Is SteelSeries’ New Affordable and Vibrant Wireless Mouse Worth Your Purchase?

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Alright, let’s dive in. You know, sometimes it’s the little things, like your mouse, that can totally change your gaming vibe. SteelSeries thinks so too, which is why they push their Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless. And this thing? It’s got a lot going on for its price. Solid design? Yep. Surprises? Absolutely.

Now get this — Bluetooth connectivity in a budget mouse. Weird, right? And colors! Finally, some fun in our desk setups. Is that enough to justify the price? Hmm, let’s see.

### First Thoughts: Pricing and Specs

You got the Rival 3 Wireless, not the wired one, for $34.99 at SteelSeries, but there’s more to it than just, well, losing the wire.

For $59.99, you snag this bad boy with wicked performance upgrades and color choices like purple and blue, besides the usual black and white. Oh, and like, I’ve legit seen it for $55 sometimes. Not a bad deal, huh?

Oh, and they throw in the first batteries for free (nice touch), but after they’re done, you’re on your own. Pro tip: go rechargeable if you can—save some planet!

### What’s to Love?

First up, those unexpected color options. Why is this still a thing in most tech gear — boring blacks and greys? Seriously, not everything needs to blend into the shadows. SteelSeries brings a splash of life, and that’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

Design-wise, it’s friendly for claw and fingertip grips. No weird flexing, and it feels sturdy — bulky but satisfying, like a pack of dry spaghetti that doesn’t break too easily. But don’t ask me why I thought of that.

Inside the shell, a nice garage for your USB dongle. This mouse just fits all its bits nicely.

Performance? Okay, the techy stuff with the 18,000 DPI sensor probably means it’ll keep up with frantic clicking. It feels smooth, and buttons are clicky (in a delightful way).

### More Quirks

The software is a big bonus. You can be your own mouse boss, changing what buttons do and tweaking settings until it feels right. It’s got levels (literally) others in this category just don’t.

Batteries, though, ugh. Annoying? Yes. But, they last up to 200 hours apparently. Once they’re done, it’s bye-bye batteries. Or go green — grab some rechargeables and feel good about it.

### And the Not-So-Great Parts…

The battery talk is a downer. It’s heavy, which is cool until it’s not, and for some reason, the scroll wheel feels oddly cheap. Imagine a marshmallow rolling on the pavement. Yeah, not like that.

Then there’s competition. Spend a few more bucks and get something like the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed; same battery hassle but better in many other ways. It all feels a bit cutthroat, doesn’t it? But hey, choices, choices.

### Final Thoughts: Should You?

Here’s the deal: It’s nifty, cheap-ish, and colorful, but if you’re battery-averse or need wired options, maybe not for you. The phone jack of mice? Perhaps.

A dose of excitement with this one’s color makes me smile. Tech could use a splash more of this, don’t you think? We’re modern, not monochrome dinosaurs. Shine on, you crazy mouse.

Grab it at Best Buy or Amazon for around $60. Purple is cool but try blue if you’re feeling bold. Thanks for reading this chaotic mind dump. Hope it helps!