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SteelSeries Sensei 310 Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed May 20, 2021 at 10:00 am
SteelSeries Sensei 310 Picture
7.4
Office/Multimedia
8.0
Video Games (FPS)
8.1
Video Games (MMO)
7.6
Ultra-Light Gaming
5.3
Travel

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a great wired gaming mouse. It feels sturdy, has two side buttons on each side, and has a comfortable ambidextrous shape that's ideal for claw grip regardless of hand size, though it's also suitable for a fingertip grip for larger hands or a palm grip for smaller hands. It has good click latency, a good lift-off distance, a wide CPI range, and a set CPI that you can adjust by increments of 100. Unfortunately, it has a fairly stiff rubber cable, and our unit's sensor is somewhat inconsistent, as it undershoots the set CPI more for faster mouse movements than slower ones.

Our Verdict

7.4 Office/Multimedia

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is decent for office use. It feels well-built and has an impressive number of programmable buttons. It's best suited for a claw grip, but it's also suitable for smaller hands using a palm grip or larger hands using a fingertip grip. Unfortunately, it's a wired-only mouse, and the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are programmable.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Mouse wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.
8.0 Video Games (FPS)

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is very good for FPS gaming. It feels sturdy, has good click latency, good mouse feet that glide smoothly on mousepads, and it's ideal for a claw grip for all hand sizes. Unfortunately, the cable is fairly stiff, the lift-off distance isn't as low as on some gaming mice, and the sensor is somewhat inconsistent, undershooting the set CPI more for faster mouse movements than slow ones.

Pros
  • Good click latency.
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are programmable.
Cons
  • Fairly stiff rubber cable.
  • Borderline heavy.
8.1 Video Games (MMO)

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is very good for gaming, but it doesn't have as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice. That said, it does have a pair of buttons on either side, and all the buttons are programmable. It feels well-built and has software compatible with Windows and macOS. It also has a good click latency and lift-off distance. It's ideal for a claw grip for all hand sizes, but it's also suitable for larger hands using a fingertip grip or smaller hands using a palm grip.

Pros
  • Good click latency.
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are programmable.
Cons
  • Not as many side buttons as dedicated MMO mice.
7.6 Ultra-Light Gaming

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is good for ultra-light gaming, but it's on the edge of being considered heavy and has a stiff rubber cable. That said, it feels well-built, its feet glide smoothly on mousepads, and it has a comfortable ambidextrous shape that's well-suited for claw grip regardless of hand size. Unfortunately, the unit we tested has a somewhat inconsistent sensor and undershoots the set CPI.

Pros
  • Good click latency.
  • Feels well-built.
  • All buttons are programmable.
Cons
  • Fairly stiff rubber cable.
  • Borderline heavy.
5.3 Travel

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is inadequate for travel. It's bulky, so it may not fit in most laptop cases, and it's a wired mouse, which can make it cumbersome in tight spaces like trains, buses, or planes. On the other hand, it feels well-built, has companion software compatible with Windows and macOS, and has onboard memory for settings.

Pros
  • Feels well-built.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Fairly bulky; may not fit in most laptop cases.
  • 7.4 Office/Multimedia
  • 8.0 Video Games (FPS)
  • 8.1 Video Games (MMO)
  • 7.6 Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.3 Travel
  1. Updated May 20, 2021: Review published.
  2. Updated May 11, 2021: Early access published.
  3. Updated May 03, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Apr 28, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Apr 14, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 gaming mouse has no variants. The SteelSeries Rival 310 is a nearly identical mouse internally, but it has a right-handed ergonomic shape and two side buttons only on the left. You can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other Mice

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 gaming mouse is marketed towards esports and competitive FPS players. While it offers solid performance, there are many gaming mice within the same price bracket point that are lighter, have more flexible cables, better mouse feet, more consistent sensors, and lower click latency. That said, shape is one of the most important elements when choosing the right gaming mouse, and the Sensei 310's ambidextrous shape is popular among some claw and fingertip grip fans.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best mouse, the best wired mouse, and the best gaming mouse.

SteelSeries Rival 3

The SteelSeries Rival 3 and the SteelSeries Sensei 310 are great ambidextrous gaming mice. The Rival 3 is significantly lighter, has better mouse feet, a more consistent sensor, and newer software. On the other hand, the Sensei 310 has a wider CPI range and a pair of side buttons on either side. Both mice are ideal for a claw grip for all hand sizes and a palm grip for smaller hands. The Rival 3 is suitable for all but small hands using a fingertip grip, while the Sensei 310 is only suitable for large and extra-large hands using a fingertip grip.

SteelSeries Sensei Ten

The SteelSeries Sensei Ten and the SteelSeries Sensei 310 are great ambidextrous gaming mice with two side buttons on either side. The Sensei Ten is lighter and has better mouse feet, a wider CPI range, a set CPI that's more precisely adjustable, a more consistent sensor, and newer software. It's best suited for a claw or palm grip for nearly all hand sizes. Comparatively, the Sensei 310 has rubberized sides and feels much more comfortable. It's ideal for a claw grip for all hand sizes.

SteelSeries Sensei RAW

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is an updated version of the SteelSeries Sensei RAW. It has a slightly different shape, feels more sturdy, and has a wider CPI range. On the other hand, the Sensei RAW is lighter, has a lower lift-off distance, and a more consistent sensor. Both mice are ideal for claw grip with any hand size and suitable for larger hands using a fingertip grip, though the Sensei 310 is more suitable for smaller hands using a palm grip.

Razer Viper Mini

The Razer Viper Mini is a comparable gaming mouse to the SteelSeries Sensei 310. It's much lighter, has a more flexible cable, much lower click latency, and mouse feet that glide more smoothly. Unfortunately, its software is only compatible with Windows. Comparatively, the SteelSeries has two additional side buttons, a wider CPI range, and software compatible with Windows and macOS. The Razer is best-suited for a fingertip grip, while the SteelSeries is best-suited for a claw grip, though both are suitable for other grip types depending on hand size.

Razer DeathAdder V2

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a better wired gaming mouse than the SteelSeries Sensei 310. It's significantly lighter, has a more flexible cable, and much better mouse feet. It also has a wider CPI range, a more adjustable CPI, a lower lift-off distance, a more consistent sensor, and a lower click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries feels sturdier, has two more side buttons, and its companion software is compatible with Windows and macOS. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types and most hand sizes, but the SteelSeries is more accomodating for smaller hands.

SteelSeries Rival 310

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 and the SteelSeries Rival 310 are nearly identical, but they differ in shape and how many buttons they have. The Sensei 310 has an ambidextrous shape that's ideal for all hand sizes using claw grip, and it has two side buttons on either side. On the other hand, the Rival 310 has an ergonomic right-handed shape best suited for all hand sizes using a palm grip, but it only has a pair of side buttons on the left. The Rival 310 we tested also had a more consistent sensor, but this may be due to manufacturing tolerances.

Gigabyte AORUS M5

The SteelSeries Sensei 310 and the Gigabyte AORUS M5 are wired-only gaming mice. The SteelSeries weighs much less, feels better built, and has more programmable buttons. It has an ambidextrous shape with a pair of buttons on each side, making it suitable for left-handed users. On the other hand, the Gigabyte has a wider CPI range with a more precisely adjustable CPI and a slightly more consistent sensor. Also, it has a right-handed shape and is better suited for larger hands using a palm grip and medium hands using a fingertip grip.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB
Design
Shape
Length 4.9" (124 mm)
Height 1.6" (40 mm)
Width 2.8" (71 mm)
Grip Width
68 mm
5.5
Design
Portability
Volume
21.18 in³ (347 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No
Design
Weight
Maximum Weight With Wire
128 g
Maximum Weight Without Wire
98 g
Minimum Weight Without Wire
98 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
No
8.5
Design
Build Quality
8.5
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
No
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
Yes
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No

If you're interested in a gaming mouse with similar performance but a right-handed shape, check out the Corsair HARPOON RGB PRO.

Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
No
X.Large Hand
No
Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
No
Medium Hand
No
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
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
7.0
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length 6.6 ft (2.0 m)
Cable Type
Rubber
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
No Port
Port Type: PC End
USB
7.5
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Good
Material
PTFE
Extra Included
No
Design
In The Box

  • SteelSeries Sensei 310 gaming mouse
  • User documentation

Control
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
-11%
Minimum Lift Off Distance
2.4 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
1000 Hz

The unit we tested has a somewhat inconsistent sensor that undershoots the set CPI more during quicker cursor movements. The polling rate settings are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz.

7.9
Control
Buttons
Buttons Activation
Mechanical
Total Number Of Buttons
8
Number Of Side Buttons
4
Number Of Programmable Inputs
10
Profile Switching Button
Yes
CPI (DPI) Switching Button
Yes
Gesture Support
No
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
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
Operating System And Software
10
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name SteelSeries GG
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

If you'd prefer a similarly performing mouse that allows you to make basic RGB lighting and CPI adjustments without companion software, check out the Cooler Master CM110.

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