The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is a lightweight MMO/MOBA gaming mouse. Its body has diamond-shaped cutouts to reduce its overall weight, a dedicated CPI button behind the scroll wheel, and a 12-button side panel on the left. It has the same sensor and identical, right-handed shape as the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless, a multi-genre model with fewer side buttons but very similar performance. This mouse connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or Bluetooth and recharges with an included cable.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is a great mouse for office and multimedia work. You can reprogram any of the buttons to perform macros or a variety of productivity commands. It feels very sturdily built and has a comfortable, right-handed shape suitable for most hand sizes. It also connects wirelessly via a USB receiver or Bluetooth. Unfortunately, while its scroll wheel has L/R tilt buttons, it lacks a free-scrolling mode.
-
Feels very well-built.
-
You can program all buttons using the customization software.
-
Connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
-
Shape isn't suitable for small hands.
-
Scroll wheel lacks a free-scrolling mode.
-
Bulky; isn't designed to be slipped into laptop bags or cases.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is a very good mouse for FPS and Battle Royale games. It's lightweight compared to similar models with 12-button side panels, and the build quality feels excellent. Performance-wise, you can set your CPI precisely within a broad range, and the minimum lift-off distance is very low. Unfortunately, while the click latency is very good, it isn't as low as some similarly-priced options.
-
Feels very well-built.
-
Lightweight.
-
Very good click latency.
-
Connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
-
Shape isn't suitable for small hands.
-
Bulky; isn't designed to be slipped into laptop bags or cases.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is an excellent MMO gaming mouse. It has a full 12-button side panel, and you can reprogram all buttons using the customization software, which is compatible with Windows and macOS. The build quality feels excellent, and it has a comfortable, right-handed shape. Unfortunately, it isn't well-suited for small hands using any grip type.
-
Feels very well-built.
-
Very good click latency.
-
You can program all buttons using the customization software.
-
Connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
-
Shape isn't suitable for small hands.
-
Bulky; isn't designed to be slipped into laptop bags or cases.
-
Feels very well-built.
-
Connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth.
-
Bulky; isn't designed to be slipped into 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 Dec 21, 2022: We've added mention of the newly-reviewed Razer Naga V2 Pro in this review.
- 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 17, 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 9 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 9 Wireless is a lightweight, wireless gaming mouse designed for MOBA, MMO, and other complex games that need lots of button inputs. Unlike the Razer Naga Pro, the Corsair SCIMITAR RGB ELITE, and other MMO-focused gaming mice that have been popular in recent years, the overall design of this mouse emphasizes being as lightweight as possible.
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best MMO mice, the best gaming mice, and the best lightweight mice.
The Razer Naga Pro and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are both wireless MMO gaming mice. The Razer has two additional buttons, and you can adjust the CPI more precisely within a slightly wider range. It also has significantly lower click latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries is significantly lighter, and its software is compatible with Windows and macOS, while the Razer software is only compatible with Windows.
The Razer Naga V2 Pro and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are wireless mice designed primarily for MMO gaming. The Razer has significantly better overall gaming performance and has three hot-swappable side panels with different button configurations. It also has a customizable scroll wheel and substantially longer battery life than the SteelSeries. On the other hand, the SteelSeries has a honeycomb body design and is significantly more lightweight.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless and the Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed are wireless MMO gaming mice. The SteelSeries is significantly more lightweight and has a honeycomb body design. On the other hand, the Razer has a solid plastic shell and a few more programmable buttons. Its scroll wheel also has left- and right-tilt inputs and a free-scrolling mode. Unlike the SteelSeries, which has a rechargeable internal battery, the Razer uses AA batteries for power.
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 Corsair SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are both MMO gaming mice with 12-button side panels that perform similarly. The Corsair supports a higher native polling rate of 2000Hz and has a 12-button side panel that you can adjust back and forth. The SteelSeries is much lighter than the Corsair but has significantly higher click and sensor latency.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless and the Razer Naga Trinity are gaming mice designed for gaming genres that require lots of buttons, like MOBAs and MMOs. That said, there are several noteworthy differences between the two. The SteelSeries is significantly lighter and connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or Bluetooth. Its configuration software is also compatible with Windows and macOS, while the Razer software is only compatible with Windows. On the other hand, the Razer includes three modular side panels with different button configurations and is a wired-only model. It also has better click latency.
The Logitech G502 HERO and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are gaming mice designed for multi-genre or more complex games, with the SteelSeries specifically being more focused on MMO gaming. The Logitech is a wired-only model and is significantly heavier. It allows you to adjust the set CPI more precisely in a wider range. Its scroll wheel also has L/R tilt buttons and a free-scrolling mode. On the other hand, the SteelSeries connects wirelessly with a USB receiver or Bluetooth. It's significantly lighter and has six additional buttons.
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless (2022) and the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are wireless gaming mice part of the same lineup, but they're intended for different game genres. The Aerox 3 Wireless (2022) is lighter and designed for playing FPS games. On the other hand, the Aerox 9 Wireless has many more programmable buttons and is intended for MMO gaming. It also feels somewhat sturdier.
Test Results
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has a matte black plastic outer shell with diamond-shaped cutouts on the top, bottom, and on parts of the left- and right-click buttons. There's a SteelSeries logo on the left click button and three RGB zones. One RGB zone is located inside the mouse, visible through the cutouts. The other two RGB lighting zones are in a strip that wraps around the back of the mouse at the bottom. This mouse looks very similar to other mice in the SteelSeries Aerox lineup and is visually identical to the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless feels very well-built. The perforated plastic body feels very sturdy and exhibits very little flex. There's a small amount of side to side wobble in the left- and right-click buttons, but this isn't noticeable during normal use. Like with the SteeelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless, there's a very faint rattling noise if you shake the mouse very aggressively, but this isn't noticeable when using the mouse normally. Unlike the Aerox 5 Wireless, this mouse doesn't creak when the shell is squeezed aggressively. This mouse is also IP54-rated, which provides moderate protection against dust and spills.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has a right-handed shape identical to the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless and the SteelSeries Rival 5. If you have small or smaller medium-sized hands, you may not find the mouse comfortable as it's on the larger side. Overall, the button placement is good, and they're well-spaced to avoid accidental button presses.
SteelSeries advertises that the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has a battery life of up to 80 hours while connected with its USB receiver or up to 180 hours connected via Bluetooth. The RGB lighting will flash red when the battery life is 5% or less. Also, when you wake the mouse or turn it on, it will flash either red, yellow, or green to indicate the remaining battery life.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has a mesh charging cable. This cable resembles a hybrid between a braided and paracord-like cable. The cable feels high-quality, but it's much closer in flexibility to a braided cable rather than a paracord-like.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has superb, rounded feet that glide very smoothly on mousepads and desks. There's a faint scratching sound when moving on both surfaces, but there isn't any noticeable drag.
- SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless
- Wireless USB receiver
- Wireless USB receiver extender
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- User documentation
You can program all buttons on this mouse, including the up/down and left/right scroll inputs. SteelSeries advertises that the left- and right-click buttons use Golden Micro switches with a rating of 80 million clicks. If you're interested in an MMO-focused wireless mouse that has hot-swappable side panels with different button layouts, check out the Razer Naga V2 Pro.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless has impressive click latency. It feels snappy and responsive for gaming, but it isn't as low as some high-end gaming mice.
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless uses a proprietary TrueMove Air sensor, based on the PixArt PAW3335. The 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 has a grippy rubber surface, and its steps feel smooth but well-defined. It's also fairly quiet.
The SteelSeries GG software is modern-looking and easy to use. It lets you remap buttons, program macros, configure battery-saving modes, set custom RGB lighting schemes, and precisely adjust your CPI. This mouse also has onboard memory, but it doesn't let you save macros or custom RGB lighting settings.