STEELSERIES AEROX 9 WIRELESS REVIEW FOR PC.
Now this is an interesting mouse! The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is an MMO/MOBA mouse that combines the must-have multitude of side buttons with an on-trend wireless lightweight design. It’s a surprise to see SteelSeries taking up the mantle as champion of the MMO genre for modern times, but that’s what has happened. This is the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless review.
Similar but different
The Aerox 9 Wireless shares a lot in common with the Aerox 5 Wireless that I reviewed previously. It has the same TrueMove Air sensor, IP 54 rating against dust water and dust, dual wireless connectivity with 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, 100% Pure PTFE feet, and Golden Micro switches.
Buy the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless on Amazon
There’s also the shared claimed battery life of 180 hours, but this is when the mouse is in the lower powered, but higher latency, Bluetooth mode that is only really suitable for non-gaming tasks. In my use, I charged the Aerox 9 after four and half days of heavy play.
Weighing things up
Where the Aerox 9 Wireless starts to differ is with weight. It is 89 grams, which might sound a little heavy for a modern-day mouse, but it’s actually impressively lightweight for a wireless mouse with so many buttons. It even gives the 85 grams of the Razer Naga X a run for its money and that’s wired.
It’s worth noting that there isn’t a wired version of the Aerox 9. Wireless is the only option available, which is a shame as it might have helped those on a tighter budget enjoy everything this product offers.
12 buttons’ worth of possibilities
When you’re buying the Aerox 9 Wireless, you’re buying it primarily for those 12 side buttons. These combine with the other mouse buttons to make 18 in total. As you might imagine, this means there is a lot of potential for customization. To set up the mouse in your preferred layout, SteelSeries’ updated GG software is needed.
As I found when reviewing the Aerox 5 Wireless, GG works well enough and looks good doing it. With the Aerox 9 Wireless, the experience is much the same, only there are a lot more buttons to assign functions or macros to!
Not just for MMO/MOBA players
While MMO/MOBA players are the target audience here, as they can bind an assortment of abilities to different buttons, the large number of buttons can also be well-utilized by FPS players looking to map various types of Pings, emotes, mute game audio, or other useful actions. They are also fantastic for photo and video editing, as you can map all kinds of tools to each different button.
The Aerox 9 Wireless’ side buttons are great, once you get used to them. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take me well over a week to really get the layout down. Knowledge of what 12 buttons do, each with their own different function (or even multiple functions per key if using profiles), is tricky to recall, especially in the heat of battle. When using the keys for editing video and photos, it’s a little less intense as you can pause and think for a moment. However, it’s important for newcomers to these types of mice to know that it is likely to be a challenge at the start and you really must stick with it.
For those already familiar with many-buttoned mice, then the SteelSeries should feel very familiar. The company has done a good job considering what diehard MMO/MOBA fans would be looking for in the design of this mouse, while also implementing many of the features that make the Aerox 5 Wireless so great.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless Review: The final verdict
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Aerox 9 Wireless is pricey. With an RRP of $149.99, this is one expensive mouse. However, while the Aerox 5 Wireless didn’t have much to show for its high price tag, the A9W is a little easier to justify. The good news is that at the time of writing, it’s available on Amazon for $110!
If you want it bad enough, or can grab it on sale, the Aerox 9 Wireless is a brilliant addition to the lineup, made for players of genres that have largely gone ignored by other peripheral makers. Even if you’re not into MMO/MOBAs, like me, there’s plenty of utility here, especially for those who spend their workdays deep in Adobe software editing video and/or photos.
Aerox 9 Wireless review unit was provided by SteelSeries.
