SteelSeries Rival 310  Mouse Review

Reviewed Jun 19, 2020 at 08:36am
Test bench update Oct 16, 2020 at 02:00pm
Tested using Methodology v1.0 
SteelSeries Rival 310
7.2
Office/Multimedia 
8.0
Video Games (FPS) 
7.9
Video Games (MMO) 
7.8
Ultra-Light Gaming 
5.2
Travel 
 0

The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a great wired gaming mouse. It looks and feels similar to the SteelSeries Rival 500, but with a less bulky design and less programmable side buttons. It's very comfortable to use with a palm grip for all hand sizes and has a low click latency. Its max CPI isn't quite as high as the Rival 500 but is likely more than sensitive enough for most people, and the mouse is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, which is great.

Our Verdict

7.2
Office/Multimedia 

The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a good mouse for office use. Thanks to its right-handed ergonomic shape, it's very comfortable to use for extended periods, and the two programmable side buttons can help you navigate work software quicker. It's also fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, so you can use it on your work PC as well as your laptop, even if they use different operating systems.

Pros
  • Fully compatible with both Windows and macOS.
  • Very comfortable.
  • Durable and well-built.
Cons
  • No L/R tilt or horizontal scroll.
8.0
Video Games (FPS) 

The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a great FPS gaming mouse. It's very comfortable to use for extended periods and its wired connection ensures low click latency. While its max CPI isn't as high as some other options, it's still likely more than sensitive enough for most people, and its CPI can be adjusted by increments of 100. Unfortunately, some FPS gamers may find it a bit heavy, and its rubber cable is somewhat rigid.

Pros
  • Very comfortable.
  • Low click latency.
  • Durable and well-built.
Cons
  • Max CPI isn't as high as some other options.
7.9
Video Games (MMO) 

The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a very good mouse for MMO games, though it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice. It's comfortable enough for long gaming sessions and has low click latency. You can also install the SteelSeries software on both Windows and macOS, which is great if you like to play WoW on your MacBook.

Pros
  • Very comfortable.
  • Low click latency.
  • Durable and well-built.
Cons
  • Not as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice.
  • Max CPI isn't as high as some other options.
7.8
Ultra-Light Gaming 

The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a fairly heavy mouse that isn't nearly as lightweight as dedicated ultra-light gaming mice. It's a good gaming mouse thanks to its low click latency and excellent sensor performance, but fans of very lightweight mice will likely want to look elsewhere.

Pros
  • Very comfortable.
  • Low click latency.
  • Durable and well-built.
Cons
  • Not nearly as light as dedicated ultra-light mice.
  • Max CPI isn't as high as some other options.
5.2
Travel 

The SteelSeries Rival 310 isn't recommended for travel. Like most wired gaming mice, it's quite bulky and won't fit into most laptop cases. It's also fairly heavy, and its wire is cumbersome when using in a tight space, like a plane.

Pros
  • Fully compatible with both Windows and macOS.
  • Durable and well-built.
Cons
  • Bulky wired design.
  • 7.2
    Office/Multimedia
  • 8.0
    Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.9
    Video Games (MMO)
  • 7.8
    Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.2
    Travel
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Oct 16, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
    2.  Updated Jun 19, 2020: Review published.
    3.  Updated Jun 15, 2020: Early access published.
    4.  Updated Jun 03, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.

    Popular Mouse Comparisons

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a great wired gaming mouse. It's similar to the SteelSeries Rival 500 but has fewer programmable buttons and a smaller and less bulky ergonomic design.

    Check out our recommendations for the best gaming mouse, the best wired gaming mouse, and the best mouse overall.

    SteelSeries Rival 5

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a predecessor of the SteelSeries Rival 5. The Rival 5 is a better gaming mouse overall as it's lighter, feels sturdier, and has more side buttons, including a toggle switch up/down inputs. It also has an updated sensor with a higher maximum CPI and a lower lift-off distance. It's ideal for all grip types but isn't suitable for smaller hands. On the other hand, the Rival 310 is better suited for small hands using a palm grip but is only recommended for a fingertip grip for extra-large hands.

    SteelSeries Rival 3

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 and the SteelSeries Rival 3 are both great wired FPS gaming mice. The Rival 3 is a bit lighter and has a more ambidextrous design that's best-suited for a claw grip. On the other hand, the Rival 310 has a slanted right-handed design that's better-suited for all hand sizes with a palm grip. The 310 also has a wider adjustable CPI range, but we measured a slightly lower CPI variation with the Rival 3.

    Razer DeathAdder Elite

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 and the Razer DeathAdder Elite are both great wired FPS gaming mice. The Razer has a wider CPI range that you can fine-tune by increments of 1, which is excellent. Also, it has a more consistent sensor and lower lift-off distance. On the other hand, the Rival 310 has a slightly lower click latency and is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, while the Razer is only partially compatible with macOS.

    SteelSeries Rival 100

    The SteelSeries Rival 100 is a predecessor of the SteelSeries Rival 310. The Rival 100 has an ambidextrous shape, while the Rival 310 has an ergonomic right-handed shape. Performance-wise, the Rival 310 also has a much wider CPI range, a CPI that's more precisely adjustable, and a better click latency. It also has onboard memory. The Rival 310 is more suitable for a palm or claw grip for most hand sizes, whereas the Rival 100 is best suited for a claw or a fingertip grip for almost all hand sizes.

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    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Type
    Standard
    Lighting ColorRGB

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 has a straightforward design that looks very similar to the SteelSeries Rival 500, but with fewer buttons. It has textured rubber on each side and RGB lighting on the scroll wheel and rear logo. While our unit is all-black, this mouse is also available in PUBG or CS:GO color variants.

    Shape
    Length5.0" (128 mm)
    Height1.7" (42 mm)
    Width2.7" (69 mm)
    Grip Width
    61 mm
    5.4
    Portability
    Volume
    22.95 in³ (376 cm³)
    Cable/Receiver Storing
    No

    As with most wired gaming mice, the SteelSeries Rival 310 isn't the best for portability. This likely won't be an issue for most people, as it's designed to keep with your gaming setup at home.

    Weight
    Maximum Weight With Wire
    128 g
    Maximum Weight Without Wire
    95 g
    Minimum Weight Without Wire
    95 g
    Weight Distribution
    Centered
    Extra Weights
    No

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 gaming mouse is fairly heavy and has no weight optimization options.

    8.0
    Build Quality

    The build quality of the SteelSeries Rival 310 is excellent. The entire mouse feels very sturdy with no loose or squeaking parts. It's made of good quality plastic, with a matte finish and rubber grips on either side. The PFTE feet are okay but aren't as good on some other mice, like the GLORIOUS Model O. Overall it feels as well-built and solid as the SteelSeries Rival 500.

    8.5
    Comfort Of Use
    Right-handed
    Yes
    Left-handed
    No
    Ambidextrous
    No
    Coating
    Matte
    Finger Rest
    No

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 is very comfortable to use. It has a right-handed ergonomic slant that allows it to fit very well in the hand. Overall it feels like the SteelSeries Rival 500 but with less bulk.

    Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    Yes
    Medium Hand
    Yes
    Large Hand
    Yes
    X.Large Hand
    Yes

    The SteelSeries Rival 310 is very well-suited for a palm grip. Anyone should be able to use it comfortably with this grip, regardless of hand size.

    Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    No
    Medium Hand
    Yes
    Large Hand
    Yes
    X.Large Hand
    Yes

    This mouse is suitable for a claw grip for everyone except those with small hands. People with small hands will likely find it difficult to comfortably reach the scroll wheel and front side button.

    Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    Small Hand
    No
    Medium Hand
    No
    Large Hand
    No
    X.Large Hand
    Yes

    This mouse isn't recommended to use with a fingertip grip. People with very large hands may be able to use it with this grip, but they'll likely find it uncomfortable and difficult to game with.

    0.0
    Wireless Versatility
    Bluetooth
    No
    Receiver
    No
    Battery Type
    No Batteries
    Use When Charging
    No
    On/Off Activation
    None
    Receiver Extender
    No
    Battery IndicatorNo

    This is a wired-only mouse.

    7.0
    Cable
    ConnectivityWired
    Cable Length6.6 ft (2.0 m)
    Cable Type
    Rubber
    Permanent Kink
    Yes
    Port Type: Mouse End
    No Port
    Port Type: PC End
    USB

    The cable of this mouse is the same as the one found on the SteelSeries Rival 500, and is only mediocre overall. It's coated in rubber and maintains some kinks from the packaging.

    7.5
    Mouse Feet
    Gliding Experience
    Good
    Material
    PTFE
    Extra Included
    No
    In The Box

    • SteelSeries Rival 310 mouse
    • Manual
    Control
    Sensor Specifications
    Sensor Technology
    Optical (LED)
    Sensor Model
    TrueMove 3
    Works On Glass
    No
    Minimum CPI (DPI)
    100 CPI
    Maximum CPI (DPI)
    12,000 CPI
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
    100 CPI
    CPI (DPI) Variation
    -3%
    Minimum Lift Off Distance
    2.4 mm
    Maximum Polling Rate
    1000 Hz
    7.4
    Buttons
    Buttons Activation
    Mechanical
    Total Number Of Buttons
    6
    Number Of Side Buttons
    2
    Number Of Programmable Inputs
    8
    Profile Switching Button
    Yes
    CPI (DPI) Switching Button
    Yes
    Gesture Support
    No

    This mouse has two additional side buttons, for a total of eight programmable buttons. While you can set a button to switch profiles, it will switch to a specific one so you'll need to set multiple buttons and can't simply scroll through your various profiles. For a similar gaming mouse with hot-swappable left and right-click switches, check out the ASUS ROG Chakram Core.

    Mouse Wheel
    Scroll Wheel
    Notched Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Steps
    24 Steps
    Scroll Wheel Tilt
    No
    Thumb Wheel
    No
    Thumb Wheel Steps
    No Thumb Wheel

    The mouse wheel is decent. Like with most SteelSeries mice, it's fairly low profile and doesn't stick out much. It's incremented with soft bumps, but unfortunately, there are no L/R tilt buttons.

    Noise
    Click Noise
    Quiet
    7.9
    Click Latency
    Click Latency: Receiver
    N/A
    Click Latency: Bluetooth
    N/A
    Click Latency: Wired
    15 ms

    The click latency of this mouse is quite low and most people likely won't notice any lag.

    Operating System And Software
    10
    Compatible Software Option
    Software NameSteelSeries Engine 3
    Software Windows Compatibility
    Yes
    Software macOS Compatibility
    Yes
    Account Needed
    No
    On-Board Memory
    Yes
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment
    Yes
    Polling Rate Adjustment
    Yes
    Profile Configuration
    Yes
    RGB On/Off
    Yes

    The software for this mouse is superb. It's fully compatible with both Windows and macOS and allows you to fully customize your mouse. The mouse also has on-board memory to save your settings between computers, though unfortunately, our settings didn't save when switching the mouse from Windows to macOS, and we had to reprogram the mouse on the Mac.

    10
    Mouse Compatibility
    Windows CompatibilityFully
    macOS CompatibilityFully

    This mouse is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS as the software can be installed on both.