The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is a lightweight, multi-genre gaming mouse, and a wireless version of the SteelSeries Aerox 5. It has a plastic body with diamond-shaped cutouts to reduce its overall weight, a dedicated CPI button behind the scroll wheel, and five side buttons. This mouse has the same sensor and an identical, right-handed shape as the wired version, but you can connect it wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth and recharge its internal battery with the included cable.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is very good for office and multimedia use. Its build quality feels great, and it has lots of buttons you can program using the customization software. It connects wirelessly with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth. Its comfortable, right-handed shape is suitable for all grip types; however, the size and button placement make it better suited for larger hands. Unfortunately, the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and a free-scrolling mode.
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Feels well-built.
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Connects wirelessly with a USB reicever or Bluetooth.
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All buttons are programmable using the customization software.
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Isn't suitable for small hands using any grip type.
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Bulky; not designed to fit in laptop bags or cases.
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Scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and a free-scrolling mode.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is a great mouse for FPS gaming. It's lightweight and the build quality feels very good. Performance-wise, it has a very low lift-off distance and a very wide CPI range, though you can't adjust the CPI as precisely as on many competing mice. Although the click latency is very good, it's slightly higher than many similarly-priced gaming mice.
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Lightweight.
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Feels well-built.
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Very good click latency.
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Isn't suitable for small hands using any grip type.
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Can't adjust CPI settings as precisely as most high-end gaming mice.
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Bulky; not designed to fit in laptop bags or cases.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is a very good MMO gaming mouse, though it doesn't have quite as many side buttons as some dedicated MMO gaming mice. That said, you can reprogram all of the buttons it has using the customization software. The build quality feels very good, and the mouse has a comfortable right-handed shape, though it's best suited for larger hands. Performance-wise, it has very good click latency and a very broad CPI range. Unfortunately, you can't adjust the set CPI as precisely as you can on many other premium gaming mice.
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Feels well-built.
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Very good click latency.
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All buttons are programmable using the customization software.
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Isn't suitable for small hands using any grip type.
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Can't adjust CPI settings as precisely as most high-end gaming mice.
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Bulky; not designed to fit in laptop bags or cases.
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Feels well-built.
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Bulky; not designed to fit in laptop bags or cases.
- Work
- Video Games (FPS)
- Video Games (MMO)
- Raw Performance
- Updated Jan 05, 2024: We've updated the CPI graph displayed in the Sensor Latency section of this review. Our results remain the same, but these graphs have two new columns with results from the Delay At Half Movement and Delay To End Of Movement tests.
- Updated Dec 01, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5. This update adds a new Main Button test group, which provides button actuation data and switch information. We've also made minor changes to how we calculate the Office usage score. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Mar 01, 2023: 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.
- Updated Sep 08, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 17, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here.
- Updated Aug 16, 2022: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 13, 2022: Review published.
- Updated May 04, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 27, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 25, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 19, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless we tested is black. There are no other color variants. You can see the label for our unit here.
Compared To Other Mice
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is a lightweight wireless gaming designed for multiple gaming genres. It's the wireless version of the SteelSeries Aerox 5 and shares the same shape as the similar but much heavier SteelSeries Rival 5. Unlike some of the most popular wireless multi-genre mice like the Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED or the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, this mouse is designed to be as lightweight as possible. Unfortunately, while it has a comparable number of buttons as these other mice, it's missing extra features such as ergonomic thumb or finger rests and a scroll wheel with a free-scrolling mode and L/R tilt inputs. The lack of these features makes this mouse somewhat less suitable for productivity use, but you may decide this is a worthwhile tradeoff if you're interested in this mouse exclusively for gaming.
For other recommendations, see our picks for the best lightweight mice, the best gaming mice, and the best wireless gaming mice.
The Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless are lightweight, wireless gaming mice. The Logitech is mainly intended for FPS gaming. It's lighter and feels sturdier, and you can adjust the CPI more precisely in a wider range. It also has better click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries is designed to handle a range of games. It has four additional programmable buttons and Bluetooth support.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless are similar wireless gaming mice from the same lineup, but they're shaped differently and designed for playing different games. The Aerox 3 Wireless has a symmetrical shape and is slightly lighter, making it better-suited for FPS gaming. On the other hand, the Aerox 5 Wireless has a right-handed shape and more buttons, making it better suited for a variety of gaming genres.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless (2022) and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless are similar wireless gaming mice from the same lineup, but they're designed for different gaming genres. The Aerox 3 Wireless (2022) is somewhat lighter, making it more suitable in its role as an FPS-focused option. On the other hand, the Aerox 5 Wireless has more programmable buttons and is designed to be versatile enough for multiple-gaming genres. It also feels sturdier overall and has marginally lower click latency.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the Logitech G502 HERO are multi-genre gaming mice with right-handed shapes. The SteelSeries connects wirelessly either with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth, and it's significantly lighter. On the other hand, the Logitech is a wired model with a thumb rest and three additional buttons. You can also set the CPI more precisely in a broader range, and its scroll wheel has L/R tilt inputs and a free-scrolling mode. Additionally, its software is compatible with Windows and macOS, while the SteelSeries software is only compatible with Windows.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are visually similar mice from the same lineup. The Aerox 9 is designed primarily for playing MMO games and has a full 12-button side panel. It also feels slightly sturdier, and its mouse wheel has L/R tilt inputs. On the other hand, the Aerox 5 is designed to handle multiple gaming genres and has a more versatile set of side buttons.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the SteelSeries Rival 5 are multi-genre gaming mice that share the same right-handed shape. The Aerox 5 Wireless connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth and has a body with honeycomb cutouts, making it lighter. It also has better-quality feet and somewhat lower click latency. On the other hand, the Rival 5 is a wired-only model. It has a solid plastic body and feels sturdier overall.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless is the wireless version of the SteelSeries Aerox 5. They're the exact same shape and perform very similarly, but they have minor differences in weight and weight distribution as the wireless version has an internal, rechargeable battery.
The Razer Viper Ultimate and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless are lightweight wireless gaming mice. The Razer has an ambidextrous shape and is designed mainly with FPS games in mind. It has a pair of side buttons on both sides, making it a great choice if you're right- or left-handed. It also has lower click latency and supports Bluetooth. On the other hand, the SteelSeries has a right-handed shape and is designed to be versatile enough for multiple game genres. It only has side buttons on the left side, but it has more programmable buttons overall, so it's a better choice for games with more complex controls like MOBAs and MMOs.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the SteelSeries Rival 650 are wireless gaming mice with very similar right-handed shapes designed to be versatile enough for a variety of game genres. The Aerox 5 Wireless has a honeycomb outer shell and is significantly lighter. It supports Bluetooth, and its sensor has a slightly wider CPI range. The feet are also of higher quality, and it has several more programmable buttons overall. On the other hand, the SteelSeries Rival 650 has a solid plastic shell, and it feels somewhat sturdier.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the GLORIOUS Model D are both lightweight gaming mice. The SteelSeries connects wirelessly via a USB receiver or Bluetooth and is designed for multiple gaming genres. It has three additional programmable buttons, and its software is compatible with Windows and macOS, while the GLORIOUS software is only compatible with Windows. On the other hand, the GLORIOUS is a wired-only model. It's mainly intended for FPS gaming and is somewhat lighter.
Test Results
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless has a matte black plastic body with diamond-shaped cutouts on the top and bottom that reduce the overall weight. It has a small SteelSeries logo on the left click and three RGB zones. One of the RGB zones is inside the mouse, visible through the body cutouts. The other two zones are in a strip that runs around the bottom edge of the mouse at the back. Overall, this mouse looks very similar in style to other mice in the SteelSeries Aerox lineup and is visually identical to the wired version of the SteelSeries Aerox 5.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless feels well-built. The body is very sturdy, and there are no rattling sounds when using the mouse normally. However, there's a very faint rattle when you shake the mouse aggressively. There are also some creaking sounds when you press down forcefully on the shell, but these minor issues aren't present when using the mouse normally. This mouse also has an IP54 rating, offering moderate protection against dust and spills. There's a fair amount of pre-and post-travel with the left- and right-click buttons. This issue has also been reported by users online. However, it isn't noticeable during use and doesn't affect the mouse's performance.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless has a right-handed shape that's identical to the wired version of this mouse, the SteelSeries Aerox 5, and the heavier multi-genre gaming mouse, the SteelSeries Rival 5.
SteelSeries advertises this mouse has a battery life of up to 80 hours using the USB receiver or up to 180 hours connected via Bluetooth. The RGB lighting will flash red when the battery life is at 5% or lower. Also, when you turn on or wake up your mouse from a sleep state, the RGB lighting will flash either red, yellow, or green to indicate the remaining battery level.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless includes a mesh charging cable. It's similar to the SteelSeries Aerox 3 (2022) cable and resembles a hybrid between a braided and paracord-like cable. Overall, the cable is good, but it's much closer in flexibility to a braided cable rather than a paracord-like.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless has superb rounded feet that glide very well on mousepads and desks. They make a slight scratching sound on both surfaces but don't create any noticeable drag.
- SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless
- Wireless USB receiver
- Wireless USB receiver extender
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- User documentation
You can program all of the buttons on the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless, including the up/down inputs of the scroll wheel. The top side button also has both up and down inputs. The left- and right-click buttons are also programmable and SteelSeries indicates they use Golden Micro switches rated for 80 million clicks.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless has very good click latency and provides a responsive-feeling experience in all game genres. That said, it isn't as low as some high-end gaming mice, so keep that in mind if you're primarily interested in competitive play.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless uses the proprietary TrueMove Air sensor, based on the Pixart PAW3335. The available polling rate options are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. You can set up to five CPI settings per user profile and cycle between them using the dedicated CPI button behind the scroll wheel.
The scroll wheel on the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless has a grippy rubber surface. Its steps feel smooth but well-defined, and it operates quietly.
The SteelSeries GG software has a modern, clean-looking interface. The software lets you remap buttons, program macros, configure battery settings, set custom RGB lighting, and adjust your CPI using precise sliders. You can also save most settings to the mouse's onboard memory and use them on computers without the software installed. Unfortunately, you can't save macros or custom RGB lighting settings to the onboard memory.