The market currently offers a wide variety of mice. Some, like the HyperX Pulsefire Dart, are slightly heavier at 110 grams, while others, such as the Steelseries Aerox 5 Wireless, prioritize lightness, weighing in at only 74 grams. This low weight is a key feature of the Aerox 5, but let’s examine its other attributes.
Performance in gaming scenarios is a critical factor. To thoroughly evaluate the mouse, I spent two weeks focusing on FPS titles such as CS GO, Valorant, and Bad Business, alongside more relaxed games like Minecraft and Subnautica.
The mouse’s lightweight design provides a tangible advantage in fast-paced FPS games, facilitating quick movements across the screen. This benefit is less pronounced in slower-paced genres. While it may not have drastically improved my skill, the reduced effort required for swift movements was noticeable.
Connectivity options include a 2.4 GHz dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, and a wired USB connection (cable included for charging). The wireless performance is reliable. However, the battery life is a significant drawback, appearing to be heavily impacted by the RGB lighting. While Steelseries advertises a battery life of up to 180 hours, my testing yielded a maximum of 35 hours.
My primary concern lies with Steelseries’ software, which I found to be somewhat lacking. A significant issue is the presence of bugs. The most persistent bug encountered was the mouse’s failure to pair with the computer, regardless of the connection type (wireless or wired). While this could be specific to my system, it is noteworthy that the issue persisted regardless of connection method or firmware updates. On a positive note, customizing lighting and button assignments within Steelseries GG is straightforward.
The physical design presented some challenges. The positioning of the side buttons felt slightly out of reach for my hand (considered to be of average size), and the lever-style actuation of two of the buttons was not ideal. On the other hand, the mouse provides a comfortable grip for extended use and maintains a reasonable temperature.
In conclusion, the Aerox 5 Wireless is a well-built mouse with solid hardware. However, the software requires further refinement, and the battery life, particularly with RGB lighting enabled, is below expectations.
Steelseries provided a review unit. Provision of samples does not influence our editorial independence.
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