SteelSeries & apos; The latest mouse is said to be an all-round input device that offers high precision and gliding properties for shooters on the one hand and many buttons for MMOs or RPGs on the other. Thus, the Rival 5, which costs around 70 euros, can be seen as the modernized successor to the Rival 600.
A lighter Rival 600 with additional buttons
The Rival 5 is designed as a symmetrical mouse, but due to the placement of the buttons, is only suitable for right-handers and has characteristics that are currently in demand. The input device weighs around 85 grams less than the Rival 600, which is still equipped with a weight system and weighs at least 95 grams. In addition, the usually rubberized cable gives way to a more flexible, braided version, while SteelSeries continues to use black painted sliding feet based on PTFE sets – the competition is partly ahead here and offers pure PTFE.
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SteelSeries Rival 5 (Image: SteelSeries)
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SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 
SteelSeries Rival 5 .
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Unsurprisingly, a current high-end sensor from PixArt can be found inside the Rival 5; which model was installed exactly, however, remains unclear. SteelSeries once again only mentions one marketing name: “TrueMove Air”. The information on the primary buttons is not much more informative. The switches known as “SteelSeries IP54 Mechanical Switches” have a theoretical service life of 80 million clicks; In practice, however, this should not happen – as is usual with mechanical microswitches – since the contacts are affected by corrosion and contamination. To prevent this, however, as their name suggests, the buttons are protected against dust and splash water in accordance with IP54. According to SteelSeries, this should adequately protect against unwanted double clicks.
Another difference to the Rival 600 can be found in the additional buttons. On the one hand, the size and arrangement of the adopted switches changes, on the other hand, a toggle switch that functions as two buttons is added above the classic two thumb buttons. There are therefore a total of 5 buttons on the left, while another additional button can be located on the back of the mouse. All switches are freely configurable via software, the same applies to the usual sensor settings and the obligatory RGB lighting.
Available from mid-May
The Rival 5 is now available in North America, while SteelSeries is silent for the European market launch. However, the first dealers are already listing the mouse and announcing availability for mid-May. At a recommended retail price of around 70 euros, the mouse competes with Razer's Basilisk V2 (test) and Logitech's older and heavier G502 Hero (test), with the Naga X being a similar alternative.
SteelSeries Rival 5 Ergonomics: Symmetrical (Right-handed) Sensor:?
Optical resolution: 100 – 18,000 cpi
5 levels Speed: 10.2 m/s Acceleration: 392 m/s² USB query rate: 1,000 Hz Primary button:?, 80 mio. Clicks Number of keys: 9
Top: 4
Left: 5 Special keys: Mouse wheel
cpi switch Software: 5 profiles
fully programmable
Macro recording
Internal memory Lighting: Color: RGB < br> Modes: Breathing, waves, color loop Housing: 129 × 68 × 42 mm
hard plastic, coating Weight: 85 grams (without cable) Connection: USB-A cable, 2.00 m, wrapped Price: 70 €