TechRadar Verdict
For those looking for a premium quality gaming mouse that’s built specifically for MMO or MOBA gaming, the SteelSeries Aerox 9 is the best you can get in terms of build quality and performance.
Excellent performance
Premium build quality
Fantastic battery life
Not left-handed friendly
Expensive
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SteelSeries Aerox 9: One-minute review
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 is the company’s latest foray into creating a high-end gaming mouse that’s specifically designed for MMO and MOBA gaming. Themousegoes for $149 (around £128, AU$217), which is steep but reflects its premium design. It’s lightweight, well-built, and comes with gorgeous RGB lighting.
Unlike the SteelSeries Aerox 5, which features a multitude of buttons all over thewireless gaming mousethat can be mapped for various tasks, the Aerox 9 has six buttons scattered over the rest of the body and 12 numbered buttons on the left side. These buttons can each be mapped out for a unique command shortcut, instead of having to set those shortcuts on the UI itself, which makes for lightning-fast move executions.
Just like the 5, the SteelSeries Aerox 9 comes with software in order to customize the button layout. However, unlike the 5 or even the 3, when connecting the 9 to your PC or laptop, the software doesn’t automatically load up. You have to search for it first, which is both inconvenient and odd, to say the least.
In terms of specs, it’s what you would expect from a premiumgaming mouse: water- and dust-resistant, mechanical switches with over 80 million click durability, 18,000 CPI, 400 IPS, 40G acceleration, 1 to 1 tracking, tilt tracking, an incredibly long battery life, and either 2.4 GHz wireless or Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.
Even the glide skates are high quality and work well on most smooth surfaces that, coupled with the perforated body and thin PCB, supports even faster movements and reaction speeds. All of these are vital for when you’re in the heat of battle and need your commands and abilities to activate immediately.
SteelSeries Aerox 9: Price and availability
You can purchase the SteelSeries Aerox 9 now for $149 (£139, AU$159), which is steep for a gaming mouse. However, since you’re paying for a mouse that’s built from the ground up for optimized gaming, it’s more than worth its asking price.
SteelSeries is also good about making this mouse available globally, as you can purchase it in a wide variety of regions including the UK and Australia. Pricing is pretty fair among those regions as well.
SteelSeries Aerox 9: Design
The SteelSeries Aerox 9’s design is excellent, made to be as light, and easy to move as possible in order to enhance its speed. Just like the Aerox 5, it features a perforated body and an ultra-thin PCB, which cuts down on the weight. The glide skates offer smooth movements across most surfaces, whether wooden or metal, meaning that you won’t be worrying about the mouse getting caught up during a heated session.
There’s also the button placement, which is located in strategic spots based on where a gamer’s fingers and hands tend to rest. The six main buttons are designed to accommodate most grip types including claw, fingertip, or palm grips, while the 12 numbered ones are placed on the left side for easy reach with your thumb.
It can be a little tricky to adjust to using so many buttons at once, especially without looking at them, but eventually, it becomes second nature. The only main issue is that this is clearly a right-handed mouse so left-handed players, unless they can adapt, will find it extremely difficult to use this mouse.
SteelSeries Aerox 9: Features
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 comes with a USB Type-C dongle for the wireless connection, as well as a Type-C charging cord for fast charging. The cord also allows users to utilize the mouse in wired mode, which means you’ll never be without your mouse. There’s RGB lighting, which is great for fans of it, but we found that while you rest your hand on the mouse, it’s obscured.
The SteelSeries GG application allows you to fully customize your mouse buttons including the 12 on the left. However, it’s odd that unlike the Aerox 5, this mouse doesn’t automatically load up the software. Instead, you have to search for and open it yourself.
SteelSeries Aerox 9: Performance
With all these features, how well does the SteelSeries Aerox 9 perform? Spectacularly, we’re glad to report. All the design features like the ultra-light weight, glide skates, the build itself that allows for multiple gripe types (claw, fingertip, or palm grip), and of course, the button layout help deliver an excellent experience while playing any game, especially MMOs.
Like the other mice in the series, the Aerox 9 purports an 18,000 CPI with 1000Hz/1ms of polling, 400 IPS, 40G acceleration, 1 to 1 tracking, tilt tracking, and more. In other words, this mouse has some incredibly precise cursor control that can be customized even more with the software. Its battery life is also excellent so you can literally forget about charging it for days and then quickly charge it to full capacity within a few hours. Meanwhile, whether you choose between 2.4 GHz of wireless connectivity or Bluetooth 5.0, you’ll still get a lightning-fast connection, although the wireless one is preferable as it’s far faster than Bluetooth.
Being able to assign abilities or spells to the 12 buttons on the side of the mouse’s body allows for instant execution of so many of them beyond even the other buttons. All 12 buttons utilize high-quality mechanical switches, meaning they have near-instant reaction times and a long shelf life, ideal for those who need a long-lasting mouse for their hardcore gaming sessions.
Should I buy the SteelSeries Aerox 9?
Buy it if…
You need a specialty gaming mouse for MMO/MOBAThe SteelSeries Aerox 9 is meant for those who want a dedicated mouse for either MMOs or MOBA games, as its features are built around that genre.
You’re looking for a premium build and performanceThis mouse is both premium in its build quality and in how well it performs, a reflection of the care that SteelSeries took in creating it.
You want customization optionsThanks to the SteelSeries GG application, you can completely customize the mouse, from its polling rates, DPI, angle snapping to its acceleration, deceleration and other options.
Don’t buy it if…
You’re on a budgetThis is not a cheap product, as it’s built from the ground up to be the ultimate gaming mouse, so if you need something inexpensive then look elsewhere.
You’re not a fan of RBG lightingWhile there are many fans of RBG lighting, for plenty of people it can be distracting or make the mouse more difficult to use due to the bright and flashing lights.
Also consider
Razer Deathadder V3 ProThis is one of the best gaming mice, period. While it’s expensive it’s more than worth the price of admission, with its light and sleek design, near-perfect performance, and long battery life.
Check out our fullRazer Deathadder V3 Pro review
Roccat Burst Pro AirLike the Aerox 5, this mouse features great performance and gorgeous RBG lighting. It also sports an accurate sensor and optical switches, though the PTFE sliding pads don’t work well on some surfaces.
Check out our fullRoccat Burst Pro Air review
Razer Basilisk X HyperspeedWith excellent performance, a long-lasting battery life, and like the SteelSeries Aerox 5 features two connection methods. The only downsides are no wired options and no DPI indicator.
Check out our fullRazer Basilisk X Hyperspeed review
SteelSeries Aerox 9: Report card
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Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.
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