After utilizing the jumbo Roccat Kone Aimo for a few weeks on the finish of final 12 months, Steelseries’ Rival 110 comes as fairly a reduction. Not solely is it a way more petite sort of mouse that’s infinitely higher suited to the general dimension of my hand, but it surely’s additionally considerably lighter and simpler to maneuver round a mouse mat, weighing simply 87.5g versus 130g.
Devoid of Robocop-style grooves and armour plates, that is one mouse that doesn’t really feel prefer it’s contorting your fingers into some sort of industrial torture machine. Instead, it’s delightfully low-key and comes with a value to match, costing simply £30 in the UK and $40 in the US. What’s to not like?
All proper, so it’s not utterly excellent. Despite the form of the Rival 110 being roughly symmetrical, that is nonetheless a mouse designed with right-handed folks in thoughts. Lefties would most likely nearly be pleased with it for day-to-day workplace duties, as its textured grip feels equally comfortable on each side, however they’d need to be significantly adept with their little finger in the event that they wished to make use of the 2 facet buttons with any diploma of regularity. Position that little finger too excessive and the buttons begin to rub a bit, too.
Admittedly, it will most likely occur if you happen to’re right-handed as properly, as I typically caught my thumb on the highest fringe of the closest, bigger facet button when reaching for the opposite one. It’s not sharp, per se, and certainly won’t result in any open flesh wounds, but it surely’s obtained simply sufficient of a degree on it that I can see it turning into an annoyance over long-term use.
Fortunately, the Rival 110’s different 4 buttons are a lot much less troublesome. In addition to the same old proper and left click on switches, which Steelseries claims are rated for 30 million clicks over the course of the Rival 110’s lifetime, the scroll wheel doubles up as button quantity three, whereas the fourth one is discovered just under it. By default, the latter is about to toggle between two completely different CPI (counts-per-inch, which is actually the identical as DPI/dots-per-inch, or – in plain English – sensitivity) speeds, however every button might be configured nonetheless you want utilizing Steelseries’ easy-to-use Engine software program.
This consists of keyboard buttons, macros and media keys, in addition to the power to launch particular functions, OS shortcuts, configuration choices for different Steelseries merchandise you would possibly personal in addition to Engine apps for CS:GO, Dota 2, Discord and Steelseries’ PrismSync lighting software program to call only a few out there choices. You may also deactivate any button you please and file your personal macros.
And simply to be sure to realize it’s a ‘gaming mouse’, you may also regulate the RGB lighting on the Steelseries brand and scroll wheel to nearly any color you want, whether or not it’s a plain block color, one which shifts between completely different shades, or just ‘breathes’ from darkish to mild.
With the aforementioned CPI velocity, the Rival 110 maxes out at 7200. That’s not as excessive because the Roccat Kone Aimo’s 12000 DPI, thoughts, however except you’ve gotten the reflexes of a ninja zen grasp or bionic eyeballs able to monitoring tiny objects at breakneck velocity, then something above 3000 CPI is simply overkill, particularly if you happen to’re going to be utilizing it for on a regular basis workplace work in addition to gaming. Personally, I discovered someplace between 1200-1600 CPI to be essentially the most sensible setting, however if you happen to’re a type of esports varieties with quicker response instances than I might ever hope to muster within the twilight years of my late twenties, then no less than the choice’s there if you would like it.
By distinction, the Rival 110’s lowest CPI velocity goes proper all the way down to 200, which is beneficial if you happen to’re a dab hand with a sniper rifle and wish most management over your actions as you observe enemies down the scope. Again, the Kone Aimo gives a fraction extra flexibility right here, each with its much more glacial 100 DPI providing and the power to toggle between a number of speeds as a substitute of simply two, however I actually didn’t really feel like I used to be lacking out on both depend after I was mucking about in Destiny 2 and making an attempt to offer long-range help for the remainder of my hearth squad.
Meanwhile, the Rival 110’s polling price (how typically your mouse tells your PC what it’s doing) is fairly typical for a wired mouse, starting from 125-1000Hz. Again, not one thing you’d most likely discover in day by day use except you’re a high-level esports-er (by which case you’re most likely not searching for an entry-level gaming mouse), however good to have nonetheless.
One factor that does make the Rival 110 stand out, nonetheless, is the very fact you’ll be able to each speed up and decelerate its sensitivity to replicate your personal pure hand actions, permitting it to succeed in as much as twice or half its present CPI velocity relying on how briskly or sluggish you usually transfer it round your mouse mat.
It feels like foolish advertising and marketing guff, however for me, it truly did make the mouse really feel extra correct and responsive. While I didn’t really feel the necessity to make it go any quicker, the power to sluggish it down in keeping with my hand motion was extra helpful than I anticipated, whether or not it was aiming down a sights in-game or just following strains of textual content in a web based article. That’s not a nasty function to have on a mouse that prices simply £30/$40, and personally I feel it goes a great distance in redeeming that barely irritating facet button downside it has.
On the entire, although, I appreciated the Rival 110 very a lot. Mainly for its dimension and lack of go-faster gaming grooves, however its customisation choices aren’t half-bad both. Yes, the Roccat Kone Aimo’s obtained extra bells and whistles, but it surely additionally prices twice as a lot. If you’re searching for one thing easier and cheaper, the Rival 110 will do exactly nice.
