SteelSeries Rival 700 Gaming Mouse Review

By David Yee

SteelSeries Rival 700 Elite Performance Gaming Mouse

Two years ago, we reviewed the first Rival gaming mouse (it has since been renamed the Rival 300) from SteelSeries with positive remarks. Most notably it was comfortable to use for both claw and palm grips, something we’ve noticed is becoming rarer amongst gaming mice these days.SteelSeries Rival 700

Today, we’re looking at an effort from SteelSeries that combines their best mouse with a slew of odd, features never before seen for gaming mice. The Rival 700 is the first mouse as far as we can tell that has an integrated OLED display, a vibrating motor, and a removable sensor module. As we roll through this review, we’re going to judge whether the sum of these features make this mouse a collection of gimmicks or something amazing.SteelSeries Rival 700

Returning features from the Rival 300 are two RGB light zones and a removable rubber nameplate. The new features we have not yet mentioned are the two included detachable cables, 7 programmable buttons up from 6, and a removable top cover. The Rival 700 has a price of $95.64 shipped on Amazon and carries a one-year warranty. SteelSeries has already made available some accessories for the Rival 700 purchasable through their own webstore which are an alternate top cover pack and a Pixart 9800 laser sensor module.

SteelSeries Rival 700

SteelSeries Rival 700 Gaming Mouse Review Features:

  • Out-aim, out-frag, and out-perform with the best optical gaming sensor
  • Vivid OLED display for in-game stats, sensitivity, and alerts
  • Swap out your cables, cover plate, and sensor module
  • 30M click switches and reinforced left and right mouse buttons
  • Tactile alerts generate small pulses notifying you of in-game events

SteelSeries Rival 700 Gaming Mouse Review Specifications:

  • Design
    • Material: Matte Top Cover
    • Ergonomic, Right-Handed
    • Grip Style: Palm, Claw, and Fingertip
    • Number of Buttons: 7
    • SteelSeries Switches: Rated for 30 Million Clicks
    • Reinforced Left and Right Clicks
    • Weight: 135g, 0.3lbs
    • Height: 124.85mm, 4.92in
    • Width: 68.46mm, 2.70 in
    • Depth: 41.97mm, 1.65in
    • Short cable length (non-braided): 1m, 3.28 ft
    • Long cable length (braided): 2m, 6.5 ft
  • Sensor
    • Sensor Name: PixArt PMW3360
    • Sensor Type: Optical
    • CPI: 100 to 16,000
    • IPS: 300
    • Acceleration: 50g
    • Polling Rate: 1 ms (1000 Hz)
    • Zero Hardware Acceleration
    • Tracking Accuracy: 1:1
  • Customization Options
    • Gamesense Support
    • OLED Display Customization
    • Tactile Alert Customization
    • SteelSeries Engine Support: SSE3
    • Multiple CPI Options
    • Programmable Buttons
    • Onboard Profile Storage
    • Acceleration Customization
    • Deceleration Customization
    • Color Options: 16.8 Million
    • Swappable Pixart 9800 Laser Sensor
    • Swappable Rival 700 Top Cover Pack
    • Printable 3-D Nameplate
  • 1-year warranty

SteelSeries Rival 700Removing the outer sleeve of the packaging reveals an elegant box.

SteelSeries Rival 700Pulling back the lid, we see the Rival 700 and its boxed accessories tucked upright.

SteelSeries Rival 700Alongside the Rival 700 mouse are a quick start guide, some stickers, and two options of cabling a 1m long rubber cable and a 2m long braided nylon cable We’re now ready to take a closer look at the mouse and its zany features.