SteelSeries Rival 310 vs Sensei 310 – what are the differences between these two gaming mice and which of them is the best choice? Both of them have a similar design, USB connection, use of optical sensors and are manufactured by the same company. BUT they’re best suited for different users – Sensei 310 is ambidextrous and will favor left-handed users too, while Rival 310 is a right-handed mouse.
Read on to find out how these gaming mice compare in DPI, weight, connection, lighting, price, and sensor.
Rival 310 vs Sensei 310: Quick Comparison
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Rival 310
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Sensei 310
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SteelSeries Rival 310 vs Sensei 310: Differences
DPI
DPI (dots per inch) is a measure of how sensitive a mouse is. This means the higher the DPI, the better the movement it detects and reacts to.
High DPI values are not usually the best as they can be a nuisance when you want to carry out some actions while gaming. Both mice have DPI values of 100 to 12,000 so they are both equally sensitive.
Weight
The weight of your mouse allows you a certain level of maneuverability and speed. The Rival 310 weighs only 3.11oz against Sensei’s 3.2oz.
The difference is not marked but it exists and so if you want a lighter mouse you can easily move around, go for Rival 310.
Connection
Both mice are not wireless and use a USB cable. The length of both cables is the same at 78.74” and gives you enough space to make your desired movements unhindered.
Lighting
Both the Rival 310 and Sensei 310 make use of a full spectrum of 16.8 million colors in 2 RBG zones. This is essential in giving you the best user experience as you play your game.
Price
The cost of Sensei 310 is a bit more than that of Rival 310. So if you are on a budget, going for the Rival 310 will allow you save a few bucks.
Sensor
Both products make use of SteelSeries TrueMove 3 optical sensor and have all the features that come with it.
designed Only for Right handed Gamers or left handed as well?
Rival 310 is a gaming mouse for right-handed users only, while Sensei 310 is a gaming mouse for both rights and left-handed gamers.
Sensei 310 is the perfect choice if you are ambidextrous as you can change hands at will with great comfort. It’s also good to have if you share a game mouse with a left-handed user.
Rival 310 Review
Rival 310 weighs less but is a bit bigger in size.
Your thumb can rest on the subtle curve on the left side of the mouse, which makes it more comfortable for use by right-handed gamers.
The two side buttons are positioned slightly backward so that you can more easily hit the move forward button.
Rival 310 has an ergonomic shape that makes it best suited for right-handed palm and claws grip gamers. The rear end is large and helps the mouse stay more secure at the base of your palm. Its shape is comfortable, as is its size.
This mouse weighs only 3.11oz, making it easily maneuverable and faster. Despite its rear end being larger, the weight is evenly distributed with the center of the mass in the middle of the mouse.
Its textured plastic finish feels slightly gritty and helps you maintain your grip on the mouse as you game with it.
It’s fairly fingerprint resistant and doesn’t get slippery when your hands are sweaty and wet. It also has rubberized grips on both sides to help with stability.
The scroll wheel also has a rubberized finish with a notch cut into it. The dedicated DPI button can be found just behind the scroll wheel.
DPI can be set anywhere from 100 to 12,000, but you need to install SteelSeries’ Engine Software to have control over DPI and to customize the RGB lighting.
Rival 310 utilizes SteelSeries’ TrueMove 3 optical sensor and it’s located in the middle of the base, where the center of the mouse’ weight lies.
Pros
- Its shape is comfortable and ergonomic
- Makes use of TrueMove 3 optical sensor
- Weighs only 3.11oz
- Its rubber cable is soft and lightweight
Cons
- The scroll wheel could be made better
- The mouse buttons 1 and 2 has some slight pre-travel
SteelSeries Sensei 310 Review
It comes with 8 programmable buttons although you may only need to use 6 of them. The thumb buttons are compact but easy to differentiate and the silicon grip under each one helps with making your fingers stay comfortable and in the proper position.
The contours on the scroll wheel also prevent your finger from slipping.
The Sensei 310 just like the Rival 310 runs on SteelSeries Engine 3 software and this is one of the best programs for controlling gaming peripherals at the moment.
With the software, you can reprogram buttons, create individual game profiles, adjust DPI, control the RGB lighting and do a lot more.
Bear in mind that you only have two DPI options to choose from.
Left-handed players get little attention when it comes to mice and most ambidextrous mice are made in a way that it becomes uncomfortable for both right-handed and left-handed users.
That is not the case with Sensei 310 as it is very comfortable on either hand, and the double silicon grips add to this comfort.
It weighs only 2.2oz and has dimensions of 4.8 x 2.8 x 1.5” which makes it lightweight and a perfect fit for claw and palm grip users.
Pros
- Fully ambidextrous
- Good price
- Gives great performance
- Comes in an excellent design
Cons
- Allows only two DPI settings
FAQ
Is CPI The Same As DPI?
CPI and DPI have always been used interchangeably but do not mean the same thing.
CPI means count per inch and is a measure of the sensitivity of the mouse as it refers to the number of steps the mouse will report when it moves one inch.
DPI, on the other hand, means dots per inch and is used to describe the resolution of a digital print.
Is Lower DPI Better?
There are various actions while gaming that require different DPI’s. so it’s better to have a mouse whose DPI can be switched while gaming.
What Sensor Does The Rival 310 Use?
The Rival 310 makes use of TrueMove 3 optical sensor which is an upgrade to that of its predecessor. TrueMove 3 offers 12,000 CPI and 350 IPS.
Conclusion
SteelSeries Rival 310 vs Sensei 310: And the winner is…
And here you have it, an in-depth review and differences between the SteelSeries Rival 310 and Sensei 310.
Now you can easily make your choice of a gaming mouse knowing the specifications of each.
The differences between both are basically the design and dominant hand you use while gaming so you should absolutely go for the one that suits you best to enjoy better comfort and performance.