The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a great wired gaming mouse. It feels very comfortable to hold, and any hand size can easily reach all the buttons using a claw grip. The mouse is very lightweight, and its software is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, the side buttons start flush with the body of the mouse, which makes them slightly difficult to press unless your thumb rests in just the right spot.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a decent mouse for office or multimedia use. While its straight design may not be as comfortable for extended periods as a slanted more ergonomic mouse, it's comfortable enough to reach all the buttons. It's recommended for a claw grip, and it'll be well-suited for any hand size with this grip type. Unfortunately, there's no horizontal wheel or L/R tilt buttons on the mouse wheel, which may be a deal-breaker if you have to scroll horizontally through long documents like spreadsheets.
- Excellent sensor performance with low CPI variation.
- Comfortable for all hand sizes with claw grip.
- Side buttons can be a bit difficult to press.
- Low profile scroll wheel may not be for everyone.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a great mouse for FPS games. The mouse is quite lightweight, and all of its buttons can be programmed, including the L/R clicks and up/down scrolls. The sensor performance is excellent, and it has very good click latency. Unfortunately, the side buttons can be a bit difficult to press, and the fairly recessed mouse wheel may not be for everyone. While small hands may have a tough time with fingertip grip, the shape is well-suited for a claw grip for all hand sizes.
- Excellent sensor performance with low CPI variation.
- Comfortable for all hand sizes with claw grip.
- Side buttons can be a bit difficult to press.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a very good MMO mouse. While it doesn't have nearly as many programmable buttons as dedicated MMO mice, all of its buttons can be reprogrammed, which is good. It's quite comfortable for long periods, and while small hands may have a tough time with fingertip grip, all hand sizes will have no problems using a claw grip.
- Excellent sensor performance with low CPI variation.
- Comfortable for all hand sizes with claw grip.
- Side buttons can be a bit difficult to press.
Like most wired gaming mice, the SteelSeries Rival 3 is disappointing for travel. The mouse itself is fairly large and its wire may be cumbersome in tight spaces like on a plane or train.
- Comfortable for all hand sizes with claw grip.
- Side buttons can be a bit difficult to press.
- Low profile scroll wheel may not be for everyone.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 08, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 15, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.
- Updated Jun 22, 2022: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1, which revamped our click latency test methodology. We've updated the text to reflect our new results in various sections, including the Click Latency test box, Usages, Introduction, and other locations where we discuss click latency.
- Updated May 30, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
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Popular Mouse Comparisons
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a great wired gaming mouse available at a low price point. While it doesn't have as high of a max CPI as some more expensive gaming mice, it's still higher than most gamers require. It's great for all hand sizes when used with a claw grip.
See our recommendations for the best gaming mouse, the best wired gaming mouse, and the best mouse.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is overall a better gaming mouse than the Razer DeathAdder Essential. The SteelSeries has a sturdier-feeling build, a lighter weight, smoother-gliding mouse feet, and onboard memory. It also has lower latency, a wider CPI range, and a more consistent sensor. Comparatively, you can set a HyperShift button on the Razer, giving you a second layer of controls for as long as you hold it. Also, the Razer's larger size and shape make it more suitable for larger hands using a palm grip.
The Logitech G502 HERO and the SteelSeries Rival 3 are two very different gaming mice. The Logitech is an aggressive-looking mouse with a wider grip, a thumb rest, and more buttons. It also has a much wider CPI range, a lower lift-off distance, and better click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries is much smaller and significantly lighter. It also has better feet, and it's fully compatible with both Windows and macOS.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless and the SteelSeries Rival 3 look and perform very similarly. The Wireless is better for travel thanks to its wireless design and wireless connectivity options, and its minimum CPI is lower than the Rival 3. The Rival 3 is wired-only, it's lighter than the Wireless, and its click latency is slightly better.
The Razer Viper Mini is a better wired gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 3. The Razer is lighter, feels better built, is more comfortable, has a better cable, and has lower click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries' software is compatible with both Windows and macOS, and the mouse is better suited for claw grip for people with any hand size.
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