SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Ghost Edition review: Blinded by the lights

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(Pocket-lint) - SteelSeries has taken its already incredibly lightweight Aerox 3 Wireless gaming rodent and made it adjacent better. The 2022 Ghost Edition mentation present comes successful 3 snazzy finishes: snow, onyx and ghost. 

But the changes are much than conscionable cosmetic, arsenic this improved peculiar variation exemplary besides has slick PTFE feet and immoderate superior RGB lighting to assistance it basal apart. We've been alternatively blinded by the lights erstwhile getting our crippled connected with this peculiarly eye-catching mouse.

Slick gaming prowess

  • 400 IPS tracking speed, 40G acceleration, 1000Hz polling rate
  • Count Per Inch 100-18,000 (in 100 CPI increments)
  • Optical sensor: SteelSeries TrueMove Air
  • 2.4GHz and multi-purpose Bluetooth 5.0
  • Next-gen golden micro-switches

As you tin see, the Ghost variation of the SteelSeries Aerox 3 wireless is simply a existent looker. As with the erstwhile Aerox 3 wireless, it's afloat of holes to guarantee it's arsenic lightweight arsenic possible. At conscionable 68 grams it's 1 of the lightest we've tested. If you're disquieted astir the holes, you needn't be.

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SteelSeries has crafted this rodent with a alleged AquaBarrier, which means it's IP54 rated and resistant to water, particulate and ungraded ingress. Though that doesn't marque it wholly waterproof, it should inactive beryllium capable to basal up to astir things you tin propulsion astatine it. Besides, who games successful the shower, right?

Beneath the aboveground are akin specs to what we saw connected the SteelSeries Prime Wireless. That means you're getting akin pro-level show but successful a lighter frame. The 2 are precise antithetic mice though. The Prime Wireless is understated with conscionable 1 subtle RGB lighting area, whereas the Aerox 3 Wireless is overmuch much in-your-face. 

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The Aerox 3 uses next-gen aureate micro-switches that are rated for arsenic galore arsenic 80 cardinal clicks. They're not arsenic fancy arsenic the optical magnetic switches connected the Prime Wireless but we inactive recovered them responsive and with a satisfying click enactment too. 

Low-profile design 

  • Black Matte Finish (Onyx) | White Matte Finish (Snow)
  • ABS Plastic construction
  • 6 fastener layout
  • Weighs: 68g

This rodent boasts six programmable buttons with a CPI fastener connected apical for easy flicking betwixt sensitivity levels. It besides has 2 broadside buttons that are acold easier to entree than those connected the Prime Wireless and truthful are much satisfying to use. 

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The different item of the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless is its connectivity. This rodent has some 2.4GHz wireless and multi-purpose Bluetooth 5.0. For gaming, it's champion to usage the included USB-C wireless dongle for Quantum 2.0 wireless connectivity that ensures a unchangeable and close transportation - arsenic this strategy uses 2 wireless channels that tin transmit simultaneously truthful there's nary awesome interruption.

In wireless mode, SteelSeries claims you tin get arsenic overmuch arsenic 80 hours of artillery beingness earlier the rodent needs a charge. In practice, we recovered it to beryllium a just spot little than that. Quite astir apt owed to the agleam RGB lighting. In fact, we recovered it needed charging much often than the archetypal Aerox 3 wireless. 

Not to interest though - due to the fact that this rodent uses a lightweight, flexible Super Mesh USB-C cable. That enables fast-charging, giving you 40 hours other artillery successful conscionable 15 minutes. USB-C is evidently casual to plug successful if you're successful a hurry for powerfulness and you tin crippled with it connected too. 

If you request you tin swap to Bluetooth via a power connected the underside and link to different device. In Bluetooth mode, you tin get adjacent much artillery beingness - with up to 200 hours. 

The Aerox 3 Wireless is designed with a debased illustration fit. It's built to enactment with assorted grip styles, including claw, fingertip and palm. We privation it was a small spot larger successful presumption of tallness disconnected the table and wide size, but it's acold from a tiny mouse. The plan is good thought retired and it's casual to flick astir the desk. 

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It besides has immoderate absorbing plan highlights that you can't see, clever things successful the bundle and the mode the rodent responds to your actions. The RGB lighting, for example, is designed to crook disconnected erstwhile you determination the mouse. It's a battery-saving measurement that makes logical consciousness erstwhile you see the airy is mostly invisible erstwhile you're utilizing it anyway. 

RGB to airy up your room

  • 3x RGB zones

One happening that struck america astir the Aerox 3 Wireless shade is conscionable however agleam its RGB lighting is. Like the SteelSeries Apex 7 Ghost Edition, this mouse's illumination is gloriously bright. So overmuch truthful that we're beauteous definite you could unplug it and rotation retired of a acheronian country utilizing it arsenic a torch to airy your way. 

It has 3 RGB lighting zones, each tweakable wrong the SteelSeries GG software. The lighting tin beryllium acceptable to beryllium reactive, changing with each click of the mouse. 

The aforesaid bundle lets you reprogramme things similar the 5 levels of CPI sensitivity, polling rate, and yet more. You tin re-programme the buttons too, including adding macro recordings oregon acceptable media buttons, exertion launching and different things. 

Verdict

The updated mentation of the Aerox 3 Wireless makes immoderate tiny but utile changes to an already large gaming mouse. We thoroughly enjoyed the archetypal rodent - and we similar the 2022 Ghost Edition adjacent more. Not lone due to the fact that it's a looker, but due to the fact that it's lightweight, has ace RGB lighting, and tons of accuracy and customisation options.

Also consider

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SteelSeries Prime Wireless 

It's a spot heavier and possibly not arsenic bully to look at, but this different wireless rodent has a batch going for it - including superior specs and large gaming capabilities. 

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Roccat Kone Pro Air

If you privation lightweight, but don't similar the thought of holes each implicit your mouse, past the Kone Pro Air is an absorbing option. It's a great-looking rodent with RGB lighting that shines done the main buttons - but evidently isn't arsenic agleam arsenic the Ghost Edition.

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Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 23 December 2021.

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