SteelSeries have a mouse to meet every need and budget, from 15-button marvels for MMO gamers, to multifunction RGB-lit beauties. The Prime line of peripherals from SteelSeries is focused on precision and performance, designed with esports in mind.
I was struck by the design simplicity and poise of the Prime+ Precision Esports Gaming Mouse. When I cradled the mouse for the first time I felt the textured matte black finish create slight surface tension against my palm. Compared to my current slick mouse, which I have to hold on to tightly when my palm starts to sweat, the Prime+ needed no additional effort to keep up with its duties over longer sessions.
As I have small hands, I could comfortably use the palm-grip while gaming with this mouse. Gamers with bigger hands will likely need to utilise the claw or finger grip styles, which the Prime+ caters for with its thoughtful design. The Prime+ sat comfortably as the weight of my palm created grip during hectic competitive gameplay.
The Prime+ weighs in at an ultra-light 71 grams. It took some time to adjust to a mouse that is 50 grams lighter than the usual heavyweight I use. After an hour of rounds, I had corrected my overshooting as I adjusted to the reduced weight. Over longer gaming sessions I felt less fatigue in my right shoulder (usually my first body part to complain while gaming).
Repositioning the mouse felt almost effortless, supported by adjustable lift-off distance settings – .5mm-2mm. The rest of the tale of the tape for the Prime+:
125.3mm long, 42.4mm high and 67.9mm wide at the peak of the arch, and 23mm high and 59mm wide at the index finger rest position.
One exciting feature of the Prime+ is the mouse switch and spring. If you’re interested in what makes this mouse click check out the complete breakdown from Tino Soelberg (Chief Technology Officer for SteelSeries).
The Prestige OM Switch Spring is robust and utilises magnetic force to ensure consistency – with a switch rating of 100 million clicks. Paired with the Prestige OM Switch utilising infrared light, for unrivalled response times, it is clear this mouse is designed for esports performance and reliability.
What I can tell you from using this mouse for the last month is that the clicks feel incredibly clean and responsive. With the Prime+ I am in complete control when I line up my crosshairs on an opponent. I have no doubt that when I miss a headshot I only have my declining millennial reflexes to blame.
SteelSeries peripherals are a breeze to set up, and the Prime+ mouse is no exception. The SteelSeries GG device manager allows easy configuration of mouse sensitivity, acceleration/deceleration, angle snapping, polling rate, lift-off distance, actions for buttons, macros, OLED display options and illumination effects for the scroll wheel. There is a small OLED panel on the base, and onboard memory, allowing for straightforward customisation if moving between devices.
The SteelSeries Prime+ mouse is wired and comes with a 2.1 metre USB soft microfiber super mesh cable. I know this probably wouldn’t be a feature most reviewers would spend their word count on, but I need to express to you exactly how soft and flexible this cable is. It is out-of-this-world soft, and by far the best braided cable I have ever used with a PC peripheral.
There was no drag during gameplay and, despite mistreatment on my desktop, the durable braided cable resisted developing any lasting kinks. It’s bound to please any cable management connoisseur.
All of these design decisions have lead to a gaming experience that feels professional and seamless. From the clicks to the cord, the SteelSeries Prime+ Precision Esports and Gaming Mouse is a tactile delight – the complete package, delivering everything needed for a top-tier competitive gaming experience.
