SteelSeries AEROX 3 Wireless Mouse Review – Bumpy Road

SteelSeries AEROX 3 Wireless Review

Two weeks after we took a look at the wired version of SteelSeries’ latest high airflow gaming mouse, we’re back to tackle the wireless model: the SteelSeries AEROX 3 Wireless. SteelSeries is no stranger to the gaming accessories scene, having won countless awards for their outstanding Arctis headsets.

They’re no slouch elsewhere either, building great products for mobile gamers, PC gamers, and console fans. But the AEROX 3 wireless has a specific purpose: lightweight, high airflow, colorful, comfortable gaming bliss. So, does it deliver?

Everything Trevor said in the wired review holds absolutely true. The Aerox 3 Wireless glides well across pretty much any surface, from mousepads to sofa cushions.

The Aerox 3 Wireless is comfortable for multiple grip shapes including my favoured claw grip, and is shockingly light in the hand. The sensor was accurate when flat on my desk, but caused some jumpy movement when lifting off the surface. That’s not something I’ve seen in a mouse in ages, and not something I’m keen on. I found myself staring at the ground in Halo Infinite or looking at the other side of the Galaxy in Stellaris far more than I wanted to.

Precise movement both in gaming and productivity uses took a bit of getting used to given the light 68g weight. Light, at least, compared to my trusty Logitech G903, which I feel may survive the apocalypse. On the other hand, I felt compelled to check that the Aerox had a battery in it (it did).

Sturdier Than … Something Really Sturdy

That’s not to say that the Aerox 3 Wireless doesn’t feel sturdy. In spirited durability testing, the Aerox 3 exhibited barely any flex. It creaks and groan a little under heavy pressure, but much like other Steelseries gear I’ve used, I expect this mouse to last for ages. Put another way, I’d feel good about fastballing the Aerox 3 Wireless into my backpack from 20 feet away. Tolerance for abuse here is approaching Game Boy Advance levels.

It’s surprising, given the sheer volume of air caressing your hand through the ventilated shell. I don’t have particularly sweaty hands, but that airflow turned out to be a blessing. Honestly, going back to a solid shell might be tough.

The mouse buttons themselves are pretty much perfect, allowing fingers to rest on them without unintentionally clicking. Once clicked, it’s a satisfying click, with a short travel. The side buttons are a little less precise, but have a good tactile feel once you push through some of the mushiness.

Connectivity is pretty darn important in a gaming mouse, and the Aerox 3 Wireless offers both 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth options via a physical switch. This, unfortunately, is where I have issues with this mouse. In 2.4Ghz wireless mode, I had endless issues getting the Aerox 3 Wireless to stay connected to multiple computers. Upon waking from sleep or even coming back after grabbing a coffee, the mouse frequently refused to work.

 

Welcome To The Light Show

The blinking lights (more on those later) indicated a connection, but only physically unplugging the receiver seemed to resolve the issue. The connection seemed extremely solid during active use, but all the unplugging was a pain. Thankfully, bluetooth exhibited no connectivity trouble. Whether it’s a 2.4Ghz traffic issue or something else, it’s not ideal. If you can, go with Bluetooth!

Like most gaming accessories, the Aerox 3 Wireless is RGB enabled. And, it puts on quite a show given the perforated shell. It’s all controllable through competent the Steelseries Engine app, but I mostly left it to its own devices. Speaking of the app, it’s more usable and logical than similar apps from Logitech, Razer, and Roccat.

So who is the Aerox 3 Wireless for? It’s an overall solid product for pretty much anyone, especially a gamer on the go. To have a bomb-proof, full-size, light as feather mouse you can mistreat ad nauseum is basically the laptop gamer’s holy grail. This might be it, so long as you’ve got Bluetooth and can tolerate some light cursor jumpiness.

*Product provided at no charge for review purposes*