Which has several buttons all around the wireless gaming mouse that may be mapped for different functions. Instead of needing to specify those shortcuts on the UI itself, these buttons can each be configured for a different command shortcut, allowing for incredibly quick move execution. The SteelSeries Aerox 9 has software that allows you to change the button arrangement, just as the 5. The programmed does not launch automatically when you connect the 9 to your gaming PC or laptop, unlike the 5 or even the 3. It’s awkward and uncomfortable to say the least that you have to look for it first.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Design
A honeycomb-mesh coating that almost completely covers the mouse is the key to its lightweight construction. This design not only reduces weight but also gives the Aerox 9 Wireless a futuristic appearance and offers a fantastic bird’s-eye perspective of the bright RGB lighting within. If you hold the Aerox 9 Wireless with your palm or fingers, it is also incredibly pleasant. This mouse probably isn’t for you if you prefer to play with your claw grip because its punctured top can feel uncomfortable against your fingertips.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Comfort
This surface texture also provided a bit of extra grip along the major click buttons, unlike many gaming mice that use this design to save weight, but without the roughness of a scuffed surface. The length and the fact that the honeycomb texture extends just above the mouse body will make it difficult to maintain comfort for those who grip the mouse with their fingertips. Now, let’s talk about the buttons, which are what really distinguish the SteelSeries Aerox 9. Although it’s great to see a 12-button array on a mouse made with weight in mind, some of them are inaccessible due to their placement. Interestingly, I experienced the same annoyance with the paddle and sniper options on the Aerox 5. In all situations, it just takes too much actuation force to consistently press these buttons in a high pressure setting.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Connectivity
To be clear, the mouse’s Bluetooth connectivity, not its 2.4GHz dongle, is required to use the 180-hour playtime claim SteelSeries makes in the marketing materials for the Aerox 9 Wireless. This indicates that, in comparison to more conventional 2.4GHz gaming mouse connections, you will be susceptible to the additional delay that Bluetooth connectivity imposes. Players of fairly casual MMOs might find this acceptable. However, for more dedicated MMO and MOBA players, the additional fraction of a second of input delay is probably intolerable. But for those of us who routinely dock a laptop at our desks or use a single mouse for both gaming and travelling, the ability to connect to a second device through Bluetooth is a welcome bonus.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Battery life
The dual connectivity of the Aerox 9 offers both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless choices. I discovered this functionality to be quite helpful for switching between laptops as a laptop reviewer. I could use Bluetooth to write a review on one computer while keeping the dongle placed in another for play. To connect the Wi-Fi dongle, you will need to make sure your laptop has a USB-C connector. The SteelSeries Aerox 9 has a 150-hour battery life rating, which is a respectable amount of time and won’t require you to plug it in immediately after every game. The catch is that battery life is at its best while RGB lighting is off, so you should expect it to run out much more quickly when lighting is turned on.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Performance
Given the additional functionality provided by its extra buttons, MMO and MOBA mouse often don’t need to have as high DPI levels, but SteelSeries didn’t skimp on the sensitivity of the Aerox 9 Wireless. The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is a quick mouse thanks to its internal TrueMove Air sensor, which generates 18,000 DPI. This was confirmed during testing when I fired up Planetside 2 for the first time in a while and made the most of that sensitivity to try to assassinate foes as effectively as I could. Given how many commands I had access to with that keypad, the extra buttons on it also came in handy during a few Dota 2 matches. Even when playing several first-person shooter games, the Aerox 9 Wireless performed admirably, especially considering how swift and reliable the wireless connection is.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review: Final words
It is difficult to suggest the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless as a mouse. While other features work perfectly well in a simple, inexpensive mouse like the Aerox 5, its most distinguishing characteristics work against it. The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is a much better all-around wireless gaming mouse, and the Naga Pro is a significantly better wireless MMO mouse at the same price. If you like honeycomb mice and MMOs and want to buy a mouse from the best manufacturer, I would tentatively suggest the Aerox 9 Wireless. As far as I know, this is the only mouse that meets that particular requirement.
