The SteelSeries Rival 300 Black 62351 is a wired, right-hand-only gaming mouse that has stayed in circulation since its 2015 release. This article works from the published specs and the actual Amazon review data (1,018 reviews, 3.9 out of 5 stars) to answer a harder question than "is it good" — namely, who should still buy it today, and who should not.
Overview
The short answer: the Rival 300 suits people who prioritize aim consistency and want nothing else bolted on. The optical sensor is zero-acceleration with a 6500 CPI ceiling, response time is 1 ms (roughly equivalent to a 1000 Hz polling rate), and the main switches are rated for 30 million clicks.
Six programmable buttons can be remapped through SteelSeries Engine.
What it is not: wireless, or light. This is a 2015 design, so against today's 50–70 g wireless mice it loses on weight and on cable drag.
What has kept it alive is the shape, the surface finish, and the plain reliability of a wired connection.
Compatibility Guide
Connection is wired USB only. No dongle, no Bluetooth — which means nothing to go wrong in RF-congested spaces such as a desk crowded with wireless peripherals, an esports venue, or a shared lab PC.
Any machine with a free USB-A port will run it; if your laptop only has USB-C, budget for an adapter before you order.
| Item | Spec | Where people get caught out |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | USB (wired) | USB-C-only laptops need an adapter |
| OS support | Windows / macOS / Linux | Plug-and-play; software needed to change settings |
| Software | SteelSeries Engine | Required to save remaps and CPI steps |
| Shape | Right-hand only | Not usable left-handed |
| Buttons | 6 programmable | Not an MMO-style side-button mouse |
Basic operation works without drivers on Windows, macOS, and Linux. SteelSeries Engine is only needed if you want to save button assignments and CPI stages.
One caveat worth flagging: because this is an older model, how fully current software versions support it can vary by environment. If you plan to build out a detailed config, check the official supported-device list first.
The real compatibility wall is not software but shape. The right-handed ergonomic contour was never designed to be held in the left hand.
Left-handed players should look at ambidextrous models instead.
Product Info
The spec sheet in brief: zero-acceleration optical sensor, 6500 CPI maximum, 1 ms response time, 30-million-click switch rating, six programmable buttons, wired USB. In the box you get the mouse, a manual, and a warranty card — no extra accessories.
The Japanese domestic version carries a one-year warranty.
On price, the figure recorded as of June 2026 was ¥5,081. At that level, a zero-acceleration 6500 CPI sensor plus 30-million-click switches is a sensible package.
But that price is a point-in-time capture and moves with sales and stock. This model in particular has been on sale long enough that authorized stock, parallel imports, used units, and third-party marketplace listings all coexist on the same pages.
The collected data for this article in fact included listings far above the typical street price as well as foreign-currency marketplace figures. If you see a price whose magnitude looks wrong for a mid-range wired mouse, treat it as a seller-specific listing rather than the real market rate, and check the product page for the current price and seller.
How to Read the Review Score
The Amazon listing shows 1,018 reviews averaging 3.9 out of 5 (78% positive).
That distribution is typical of a long-selling product: broad enough sample that early defects, wear over years, and confusion with parallel imports are all baked in. It looks weaker than a 4.5-star new release, but it is a more settled number than a niche product with fifty reviews.
What matters more than the average is where the complaints cluster. For wired mice generally, cable routing, changes in click feel over time, and coating wear are the recurring themes.
Reading ten one- and two-star reviews before buying and asking whether those complaints apply to how you actually use a mouse is the most reliable filter.
How It Compares
In the right-handed ergonomic category, the Razer DeathAdder Elite and the BenQ ZOWIE EC1-C are the direct comparisons. The DeathAdder Elite is the other classic right-hand shape and suits palm grip similarly.
The EC1-C uses an asymmetric design with a deliberately software-light philosophy — if you want everything configured on the device itself, that is the family to look at.
If light weight and wireless are your priorities, the comparison set changes entirely. Modern ultra-light wireless mice beat a wired ergonomic mouse on exactly those axes, so if reducing fatigue through weight is the goal, the Rival 300 is not the answer.
If instead you want one less variable in your latency chain and no battery to manage, being wired is a feature.
One note on CPI numbers: figures of 12800 or 26000 are common now, but usable sensitivity is set by game genre and display resolution, and most FPS players run somewhere around 800–1600 CPI. A 6500 CPI ceiling is not a practical limit for that use.
Do not rank mice by that number alone.
Best Use Cases
- FPS and TPS players — a zero-acceleration sensor keeps cursor travel consistent during fast flicks, which is what muscle-memory aiming depends on.
- Larger hands, palm or claw grip — the right-handed ergonomic shell is built around supporting the hand, not around minimum weight.
- Anyone avoiding wireless — congested RF environments, shared machines, tournaments, or simply not wanting to think about charging.
- Buyers around the ¥5,000 mark who want a safe pick — 30-million-click switches and 1,000-plus reviews make this a low-risk purchase at its price.
Before You Buy
Left-handed users should skip it outright. Held in the left hand, the thumb relief sits on the wrong side and the side buttons are unreachable.
Choose an ambidextrous model.
Do not buy this expecting a lightweight mouse. It is a 2015 ergonomic design, not a perforated ultra-light.
If your reason for shopping is wrist strain or low-sensitivity wide swipes, this does not meet the brief.
Six buttons is not an MMO layout. That count includes the two side buttons and CPI switching.
If you want twelve thumb buttons, you are in the wrong category.
Verify the price and the seller. Because the model has been around for years, listings mix authorized stock, parallel imports, and used units.
If the one-year domestic warranty is the reason you are buying, confirm the seller is an authorized retailer before ordering. Prices that look far too high — or too low — for a mid-range wired mouse are worth pausing over.
Listing metadata is sometimes wrong. Manufacturer and model-number fields on retail pages occasionally carry another product's data, so make your final call from the product images and title.
Check in particular that similar names — Rival 300, Rival 300S, Rival 310 — are not mixed into a single page.
Old stock is possible. Long-warehoused units may have cable memory or aged coating.
Test click action and scroll wheel as soon as it arrives, while the return window is open.
FAQ
Q. Is 6500 CPI enough? A.
For FPS use, comfortably. Most players run near 800–1600 CPI in practice, and the ceiling does not translate into competitive advantage.
Even for fast desktop navigation on a 4K display, 6500 CPI is not a constraint.
Q. Do I need the software? A.
No. It works as soon as you plug it in.
SteelSeries Engine is only needed for remapping buttons, setting CPI stages, and adjusting illumination.
Q. Does it work on Mac or Linux? A.
It functions as a standard wired USB mouse. Software support varies by OS and version, so check official compatibility if detailed customization matters to you.
Q. Is it too old to buy now? A.
Sensor performance and durability remain practical. But if weight, wireless, or very high polling rates are your priorities, a newer generation fits better.
The honest answer depends on what you are optimizing for.
Q. What does it cost? A.
¥5,081 was recorded as of June 2026. Prices move a great deal and vary widely by seller, so confirm the current price and the seller on the product page before buying.
Product Disclosure (Amazon)
- Manufacturer: SteelSeries
- ASIN: B0160USMW6
- Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.





