SteelSeries has overhauled its Aerox line, bringing two new names to its light-weight collection of gaming mice. On the most sensible finish of the fee vary, we’ve the wi-fi SteelSeries Aerox 9, a MOBA / MMO-focused pointer with a vintage honeycomb design and a wad of extra buttons decorating the left hand facet. Coming in at $149.99 (simply $10 dearer than its litter-mate, the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wi-fi), this software must paintings exhausting to justify its top class worth level.
The Aerox 9 in large part succeeds, because of the truth that it is probably the most simplest gaming mice in the marketplace to prioritize weight whilst additionally providing a 12-panel collection of programmable buttons. To look simply how smartly this software stacks up in opposition to all the most efficient gaming mouse fashions in the marketplace, despite the fact that, I put this 89g rodent thru its paces.
Design
The one factor that differentiates the SteelSeries Aerox 9 from the reasonably inexpensive Aerox 5 Wi-fi is that slab of extra macro buttons at the facet. That implies you might be nonetheless getting the forged construct high quality and top class fabrics featured around the vary.
The form stays as smartly, then again. I’ve quite small fingers, so the longer shape issue right here does not paintings as smartly for me as it should do for any person with slightly more room round their palm. Specifically, the lengthy slope against the again nestles in slightly too tight, which occasionally leaves purpose feeling slow – like I am dragging the whole thing from the pad of my palm, quite than the guidelines of my palms. This used to be simplest noticeable all through in particular shut pictures, in fact, and in particular in a sniper place.
On the other hand, I nonetheless recognize the softer subject matter working around the honeycomb shell. In contrast to many gaming mice using this design to succeed in a decrease weight, there is no coarse roughness to this floor texture and it even introduced slightly additional grip alongside the primary click on buttons as smartly. The ones working with a finger tip grip will battle to stick comfy right here, then again, through distinctive feature of each the duration and the truth that the honeycomb texture reaches simply above the primary frame of the mouse.
Directly to what in point of fact makes the SteelSeries Aerox 9 distinctive, despite the fact that – the buttons. Whilst it is very good to peer a 12-button array featured on a mouse designed with weight in thoughts, their placement does render a few of them unusable. Apparently, this can be a frustration I additionally discovered with the Aerox 5’s paddle and sniper choices. In each circumstances, there is simply a ways an excessive amount of actuation drive required to hit those buttons reliably and in a prime drive environment.
Relating to the Aerox 9, I do recognize a heavier transfer right here – the panel is all the time going to be below your left thumb so it is great to not have to fret about unintended clicks. On the other hand, SteelSeries has long gone too a ways on this path, to the level that I may just simplest actively use 3 quarters of the macros to be had to me (numbers 1, 2, and three are situated too a ways away to even try hitting the ones heavier switches).
Options
Very important Information
Value: $149.99 / £139.99
Shape issue: Proper-handed
DPI: 18,000
IPS: As much as 400
Switches: Golden Micro IP54 Switches
Connectivity: Stressed / Wi-fi (2.4GHz / Bluetooth 5.0)
Toes: 100% PTFE
Weight: 89g
Whilst the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wi-fi used to be slightly too heavy at 74g to actually be regarded as an “extremely light-weight” gaming mouse, the Aerox 9 has a get out of prison loose card up its sleeve. Sure, it is even heavier – at 89g – however this can be a MOBA / MMO mouse. There are just a few tips with this stage of macro customization to be had presently. The wi-fi Razer Naga Professional weighs in at 117g, or even the stressed out Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite clocks 122g. 89g is beginning to glance significantly spectacular bearing in mind the extent of macro keep an eye on open to you – it is your best option for the ones recently at the hunt for a light-weight MMO wi-fi gaming mouse.
Somewhere else, you might be choosing up a forged 2.4GHz connection, in addition to Bluetooth and stressed out choices. I most often simplest used the two.4GHz choice, save for a couple of stressed out classes whilst charging. The ones have been uncommon, despite the fact that – SteelSeries’ statement that there is a 180 hour battery lifestyles packed in right here surely rings true. I ran for per week of standard use with no need to fee, despite the fact that RGB used to be firmly close off all through that point.
You’ll be able to choose to run a gentle display throughout the backside of the SteelSeries Aerox 9, however I discovered that lots of the LEDs have been unusually positioned at the underside of the software. Plus, even the small panel on the rear of the mouse used to be coated through my hand all through use.
After all, your entire configurations shall be run throughout the SteelSeries Swarm tool. I’ve my very own gripes about this program; it is a very crowded affair, with a swathe of product advertisements to buckle down and do ahead of you’ll simply to find your individual tools. Nonetheless, it is complete and can give tinkerers lots to play with when fine-tuning their enjoy.
In case you are inquisitive about filth and grit falling thru the ones honeycomb holes, additionally it is price noting that the Aerox 9 options “AquaBarrier era”. That is a complicated approach of claiming that any mud or liquid that does slide throughout the cracks may not hurt the circuitry beneath. I could not see any indicators of building up alone take a look at software.
Efficiency
Design gripes apart, I discovered the SteelSeries Aerox 9 to be easy and dependable in combat. The skates lining the bottom of the pointer labored exhausting to stay the whole thing floating alongside well, permitting me to simply swing the digital camera and take some in particular last-minute panic pictures in Apex Legends. The sensor maintained its precision and monitoring even with DPI notched up, despite the fact that I conveniently sit down at below 4,000 DPI anyway.
Whilst the additional duration of the design intended extra intense classes felt slightly extra bulky, I wasn’t undershooting all that a lot as soon as the texture used to be ingrained into muscle reminiscence – I simply needed to paintings slightly tougher to line up in particular finnicky objectives. If truth be told, I averaged a 95% accuracy ranking when actually pushing the Aerox 9 to its limits on three-D Intention Teacher – simply 1% down from my rating with the blindingly rapid Razer Viper V2 Professional on the helm. That is reasonably upper than my basic rating in such mini-games with my day-to-day driving force – the Razer Basilisk V3.
Programming every of the 12 facet buttons is a guide process, making a preset for every recreation your self. It is simple sufficient to do, however do not be expecting to leap into ready-made profiles to your favourite MMO / MOBA instantly.
Must you purchase the SteelSeries Aerox 9?
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 is an outstanding software, however it is just a must-see for the ones at the hunt for a wi-fi MMO / MOBA identify that does not pack the standard weight of the sort of design. In case you are after an on a regular basis software, that $149.99 worth level does glance slightly prime, particularly bearing in mind there are a ways lighter (and less expensive) gaming mice in the marketplace. The Corsair Darkish Core RGB Professional could also be slightly older, nevertheless it is available in at simply $79.99 and gives a just right stage of extra customization on most sensible.
If it is the ones additional buttons and do not thoughts choosing up a heavier software, we might counsel looking on the Razer Naga Professional as smartly – the MSRP is similar, however it is steadily discovered on sale for only $100.
How we examined the SteelSeries Aerox 9
I examined the SteelSeries Aerox 9 over the path of 1 week, along trying out of the reasonably inexpensive Aerox 5. I used the Aerox 9 for each paintings and play all through this time, trying out pace and reaction occasions on Apex Legends, macro capability and straightforwardness of use on Sea of Thieves.
For more info on how we take a look at gaming mice, and the way we make all our suggestions, check out our complete GameRadar+ {Hardware} Coverage.
We are additionally rounding up the entire very best Razer mouse fashions in the marketplace in addition to the entire newest reasonable gaming mouse offers as smartly. Or, for a complete setup, check out the very best gaming keyboards to be had now.
