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SteelSeries Rival Pro review
The SteelSeries Rival Pro feels as if it’s really pushing the boundaries of what a gaming mouse can do. Even when I glanced at the specs sheet, I was mightily impressed with the features on offer: interference-free ‘true’ 8K polling, hot-swappable batteries for endless play, and 42,000 DPI sensitivity.
But it’s one thing having a good set of specs, and another performing well in practice. So just how good is the SteelSeries Rival Pro? And is it worth its asking price of $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)? Here’s my verdict after hours of testing.
First of all, this mouse feels incredibly comfortable to use — in fact, it’s up there with some of the best mice as far as ergonomics are concerned.
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It strikes a happy medium in terms of size, and it fits perfectly in my hand — though it’s worth noting that this model is for right-handers only, whereas the ambidextrous form of the SteelSeries Sensei Pro is suited to lefties and righties alike. I use a palm grip style, but the model is also designed to suit those who prefer claw or fingertip as well. I also love how lightweight the Rival Pro is. At 1.9oz / 53g, making sharp movements and adjustments feels supremely swift.
The mouse has a lightly textured matte finish that feels, and indeed looks, pretty nice too. Sure, the matte black finish makes it a little prone to picking up fingerprints, but this is more of a nitpick, and this is likely to be less of an issue if you opt for the alternate white colorway.
And when it comes to performance, the SteelSeries Rival Pro is equally dazzling. I used it to play Cyberpunk 2077 with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, and was astonished by the sheer responsiveness and precision on offer. Aiming felt incredibly stable and accurate, turning the camera felt super-sharp and reactive, and the high-quality optical switches enabled me to let shots fly snappily and reliably. The mechanical scroll wheel also felt very tactile, with ridges offering great grip.
Said optical switches feel great to use for gaming or general productivity, and their mechanical, satisfying sound never felt grating or overzealous to me. Yes, they’re not the quietest switches, so if you prefer a more subdued sound then maybe look elsewhere, but their quality is undeniable — SteelSeries even claims that it tested them for 100 million clicks, so you’ll get plenty of mileage out of this mouse.
Feature-wise, this mouse has just about everything you could want. The GG app and web app open up all sorts of customization for binds, sensitivity, polling rate, and power management. I mainly used the web app, and found it incredibly easy to use and make small tweaks here and there.
Perhaps the real standout feature, though, is the ‘infinite power system’. You get two batteries with the Rival Pro: one that pops into the mouse itself, and another that you place onto the Ultra Wideband base station. The batteries are hot-swappable, and when your mouse runs flat, you can swiftly substitute in the battery from the base station (which charges while plugged in). As a result, you’ll quite literally never run out of battery — ideal for competitive gamers.
While the Rival Pro mouse lacks a USB port for wired play, this infinite power system means you’ll honestly never need it — totally removing any additional weight or awkwardness that comes with a cable connection.
With an 8K polling rate, SuperSync — which enables you to independently control tracking and clicking polling rates, and aim tools to boot, it truly feels like the perfect gaming mouse. But are there any real downsides?
Well, one thing could prove to put some gamers off: the Rival Pro’s price. At $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), this model is certainly a premium product. Is it worth it? If you want peak performance and essentially endless battery life, then yes. But there are plenty of strong options for less than $100 / £100 out there.
All in all, though, the SteelSeries Rival Pro is an innovative, ergonomic gaming mouse with exceptional performance. If you’re looking to take your game up a notch, look no further than this model.
SteelSeries Rival Pro review: price & release date
- Priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)
- Released in October 2026
The SteelSeries Rival Pro was released in October 2026, alongside three other models: the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini, as well as the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Sensei Pro Mini. The Rival Pro is priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250). That lands it firmly in the premium category, with rivals including the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro.
SteelSeries Rival Pro review: specs
|
Interface |
Ultra Wideband Wireless (6GHz and above) |
|
Battery life |
Up to 60 hours 1K / 16 hours 8K |
|
Sensor |
TrueMove 42K Pro Sensor |
|
Polling rate |
8KHz (with 9KHz overpolling) |
|
Buttons |
6 |
|
DPI |
42,000 |
|
Switches |
Optical |
|
Dimensions |
4.95 x 2.69 x 1.66 inches / 125.7 x 68.2 x 42.2mm |
|
Weight |
1.9oz / 53g |
Should I buy the SteelSeries Rival Pro?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Design |
Excellent ergonomics, lightweight, great build quality, a little prone to fingerprints. |
4.5/5 |
|
Performance |
True 8K polling with SuperSync, 42K DPI sensitivity, essentially endless battery life. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
Undoubtedly pricey, but has the performance to back it up. |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
SteelSeries Rival Pro review: also consider
How I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro
- Tested intensively for hours
- Used for gaming and general productivity
- Made use of all features in the GG web app
I spent many hours testing the SteelSeries Rival Pro, during which time I used it for gaming and general productivity.
When gaming, I paired the mouse with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor to get the best performance possible. I made sure to play a range of games, but mainly tested the mouse with the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077. On top of this, I made sure to try out all of the mouse’s features and customization options via the GG web app.
More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium Dolby Atmos soundbars to gaming software, and have tested a number of mice, including the recently released Logitech Mobi Fold.
