Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2: Two-minute review
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 doesn’t try to do everything. Instead, it focuses primarily on one: speed.
At 68g, it’s built to be as light and responsive as possible, targeting players who want quick reactions and minimal resistance. That approach works: it’s fast, accurate, and easy to control, particularly in competitive games where small movements make a difference.
But that focus comes with trade-offs. The honeycomb shell won’t suit everyone, and the feature set is deliberately minimal. If you’re looking for extras, you’ll likely find more elsewhere. Likewise, the smaller ambidextrous shape won’t be the best fit for all hand sizes, and the Aerox 3’s mechanical switches won’t satisfy everyone, particularly when some mid-range rivals offer optical or hybrid switches.
Nevertheless, the Gen 2 does bring some meaningful quality-of-life improvements over its predecessor. It features an up-rated 26K TrueMove sensor and boasts a 4000Hz wireless polling rate without the need for a dongle upgrade. Both represent clear upgrades in terms of gaming performance, shifting the emphasis towards fast-paced and competitive gameplay.
Battery life is similarly impressive, offering up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz, or up to 200 hours on Bluetooth. That said, this assumes 1000Hz with RGB off for both, so if you’re planning on gaming at the top end with all the bells and whistles at your disposal, expect there to be some drop-off in longevity here.
Another notable differentiator is the GG software’s 3D Aim Trainer and sensitivity converter, which can be tweaked and personalised to train your flicks, tracking, and target switching across multiple gaming environments, helping you to find the right settings before stepping into a live match.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Design
The Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 light weight is immediately noticeable. In boxing terms, this guy is a minimumweight, clocking in at just 68g (the same as the Gen 1 model). It’s easy to move quickly and with minimal effort, it’s perfect for fast-paced gameplay.
Its low weight comes from the honeycomb chassis, which removes material to keep things light. It works well, but the perforated design may divide opinion: some will appreciate the lighter feel and added airflow, while others may find it less comfortable during longer sessions. The design feels almost skeletal, and while I didn’t find it uncomfortable per se, I remained aware of those perforations throughout testing.
Aside from its scrawny appearance then, the Aerox 3’s build quality is solid, with minimal flex during normal use. It’s zippy and responsive, with the welcome retention of the Gen 1’s IP54-rated AquaBarrier protection to help guard against dust and (coffee) splashes – which isn’t always a given in this mid-range category.
The shape is ambidextrous and broadly accessible, although it’s best suited to claw or fingertip grips. For me, an average-sized, middle-aged ape, it felt a little small. I tend to prefer a steeper curve at the back end of a mouse; the Aerox 3’s relatively flat profile doesn’t quite accommodate a comfortable grip, with too much palm left over with nowhere to sit.
Buttons are well placed, with five programmable inputs covering the basics, and the scroll wheel offers a consistent, controlled action.
The Aerox 3 Gen 2 features three-zone RGB lighting that provides a cool, neon underglow, and it can be customized via the GG app to suit your personal preferences and to complement your gaming setup. RGB lighting is subtle rather than showy, adding a bit of visual flair without becoming a distraction, switching itself off during mouse movement to conserve battery life.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Performance
Pull the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 out of the box, and the first thing you’ll notice is how little there is of it. At 68g, it almost doesn’t register in your hand, and that weightlessness translates directly into how it performs. This is a mouse that gets out of its own way.
The TrueMove 26K sensor is the engine under the hood, and it’s a willing one. Tracking was consistent across every surface I tested it on, including my SteelSeries Limited Edition QCK cloth gaming mousepad, my partner’s Corsair MM700 RGB Extended gaming mousepad, and bare-desk testing, with no drift or jitter across a range of DPI settings. The addition of adjustable lift-off distance over the Gen 1 is a small but welcome refinement, and was certainly noticeable with the amount of junk I have on my desk.
DPI flexibility is one of the Aerox 3 Gen 2’s quiet strengths. Spending time with Cyberpunk 2077, I found myself toggling between settings depending on the situation. I opted for high DPI (around 15,000+) when surrounded by enemies (which happens far too often), then dropped to between 500 and 800 DPI for precision aiming. The onboard DPI button makes switching on-the-fly straightforward, and I found myself efficiently eliminating such foes as John Wick on a rampage.
However, where the Aerox 3 Gen 2 really earns its stripes is in competitive gaming. Testing it in Apex Legends, the 4000Hz polling rate — which needs to be enabled in the GG app — delivered noticeably smoother cursor movement, low input lag, and killshots I’d have otherwise missed. At this price point, 4000Hz wireless polling without the need for a dongle upgrade is a big achievement and genuinely made a difference to my gameplay.
Running the mouse through mousetester.io at 3250 DPI with polling set to 4000Hz, I recorded a real-world polling rate of 3106Hz, which is a strong result and well within the expected range for a mouse of this specification. Pushing the DPI higher caused that figure to dip slightly — which is consistent with how high-polling-rate sensors behave under increased processing load, rather than any inherent limitation of the hardware. In practice, most competitive players will be running DPI settings where the Aerox 3 Gen 2 performs at its best anyway.
The mechanical switches deserve a mention, too. Rated for 80 million actuations, they’re crisp, light, and tactile. They might look plasticky, but they don’t feel cheap, which further affirms the price range. The PTFE feet glide smoothly across my mousepad, and the overall movement experience is effortless.
At $99.99 / £99.99, you’re not getting the last word in gaming mouse performance; the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro’s 45K DPI sensor and 8000Hz polling rate still sit in a different league. But that’s not what the Aerox 3 Gen 2 is trying to be. What it delivers at this price is a fast, consistent, genuinely competitive wireless experience, and it does so very well.
The Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 supports both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth. The inclusion of both at this price is worth noting, particularly as some of the Aerox 3’s rivals have opted to drop Bluetooth entirely in pursuit of raw performance (e.g., the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and Logitech’s G Pro X2 Superstrike).
For gaming, 2.4GHz is the clear choice, offering lower latency and a more stable connection. Bluetooth is better suited to everyday tasks, multi-device setups, or commuting. What’s more, commuters can leave the dongle at home and still pair this mouse without it, boosting its portability factor.
Battery life is a genuine strength. SteelSeries rates the Aerox 3 Gen 2 at up to 200 hours on Bluetooth and up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz, both assuming 1000Hz polling with RGB off. Push that polling rate up to 4000Hz, however, and that figure is likely to drop sharply, to around 30 hours or so. That will still give you enough juice for the bulk of a working week, but it’s a notable trade-off if you’re planning on leaving that cable behind permanently.
One practical point: there’s no onboard storage for the USB dongle inside the mouse itself (no surprise there, given its aerated design). However, SteelSeries has included a desk-based extension cable for situations where signal strength may be an issue, which is a handy addition if your tower sits on the floor.
Charging is handled via USB-C with fast-charging support, which helps keep downtime to a minimum when you do eventually need to plug in.
Customization is handled through the SteelSeries GG app, which strikes a good balance between accessibility and depth.
You’ll find all the basics catered for here: you can adjust DPI across multiple levels; remap your buttons; fine-tune RGB lighting; and save profiles for different setups. Plus, its onboard memory means your key settings travel with the mouse rather than being tethered to a single machine, which is a godsend for anybody switching between computers.
One important practical note: the headline-grabbing 4000Hz polling rate isn’t enabled by default, and you’ll need to head to the GG app to unlock it. This is simple enough to enable, but worth knowing before you assume you’re getting that peak performance right off the bat.
Where the GG software genuinely stands out, however, is the 3D Aim Trainer and Sensitivity Finder. This is best described as a 10-minute mini-game that analyses your playstyle and recommends an optimal DPI setting for your chosen FPS. It even lets you apply that sensitivity across different games, so if you split your time between titles, you can maintain a consistent feel from one to the next. Considering the Aerox 3’s price point, this is a thoughtful and genuinely useful addition that goes beyond what most rival software suites offer.
The interface itself is clean and easy to navigate, and I didn’t encounter any bugs or technical issues during my time with it.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Price & availability
- $99.99 / £99.99
- Available now in Shadow, Magenta Haze, and Ghost colorways
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 typically retails for around £99.99 / $99.99, although it’s frequently available at a discount, making it an even more attractive proposition at this mid-range price point.
It comes in three colorways: Shadow (black), Magenta Haze (pink), and a semi-translucent Ghost finish, the latter of which leans into the current trend for see-through tech aesthetics and looks particularly striking with RGB lighting active. I was provided with the Ghost variant for this review, and I can absolutely vouch for the cool factor that it lends to my gaming setup.
At this price, the Aerox 3 sits comfortably alongside rivals such as the Endgame Gear OP1w 4K and Be Quiet! Dark Perk Ergo, while undercutting more premium competition such as the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike by a considerable margin. For the performance on offer, it represents solid value for money.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Specs
|
Buttons |
5 |
|
Sensor |
SteelSeries TrueMove 26K |
|
Max DPI |
26,000 |
Should I buy the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2?
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 scorecard
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|
Features |
A solid but minimal physical package, five buttons, and mechanical switches are functional rather than exciting, and some rivals offer more at this price point. The GG software’s 3D Aim Trainer partially redresses the balance. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
The TrueMove 26K sensor is accurate and consistent across surfaces, and the 4000Hz polling rate made a genuine difference in competitive gameplay. The mechanical switches are crisp and functional, if not quite at the level of optical alternatives. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
The honeycomb chassis keeps the weight impressively low at 68g, and the build quality is solid throughout. The smaller ambidextrous shape and flat profile won’t suit all hand sizes or grip styles, though. |
4 / 5 |
|
Value |
At £99.99, the Aerox 3 Gen 2 offers strong performance for the price, 4000Hz wireless polling, and dual connectivity, including Bluetooth, which are features you’d typically pay considerably more for. |
4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Also consider
How I tested the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2
- Tested across multiple gaming sessions and general desktop use
- Gaming tested in Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends
- Polling rate verified using mousetester.io
I used the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 across a mix of gaming, notably Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends, and everyday tasks, focusing on responsiveness, comfort, and battery life. Testing included fast-paced shooters and general desktop use to assess responsiveness, comfort, and battery life across real-world conditions. I also ran the mouse through mousetester.io to verify real-world polling rate performance.
Read the full article here
