Last week, SteelSeries unveiled three new models to its Aerox range, promising “the lightest multi-genre and MMO/MOBA mice on the planet.” The Aerox 5, Aerox 5 Wireless, and Aerox 9 Wireless are available to order from SteelSeries now, and will arrive at New Zealand retailers next month.
The Aerox 5 (NZD $179), Aerox 5 Wireless ($299), and Aerox 9 Wireless ($329) pack a similar design to last year’s Aerox 3, with a perforated shell, lightweight battery, and ultra-thin circuit board to help reduce weight. Without the need for an internal battery, the wired Aerox 5 comes in at just 66g, while the Aerox 5 Wireless and Aerox 9 wireless sit at 74g and 89g respectively. (For comparison, the wired, 9-button SteelSeries Rival 5 that came out last year weighs 85g.)
The major different from previous models is button count. The Aerox 3 sports six buttons, which is ideal for games like shooters where you don’t need a lot of keybinds and speed is of the essence, but less helpful for the likes of RPGs, MMOs, or MOBAs where having quick access to lots of abilities is handy. The “multi-genre” Aerox 5 has nine buttons, while the MMO/MOBA-oriented Aerox 9 has 18, including a 12-button side panel, all of which are programmable.
All three models use Golden Micro IP54 Switches (rated for 80M clicks), a TrueMove Air precision optical gaming sensor (18,000 CPI, 400 IPS, 40G acceleration and tilt tracking), and IP54-rated AquaBarrier water resistance technology to protect from spills and dust. The wireless models use Quantum 2.0 transmitters, supporting both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, with 180 hours of battery life at full charge and 40 hours from a 15-minute charge.
In announcing the new mice, SteelSeries likened the the updates to the Aerox 3 model as being “similar to the way innovations in aerospace bring advanced technologies and design improvements to new product categories”. That might be overcooking it just a bit, but the new models do look like a good choice for anyone wanting the convenience of wirelessness and lots of buttons at a lighter weight.
The Aerox 5, Aerox 5 Wireless and Aerox 9 Wireless are available to order now from SteelSeries.com (with shipping to New Zealand), while Mighty Ape has them for pre-order with expected availability from May 27.