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Prime Mini (Wireless): SteelSeries is shrinking the Prime series

Sep 15, 2021

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On top of Prime, Prime + and Prime Wireless, SteelSeries now has two smaller versions of the shooter mouse for right-handers. The key features are once again particularly consistent and tactile primary keys thanks to opto-mechanical-magnetic switches. Apart from the dimensions, the specifications remain almost unchanged.

Same sensors with known assumptions

As a result, SteelSeries has again installed the “True Move Pro” as a sensor in the Prime Mini. An adaptation of the PixArt PMW-3389 is hidden behind the marketing name. The Prime Mini Wireless, on the other hand, works – like the Prime Wireless – with the “True Move Air”. This is presumably PixArts PMW-3335, which is slightly behind the PMW-3389 in terms of maximum measurable acceleration and speed and, for example, from the Roccat Kain 200 Aimo (test) or from SteelSeries & apos; wireless Rival 5 is also known.

The choice makes sense insofar as the newer model is much more energy efficient; However, the maximum sensor resolution communicated is still surprising: The PMW-3335 does not actually offer 18,000 cpi, so interpolation would have to be used. In view of previous SteelSeries mice, this is entirely possible, although not problematic: Such high resolutions are of no use in practice anyway, especially in shooters.

And this is exactly what the two new Prime mice are designed for, which is why the manufacturer is once again making full-bodied promises for the primary keys: With the Prime series, SteelSeries is installing opto-mechanical switches in a mouse for the first time, following in the footsteps of numerous other manufacturers. In order to set itself apart from these, the manufacturer rushes on the one hand with a – as usual implausible – long lifetime of 100 million clicks and on the other hand equips the buttons with a particularly large spring and magnets. Together with the scanning by light barrier, low reaction times and a consistent and particularly tactile click feeling should be achieved in this way. Protection against unwanted double clicks is also theoretically given, but still has to be confirmed in practice.

Detachable USB-C cables – this time really ?!

In favor of the gliding properties, the Prime mice weigh relatively little and have a flexible cable wrapped in nylon. This can be removed from all Prime models and has a USB-C port on the Prime Mini and Prime Mini Wireless. According to initial reports, this information is even correct this time – Prime and Prime + also had a USB-C cable attested to SteelSeries in the data sheet; however, the two wired models actually have a micro-USB cable, as it turned out later. There is also an analog upgrade for the sliding feet: Like the Prime Wireless, the two small Prime mice have sliding elements made of pure PTFE, while the Prime and Prime + come with the well-known black-coated sliding feet.

Both new input devices also have a button for adjusting the sensor resolution, the USB query rate and the lift-off distance on the underside. The mice can be fully configured via SteelSeries & apos; Associated software, whereby the RGB lighting reduced to the mouse wheel can also be set.

Same prices and available sometime

As with Prime and Prime Wireless, the recommended retail prices for Prime Mini and Prime Mini Wireless are around 70 euros and around 140 euros, respectively. SteelSeries has not dated a specific market launch of the mini versions.

SteelSeries Prime Mini SteelSeries Prime SteelSeries Prime + SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless SteelSeries Prime Wireless Ergonomics: Right-handed Sensor: PixArt PMW-3389
Optical PixArt PAW-3335
Optical resolution: 100–18,000 cpi
5 levels Speed: 11.4 m/s 10.2 m/s Acceleration: 490 m/s² 392 m/s² USB query rate: 1,000 Hz Primary button: SteelSeries Optical Magnetic, 100 mio. Clicks Number of buttons: 6
Top side: 3 Bottom side: 1
Left side: 2 special buttons: mouse wheel
cpi switch software: 5 profiles
fully programmable
macro recording
internal memory lighting: color : RGB, 1 addressable zone
Modes: Breathing, waves, color loop Color: RGB, 1 addressable zone
Modes: Breathing, waves, color loop
cpi indicator, profile indicator Color: RGB, 1 addressable zone
Modes: Breathing, waves, color loop Housing: 120 × 66 × 41 mm
hard plastic, coating 125 × 68 × 42 mm
hard plastic, coating 120 × 66 × 41 mm
hard plastic, coating 125 × 68 × 42 mm
hard plastic, coating Weight: 61 grams (without cable) 69 grams (without cable) 71 grams (without cable) 73 grams (without cable) 80 grams (without cable) Connection: USB -A to USB-C cable, 2.00 m, wrapped USB-A to Micro-USB cable, 2.00 m, wrapped USB-A to USB-C cable, 2.00 m, wrapped
Wireless: 2.4 GHz
proprietary battery, 100 hours running time
Charging: Cable Price: € 70 from € 66 from € 79 € 140 € from 114 €