SteelSeries Rival 310 Mouse Review: Simple Design, Precision Perfected

Over the past few years, SteelSeries has stepped up their game when making gaming peripherals. The SteelSeries Rival 310 mouse is a heavyweight in the eSports field and a lightweight on the wallet.

SteelSeries went with the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) method when designing the Rival 310. While it may look like a standard mouse, it has a few surprises in store for users.

Simple Design

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The SteelSeries Rival 310 has a fiber-reinforced plastic body that keeps it light with a semi-rough matte finish. Some people may not like how light it feels, but it is a pretty sturdy mouse that will take a licking and keep on clicking.

It took me a little time to get used to the size of the Rival 310 since it is a tad smaller than what I usually use, but I quickly adjusted thanks to its ergonomic design. The silicone side grips also helped me get a handle on it.

The Rival 310 only has six buttons including the SteelSeries signature split-trigger button that guarantees 50 million clicks. Two side thumb buttons sit on the left side of the Rival 310, the scroll wheel is clickable, and a smaller switch rests in the middle of the mouse.

While I’m used to a mouse that has a 14 button layout, it was nice to scale back a bit and use something a little more straightforward.

The smaller switch is used to toggle between the two saved CPI settings. Unfortunately, you are given no indicator as to what setting you’re on, but with two to choose from, it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.

The only design issue the SteelSeries Rival 310 has, is that it is for right-handed people only, leaving southpaws left out.

Deadly Accurate

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While the Rival 310 may look simple, it shines in the realm of performance. Featuring the SteelSeries TrueMove3 optical sensor technology, the Rival 310 claims true 1 to 1 tracking for ultra-low latency and pinpoint accuracy when you need it.

The Rival 310 didn’t make me a better gamer, but I did notice that my movements in Destiny 2 and The Division 2 felt smoother. I was also able to put my shots where I wanted them more quickly.

The reason why the Rival 310 is so accurate is that the TrueMove 3 is a 12,000 CPI (Count Per Inch) and 350 IPS (Images Per Second) optical sensor that outperforms any other eSports mouse at its price range. The Rival 310 reacts quickly to your movements with extreme precision.

Save Your Settings

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The most exciting feature of the Rival 310 isn’t seen on the outside of the mouse but stored on the inside.

With the help of the SteelSeries Engine, the Rival 310’s buttons are fully programmable and give you the ability to save your CPI settings, button remapping, and the lighting effects all thanks to a 32-bit ARM processor. This means you can take your settings on the go without worrying about software.

While the Rival 310 may not be big on RGB colors, you can use PrismSync, so all of your SteelSeries products light up the way you want them to.

You are also able to configure engine apps like Discord, but since you can only control the color of the logo, it’s not a huge bonus.

Overall the SteelSeries Rival 310 is one of the best performing mice on the market, despite it being only for right-handed gamers and its limited six-button layout. Being able to save and take your settings with you is a huge step and welcomed addition for those who play competitively.

The Rival 310 is also part of SteelSeries friendly family budget line only costing $50. Pair the Rival 310 with the SteelSeries Apex 150 keyboard, and you have a great keyboard and mouse combination that won’t break the bank.

If you’re curious about what budget keyboard to pair it with, check out our review of the SteelSeries Apex 150 keyboard.