The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is a wired gaming mouse that continues SteelSeries' Rival 3 lineup. It has the same symmetrical shape as its predecessor, the SteelSeries Rival 3, but features minor performance upgrades, a significantly better paracord-like cable, and improved virgin-grade PTFE mouse feet.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is adequate for work, though it isn't designed with productivity in mind. It feels well-built and has a comfortable, symmetrical shape that's best suited for medium or large hands. You can program its buttons through the companion software, but it lacks convenience features like free scrolling, side-scrolling inputs, Bluetooth support, or multi-device pairing.
Excellent build quality.
Comfortable symmetrical shape.
Wired-only.
Scroll wheel lacks free-scrolling and left/right tilt inputs.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is an excellent FPS gaming mouse with impressive raw performance that's suitable for both casual and competitive play. It has outstanding build quality, with a noticeably thicker plastic body and a comfortable, symmetrical shape that best suits medium-sized hands using a claw or fingertip grip. Its only major drawback is that it isn't as lightweight as most modern FPS mice, which affects how quickly and accurately you can move it. However, if you prefer a more moderate weight, that may not be an issue.
Excellent build quality.
Comfortable symmetrical shape.
Superb raw performance.
Heavier than most recent dedicated FPS mice.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is good for MMO or MOBA gaming, though it doesn't have as many side buttons as mice designed specifically for these genres. It has excellent build quality and feels sturdy, with a more substantial weight and thicker-feeling plastic shell than many of the FPS-focused mice on the market today. It also has a comfortable, medium-sized symmetrical shape, and its strong overall performance is more than suitable for high-level PvE or PvP play.
Excellent build quality.
Comfortable symmetrical shape.
Superb raw performance.
Fewer side buttons than dedicated MMO mice.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 has superb raw performance. While it only supports a maximum polling rate of 1000Hz compared to some higher-end FPS mice designed for the highest levels of competitive play, the difference in click and sensor performance is minimal and barely perceptible in-game. This mouse remains very well-suited for gaming in any genre at both casual and competitive levels.
Extremely low click latency.
Remarkable sensor latency.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is available in Black and White. We tested the White color version, and you see our unit's label here.
There's also a SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Wireless version of this mouse that we've reviewed separately.
Popular Mouse Comparisons
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is a wired gaming mouse that continues SteelSeries' Rival 3 lineup. It's positioned as a dependable budget option from a well-established brand at a time when most new releases typically target mid-range or upper mid-range price points and come from emerging brands with limited track records. It features an RGB lighting strip with three customizable zones, which is becoming less common among dedicated FPS mice that often remove extra features to reduce weight. While this mouse isn't heavy, it's noticeably heavier than many lightweight competitors, such as the SteelSeries Aerox 3, which shares the same shape and is more expensive but has honeycomb cut-outs in its body to save weight. This mouse's stiffest competition comes from the MCHOSE L7 Pro, which shares a similar shape and costs slightly more but adds wireless connectivity. It's also significantly lighter and uses higher-end internal components for top-tier performance aimed at competitive FPS players, though it lacks RGB lighting.
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best cheap and budget gaming mice, the best wired mice, and the best claw grip mice.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is a newer version of the SteelSeries Rival 3, and both share the same symmetrical shape. The Rival 3 Gen 2 offers slightly better raw performance, a much lighter and more flexible paracord-like cable, and upgraded feet that glide more smoothly on mousepads.
The Logitech G203 LIGHTSYNC and the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 are wired gaming mice with symmetrical shapes. The Logitech is slightly heavier and has an egg-shaped design that tapers toward both the front and back, making it a versatile choice for palm, claw, or fingertip grips. In contrast, the SteelSeries' shape is wider toward the rear and tapers toward the front, making it better suited for claw or fingertip grips. The SteelSeries also offers better raw performance, higher-quality feet that glide more smoothly on mousepads and desks, and a much lighter, more flexible paracord-like cable compared to the Logitech's relatively stiff rubber cable.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Gen 2 is a wireless version of the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2. They both share the same shape and perform quite similarly, but the wireless model uses an AA or AAA battery for power and is heavier. It's also available in a wider range of color options and has a non-customizable RGB zone in the scroll wheel. On the other hand, the wired model is lighter and has customizable RGB lighting visible through the transparent bottom and in a strip that wraps around most of the the bottom edge of the mouse.
The Endgame Gear XM2 8k and the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 are both wired gaming mice with somewhat similar symmetrical shapes, but the Endgame Gear's hump sits farther toward the rear and its sides are more concave, while the SteelSeries has a more centered hump and straighter sides. The Endgame Gear is specifically designed for high-level competitive play. It's lighter, has higher-quality feet, a more flexible and lightweight cable, and delivers significantly better raw performance with a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. It also uses specialized SDPT switches to achieve exceptionally low click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries has RGB lighting, which the Endgame Gear lacks.
Test Results
There's a printed SteelSeries logo on the top of the mouse near the back.
It also has RGB lighting visible through the translucent bottom plate and as a light strip visible along the bottom edge. This strip wraps around the back and extends along both sides for about two-thirds of the mouse's length. This strip has three customizable lighting zones (back, middle, and front) that you can adjust independently in the software.
Note: The translucent plastic bottom of the mouse appears slightly lighter in color in the scan than it does in reality, as we applied an aerosol spray to its surface to achieve a readable scan. This spray doesn't affect the accuracy of our measurements.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 has excellent build quality. All parts fit together very cleanly, and there aren't any loose parts or rattling sounds if you shake it. The body has a slightly textured matte plastic finish that feels high-quality and provides a good degree of grip.
It also feels very rigid, and the thickness of the plastic used in the shell is apparent. There's no significant flexibility whatsoever, although if you press very forcefully into the sides under the side buttons, you can unintentionally actuate them. However, this is very common on modern gaming mice and doesn't present any issues during normal use.
This mouse shares the same shape as its predecessor, the SteelSeries Rival 3. It has a medium-sized, symmetrical shape with a relatively low profile. The hump is centered, the back is wide and rounded, and the entire body tapers noticeably toward the front. It's primarily designed for claw or fingertip grips with medium-sized hands, but is also comfortable for larger-sized hands using a fingertip grip. However, its moderate weight can feel more fatiguing during long sessions if you rely mainly on fingertip rather than wrist movements while gaming.
Like its predecessor, this mouse has fairly narrow, tapered side buttons with no separation between them. While some users may prefer this design, the lack of spacing and the slim profile might not suit all playstyles, as there's less physical differentiation between the buttons. You need to be more precise with your thumb placement to press them reliably compared to the wider, more distinct side buttons found on many competing mice.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 has a lightweight, flexible paracord-like cable that's a significant improvement over the previous generation's rubber cable. It glides easily across mousepads and desks with only slight resistance and doesn't drag or catch. The cable arrives fairly tightly wound and retains some kinks when first uncoiled, but they're minor and easy to work out.
The mouse feet are fairly thin, and the relatively moderate weight of the mouse does create a bit more resistance compared to more lightweight gaming mice on the market. That said, these feet are a noticeable improvement over the previous generation SteelSeries Rival 3, which had black-dyed PTFE feet that don't glide quite as smoothly.
Using the companion software, you can program all buttons, including the scroll up and down inputs.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 has remarkably low click latency. It provides an extremely responsive and consistent experience for gaming across all genres, whether casual or competitive.
We conducted this test using the maximum polling rate of 1000Hz.
This mouse's sensor reliably tracks your movements without any problematic speed variation issues.
It can show slightly higher-than-typical deviation from its target CPI. However, this only means it might take a little time to get used to it if you're accustomed to a specific CPI setting on another mouse. It doesn't negatively affect your performance whatsoever once you've built the muscle memory for the small degree of deviation.
This mouse has superb sensor latency performance suitable for gaming at any competitive level.
We conducted this test using the maximum polling rate of 1000Hz.
Available polling rate settings are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz.
In addition to typical and expected sensor adjustment options, this mouse's software allows you to adjust sensor acceleration curves: if you prefer having different CPI settings depending on how fast you're using your mouse. See the Configuration Software section for more details.
The scroll wheel has a soft rubberized coating with small ridges that provide a decent amount of grip. Scrolling feels precise, though there’s a slight wobble between step increments.
The software offers all the customization options you'd expect but also includes several unrelated features for in-game video capture, audio settings, and other SteelSeries peripherals. Since it's designed to support a wide range of products, the interface can feel cluttered if you're only interested in adjusting your mouse settings. To access these, go to the Engine tab and then select the Gear tab. From there, the layout is straightforward, with all mouse options organized on a single page.
One noteworthy feature of the software is the ability to create custom acceleration curves that adjust CPI based on movement speed, similar to third-party tools like RawAccel. At the time of writing, this kind of functionality remains relatively uncommon in the wider industry.
That said, SteelSeries' software package, like similar suites from Logitech, Razer, and ASUS, continues to receive criticism from the wider community for including bloated or unnecessary features, consuming excessive system resources, and requiring frequent updates.
During testing, we found that while your CPI settings persist in onboard memory, if you change to a computer without the software installed, other settings, such as custom macros, don't. This may be an issue if you want to save your settings and use them on other computers without the software installed.