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SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review
The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini might just be perfect for you, if you’re looking for a compact gaming mouse that makes no sacrifices when it comes to performance.
The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini has everything a competitive gamer could ever want, be that true 8K polling, programmable buttons, 42K DPI sensitivity… you name it. It even brings ‘infinite power supply’ tech to the table, meaning you’ll have next to no downtime when duking it out against your opponents.
However, this mouse doesn’t come cheap. At $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), it sits firmly in the premium category, meaning it has to go above and beyond to prove itself against the best mice on the market. But is it truly worth that steep asking price? Here’s my view after hours of intensive testing.
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Let’s start things off by looking at some of the features that the Rival Pro Mini has to offer. I may have piqued your curiosity when I mentioned that ‘infinite’ power supply just now — but what exactly does that mean?
Well, the Rival Pro Mini and its accompanying Ultra Wideband base station come with hot-swappable batteries. One will slot into your mouse while gaming, and the other will sit in the base station and charge up in the meantime. When your mouse eventually runs dry — around 60 hours with 1K polling or 16 hours with 8K — you can simply pop the battery out of your base station, slot it into your mouse, and continue playing in an instant.
This is a truly brilliant feature, and means you’ll never run out of juice when competing in a tournament or playing a few casual rounds. Even though the Rival Pro Mini mouse has no USB slot for wired use, this tech means that you’ll never truly need it.
But there are so many more features to discover on the Rival Pro Mini. First up, you’re getting true 8K polling for ultra-smooth performance. SuperSync is also here, which enables you to independently set tracking and clicking polling rates. There’s also aim tools, 42K DPI sensitivity, and six fully programmable buttons on board.
You can customize the way that buttons function in the GG app or web platform, which also lets you adjust sensitivity, polling rate, and power management among other things. I found both the downloadable and web app to be incredibly easy to use and navigate, with no shortage of options at my disposal.
But just how does the Rival Pro Mini feel to use in practice? Just as good as you’d hope. When playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, I was blown away by the all-round quality on offer. When aiming, movement felt supremely stable and accurate, and even basic functions like turning the camera was super smooth and highly responsive.
In addition, the optical switches had a great feel to them, and allowed me to blast down my foes with unrivaled speed and precision. Like typical optical switches, these aren’t the quietest around, but their satisfying click felt never seemed obnoxiously loud or distracting to me. The mechanical scroll wheel also impressed me with its control and tactility, and its ridges provided ample grip when gaming or simply performing everyday tasks at work.
This mouse gets it right when it comes to ergonomics too, although it is a more compact model, so if you have larger hands I’d recommend picking up the full-sized Rival Pro instead. But the mouse’s molded exterior and lightweight feel fantastic, and I was able to use the Rival Pro Mini for hours on end without any cramp or fatigue. This is an ergonomic model for right-handed gamers, though, so if you’re a lefty, I’d suggest checking out the symmetrical SteelSeries Sensei Pro Mini.
The Rival Pro Mini plays it fairly safe looks-wise, but it does have a sleek aesthetic, and the orange scroll wheel gives it a bit of pop. It also has strong build quality, and I liked its lightly textured matte finish, which adds a premium touch. One thing I will say, however, is that this finish does turn the Rival Pro Mini into a bit of a fingerprint magnet, so it’ll need a good wipe down every now and then if you want to keep it looking pristine. Still, fingerprints will likely seem less visible if you opt for the white colorway over the black variant I tested.
There’s very little holding this mouse back, though one thing could prove to put some gamers off. And you guessed it: it’s that asking price.
While I think that the Rival Pro Mini offers solid value thanks to its exemplary functionality, at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), it’s unquestionably expensive. It’s also priced identically to the larger, full-size model — no big deal given that they share the same features, but it would’ve been nice to get this one at an ever-so-slightly lower price.
When all’s said and done, though, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini. Its S-tier performance, clever hot-swappable batteries, and customizable buttons make it a great option, even for the most competitive gamers out there, and if you can stomach the price, it’s well worth picking up.
SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: price & release date
- Priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)
- Released in October 2026
The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini first arrived in October 2026 alongside three other models, namely the larger SteelSeries Rival Pro, as well as the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Sensei Pro Mini. The Rival Pro Mini has the same list price as the full-sized model, coming in at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250). As you’d expect, that places it in the premium category with competition including the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro — both of which you can learn more about in the ‘also consider’ section.
SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: specs
|
Interface |
Ultra Wideband Wireless (6GHz and above) |
|
Battery life |
Up to 60 hours 1K / 16 hours 8K |
|
Sensor |
TrueMove 42K Pro Sensor |
|
Polling rate |
8KHz (with 9KHz overpolling) |
|
Buttons |
6 |
|
DPI |
42,000 |
|
Switches |
Optical |
|
Dimensions |
4.75 x 2.57 x 1.59 inches / 120.7 x 65.4 x 40.5mm |
|
Weight |
1.7oz / 49g |
Should I buy the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Design |
Great ergonomics, ultra-lightweight, great build quality, and nice matte finish — although it’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet. |
4.5/5 |
|
Performance |
8K polling with SuperSync, top-tier 42K DPI sensitivity, practical infinite power system. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
Steep price, and just as expensive as the full-sized model, but incredibly high overall quality. |
3.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: also consider
How I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini
- Tested intensively for hours
- Used for gaming and general productivity
- Made use of all features in the GG web app
I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini across the course of a few days, and spent hours using it for both gaming and general productivity purposes.
For playing games, I made sure to pair the Rival Pro Mini with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, which helped me get the best performance possible out of the mouse. I also made sure to try the mouse with a variety of games, though I mainly used the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077 to test its capabilities. What’s more, I made sure to trial all of the mouse’s features and customization options in the GG web app.
More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium wireless headphones to mechanical keyboards, and have tested a number of mice, including the Logitech Mobi Fold.
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
