SteelSeries has overhauled its Aerox lineup, adding two new names to its selection of lightweight gaming mice. At the higher end of the price range, we have the wireless SteelSeries Aerox 9, a MOBA/MMO-focused pointer with a classic honeycomb layout and a bunch of extra buttons adorning the left side. Priced at $149.99 (just $10 more expensive than its littermate, the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless), this device needs some work to justify its premium price.
The Aerox 9 largely succeeds, due to the fact that it’s one of the only gaming mice on the market that prioritizes weight while also offering an array of 12 programmable button panels. To see how well this device compares to everyone The best gaming mouse models on the market though, I put this 89g rodent to the test.
Design
The only thing that sets the SteelSeries Aerox 9 apart from the slightly cheaper Aerox 5 Wireless is that slab of extra macro buttons on the side. That means you still get the solid build quality and premium materials featured throughout the range.
However, the form also remains. I have fairly small hands, so the longer form factor here doesn’t work as well for me as it does for someone with a bit more room around the palm. In particular, the long slope towards the back nestles a bit too tightly, which sometimes makes aiming feel sluggish, as if I’m dragging everything from the pad of my palm, rather than the tips of my fingers. This was only noticeable during particularly close shots, of course, and particularly in a sniper position.
However, I still appreciate the softer material that runs through the honeycomb cover. Unlike many gaming mice that use this design for lower weight, this surface texture doesn’t have a coarse roughness and even offers a little extra grip along the main click buttons. Those who run with a fingertip grip will have a hard time staying comfortable here, however, by virtue of both the length and the fact that the honeycomb texture reaches just above the main body of the mouse.
What really makes the SteelSeries Aerox 9 unique, though: the buttons. While it’s great to see a 12-button array on a mouse designed with weight in mind, its placement makes some of them unusable. Interestingly, this is a frustration I also encountered with the Aerox 5’s paddle and sniper options. In both cases, too much actuation force is required to press these buttons reliably and on a high-pressure setting.
In the case of the Aerox 9, I appreciate a heavier switch here – the panel will always be under your left thumb, so it’s nice not to have to worry about accidental clicks. However, SteelSeries has gone too far in this direction, to the point where I was only able to actively use three-quarters of the macros available to me (numbers 1, 2, and 3 are placed too far apart to even try to hit those heavier switches). ).
Characteristic
essential information
Price: $149.99 / £139.99
form factor: Right handed
PPP: 18,000
IP: up to 400
Switches: Golden Micro IP54 Switches
Connectivity: Wired/Wireless (2.4GHz/Bluetooth 5.0)
Feet: 100% PTFE
Weight: 89g
While the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless was a bit too heavy at 74g for Really Being considered an “ultra-light” gaming mouse, the Aerox 9 has a get-out-of-jail card up its sleeve. Yes, it’s even heavier, at 89g, but this is a MOBA/MMO mouse. There are only a few tips with this level of macro customization available at this time. The wireless Razer Naga Pro weighs 117g, and even the wired Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite weighs 122g. 89g is starting to look really impressive considering the level of macro control available to you – it’s the only option for those currently looking for a lightweight wireless MMO gaming mouse.
Elsewhere, you get a solid 2.4GHz connection, as well as wired and Bluetooth options. I generally only used the 2.4GHz option, barring a few wired sessions while charging. Those were rare though – SteelSeries’ claim that there’s a 180-hour battery life packed in here certainly rings true. I ran through a week of regular use without needing to charge, though RGB was steadily turned off during that time.
You can choose to run a light show on the bottom of the SteelSeries Aerox 9, but I found that most of the LEDs were oddly placed on the bottom of the device. Also, my hand even covered the small panel on the back of the mouse during use.
Of course, all of your setups will run through the SteelSeries Swarm software. I have my own complaints about this program; it’s a busy affair, with a swath of product announcements to peruse before you can easily find your own gear. Still, it’s comprehensive and will give fans plenty to play with when fine-tuning their experience.
If you’re worried about dirt and grit falling through those honeycomb holes, it’s also worth noting that the Aerox 9 features “AquaBarrier technology.” That’s a fancy way of saying that any dust or liquid that slips through the cracks won’t damage the circuitry underneath. I couldn’t see any signs of buildup on my own test device.
Performance
Design complaints aside, I found the SteelSeries Aerox 9 to be smooth and reliable in battle. The skids that line the bottom of the pointer worked hard to keep everything floating nicely, allowing me to easily swing the camera and take some particularly last minute panic shots in Apex Legends. The sensor maintained its accuracy and tracking even with increased DPI, though I still sit comfortably below 4,000 DPI.
While the extra length of the design meant that the most intense sessions felt a bit more cumbersome, it wasn’t lacking as much once the sensation was ingrained in muscle memory; I just had to work a little harder to line up particularly finicky targets. In fact, I averaged a 95% accuracy rating when I really pushed the Aerox 9 to its limits in 3D Aim Trainer, just 1% less than my score with the blazingly fast Razer Viper V2 Pro at the helm. That’s a bit higher than my overall score in such minigames with my daily controller: the Razer Basilisk V3.
Programming each of the 12 shoulder buttons is a hands-on job, creating a preset for each game yourself. It’s pretty easy to do, but don’t expect to jump straight into ready-made profiles for your favorite MMO/MOBA.
Should you buy the SteelSeries Aerox 9?
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 is an impressive device, but it’s just a must-see for those looking for a wireless MMO/MOBA title that doesn’t carry the usual weight of such a design. If you’re looking for an everyday device, that $149.99 price seems a bit high, especially considering there are much lighter (and cheaper) gaming mice on the market. The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro may be a bit older, but it’s only $79.99 and offers a nice level of extra customization on top.
If it’s all about those extra buttons and you don’t mind going for a heavier device, we’d recommend checking out the Razer Naga Pro as well: MSRP is the same, but it’s regularly on sale for under $100.
How we tested the SteelSeries Aerox 9
I tested the SteelSeries Aerox 9 over the course of a week, along with testing the slightly cheaper Aerox 5. I used the Aerox 9 for both work and play during this time, testing speed and response times in Apex Legends, macro functionality, and ease of use in Sea of Thieves.
For more information on how we test gaming mice and how we make all of our recommendations, check out our full GameRadar+ Hardware Policy.
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