mouse, or for people without the issue of large hands. The Rival 600 answers the call for more larger mice, the mice for the big handed. The mice I can actually lay my hands on without causing a first degree burn on my pinkie finger. At some stages this will sound like a love letter to the mouse (it is in some ways), but it will give an idea of just how much I love using this mouse, and why for me, this review is a solemn swan song. FIRST LOOKS: From the box, it's packaging to the software suite, Steelseries has done a very good job at keeping the experience nice and smooth. The box it came in was nicely packaged and the out of box experience was very good. The build quality was absolutely excellent on first look and use, and I was blown away at how much better it felt in my hands over the previous mouse (being a Logitech G502 HERO), even without the need of a thumb rest. The grips on the side were grippy, the feet on the bottom allowed the mouse to slide nice and cheerfully, and on a large mouse mat, it was a joy to use. SOFTWARE: The Steelseries Engine 3 software has evolved nicely over the three years since I first got the mouse. The ability to be able to assign F13-F24 keys as native macros to the three macro buttons on the side of the mouse was a huge quality of life improvement that made (I imagine at least) many gamer's lives easier. "No more setting Num Lock as my Push to Talk in games for me! I could use F13!". It's confusing why this approach wasn't adopted earlier by the likes of Steelseries, Logitech etc. (Windows has had native support to recognise F13-F24 all the way since the beginning), but at least it's here. The ability to set two discrete DPI settings based on a click of a button is very welcome (in case you need to use this mouse for multiple applications on the one machine), lift off distance adjustment is nice, the option for Acc./Dec. control, Angle Snapping (for mouse smoothing) and variable polling rate are all available to tweak the mouse to your liking. And I have made full use of all of them for various applications that may not have been the designer's intended use case, but they've let me pull off some "bodging". So that nets good marks in my books. THE TODAY: Today the mouse core construction is still as strong as ever. The software, still very nice. However some of the long term use I've put to the mouse has unfortunately caused issues. On one aspect, not through the fault of the mouse itself, but in another, an oversight that did let me down. I'll break it down into the two now: NOT THE MOUSE'S FAULT: The reason why I'm writing this review today. As of today, I've had to make the heartbreaking decision to buy a competitor mouse. I do this every 2-3 years or so, to make sure that I don't get anchored into one eco-system (or in other words, become a "fan boy"). But I *so* badly wanted this mouse to live forever. My extremely heavy use of the mouse has caused the Left Mouse Button to lose alignment with the mechanical sensor, and it has now unfortunately not 100% usable in a comfortable way. I let the mouse down. I doubt that many people would use it more than I do (this was my work AND play mouse, so it saw use for 12+ hours every single day). ACTUALLY THE MOUSE'S FAULT: The grips. Many reviewers before me have already written about this extensively. The grips are usually the first thing that goes wrong with this mouse, and I can also join the line of people that make note of this. Steelseries really needs to fix their design choice of just simply cementing the grips on to a smooth plastic surface. It has only one little notch in the plastic indent on either side (one side for the plastic injection residue, the other to make room for the adjustable weight compartment), and the rest is smooth as you like plastic. After only a year and a half both the main grips for the left and right sides were gone. The glue had already started deteriorating only a year after I had owned it, and the grips were constantly moving around. This unfortunately has dragged back an otherwise great product from being the last word in mouse design. And it shouldn't have to be - they could be replaced by some interchangeable part that fixes this issue and it would strive to first place, however the tire puncture has left it under threat from competitors. And from what I understand the problem still remains, so there's still work to be done here. While this mouse has to unfortunately go to e-recycling heaven, it is still worthy of five stars in my book. The fact the grips were the only thing I had an issue with (minus myself probably bricking the LMB on my own), should pay dividends to what a gem this mouse is. This review may be a silly little love letter, but it's the only way I can convey how much I love it. And how sad I am to see it go.

This is a really good mouse! It’s just the right weight. Not too light or too heavy. Moves smoothly over the mouse mat. The RGB effects look nice and are easily programmable using the steel series app.

For the price, this is actually a really good mouse. Nice sensor and good accuracy from what I can tell. Subtle RGB on the scroll wheel, which I initially thought I didn't like but have warmed to. Dual 2.4GHz and Bluetooth is great - but I find the 2.4GHz dongle likes to drop out sometimes when I reboot or power on my computer and needs to be unplugged and then plugged back in to work again. No idea why but it can be a little annoying going under my desk at 6am to unplug / plug in the dongle. Steelseries GG is terrible, and they have removed hardware RGB control from the Engine portion of it so you have to use Prism, which is software only. It has the capability to save the settings to the device but they removed it. To get this back you need to go find the last version of the standalone Steelseries Engine they released. Don't bother with GG. My main gripe is that in 2024 they have designed it to work with disposable 1.5V alkaline batteries only. It senses the nominally 'low' voltage of my 1.2V Ni-MH Eneloops and declares they are dead long before they actually are, then shuts off and refuses to stay powered on for long before turning off again. That was disappointing. When you use it with regular alkalines though the battery life seems acceptable but not perfect. I like that you can use one or two AAA's for weight savings and I like that the battery is not a non-replaceable lithium cell that is buried in the mouse. Overall, it's good, but is let down by the 2.4GHz dongle, Steelseries GG and the requirement of using standard alkalines (or the more expensive NiZn or Li-ion AAA's which need specialised chargers).

Great little mouse

After recently stepping up my gaming gear on the advice of a buddy who's pretty much a gaming guru, I decided to go for the SteelSeries Rival 600. And let me tell you, it's been a game-changer—literally. The mouse comes with these nifty 4g weights that you can add or remove on each side, letting you find that perfect heft and balance. It's like this mouse was engineered to glide, no, dance across my desk with the grace of a figure skater. But it's not just about how it moves. The setup was a breeze, especially with the inclusion of SteelSeries GG. For someone who's deep into Ark, being able to program macros has been a lifesaver. I mean, who has time to manually gather resources or repeatedly hit the same keys to craft when you can automate some of that grind, right? The Rival 600 doesn't just stop at being a workhorse; it's pretty much a show pony, too. The design is sleek, almost stealthy, with a comfort that seems tailored to my hand. And the TrueMove3+ Dual Optical Sensor? Absolute precision. We're talking about the kind of accuracy that makes you feel like the mouse is just an extension of your hand, reacting to your every whim with a 0.05 lift-off distance that's just... chef's kiss. But here's the kicker: the RGB lighting. It's not just about looking cool (which it totally does), but it adds this whole other level of personalization to my setup. It's like my desk is now part of the gaming world, reacting and glowing along with every in-game explosion or achievement. From its design to its functionality, it checks all the boxes for what I want in a gaming mouse. It's as if it's been fine-tuned not just for any gamer, but specifically for me. So, if you're on the fence about upgrading your mouse, consider this a sign. The Rival 600 is worth every penny, and then some. It's not just about playing the game; it's about elevating it. Absolutely over the moon with it!

The product is very good for its price and I would reccomend it very much. The quality of the mouse itself is very good and durable. It isnt that heavy so its good for fps games. The size is a about an average mouse or an office mouse i could say and it fit nicely in your hand. The buttons have a nice click to them and feel like the will last a while. It doesnt have battery.

Bought the SteelSeries Rival 3 thinking it would improve my aim in CS2. It didn’t. Turns out the mouse can’t fix my reflexes or decision-making under pressure. But wow, does it make my failures feel crisply executed. This thing glides smoother than my excuses after whiffing an AWP shot. The clicks are satisfyingly sharp, like a tactical slap to the ego every time I miss a headshot. And the RGB lighting? It glows with the judgment of a thousand disappointed teammates. It’s lightweight, responsive, and somehow survived a full week of competitive matches without being yeeted across the room. That’s build quality. If you’re looking for a mouse that says “I’m serious about gaming, but also emotionally unstable,” this is the one.