SteelSeries Rival 500 Gaming Mouse Review

Usage & Final Thoughts
I have been using the Rival 500 for a few weeks now and I have to say SteelSeries implementation of this mouse is done quite well. I do not have the largest hands, but I am still able to use all of the buttons on this mouse. The larger size of the mouse is actually quite comfortable and the matte and rubbery texture gives me a good grip at all times.

SteelSeries Rival 500 Gaming Mouse

While so many companies have tried to cram as many buttons on a mouse as they could, many times it is just not functional. Buttons can’t be pressed easily, you hit multiple buttons at the same time, etc. With the Rival 500 SteelSeries has done a really good job making the mouse functional. That starts with the thumb buttons, which there are six of. With six buttons you could see things getting cramped, but the way they are designed they are easy to press and I didn’t find myself pressing more than one button at once. You even have the ability to switch off the two bottom buttons.

Having all of these buttons on a mouse could seem a little daunting, but if you go all-in and configure these buttons and start actually using them in games and even other applications you will get used to this mouse in no time. I found myself setting many of the buttons as replacement buttons for things I would do in-game like get on my mouse, auto-run, reload, and much more.

This mouse is powered by the SteelSeries Engine 3 software and I have to say it is one of the best out there! First you can set up tactile timers, this way the mouse will give you tactile feedback after a certain time, this is perfect for cool-downs on spells and abilities. The software also has tie-ins for certain games that will give you tactile feedback when your health is low, when you reach a certain level, etc. In the software you can add games and profiles to your “Library” and set different profiles for each. This way when you load that game or profile the configuration will automatically switch, saving you time.

At the end of the day SteelSeries has designed a mouse that is great for MMO and MOBA gamers or people who just need a lot of buttons on their mouse. The biggest thing is that they made it functional. Right now you can pick up the Rival 500 at our favorite online retailer for $79.99. Overall ThinkComputers gives the SteelSeries Rival 500 Gaming Mouse a 9 out of 10 score.

Award 9 out of 10

Pros:
– 15 programmable buttons
– Side buttons are actually functional
– Tactile feedback
– Comfortable design
– Engine 3 software

Cons:
– Could be too cumbersome for people looking for something more streamlined
– Can only quick-switch two different DPI levels

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