SteelSeries is more than a household name at this point. In fact, I’ve recently discovered just how far the gaming accessories and peripherals brand reaches in my own group of friends. Even those within my own circle that rarely game either use, or have at least heard of SteelSeries products. And it appears that the brand has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
SteelSeries recently launched its Prime Line of Peripherals, which takes into account feedback from some of the world’s leading competitive pro players, such as FaZe Clan’s Twistzz and Karrigan. “Victory” is the overarching theme behind the new line of mice and headsets, and based on my time spent testing out the handful of Prime products, I can say with confidence that SteelSeries has triumphed.
Related: AndaSeat Jungle Series Premium Gaming Chair Review: Welcome To The JungleWhereas SteelSeries’ Rival line of products caters more towards everyday gamers, the Prime collection has been developed with competitive players in mind. Inspired by rally car designs, “the Prime franchise introduces a lineup of lightweight, streamlined mice and a new Arctis headset that features only the best-in-class technology and innovation.” Performance is the primary focus of the Prime line of products, without any of the unnecessary pieces of flair that other devices might showcase. As tempting as RGB lighting and all the other bells and whistles can be, a reliable, high-performing mouse should ultimately be the most important thing when it comes to providing a good gameplay experience – something that all of the Prime peripherals do. (And don’t worry, there ARE still elements of RGB lighting on all of the devices.)
Let’s take a look at each individual peripheral to see which one might be the right solution for you.
SteelSeries Prime Precision Esports Gaming Mouse
The Prime Precision Esports Gaming Mouse may be the entry tier for the Prime series, but don’t be fooled – the foundational mouse packs plenty of punch. The mouse features Prestige OM switches that deliver over 100M “crispy clicks”, meaning you need not worry when spamming away on your mouse with clicks. A TrueMove Pro gaming sensor provides pinpoint accuracy, while pre-set polling rates and CPI profile settings allows you to customize the mouse to your style of play.
A super lightweight detachable mesh cable makes the Prime feel near-wireless, though I think the jury is still out on whether or not I prefer a detachable cable for a wired mouse. The mouse itself is 69g and features a textured matte design that provides plenty of grip in addition to comfort.
On that note, the Prime is a great option if you have average-sized hands. This can be a bit subjective, but as a person who is 6’2” and has above average-sized hands, I find the Prime to be a bit smaller than what I typically like. There’s no point in having a comfortable mouse if you ultimately end up with hand fatigue from it being too small.
The Prime is currently available for $59.99 on SteelSeries’ website.
SteelSeries Prime+ Precision Esports Gaming Mouse
The Prime+ features everything that the Prime mouse has, but does so at 71g and with a bit more precision. This is due to the mouse’s dedicated secondary depth sensor, which instantly detects lift-off.
I did my best to try and find the major differences between the Prime and the Prime+ while playing Apex Legends, but I just couldn’t tell that there was big enough of a difference between the two when it boiled down to actual gameplay. Both mice are sharp and accurate, but at least in terms of my personal playstyle, I couldn’t really feel the $20 difference.
The Prime+ is currently available for $79.99 on SteelSeries’ website.
SteelSeries Prime Wireless Precision Esports Gaming Mouse
I think I was most excited to try out the Prime Wireless mouse, since I’ve recently become very conscious about my cable management situation. I’ve never really considered wireless mouse technology to be where it needs to be when it comes to gaming, but the Prime Wireless has made me a believer.
Packing the TrueMove Air gaming sensor for esports-grade precision tracking and quantum 2.0 wireless with dual channel optimization, you’d really never know that the Prime Wireless is a traditional wireless mouse. At least, I never experienced any sort of lag or other delays while using it to play my usual first-person shooters.
This mouse comes in at 80g, but is still plenty lightweight enough to handle over 100 hours of 1000Hz gameplay – whether that be wirelessly or with the detachable mesh cable which, again, feels lighter than air.
I use the Prime Wireless on my gaming laptop as well as my Macbook for working, so whether you’re looking for a wireless mouse for work or play, the Prime Wireless should be a great purchase.
The Prime Wireless is currently available for $129.99 on SteelSeries’ website.
SteelSeries Arctis Prime High Fidelity Esports Headset
Finally, the Arctis Prime headset features audio drivers that deliver a clear and crisp sound so that you can hear every detail, from distant footsteps to being able to pinpoint an enemy’s location. The headset is tuned for maximum accuracy — and clarity across all frequencies — so nothing will get in your way as you hunt down your elusive foes.
The Discord-certified ClearCast microphone features a bidirectional design that provides studio-quality clarity while talking along with background noise cancellation.
Comfort wise, the Arctis Prime is pretty darn cozy. The earcups are incredibly comfortable, as is the elastic band that sits between your head and the primarily plastic strap, effectively pulling the earcups more snuggly onto your ears.
It’s really no wonder why the Arctis line of headphones is renowned as one of the best gaming headphones in the industry. I definitely feel like I have an advantage while playing first-person shooters thanks to being able to know exactly when an enemy is sneaking up behind or coming around a corner. It almost feels like cheating. If only I felt bad about it….
I’ll likely continue to stick with my other headset as my go-to solution. However, at its reasonable $100 price point, the Arctis Prime really can’t be beat if you're looking for an inexpensive and incredible set of headphones.
The Arctic Prime is currently available for $99.99 on SteelSeries’ website.
Product samples were provided to TheGamer for this review.
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