The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is an ultra-light gaming mouse with an ambidextrous shape and two buttons on its left side. It's an upgraded version of the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (released in 2020) with larger and better quality mouse feet; however, the mouse feet make a scratching sound when used on mousepads or directly on desks. Otherwise, it's very similar to its predecessor, with low click latency, customizable RGB lighting, and programmable buttons. Unfortunately, its cable is only moderately flexible, and the body flexes and creaks with a bit of pressure. Also, it has a high lift-off distance, so the sensor might track your movements when you reposition the mouse.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is adequate for office or multimedia use. It's comfortable for most hand sizes when using a claw or fingertip grip, but it isn't suitable for a palm grip unless you have smaller hands. You can reprogram all its buttons to fit your needs using the customization software, available on Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, you can't use it wirelessly, and its scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and a free-scrolling mode.
- Suitable for nearly all hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip.
- Many programmable inputs.
- Wired-only.
- Scroll wheel lacks L/R tilts and free scrolling.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is great for FPS gaming. It has low click latency, and it's very lightweight. Its ambidextrous design is well-suited for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes. It feels mostly well-built, and the mouse feet glide very smoothly. Unfortunately, the lift-off distance is high, and the braided cable isn't very flexible.
- Very light.
- Low click latency.
- Virgin Grade PTFE feet glide very smoothly.
- High lift-off distance.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is good for MMO gaming, but it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice. That said, you can reprogram all buttons it does have using the customization software, and it has low click latency. Its ambidextrous shape is suitable for most hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip, but it's only suitable for a palm grip for smaller hands. Unfortunately, its lift-off distance is high, and the braided cable isn't very flexible.
- Low click latency.
- Suitable for nearly all hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip.
- Virgin Grade PTFE feet glide very smoothly.
- High lift-off distance.
- Doesn't have as many buttons as dedicated MMO mice.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse. It's incredibly lightweight, it has smooth-gliding mouse feet, and it has low click latency. Its ambidextrous shape is suitable for all hand sizes using a claw grip, and only small hands will struggle to reach the scroll wheel and the forward side button with a fingertip grip. Unfortunately, its braided cable isn't very flexible, and the lift-off distance is high.
- Very light.
- Low click latency.
- Virgin Grade PTFE feet glide very smoothly.
- High lift-off distance.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is inadequate for travel, but it isn't designed for this use. You can't use it wirelessly, and its cable might get in the way when in tight spaces like buses, trains, or planes. That said, it has an ambidextrous shape that's suitable for most hand sizes using a claw or fingertip grip. It's fully compatible with Windows and macOS, and it has onboard memory to save your settings to.
- Has onboard memory.
- Bulky; may not fit in laptop bags.
- Wired-only.
Changelog
- Updated May 05, 2022: Following a reevaluation of the Cable, the Cable box score has increased from 7.0 to 7.5. Small changes to the text have been made to reflect this change.
- Updated Nov 23, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Nov 18, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 15, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) in the Onyx color variant, but it's also available in Snow. There's also a wireless variant, the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless (2022). You can see the label of our unit here.
Popular Mouse Comparisons
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is an upgraded version of the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2020). It features larger and better quality mouse feet than its predecessor, and the entire mouse is IP54-rated, including the body, components, and the switches, meaning it's resistant to dust and water. Also, its Golden Micro switches are rated at 80M clicks, which is impressive compared to other non-optical switches. Compared to other gaming mice, it's very lightweight with its honeycomb-cutout design, but its lift-off distance is much higher than most other options. Also, it has a few build quality issues, like minor flexing and creaking, and our unit's back side button goes in a bit too deep.
See our recommendations for the best gaming mice, the best wired mice, and the best SteelSeries mice.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless and the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) are very similar gaming mice. The Aerox 3 Wireless is a slightly older edition, so it doesn't have the same large, better-quality feet that the 2022 edition has, but you can use it wirelessly via its USB receiver or Bluetooth. Also, the Aerox 3 Wireless's sensor is better and offers a wider CPI range and a much lower lift-off distance. Both mice are advertised as rated at IP54, including all of their components, which is a high rating for a gaming mouse.
The GLORIOUS Model D and the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) are both ultra-light gaming mice. The GLORIOUS has a right-handed shape and is suitable for all hand sizes hand using a palm grip. It has a higher maximum CPI, a lower lift-off distance, and a better quality cable. Comparatively, the SteelSeries has an ambidextrous shape suitable for all hand sizes using a claw grip. It feels better built and is advertised as rated at IP54, including all of its components, which is a high rating for a gaming mouse.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) is an upgraded version of the SteelSeries Aerox 3. They look identical, but the 2022 edition has better quality mouse feet that are larger and extend over the width of the mouse instead of being just four small circles on each corner. Otherwise, they have the same sensor, same high lift-off distance, and nearly identical amounts of click latency. Both mice are advertised as rated at IP54, including all of their components, which is a high rating for a gaming mouse.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 and the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) are nearly identical in shape, but the Aerox has a honeycomb-cutout design and is lighter. Also, it has larger and better-quality mouse feet, and its braided cable is removable. On the other hand, the Rival has a solid body and feels much better built, and it has a lower lift-off distance.
Test Results
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) looks identical to its predecessor, with a matte black honeycomb-cutout body. It has an RGB strip that runs along the bottom and two zones inside the mouse.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) feels well-built, but there's some creaking if you apply a bit of pressure to the body. Also, the underside flexes if you apply a lot of pressure, but it isn't as bad as the SteelSeries Aerox 3. However, the back side button goes too far into the body when pressed. SteelSeries claims the mouse and the Golden Micro switches are IP54 rated, meaning it's dust-resistant and water-resistant from small splashes.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) has an ambidextrous shape with side buttons on the left. The buttons are standard and easy to reach. There are no side grips, but the slightly textured matte plastic helps it not feel too slippery.
If you have large or extra-large hands, your fingers will extend past the front of the mouse while using a palm grip.
All hand sizes should feel comfortable using this mouse with a claw grip.
If you have small hands, you'll struggle to reach the front side button and the scroll wheel when using a fingertip grip.
SteelSeries advertises the cable on the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) as a mix between a braided cable and a paracord-like cable. However, it's closer to a braided cable as it's only decently flexible. On the bright side, it's detachable, so you can easily replace it with a different one if you'd like.
The mouse feet are a big improvement from the ones on the initial SteelSeries Aerox 3. Instead of four small circles on each corner, the 2022 version now has two large feet on each end that span the width of the mouse. Also, they're made of virgin-grade PTFE instead of black-dyed PTFE. There's a scratching sound if you use them on mousepads or desks, but they glide very well otherwise.
The polling rate options on the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. It features the same sensor as the initial SteelSeries Aerox 3, and it has a high lift-off distance, meaning the sensor might track your movements when you reposition your mouse mid-game.
You can reprogram all six buttons on the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022), including the up/down scroll inputs. You can configure five CPI settings and cycle through them using the dedicated button below the scroll wheel. If you're looking for a mouse with more side buttons, including a sniper-style button, check out the SteelSeries Aerox 5.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) has a grooved rubber strip around the wheel that helps grip. It feels responsive and precise, and the steps feel well-defined.
The SteelSeries GG software lets you remap buttons, adjust the RGB zones, change the polling rate, and configure five CPI settings. Also, there's onboard memory, so you can save your settings and keep them when you move to a computer that doesn't have the software installed.
