With SteelSeries products, the accuracy of the sensor doesn’t have to be introduced much, the interesting thing is that it seems that the gaming gear company from Denmark has now changed its philosophy with a mouse of only $40 but true RGB LED lighting “shining brightly”.
Specifications
Design: Ergonomic, for right hand
Grip style: Claw or fingertip
Material: ABS, rough surface
Sensor: TrueMove Core
Number of buttons: 6
Switch: SteelSeries – 60 million clicks
Built-in memory: 5 profiles
RGB LED: Prism, 3 independent zones
Connection: rubber-coated USB cord, 1.8 mm
Weight: 77 g
Dimensions: 120 x 58 – 67 x 21.5 – 37.9 mm
TrueMove Core Sensor Specifications
Sensor type: Optical
CPI: 100 – 8500 (up or down by 100 CPI)
IPS: 300 on SteelSeries QcK surface
Acceleration: 35G
Sampling rate: 1000 Hz 1 ms
Hardware acceleration: no
Gaming mice with RGB LEDs are common unless you’re a die-hard Zowie fan. The problem is that many beautiful but beautiful lights are usually only for expensive brands, but in the $40 segment, one is without lights, and the other is that the lights are dim and seem to be going off. That’s why when SteelSeries launched the slogan “Glow Up”, I also expected a lot. when I hold the Rival 3 in my hand, I have to say, oh my gosh, it’s so bright, that you won’t think this is the LED light of a mouse that costs only about $40.
I still know that judging a gaming mouse by appearance is wrong, but I have to say that I am impressed with the Prism LED lights that SteelSeries equips for Rival 3. Prism lights are also notorious before, who uses them? QcK Prism lining (I’m also personally using QcK Prism Dota 2 Limited) or most recently, the Apex Pro keyboard will probably understand how high the LED will be when the light is off. However, before, SteelSeries’ mice were still quite modest about the light, it was not until Rival 3 that the company unleashed it.
The LED strip wrapped around the mouse body is divided into 3 independent customizable zones, allowing you to freely customize to your taste. SteelSeries also designed openings to let the light shine on the position of the 2 keys on the side and the scroll button. The SteelSeries logo has its lights, of course.
Impressive RGB LEDs are one thing, but the most important gaming mouse is still the feeling of holding you. Rival 3 possesses a simple but extremely effective ergonomic design, combined with a light weight of only 77g to help anyone get used to it easily (the optimal is another story).
The theoretically absolute symmetrical design is that whether you are right or left-handed, you can turn… guns with the Rival 3. But because the 2 hip buttons are on the left, on paper, this mouse is best suited for right-handed gamers. The back of the mouse is low, so holding it in a claw or fingertip style is the standard.
In actual use, Rival 3 feels very “national”, the type of birth for the whole world, not just anyone. This makes the SteelSeries mouse a safe choice for those who are buying a gaming mouse for the first time, able to immediately fight no matter what mouse they used before. The small minus point is that compared to the Rival 110 brother, the Rival 3 does not have rubber on the sides, so the grip is not as strong (feeling, but not affecting anything).
The left and right keys use SteelSeries switches with a durability of 60 million clicks. In terms of feel, it’s probably the same as the Omron switch, light and responsive, so it’s good to play any game. The rubber-coated scroll wheel has, an anti-slip texture, and a feedback notch when rolling. Above is the key to changing the profile, a bit small, so it is difficult to use it with large hands.
The 2 function keys on the left side are of moderate size, and the feeling of pressing is not outstanding, but in general, it is enough to use (the gaming mouse segment costs $40, only this much). In short, the feeling of holding, Rival 3 is a “national” gaming mouse that has no special features but is easy to get used to and easy to use.
Rival 3’s TrueMove Core sensor has 1 to 1 tracking like the high-end series
In the world of gaming gear at the moment, there are only 2 brands, one is SteelSeries and the other is Zowie. SteelSeries inherits the style of the Nordic people (Danish to be exact), so practicality comes first, the experience is the key and the numbers are for reference only.
Rival 3 is equipped with SteelSeries’ brand new TrueMove Core sensor with CPI/DPI 8500 and IPS 300, with 1 to 1 tracking capability. Simply explained to humans, this sensor allows Rival 3 to simulate Accurately simulate real-life mouse movements on the screen (1 to 1 tracking) thanks to its ability to analyze the underlying surface with an accuracy of 8500 points/inch and a maximum hover speed of 300 inches/sec. Sounds too complicated, in general unless you can hover 7.6 m in 1 second or less, Rival 3 covers it all.
Combined with the SteelSeries QcK mouse pad, it will give you a great combo to conquer almost any game genre, according to the fun criterion which is winning or losing. TrueMove Core is a stripped-down version of Sensei Ten’s infamous TrueMove Pro, with an accuracy equivalent to CPI/DPI 8500 or less (ordinary people only need this) but is not guaranteed to handle perfectly phase “lift” the mouse of professional gamers. But it is more than enough to meet the needs of the rest of the world, most humans also just need a little bit of gentle and accurate gaming mouse.
Who is SteelSeries Rival 3 for?
SteelSeries Rival 3 brings a new breeze in the segment of gaming mice priced at $40, with beautiful RGB LED strips to help gamers express their personality. Compact ergonomic design and lightweight are plus points to help gamers, especially those who are new to gaming mice, easy to get used to and easy to use. In addition, thanks to its compact size, this is also the ideal choice if you need a gaming mouse to use with a laptop.
As for SteelSeries, the launch of Rival 3 and before that Sensei Ten shows that they are returning to the minimalist style that once helped Kinzu and Kana dominate the gaming gear market in the past, combining the RGB trend to be grand. Like it or not, it depends on each person’s taste, but it must be said that this SteelSeries mouse is really “bright”.
SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse – 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor – 6 Programmable Buttons – Split Trigger Buttons – Brilliant Prism RGB Lighting: Buy it now
SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse – 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor – 6 Programmable Buttons – Split Trigger Buttons – Brilliant Prism RGB Lighting & QcK Gaming Surface – Large Cloth: Buy it now
SteelSeries Rival 3 – Gaming Mouse – 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor – 6 Programmable Buttons – Split Trigger Buttons: Buy it now
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.
