Get Precise with the SteelSeries Rival 5 Mouse

For me, I’ve been all about wireless mice and trackpads for some time now. Sure, you’re dealing with charging or replacing batteries, but not having the cord to deal with has been a boon. Then again, 99% of my mousing is for work, so I’m not worried about millisecond response times and lightning-fast tracking (my SQL code just doesn’t care). On the other hand, if you’re deep into a game, something like the SteelSeries Rival 5 is likely what you’re looking for.

First off, the SteelSeries Rival 5 is corded. The cord is not that slightly-grabby silicone that we’re used to on generic mice. No, this is a woven cord that doesn’t snag or grab (we’ve got a similar cord on a mouse in for review right now, and we can confirm it’s as good as they say). This also means you’re not dealing with any potential RF or bluetooth lag in your movements and clicks, helping you keep your edge in a game (or in my case, removing things you can point a finger at for your loss).

Speaking of clicks – the SteelSeries Rival 5 has a lot of options. In fact, you’ve got nine programmable buttons to work with, and configure via the SteelSeries GG software. That means whatever the game, you can get your favorite commands and actions programmed in. When it comes to tracking, you’re covered as well, with a sensor delivering 18,000 CPI / 400 IPS, meaning that how you’re moving your hand and wrist will translate accurately to what you see on-screen.

And finally, as we see with most computer components and accessories, the SteelSeries Rival 5 offers 10-zone RGB lighting which – even as a daily driver – is something that’s just fun to see in action. And hey, if you can coordinate it with your keyboard and, say, a mouse pad? Not a thing wrong with that. Provided your game and software can account for it, those RGB lights can also be used for things like chat notifications and in-game events.

At the end of the day, this SteelSeries Rival 5 is going to be worlds better than whatever mouse you’ve had kicking around for years and years, especially if it’s just an OE mouse you’ve held onto for sentimental reasons. Fortunately, this mouse is actually pretty affordable, so if you’re looking for something lightweight (it’s just 85g) and super customizable, this is a good spot to start. While the MSRP on the SteelSeries Rival 5 is $59.99, it’s available directly from SteelSeries for $44.99. steelseries.com