SteelSeries celebrates 25 years with Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 and new QcK Heavy mousepads

SteelSeries is kicking off its 25th anniversary with the new Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 mouse, which strays away from the “race to the bottom” regarding weight and instead focuses on a balance of performance and everyday durability.

The most significant leap from the original Aerox 3 to the Gen 2 is the jump to a 4000Hz polling rate. This higher frequency, combined with a 1.2ms click response time, ensures that communication between the mouse and the PC is significantly more granular than that of standard 1000Hz wireless peripherals. Under the hood, the TrueMove 26K optical sensor delivers 1-to-1 tracking accuracy, making it perfect for fast-paced games like Valorant or Counter-Strike 2.

One of the most impressive feats of the Aerox 3 Gen 2 is that it maintains a relatively light 68g chassis while offering features that many “extreme” ultralight mice sacrifice. The mouse launches in three distinct colourways: black, white, and magenta, all priced at £99.99/$109.99/€109.99.

No SteelSeries celebration would be complete without an update to the QcK series, a mousepad that has graced the desks of many gamers for over two decades. The QcK Heavy is receiving a colour palette refresh with white and magenta options. The QcK Heavy remains a staple thanks to its dense rubber base, which acts as a “buffer” for uneven desk surfaces, ensuring a consistent glide. The white and magenta Large (L) mousepads will retail for £34.99/$34.99/€39.99, while the massive XXL variants are priced at £39.99/$39.99/€49.99.

KitGuru says: While other brands are stripping away features and durability to hit 30g weights, SteelSeries is sticking to its guns with the Aerox 3 Gen 2. By offering 4K polling, water resistance, and a sub-£100 price point, they are making a strong case for an “all-rounder” high-end mouse.

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