Review: SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

Over the years, computer mice have become expensive. Everything has become expensive. It can be frustrating to look at a list of gaming mice and see even the cheapest options approaching $80, especially when games now cost $80 and new graphics cards regularly pass the $1,000 mark.

This is where budget-oriented mice are perfect. Most high-end mice are past the point of diminishing returns for the average gamer, with most never needing the precision of a perfectly balanced, ultra-lightweight, 8,000-Hz esports-level mouse. Those are all nice-to-have features, but they aren’t necessary for everyday gaming, where lag, latency, and frame rate drops will likely have more of an impact on your game than your mouse missing a millisecond of movement.

Among budget mice, the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 shines. It doesn’t prioritize extreme lightness, unnecessarily high polling rates, or other eye-catching metrics. Instead, this mouse focuses on delivering rock-solid specs that are good enough for the average gamer. I tested both the wired and wireless variants of the Rival 3 Gen 2, which retail for $35 and $60, respectively.

Budget Performance

Photograph: Henri Robbins

Both models come equipped with Pixart optical sensors capable of up to 18,000 dots per inch (DPI) and 400 inches per second—far more capable than the average office mouse, and more than enough for regular gaming. The mouse operates at a 1,000-Hz polling rate, which is pretty much standard for gaming mice today. The sensor feels snappy and responsive, and I didn’t find either model to lag or miss inputs during regular use.

The wired and wireless models have nearly identical shapes and sizes—the only significant difference between the two is the panel seams on the wireless model. The size of the Rival 3 Gen 2 finds a great middle ground, ideal for average-size hands but usable for nearly any size. The mouse’s shape is standard but effective, and while it doesn’t have quite the refined and smooth sculpt of Razer’s Viper line, it’s serviceable, has intuitive button placements, and feels comfortable during prolonged use. The two thumb buttons are sized well for easy access, and the center button behind the scroll wheel is short enough that I never accidentally press it, but tall enough that it can be pressed easily and quickly.

The wired model weighs around 80 grams without including the cable (and around 100 with it), and the soft braided cable doesn’t get caught or create friction during regular use. While it’s still not as convenient as a wireless mouse, accessories like mouse bungees aren’t necessary at all. The largest functional difference between the wired and wireless models is the weight: The wireless model weighs 110 grams with batteries, which is significantly more mass to move around.

Despite the added weight, the Rival 3 Gen 2 wireless still feels nimble and easy to move; the large, smooth feet on the underside glide effortlessly across both desks and mousepads. The added weight from the batteries is noticeable, but they are placed higher up in the mouse instead of the very bottom. This makes it feel less like you’re dragging around the extra weight, since the batteries are closer to your hand and positioned more centrally to the mouse.

Inside the wireless model’s battery compartment, there’s a small slot for the 2.4-GHz wireless dongle to sit in. Combined with the mouse’s relatively small size, I found it to be a great travel option that could easily slip into a backpack or laptop bag.

Comfortable and Clicky

Photograph: Henri Robbins

The outside of the mouse is made of a fairly thick, subtly textured matte plastic that allows for a good amount of grip, even with slightly sweaty hands—great for intense gaming and hot summer days. Both versions feel solid, with zero flexibility or creaking during use. The switches inside the mouse are rated for 60 million actuations, and feel crisp and clicky without being overly loud or heavy. They have a short travel distance and a quick rebound, making the mouse both responsive and satisfying.

The only issue I ran into with the switches is that, with one of the units I tested, the stem of a switch was pushed backwards while fully compressed and became lodged inside the housing. I was only able to release it after desoldering the switch by manually realigning the internal leaf spring mechanism. I wasn’t able to replicate this problem during regular use, or even when slamming the buttons, but I did replicate it with an exposed switch after removing the mouse’s shell. The fix requires some soldering aptitude and runs the risk of breaking the internal leaf spring and rendering the switch irreparable. This doesn’t seem to be a significant issue with these switches, though. I would even venture to say it was a one-time fluke.

The most difficult part of disassembly is peeling off the adhesive skates on the mouse. While I would love for them to be clip-in, or friction-fit like the Wooting 80HE’s removable feet, I’m at least glad SteelSeries included small divots that make it easier to remove without damage. If any of the feet lose their stickiness during disassembly, SteelSeries stocks replacement feet for $5 a set, not something you'll see many mouse brands offer.

Inside the wireless mouse, there are three printed circuit boards (PCBs) attached to a central plastic frame, which then screws onto the base of the mouse. The wired mouse consists of two PCBs: One attaches to the base, and the other attaches to the top housing. Despite some differences in shape and design, the two mice are fairly similar internally, using the same mechanisms for the scroll wheel, primary mouse buttons, and the general layout of components. The wired model uses larger Kailh switches for the secondary buttons compared to the wireless model. There’s something to be said for keeping things simple, which SteelSeries has done here; neither model has any internal design choices that stand out as poorly designed or corner-cutting.

Same Old SteelSeries

Photograph: Henri Robbins

My only major complaint is that the SteelSeries GG software is not the best. While it’s perfectly serviceable for making basic customizations, it has a lot of unnecessary features, along with advertisements baked into the app. If you buy a product, you shouldn’t see ads for the brand’s other products, especially on the app’s home screen. Barring this, the app functions well at its core, and includes tool tips and diagrams that explain the purpose of most customization options.

While I faced some intermittent issues with longer-distance connectivity (i.e., my mouse on one side of the desk, and my computer on the other, with at least 4 feet of distance and a desk between them), these were easily resolved by the “Wireless Stability Enhancement” feature in the SteelSeries GG app, which trades increased connectivity for a shortened battery life.

With a budget-oriented mouse like this, you won’t get quite the same level of flair and aesthetics as on higher-end mice. The wired model allows for extensive customization of the RGB underglow, but it does not have any illumination on the scroll wheel. Meanwhile, the wireless model doesn’t include any RGB underglow, and the RGB light inside the scroll wheel only flashes to indicate different mouse profiles. It can’t be customized and does not stay illuminated during use, even though the promotional art shows the scroll wheel glowing orange.

Both versions of the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 are solid budget gaming mice, with everything the average user needs. You get a sturdy, stylish, and reliable mouse with quality parts inside. The wireless model falls somewhat short with its weight and lack of RGB lighting, but neither of these issues makes it a “bad” mouse—it still performs well and will look good on your desk without RGB.