SteelSeries gaming mice are designed for ergonomic, ambidextrous, and right-handed gamers and have customizable weight and balance for every gamer style. The color changing LED feature and programmable buttons make SteelSeries RGB gaming mice a must have PC gaming accessory. Get the mice esports pros use But I do feel like the battery suffers a little, potentially in keeping with this mouse's lighter weight. This is the kind of mouse you're likely to need to charge every day if it gets any real use. It does a great job of conserving battery while idle, but games and constant use will take a toll. The SteelSeries GG software often feels like it can misrepresent the charge, which can lead to running out of battery sooner than you expect. I'm yet to have it run out on me mid-game, but it's something I'm wary of. However, when it came to aiming with the Aerox 5 Wireless, I ran into all of the issues I usually do with a large and heavy mouse. Its fullness in the hand made micro-adjustments difficult and gave an overall sense of sluggishness while aiming at hitscan heroes. The same was true in games like Apex Legends, Halo Infinite, and several other modern FPS titles that also require precise aim.

We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.4. This update modifies our Hand Size Recommendation test, adding a more granular hand size recommendation chart. We've moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.Though she is still writing for Android Authority, she went on to start writing for MakeUseOf, KOINO IT Solutions, and, of course, Review Geek. The Aerox 5 Wireless is a good mouse for just about everyone and for just about every game. If you're the kind of user that prefers larger, heavier mice like Logitech's perennial G502 line, or even the Razer Deathadder series, it might even be a perfect option for you across the board.

The much-lauded PTFE feet and TrueMove Air sensor, as well as the three-way switch that controls the Aerox 5's connection method. Michael Gariffo I'm not going to be going on sweet high skill kill sprees anytime soon, but I have a chance of actually trying for them. Not only can you customize five different DPI levels, but you can also mess with polling rate, acceleration and deceleration, and even angle snapping. There are also almost no explanations for what each section controls, making the GG Engine a test of endurance and patience as you go through a process of elimination or trial-and-error to figure out what you just changed (if anything at all). However, I frequently took positive notice of the 100% pure PTFE feet included on the Aerox 5 Wireless. After the ire caused by the generally awful feet on the original Aerox 3 mentioned above, it's almost comical how good the feet on this mouse are.However, much like with the Aerox 9, the honeycomb pattern on the Aerox 5 bleeds onto the two mouse buttons as well, which could cause comfort issues for those that grip the mouse in a different way. I have a more traditional palm grip style and so, I never felt the punch holes on the mouse buttons (except occasionally when I would attempt to re-grip the mouse), but if you have a claw grip style, for example, then you might face some irritation with it. A great mouse is an underrated addition to your desk setup, regardless of whether you typically game or work at your desk. A regular old desk mouse isn't customizable or attractive and often makes your wrist uncomfortable. The SteelSeries Aerox 5 mouse solves all the problems standard mice present, and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with it.

The Aerox 5 wireless features dual-connectivity with 2.4Ghz using the Steelseries Quantum 2.0 wireless technology, and Bluetooth 5.0. The claimed battery life on the mouse is up to 180 hours, and while we do not have an accurate way to measure that, the mouse kept chugging along for more than a week and a half before requiring a recharge. I had kept the RGB illumination to its lowest possible setting, and used the mouse daily for 5-6 hours with at least one hour of game time in between. If you want to squeeze as much juice out of the battery as possible, you will have to turn the RGB completely down to even reach the possible 180 hour mark. Software and Performance The Steelseries GG companion app is required if you want to configure the Aerox 5 in any way. The app offers a plethora of features, with some of the standard options like per key configuration, polling rate, acceleration/deceleration, up to 5 CPI levels, RGB setting and angle snapping.

Bottom line

Shifting to MOBAs and MMORPGs, the extra buttons were, once again, helpful. I could map basic functions like auto-run to my mouse hand, and I could handle things like target toggling, pings, and other skills with that same hand. This was great in MOBAs like League of Legends and DOTA 2but fell short of having a major impact on MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV. SteelSeries worked with Pixart to develop the TrueMove Air sensor used in the Aerox 5 Wireless. I found it reliable, accurate, and completely devoid of unwanted acceleration or anomalies. Basically, it does its job without needing to be thought about, as a sensor should. The scroll wheel has a soft ‘thud’ to it but feels tactile enough, and has noticeable steps to aid players who rely on it to navigate in-game menus. Absolutely no complaints here. The Verdict

Not only does the PTFE material glide as smoothly as offerings from aftermarket mouse skate makers like Hyperglide or Esports Tiger, but the feet are also exceptionally well-shaped. Even the ring surrounding the sensor, each one features rounded edges that slide perfectly over even the roughest control-focused mousepads. Logitech could learn a thing or two from Steelseries on this point, given the unbelievably sharp edges that shipped on the G303 Shroud Edition's feet. You can connect via a 2.4GHz USB-C or USB-A connection (swapped using a handy adapter on the charging cable), and I only needed to juice this pointer up a couple of times during my whole two weeks of testing. Thanks to a fast-charging connection, even this charging period was painless - I generally only needed half an hour or so on the wire before running for hours tether-free. Being from the same product line, the design similarities between Aerox 9 and the Aerox 5 are hardly surprising. The Aerox 5 also features the same honeycomb design, a full-sized body shape, and the big middle bulge that should provide extra comfort for palm grip users. Once you find the Engine tab, which allows you to reprogram buttons and customize your RGB lighting, things don't get much better. You're met with a top-down view of the Aerox 5 with no clear indication of which button is which or what they do and a DPI adjustment area that you may need an actual degree in physics to properly figure out. In April 2020, she started writing for Android Authority, covering listicles, helpful how-to's for Android devices, and content on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Of course, I wouldn't recommend it for an FPS addict that never touches another kind of title, nor would I suggest it for the hardcore MMORPG raider. For them, there are much more purpose-built options that will serve as better tools for their competitive gaming goals. But, for the majority of us that have a primary genre we gravitate to and a boatload of more casual titles we mess around in from time to time, the Aerox 5 wireless provides a great singular solution.