SteelSeries Aerox 5

To be wired or not to be wired? That is the question

- SAM LEWIS

AFTER GETTING our hands (well, our right hand, at least) on the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless not long ago, we were impressed by its ultra-lightweight, nine programmable buttons, pinpoint accuracy, and snappy wireless tech.

It wasn’t perfect, though, and it featured some below-par RGB lighting and, more importantly, an RRP of $140. There was no creaking or rattling, but it didn’t feel as premium as the price tag suggested and, unfortunately, the lack of weight—despite being one of the reasons it performed so well—resulted in it feeling a little bit on the cheap side. Regardless, we concluded that at a slightly lower price, it would make an excellent choice for your desktop.

Thankfully, there’s a slightly lower priced variant of the same mouse, the non-wireless Aerox 5 model on test here. Aesthetically, it’s almost identical to the wireless variant of the Aerox 5, for which we’re thankful. It has the same ergonomic design that favors the palm and claw grip techniques. What hasn’t improved significantly is the RGB—it just doesn’t disperse evenly, and while underglow would have been more than adequate, it instead comes through the aerated upper part of the body.