Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style
    2. Shape
    3. Portability
    4. Build Quality
    5. Weight
    6. Comfort Of Use
    7. Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    8. Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    9. Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
    10. Wireless Versatility
    11. Cable
    12. Mouse Feet
    13. In The Box
  5. Control
    1. Buttons
    2. Click Latency
    3. CPI
    4. Sensor Specifications
    5. Mouse Wheel
    6. Noise
  6. Operating System And Software
    1. Compatible Software Option
    2. Mouse Compatibility
  7. Comments

SteelSeries Aerox 3 vs SteelSeries Aerox 5

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Aerox 3
SteelSeries Aerox 5

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 29, 2023 03:09 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Dec 06, 2022 05:14 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Picture

Variants

  • Aerox 3 (Black)
  • Aerox 5 (Black)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Aerox 3

SteelSeries Aerox 5

The SteelSeries Aerox 3 and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 are similar lightweight gaming mice that have identical click latency, but they're intended for different gaming genres. The Aerox 5 is a multi-genre mouse that feels better built, and its feet and cable are of higher quality. Also, it has a better sensor with a much lower lift-off distance, and it has more side buttons. On the other hand, the Aerox 3 is a lightweight, symmetrical mouse designed specifically for FPS games. Also, it's better suited for smaller hands. 

0

Check Price

Black
Aerox 3
B&H
Black
Aerox 5
B&H

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our mice test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Office/Multimedia 

6.9
7.1

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Type 
 

Standard
Standard

Style Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Style Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Style Picture

Lighting Color  

RGB
RGB

Show text

Shape  

3D Model  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 3D Model
SteelSeries Aerox 5 3D Model

Length  

4.7" (120 mm)
5.1" (129 mm)

Height  

1.5" (38 mm)
1.7" (42 mm)

Width  

2.6" (67 mm)
2.7" (68 mm)

Grip Width 
 

60 mm
62 mm

Portability 
 

5.7
5.4

Portability picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Portability picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Portability picture

Volume 
 

18.73 in³ (307 cm³)
22.64 in³ (371 cm³)

Cable/Receiver Storing 
 

No
No

Show text

Build Quality 
 

7.5
8.0

Build quality picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Build quality picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Build quality picture

Show text

Weight 
 

7.1
8.7

Minimum Weight Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 5 Minimum Weight Picture

Lowest Weight 
 

61 g
65.4 g

Default Weight 
 

85 g
65.4 g

Weight Distribution 
 

Centered
Centered

Extra Weights 
 

No
No

Maximum Weight Without Wire 
 

61 g

Show text

Comfort Of Use 
 

8.0
8.0

Right-handed 
 

No
Yes

Left-handed 
 

No
No

Ambidextrous 
 

Yes
No

Coating 
 

Matte
Matte

Finger Rest 
 

No
No

Show text

Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation 
 

Palm Grip Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Palm Grip Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Palm Grip Picture

Small Hand 
 

Yes
No

Medium Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

Large Hand 
 

No
Yes

X.Large Hand 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation 
 

Claw Grip Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Claw Grip Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Claw Grip Picture

Small Hand 
 

Yes
No

Medium Hand 
 

Yes
No

Large Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

X.Large Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation  
 

Fingertip Grip Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Fingertip Grip Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Fingertip Grip Picture

Small Hand  
 

No
No

Medium Hand 
 

Yes
No

Large Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

X.Large Hand  
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries

Use When Charging 
 

No
No

On/Off Activation 
 

None
None

Receiver Extender 
 

No
No

Battery Indicator  

No
No

Show text

Cable 
 

7.0
7.5

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Cable Video  

Cable Length  

6.2 ft (1.9 m)
6.9 ft (2.1 m)

Cable Type 
 

Braided
Braided

Permanent Kink 
 

Yes
Yes

Port Type: Mouse End 
 

USB-C
USB-C

Port Type: PC End 
 

USB
USB

Show text

Mouse Feet 
 

8.5
9.0

Mouse Feet picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Mouse Feet picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Mouse Feet picture

Gliding Experience 
 

Very Good
Good

Material 
 

PTFE
Virgin Grade PTFE

Extra Included 
 

No
No

Show text

In The Box 
 

In the box picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 In the box picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 In the box picture

Show text

Control

Buttons 
 

7.4
8.2

Buttons Picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Buttons Picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Buttons Picture

Buttons Activation 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Total Number Of Buttons 
 

6
9

Number Of Side Buttons 
 

2
5

Number Of Programmable Inputs  
 

8
11

Profile Switching Button 
 

Yes
Yes

CPI (DPI) Switching Button 
 

Yes
Yes

Gesture Support 
 

No
No

Show text

Click Latency 
 

8.3
7.8

Latency Testing While Gaming  

Latency Data  

See details on graph tool

Expected Connection 
 

8.6 ms

Wired 
 

12 ms
8.6 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

CPI 
 

8.9

CPI Video  

CPI Graph  

See details on graph tool

SRAV Close-Up  

SteelSeries Aerox 5 SRAV Close-Up

SRAV @ 1600 CPI 
 

-0.14%

SRAV @ 800 CPI 
 

-0.38%

SRAV @ 400 CPI 
 

0.08%

SRAV @ Fixed CPI 
 

N/A

Precision Error Between Speeds 
 

0.24%

Precision Error Between CPI 
 

2.59%

Worst Tracking Error 
 

7.25%

Minimum CPI 
 

200 CPI
100 CPI

Maximum CPI 
 

8,500 CPI
18,000 CPI

CPI Adjustment Steps 
 

100 CPI
100 CPI

Sensor Specifications 
 

Sensor Technology 
 

Optical (LED)
Optical (LED)

Sensor Model 
 

TrueMove Core
TrueMove Air

Works On Glass 
 

No
No

Minimum CPI (DPI) 
 

200 CPI
100 CPI

Maximum CPI (DPI) 
 

8,500 CPI
18,000 CPI

CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps 
 

100 CPI
100 CPI

CPI (DPI) Variation 
 

-4%

Minimum Lift Off Distance 
 

3.6 mm
1.2 mm

Maximum Polling Rate 
 

1000 Hz
1000 Hz

Show text

Mouse Wheel 
 

Mouse wheel picture  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Mouse wheel picture
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Mouse wheel picture

Scroll Wheel 
 

Notched Wheel
Notched Wheel

Scroll Wheel Steps 
 

24 Steps
24 Steps

Scroll Wheel Tilt 
 

No
No

Thumb Wheel 
 

No
No

Thumb Wheel Steps 
 

No Thumb Wheel
No Thumb Wheel

Show text

Noise  

Noise Video  

Click Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet

Show text

Operating System And Software

Compatible Software Option 
 

10
10

Software settings screenshot  

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Software settings screenshot
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Software settings screenshot

Software Name  

SteelSeries Engine 3
SteelSeries GG

Software Windows Compatibility 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatibility 
 

Yes
Yes

Account Needed 
 

No
No

On-Board Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

CPI (DPI) Adjustment  
 

Yes
Yes

Polling Rate Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Profile Configuration 
 

Yes
Yes

RGB On/Off 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Mouse Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows Compatibility  

Fully
Fully

macOS Compatibility  

Fully
Fully

Show text

Check Price

Black
Aerox 3
B&H
Black
Aerox 5
B&H

SteelSeries Aerox 3

SteelSeries Aerox 5

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Aerox 3 vs SteelSeries Aerox 5: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones