The SteelSeries Rival was launched last year in October and is now retailing for S$99 in Singapore. The mouse is compatible with both PC and Mac.

SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box Front
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box Front
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box Open
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box Open
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box Back
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box Back
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box Side
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box Side
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Box Contents
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Box Contents
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - USB Head
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – USB Head
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Front
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Front

The Rival is a right-handed profile mouse with injected rubber grips and a rubberised, anti-sweat coating. At the bottom of the mouse, contains the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material feet that gives you a consistent and optimal glide across all surface types. PTFE has one of the lowest friction against any solid.

SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Back
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Back
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Left
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Left
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Right
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Right

It has six programmable buttons. Two near your thumb, three default (left click, right click, wheel click) and the sixth one is just below the wheel click.

In terms of precision, the optical sensor in the mouse delivers zero acceleration and the ability to reach movement speeds of up to 200 inches per second at 50g of acceleration.

The software that powers the mouse is SteelSeries Engine 3 (available on both PC and Mac). The software provides users with the ability to visually adjust their settings from advanced macros to sensitivity and even advanced features like cross-device macros and SteelSeries’ ExactTech (ExactAim – slow down to focus and aim, ExactSens – sensitivity, ExactAccel – acceleration).

You have the ability to change the lights of the mouse in two independent illuminated zones. You can assign any color from the 16.8 million color palette as well as illumination modes. The illumination modes include steady color, different speeds of pulsation, as well as ColorShift (which will rotate through a rainbow of different preset colors).

SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse - Two independent Illuminated Zones
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse – Two independent Illuminated Zones

One interesting thing that I haven’t seen in other mice is the interchangeable 3D rubber nameplate at the back of the mouse. The mouse comes with two interchangeable nameplate (SteelSeries and Rival). SteelSeries provides the necessary 3D files for you to print your own nameplate if you happen to have a 3D printer.

SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse- Interchangeable 3D Rubber Nameplate
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse- Interchangeable 3D Rubber Nameplate

Specifications

  • Optical Sensor
    • 50 to 6500 Adjustable CPI
    • 1ms Response Rate / 1000Hz Polling Rate
    • 200 Inches Per Second (IPS)
    • 50Gs of Acceleration
  • Properties
    • 6 Programmable Buttons
    • 16.8M Color Illumination w. 2 Zones
    • Soft-touch coating
    • Injected rubber side grips
    • Cable Texture: Soft Rubber Cable
  • Switches
    • More Than 30 Million Click Durability
  • Size & Weight
    • Weight: 128 grams (0.28 lbs)
    • Height: 45 mm (1.8 in)
    • Width: 70 mm (2.76 in)
    • Length: 133 mm (5.23 in)
    • Cable Length: 2m (6.5 ft.)
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries Rival Optical Gaming Mouse