SteelSeries’ New Budget-Friendly Wireless Mouse: A Colorful Choice Worth Your Money?

Alright, let me take a crack at this. No promises on keeping it perfectly tidy, but here goes nothing:

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So you’re staring down a new gaming mouse purchase, huh? There’s that feeling—it’s kind of like wandering into an ice cream shop with a zillion flavors. You know, overwhelming. Anyway, SteelSeries took a jab at crafting a snazzy mouse without emptying your wallet. Enter the Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless. Fancy naming, right?

First things first, have you noticed how gaming peripherals usually lurk in the shadows of black and gray? Boring, right? But these SteelSeries folks tossed in some color this time. Blue and purple—yep, they said “Let’s jazz it up!” Well, kinda jazzy. But I digress.

You won’t need a second mortgage to get one. It’s $54.99 on Amazon. That’s practically a steal when you consider how much of a difference a good mouse makes in your gaming feats. Trust me, I’ve held more mice than I’ve had cups of coffee. And that’s saying something.

Oh, and I nearly forgot—this mouse waltzes in with Bluetooth connectivity. That’s unusual for budget-friendly options. Though honestly, most people won’t be shouting from the rooftops about Bluetooth on a gaming mouse. But hey, it’s there if you care. Wireless is all the rage, except for times it’s not.

Now, let’s talk design. The Rival 3 flaunts a symmetrical build—fits the hand like, I dunno, your favorite worn-out pair of sneakers. It’s firm. No weird flexing plastic nonsense. Feels sturdy, like it won’t let you down mid-battle. Bonus, it doesn’t have that plasticky smell—you know what I mean if you’ve bought something regrettably cheap and plastic before.

Here’s the kicker, they threw in two AAA batteries to start. And some nights you might even appreciate the little drag from the weight. Like, “Oh hello muscle memory, missed ya,” kind of thing. But yeah, you’ll wanna stock up on those AAAs or spring for rechargeables.

It’s got all the fancy internals too—18,000 DPI sensor, mechanical clickety-clack switches, all that jazz. I could throw specs at you but let’s keep it real—what you care about is how smoothly it slides across your desk. Turns out, pretty darn smooth. Those PFTE feet do wonders.

Now, no love story is perfect. The Rival 3’s scroll wheel is… let’s just say if it were a car, you’d probably call it charmingly vintage. Charming can’t save you in a game though, can it? Plus, if your thumb’s as uncoordinated as mine, you might accidentally tap those thin side buttons. They’re there, almost silently mocking you.

You’re eyeing options? Well, for a little extra cash, Razer’s Viper V3 HyperSpeed might whisper sweet nothings in your ear. A different beast altogether. But choice is king, right?

To wrap this messy yarn of thoughts into a neat little bow—despite a few quirks, I’m here for the color splash SteelSeries spun into this otherwise monochrome tech world. And if you’re not keen on colored mice, well, kudos to you for being wild. But if you love a mouse with the spirit of a peacock, here you go.

All this, and for less than $60. Grab it on Amazon or Best Buy. Maybe let me know what color you snagged, because now I’m invested in everyone not choosing plain ol’ black.