Shape

The Rival 100/110 has become one of SteelSeries' classic shapes over the years, and thankfully, barely any changes have been made for the Rival 3. The only difference is that instead of extending all the way to the front, the base of the Rival 3 tapers off towards the front, creating a slight overhang. Functionally, there is no difference. Aside from that, the Rival 3 is still an ambidextrous mouse with a relatively low overall profile. The hump is mostly centered (positioned slightly towards the back) and organically slopes down towards the front and the back without tapering off much across the width. The butt flares out significantly, giving the palm ample space to rest on. The sides moderately curve inward horizontally, but are mostly straight vertically. Overall, it's a tried and tested shape that handles well in practice.


One thing that deserves further scrutiny is the sensor positioning. In fact identical to the Rival 100/110, the sensor is positioned significantly below the thumb position. A comparatively low sitting sensor isn't inherently good or bad but rather a matter of preference and, accordingly, something that requires some getting used to. Coming from a mouse with a more centered sensor, the Rival 3 may be difficult to adjust to at first. Once the adjustment period is over, however, it should no longer be a concern.


As for grip styles, it's mostly suited for claw or fingertip grip. Palm grip works passably but is far from ideal. The Rival 3 is a medium-sized mouse and should thus fit most hand sizes. For reference, my hands are 19 cm long and 10 cm wide, and I found the Rival 3 very comfortable in claw grip.

Dimensions

This table includes the dimensions of the SteelSeries Rival 3 and several other ambidextrous mice. "Front height" denotes the distance between the base and the main buttons. Measurements with two decimals have been taken with a caliper, while those with one decimal have been taken with a ruler. For a full list of all measurements taken, please refer to this sheet compiled by an esteemed community member.


Here are some comparison shots with each of the measured mice:


SteelSeries Rival 100


SteelSeries Sensei Ten


Endgame Gear XM1


Cooler Master MM711