SteelSeries Rival 3 vs SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Rival 3
SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Dec 15, 2022 03:41 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.5.1

Updated Oct 10, 2025 06:46 PM

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Our Verdict

SteelSeries Rival 3

SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is a newer version of the SteelSeries Rival 3, and both share the same symmetrical shape.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.

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Variants

  • Rival 3 (Black)
  • Rival 3 Gen 2 (Black)
  • Rival 3 Gen 2 (White)

Check Price

Black
Rival 3
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Black
Rival 3 Gen 2
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Amazon.com
Black
Rival 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Rival 3 Gen 2
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Black
Rival 3
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Walmart.com
 
Black
Rival 3
B&H
 
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Main Differences for
Work

Threshold 

0.10

Work 

6.3
6.5
No major differences between these mice for work. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Picture  

Type 
 

Standard
Standard

Coating 
 

Matte
Matte

Lighting Color  

RGB
RGB
Show Text 

Shape  

3D Model  

Length  

4.8" (121 mm)
4.8" (121 mm)

Width  

2.6" (67 mm)
2.6" (67 mm)

Height  

1.5" (38 mm)
1.5" (38 mm)

Grip Width 
 

58 mm
60 mm

Ambidextrous 
 

Shape Only
Shape Only

Left-Handed Friendly 
 

Yes
Yes

Finger Rest 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Portability 
 

5.7

Portability picture  

Volume 
 

18.80 in³ (308 cm³)

Cable/Receiver Storing 
 

No
No Receiver
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build quality picture  

Show Text 

Weight 
 

7.6
7.7

Minimum Weight Picture  

Lowest Weight 
 

78.8 g
77.6 g

Default Weight 
 

78.8 g
77.6 g

Weight Distribution 
 

Centered
Centered

Extra Weights 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Hand Size Recommendation 
 

Palm Grip Hand Recommendation 
 

Claw Grip Hand Recommendation 
 

Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation 
 

Left-Handed Friendly 
 

Yes
Yes

Ambidextrous 
 

Shape Only
Shape Only

Coating 
 

Matte
Matte

Finger Rest 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Maximum Of Paired Devices 
 

Wired
Wired

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries

Use When Charging 
 

No
No

On/Off Activation 
 

None
None

Receiver Extender 
 

No
No

Receiver Storing 
 

No
No Receiver

Battery Indicator  

No
No
Show Text 

Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation 
 

Palm Grip Picture  

Small Hand 
 

Yes

Medium Hand 
 

Yes

Large Hand 
 

No

X.Large Hand 
 

No
Show Text 

Cable 
 

Cable Video  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Cable Length 
 

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Cable Type 
 

Rubber
Paracord-like

Permanent Kink 
 

Yes
Yes

Port Type: Mouse End 
 

No Port
No Port

Port Type: PC End 
 

USB
Show Text 

Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation 
 

Claw Grip Picture  

Small Hand 
 

Yes

Medium Hand 
 

Yes

Large Hand 
 

Yes

X.Large Hand 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation  
 

Fingertip Grip Picture  

Small Hand  
 

No

Medium Hand 
 

Yes

Large Hand 
 

Yes

X.Large Hand  
 

Yes
Show Text 

Mouse Feet 
 

8.0
8.5

Mouse Feet picture  

Gliding Experience 
 

Good
Good

Material 
 

PTFE
Virgin Grade PTFE

Extra Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In the box picture  

Show Text 
Control

Main Button 
 

Actuation Graph  

See details

Force/Distances Graph  

See details

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Switch Model 
 

Not Specified

Additional Buttons 
 

7.1
7.1

Buttons Picture  

Total Number Of Buttons 
 

6
6

Number Of Side Buttons 
 

2
2

Number Of Programmable Inputs  
 

8
8

Profile Switching Button 
 

Yes
Yes

Gesture Support 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Click Latency 
 

8.1
9.5

Latency Testing While Gaming  

Latency Data  

See details
See details

Expected Connection 
 

7.5 ms
2.3 ms

Wired 
 

7.5 ms
2.3 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

CPI 
 

8.7
8.2

CPI Video  

CPI Graph  

See details
See details

SRAV Close-Up  

SRAV @ 1600 CPI 
 

-0.75%
-1.21%

SRAV @ 800 CPI 
 

-0.63%
-0.96%

SRAV @ 400 CPI 
 

-0.50%
-2.08%

SRAV @ Fixed CPI 
 

N/A
N/A

Precision Error Between Speeds 
 

0.38%
0.69%

Precision Error Between CPI 
 

2.36%
2.70%

Worst Tracking Error 
 

-3.50%
8.63%

Minimum CPI 
 

200 CPI
200 CPI

Maximum CPI 
 

8,500 CPI
8,500 CPI

CPI Adjustment Steps 
 

100 CPI
100 CPI
Show Text 

Sensor Latency 
 

8.9
9.4

Sensor Latency Transition Graph  

See details
See details

Sensor Latency Demonstration  

Delay To Start Of Movement 
 

11.7 ms
11.5 ms

Delay At Half Movement 
 

3.9 ms
2.5 ms

Sensor Latency CPI Graph  

See details

Delay To End Of Movement 
 

5.7 ms
1.9 ms
Show Text 

Sensor Specifications 
 

Sensor Technology 
 

Optical (LED)
Optical (LED)

Sensor Model 
 

TrueMove Core
TrueMove Core

Works On Glass 
 

No
No

Minimum Lift Off Distance 
 

2.4 mm
1.2 mm

Maximum Polling Rate 
 

1000 Hz
1000 Hz
Show Text 

Mouse Wheel 
 

Mouse wheel picture  

Scroll Wheel Type 
 

Notched Wheel
Notched Wheel

Scroll Wheel Steps 
 

24 Steps

Scroll Wheel Tilt 
 

No
No

Thumb Wheel Type 
 

No
No

Thumb Wheel Steps 
 

No Thumb Wheel
Show Text 

Noise  

Noise Video  

Click Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet
Operating System And Software

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

SteelSeries Engine 3
SteelSeries GG

Software Windows Compatibility 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatibility 
 

Yes
Yes

On-Board Memory 
 

Yes
No

CPI (DPI) Adjustment  
 

Yes
Yes

Polling Rate Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Profile Configuration 
 

Yes
Yes

Profile Auto-Switching 
 

No

Software settings screenshot  

RGB On/Off 
 

Yes
Yes

Account Needed 
 

No
Show Text 

Mouse Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows Compatibility  

Fully
Fully

macOS Compatibility  

Fully
Fully
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Rival 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Rival 3 Gen 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Rival 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Rival 3 Gen 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Rival 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Rival 3
B&H
 

SteelSeries Rival 3

SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

Comments

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SteelSeries Rival 3 vs SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2: Main Discussion

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