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SteelSeries Rival 710 Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jul 07, 2020 at 08:46 am
Latest change: Test bench update Oct 19, 2020 at 03:36 pm
SteelSeries Rival 710 Picture
7.2
Office/Multimedia
7.4
Video Games (FPS)
7.9
Video Games (MMO)
5.8
Ultra-Light Gaming
5.3
Travel

The SteelSeries Rival 710 is a good overall gaming mouse and features a customizable and quite unique OLED screen at the front of the body. The mouse is fairly heavy and great for people who prefer using a palm grip. It's comfortable to use for long periods and its performance is excellent. You can easily customize the RGB lighting or the performance settings inside the Engine 3 software, which is compatible with both Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, the cable is quite stiff and creates drag when moving the mouse around.

Our Verdict

7.2 Office/Multimedia

The SteelSeries 710 can be a good office mouse. It's very well-built, feels solid, on top of being very comfortable, especially if you use a palm grip. Unfortunately, it can't be used wireless so you need to manage the stiff cable, but overall, it can be a nice addition to your desk.

Pros
  • Very solid build quality.
  • Comfortable design for palm grip.
  • Excellent performance.
Cons
  • Wired-only connection.
7.4 Video Games (FPS)

The SteelSeries Rival 710 is a pretty decent FPS mouse. Its click latency is quite low and it feels very responsive. You can also easily swap out its sensor by unscrewing it, which is a unique feature on a mouse. It might not be the lightest mouse for quick movements, but if you don't mind a heavier mouse, you shouldn't have any problems, other than the stiff cable.

Pros
  • Very solid build quality.
  • Comfortable design for palm grip.
  • Excellent performance.
  • Programmable vibrating alerts.
Cons
  • Heavy mouse.
  • Mediocre cable.
7.9 Video Games (MMO)

The SteelSeries Rival 710 is a very good gaming mouse for MMOs, although it doesn't have as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice. It's also very comfortable to use and feels very responsive thanks to its low click latency. Some might be disappointed by the lack of scroll wheel tilt inputs, but overall, it's a solid choice if you casually play MMO games.

Pros
  • Very solid build quality.
  • Comfortable design for palm grip.
  • Excellent performance.
  • Programmable vibrating alerts.
Cons
  • Only three side buttons.
  • Mediocre cable.
5.8 Ultra-Light Gaming

The SteelSeries Rival 710 isn't designed for ultra-light gaming. The mouse is very heavy and most of the weight seems to be at the back of the body. While it's a good overall gaming mouse, it won't be the best option if you're looking for something light.

Pros
  • Very solid build quality.
  • Comfortable design for palm grip.
  • Excellent performance.
  • Programmable vibrating alerts.
Cons
  • Heavy mouse.
  • Mediocre cable.
5.3 Travel

The SteelSeries Rival 710 isn't designed to travel. This gaming mouse is wired-only and can be a little too big to bring on the go. This mouse should stay at home with your gaming setup.

Pros
  • Very solid build quality.
  • Comfortable design for palm grip.
  • Excellent performance.
Cons
  • Heavy mouse.
  • Wired-only connection.
  • 7.2 Office/Multimedia
  • 7.4 Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.9 Video Games (MMO)
  • 5.8 Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.3 Travel
  1. Updated Oct 19, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  2. Updated Jul 07, 2020: Review published.
  3. Updated Jun 30, 2020: Early access published.
  4. Updated Jun 16, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Jun 16, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Jun 09, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Mice

The Steelseries 710 is a pretty straightforward gaming mouse that comes with a few unique features like an unscrewable sensor and a customizable OLED screen to access customization options. It's quite similar in design to other Rival mice from SteelSeries like the SteelSeries Rival 500, although it has fewer side buttons. If you want more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming mice. If you prefer having less clutter on your desk, check out the best wireless gaming mice, and if you're on a budget, you can take a look at the best cheap gaming mice.

SteelSeries Rival 600

The SteelSeries Rival 600 is a better wired gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Rival 600 comes with eight 4-gram weights, so you can fully customize its weight. Its right-handed ergonomic slant makes it more comfortable than the Rival 710 as well, and it's well-suited for all grip types for everyone except those with small hands. Its click latency is lower than the Rival 710, and it has a lower liftoff distance. On the other hand, the 710 has a higher max CPI, though most people will likely find it too sensitive when used at its highest CPI.

Razer DeathAdder V2

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a better gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Razer is quite a bit lighter and is a great fit for most hand sizes and grip types. It has a wider CPI range, a lower lift-off distance, and a much better click latency. It also has twice as many programmable inputs if you set an HyperShift button. That said, the SteelSeries has one extra side button and features a unique OLED screen to display in-game stats or an image of your choice. However, it’s not recommended for a fingertip grip.

Logitech G502 HERO

The Logitech G502 HERO is a slightly better wired gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Logitech's weight is adjustable thanks to the five included weights, and its cable is higher-quality. The Logitech's CPI is also more accurate. The Logitech has a lower lift-off distance and more programmable buttons thanks to the L/R tilt on the scroll wheel. The SteelSeries is likely more comfortable to use over long periods.

SteelSeries Sensei Ten

The SteelSeries Sensei Ten is a better wired FPS gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Sensei Ten is better suited for a claw grip regardless of hand size and has a wider and more adjustable CPI range. It also has one more programmable side button than the Rival 710 and is lighter. On the other hand, the Rival 710 is much more comfortable and feels better-built.

Razer DeathAdder Elite

The Razer DeathAdder Elite is a better wired mouse for FPS gaming than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Razer is much lighter and is better suited for people with small hands. Its CPI range is also more consistent and easier to fine-tune as you can adjust it by increments of 1. On the other hand, the SteelSeries feels a bit more comfortable, and its companion software is fully compatible with macOS and Windows, as opposed to Razer's Synapse 3, which is only compatible with Windows.

Cooler Master MM830

The SteelSeries Rival 710 and the Cooler Master MM830 are versatile gaming mice. The SteelSeries has better feet, a more consistent sensor, and software compatible with Windows and macOS. Comparatively, the Cooler Master has a better cable, an extra side button, and a higher maximum CPI. Both mice have OLED screens, but the screen on the SteelSeries can display GIFs and has integration for specific games to display in-game stats. The Cooler Master can only display bitmap images and system information. Both mice are best-suited for larger hands using a palm or claw grip.

SteelSeries Prime+

The SteelSeries Rival 710 and the SteelSeries Prime+ are both wired gaming mice with OLED screens. The Prime+ is significantly lighter, has a more flexible cable, and smoother gliding mouse feet. It also has a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and a lower lift-off distance. The OLED screen on the Prime+ is on the underside and allows you to change settings without the software. Comparatively, the OLED on the Rival 710 is on the left side and can only display images and in-game or system stats. The Rival 710 also has a dedicated CPI button and significantly lower click latency.

SteelSeries Prime Mini

The SteelSeries Prime Mini is a better-wired gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Rival 710. The Mini is significantly lighter and has a more flexible cable. It also has better quality mouse feet. Performance-wise, it has a wider CPI range, a CPI you can adjust more precisely, a lower lift-off distance, and lower click latency. On the other hand, the Rival 710 feels somewhat sturdier and has a more consistent sensor. It also has a CPI button behind the scroll wheel, which is a feature the Mini lacks.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB

The SteelSeries Rival 710 looks quite a bit like the SteelSeries Rival 500, but with fewer buttons. It has rubberized grips on the side and features a more typical FPS layout with three side buttons. It features RGB lighting on the scroll wheel and the logo situated on the back hump of the mouse. There’s also a unique OLED screen at the front of the body. It can be used to display in-game stats, an image or gif of your choice, and you can easily access configuration settings to customize your mouse without using its software.

Design
Shape
Length 4.9" (124 mm)
Height 1.6" (41 mm)
Width 2.7" (69 mm)
Grip Width
61 mm
5.5
Design
Portability
Volume
21.42 in³ (351 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No

The SteelSeries 710 isn’t very portable. This wired-only mouse won’t be ideal for working in small places like on a plane. It’s aimed to stay at home with your gaming setup.

Design
Weight
Maximum Weight With Wire
162 g
Maximum Weight Without Wire
139 g
Minimum Weight Without Wire
124 g
Weight Distribution
Back-heavy
Extra Weights
No

This mouse is very heavy. There are no real weight optimization options, and it feels very back heavy overall. For a lighter mouse, check out the BenQ Zowie ZA11-B.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

This mouse feels very well-built, just like most SteelSeries mice. The textured side grips are a nice touch and overall, the mouse feels solid. Unfortunately, the mouse clicks are a little wobbly, and there’s a small part at the top of the right-click button that doesn’t register any inputs, which can be a bit frustrating if your fingers rest more towards the front edge of the mouse.

8.0
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
Yes
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
No
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No

The SteelSeries Rival 710 is very comfortable to use. It’s designed for right-handed people with a rounded shape that is mainly aimed for a palm grip. Its overall shape seems quite similar to the SteelSeries Rival 600 and becomes wider at the back. If you're interested in a mouse with similar performance and a thumb rest, check out the ROCCAT Kone AIMO Remastered.

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

The palm grip is recommended for this mouse due to its rounded and wide shape. However, people with smaller hands might have trouble using this mouse with a palm grip as the vertical side button can be a bit hard to reach. If you want a mouse better suited for small hands, check out the BenQ ZOWIE ZA12-B.

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

Only people with larger hands might find the claw grip to be effective and comfortable with this mouse. The vertical sniper button is also quite far from your thumb with this grip, so it's a bit harder to reach if you have smaller hands.

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

This mouse is definitely not designed to be used with a fingertip grip. Reaching the front side button is very hard and this grip doesn’t allow for good control over the mouse.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No

This mouse is wired-only and can’t be used wirelessly.

6.5
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length 6.6 ft (2.0 m)
Cable Type
Braided
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
Micro USB
Port Type: PC End
USB

The SteelSeries Rival 710’s cable is quite mediocre. While the cable is detachable, it keeps a lot of kinks and creates drag when moving the mouse around. The mouse comes with two different-length cables. The 2-meter long cable is braided while the 1-meter long one is covered by cheap rubber. Both end in a 90-degree connector that goes under the mouse.

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

  • SteelSeries Rival 710 mouse
  • 2-meter braided cable
  • 1-meter rubber cable
  • User Manual

Control
Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
TrueMove 3
Works On Glass
No
Minimum CPI (DPI)
100 CPI
Maximum CPI (DPI)
16,000 CPI
CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
100 CPI
CPI (DPI) Variation
-3%
Minimum Lift Off Distance
2.4 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
1000 Hz

This mouse has a unique removable sensor, which allows you to easily swap it if you want. All you need to do is unscrew the four screws and swap out the sensor.

7.7
Control
Buttons
Buttons Activation
Mechanical
Total Number Of Buttons
7
Number Of Side Buttons
3
Number Of Programmable Inputs
9
Profile Switching Button
Yes
CPI (DPI) Switching Button
Yes
Gesture Support
No

The SteelSeries Rival 710 has a typical button layout with three side buttons, which are right next to the customizable OLED screen. You can remap every button, including both scroll up and down from the wheel. Also, just like other SteelSeries mice, you can map a button to switch to a certain profile, but can't cycle through all of your profiles with the same button, which is disappointing.

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

This mouse has a very small scroll wheel that doesn't stick out a lot, like most other SteelSeries mice. It features subtle RGB lighting on its sides and has medium soft increments when scrolling. For a gaming mouse with a scroll wheel that tilts left and right, check out the HyperX Pulsefire Raid.

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

The click latency of the SteelSeries Rival 710 is very low. This wired mouse feels responsive and even most competitive players shouldn’t notice any lag when playing games. If you want a mouse with an even lower click latency, check out the BenQ Zowie EC2.

Operating System And Software
10
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name SteelSeries 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 SteelSeries Rival 710 is compatible with the excellent Engine 3 software. It allows for a lot of lighting and performance customization. You can even set a vibration timer that will alert you in games when some of your abilities are off cooldown.

10
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Fully

The mouse is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, which is great. Unfortunately, you can't customize a mouse on Windows and port it over to macOS; you'll need to do the programming once again.