SteelSeries Sensei Pro & Rival Pro Series Gaming Mouse Review

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The humble mouse is one of many reasons why gaming on PC has been so popular over the years, and the Steelseries Sensei Pro and Rival Pro Series gaming mice grant PC gamers two highly compelling new options. These are high-end wireless mice, and they come equipped with unique features meant to enable peak performance.

The most unique aspect of both the Sensei Pro and Rival Pro is that they feature swappable, rechargeable batteries; even though they're wireless, you'll never have to plug the mouse in to power it up. The mice themselves are very lightweight, and feature some very interesting new sensor and wireless connectivity tech. 

On paper, it all adds up to a mouse that might very well tempt gamers with its extensive capabilities. The big question isn't whether or not this mouse is any good, but whether or not it's good enough to justify its price tag.

The Sensei Pro and Rival Pro are very similar — in fact, they are practically identical aside from their shape. The Sensei Pro is symmetrical, and perfect for ambidextrous or left-handed gamers, while the Rival Pro is a right handed mouse with a more ergonomic design. For me, the Rival Pro felt the most comfortable.

Andy Zahn/BGR

Andy Zahn/BGR

By far, the most intriguing part of the Sensei and Rival Pro gaming mice is the previously mentioned battery system. The mice ship with two replaceable batteries that clip in and out easily, yet fit securely in place. They are quick to change out, and I found that each charge lasted me about 5-6 days despite heavy use. Beyond the obvious convenience of not having to plug the mouse in to charge it, having replaceable batteries essentially solves battery life as a longevity concern. The optical switches in the keys are rated to 100 million clicks, and by my estimation of the overall build quality, these mice should last you a good few years.

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At just 53 grams, the Sensei Pro and Rival Pro are certainly lightweight. In fact, they felt similar to my lightweight wired mouse, which is an impressive achievement considering that the Sensei Pro and Rival Pro are carrying a battery. One thing to note is that this is a fully wireless mouse, which means you don't have the option to plug it in and use it in a wired configuration.

Considering the wireless-only nature of the Sensei Rival Pro, it's a good thing their wireless connection is as robust as it is. These mice utilize an ultra-wideband (UWB) connection instead of a more traditional 2.4Ghz connection. UWB takes advantage of the 6Ghz+ and claims 20X the bandwidth of a 2.4Ghz wireless mouse. This essentially means that it offers a much more robust and reliable connection with the capacity to handle a lot more data. Due to operating on this different spectrum, it is also much less likely to run into interference with signals from other devices.

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The Sensei and Rival Pro both come equipped with some very cool sensor tech. Not only do they feature true 8K polling (they use 9K over-polling to ensure consistent 8K polling), but tracking and click-polling are separate. This means that you can tweak them both for optimal PC performance, as some systems may find the 8K polling taxing, and in many cases you may not need that full sensitivity. 

For example, you could turn tracking down to 1K, 2K, or 4K polling, but keep click-polling at 8K so your mouse-button clicks are really fast; without having to strain your PC with 8K tracking-polling. All this is on top of a 42K DPI Optical Sensor, and the whole system can be tweaked in various ways through the SteelSeries GG companion software.

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The upshot is that the Sensei and Rival Pro are a lot of fun. I definitely appreciated the performance boost in games, as well as in various productivity tasks. I played a lot of "Battlefield 6" with it, and really appreciated the boost to accuracy it provided. I was able to snap onto a target faster, and hold onto it more reliably, which delivers a very real advantage.

At $179.99, the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Rival Pro are definitely expensive, but they are just about in line with other high end gaming mice. It certainly seems like the best option compared to alternatives from Logitech, Razer, and Corsair, mostly due to its hot-swappable battery system and ultrawide-band wireless connection. It really sets itself apart in its price bracket, which admittedly is beyond the reach of most gamers with limited budgets and/or self control.

However, keep in mind that you can save a lot of money by purchasing a much less expensive mouse and still get a great experience. SteelSeries themselves have some decent, affordable options available. The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless is just $34.99, but requires AAA batteries, while the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 is $83.94 ($109.99 MSRP) and includes an integrated rechargeable battery. While these aren't nearly as advanced and feature-rich as the Sensei and Rival Pro, they are perfectly acceptable if you're on a budget.

If you're looking at comparing other major brands, I personally tend to prefer SteelSeries and Corsair products over Razer and Logitech. I've had some issues with Razer peripherals reliability, and in my experience, Logitech suffers from reliability problems. I've owned multiple Logitech mice, keyboards, and headsets, and all have failed within a year of purchase. The Sensei and Rival Pro Mice have everything I look for in a mouse for reliable longevity, and that is something to consider when judging its value for money.

The SteelSeries Rival Pro is the mouse I would personally choose to buy if I was in the market for a high-end gaming mouse. The Sensei Pro is great too, but the ergonomic right-hand design of the Rival Pro is preferable to me. The first thing I look for in a mouse are features which contribute to longevity, and between the optical switches, hot-swappable batteries, and the overall build quality and design, I'm very confident that these mice have the durability I value so highly (though, of course, a full year would be required to prove that without a doubt).

This is also the first wireless mouse where I felt really confident in that wireless connection. The wireless dongle is solidly built, and the connection with the mouse is rock-solid and blazing fast. For the first time ever, I felt that I wasn't having to accept a compromise in terms of performance compared to a wired mouse. 

The Steelseries Sensei and Rival Pro are those rare devices where I can't find any real fault. If I was really petty, I could perhaps say they don't have any RGB lighting, but that's very much a matter of taste, and honestly I prefer a mouse to be simple and effective. After weeks of testing, I have no hesitation fully recommending the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Rival Pro gaming mice.