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Whatever your favorite game may be, you sometimes get that feeling that maybe your peripherals aren’t up to the task. Or who knows, maybe your favorite mouse has worn out over the years, and it’s time for a new one. Whatever the reason, SteelSeries has two recently-announced items that could help you (or your dad, as Father’s Day is coming up) get back in the game.
For those who are set on PC-based gaming, the SteelSeries Rival 5 ($59.99) is ready to jump in and help you out. As with many peripherals these days, you’ve got fully programmable RGB lighting built into the mouse. You’ve also got 9 programmable buttons, ready to put your hotkeys literally at your fingertips. As you’re mashing those buttons, the lightweight 85g mouse will glide like a dream, helped in part with the mesh used on the cable to help reduce drag.
There’s also a lot going on with the hardware to ensure tracking accuracy and consistent clicks, but for that, I’ll just rely on their words:
Where you go, the mouse goes – in real-time and with pixel-perfect precision. Featuring a TrueMove Air Sensor, the Rival 5 delivers custom true 1-to-1 tracking with 18,000 CPI, 400 IPS, 40G acceleration and tilt tracking to eliminate unwanted tracking during angled drops, tilt slams, and quick flicks. Additionally, next-gen Golden Micro IP54 Switches are rated for 80M clicks (3X the durability found in other gaming mice) and have upgraded dust and water-resistant switches that provide flawless clicks, prevent double clicks and allow gamers to make rock solid next-level shots.
SteelSeries
In other words, the SteelSeries Rival 5 is not just a pretty face – it’s got some serious hardware that should go the distance with you as you save the galaxy (or just destroy the other team).
On the other hand, if your gaming tends to be more of the mobile variety (and you’re an Apple user), then the SteelSeries Nimbus+ ($69.99) is where you need to look. Mashing virtual buttons on a phone screen works, but if a game can handle an external controller, why not get that tactile feedback (and free up screen real estate)? I, for one, like how you’ve got a cradle right up top to pop the phone into, rather than needing to prop it up somewhere.
For the iOS users, the other nice benefit is that the controller is licensed, and works – out of the box – with Apple Arcade. You’re saying you don’t have Arcade? No problem – purchasing the SteelSeries Nimbus+ can get you up to four months free, so you’ll have time to find the games you really want to play. Worth noting, it’s not just for mobile devices – it’ll also work with your iPad, Apple TV, and even your MacOS devices. In terms of the controller layout, you’ve got all the familiar stuff there – D-Pad, joysticks, buttons on top and triggers up front – that you’d want and expect from a solid first-party style controller. And yeah, it’ll last for you on the go, with a 50-hour battery.
Of course, these are just two of the options that SteelSeries has out there, so there’s plenty more to explore. For us, we’re working on getting the Nimbus+ in for a hands-on review, and will give you our thoughts on that later on. steelseries.com
