Ahead of the latest Future 2 enlargement, Lightfall, SteelSeries launched a set of restricted model Lightfall-themed gaming gear. Although Lightfall fell flat for lots of longtime followers, SteelSeries’ gear doesn’t (correctly, apart from the mousepad, however it certainly’s good that’s flat).
SteelSeries launched a Future 2: Lightfall Model Arctis 7+ headset, Aerox 5 mouse and a QCK Prism XL mousepad. There are moreover Lightfall-themed KontrolFreek “effectivity thumbsticks” for console players, though I play on PC and didn’t check out these out. I did, nonetheless, take the Arctis 7+, Aerox 5 and QCK Prism for a check out drive in Lightfall and was pleasantly surprised by how lots I favored all three.
Oh, and sooner than I get into it, the Lightfall-themed SteelSeries gear comes with codes for an in-game emblem and emote; good little touches, though not worth a purchase order order on their very personal.
One different issue worth holding in ideas is that apart from the Lightfall colourways, each of the merchandise beneath is functionally the similar as a result of the non-Lightfall variations, nevertheless costs barely additional. I’ve included pricing and hyperlinks to the non-Lightfall variants beneath for people who similar to the devices nevertheless don’t care for the Future explicit editions.
QCK Prism lights up my desk
Let’s start points off with the QCK Prism XL mousepad. I’ve the least to say regarding the mousepad on account of, correctly, it’s a mousepad. It’s highly effective to get flawed. That talked about, I did truly acknowledge the design of the QCK Prism — the Lightfall theme and hues are good as a Future 2 fan, the light-up RGB edge is cool — notably as quickly as I came upon the best solution to sync it with the mouse colours using the SteelSeries software program program — and it feels good under my mouse when gaming.
To be trustworthy, the Prism mousepad doesn’t actually really feel significantly completely totally different from my outdated mousepad, a gargantuan Stitch Cloth mousepad from Glorious. My solely precise concern with the Prism was that it wasn’t as huge as a result of the Sew Material mousepad (which, admittedly, was far too huge for my desk). Nonetheless, the dimensions distinction didn’t truly hamper my mouse use in typical day-to-day use. When gaming, I typically grazed the very best fringe of the Prism mousepad, nevertheless usually, that merely meant I needed to control my place and sometimes obtained in the easiest way of gameplay.
Ultimately, I need the smaller mousepad measurement given that too-big Sitch Material mousepad hung over the once more of my desk. Nonetheless, the smaller measurement might not work for everyone. The QCK Prism XL clocks in at 900 x 300 x 4mm, and sadly, evidently’s the one measurement chance for the Lightfall Model. These not fascinated with getting the Lightfall-themed mousepad can have the benefit of greater sizes as a lot as 1600 x 800 x 4mm.
The QCK Prism XL Future 2: Lightfall Model costs $89.99 in Canada, whereas the widespread mannequin starts at $79.99 for the same measurement.
The Aerox 5 presents my Razer mouse a run for its money
I’ve examined pretty a few laptop computer mice over the past yr or two, most of which had been from Razer. Nonetheless, Razer may not have dominance over my mousepad going forward — the Aerox 5 offers up the entire choices I would like, may very well be very comfortable to utilize and offers a lightweight package deal deal no matter being wi-fi.
I’ve primarily solely used the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro and DeathAdder V3 Pro mice since August of 2022, the earlier with my desktop PC and the latter with my laptop computer pc whereas I’m working. I beloved the Basilisk for the way in which it felt in my hand and for the three side buttons, which I wish to make use of for activating my abilities when having fun with video video games like Future 2. Nonetheless, the burden of the DeathAdder made it my need for use when working since my wrist wouldn’t get as drained using all of it via the day (plus, by using two mice, I didn’t should maneuver the USB dongle spherical regularly).
The Aerox 5 comes very close to the Basilisk actually really feel for me, offers a very comparable construction for the thumb buttons on the side, however moreover weighs decrease than the Basilisk (112g), coming in close to the DeathAdder (64g) at 74g. I beforehand used some wired mice that had been lighter, nevertheless as I discussed in my DeathAdder review, I don’t ideas some extra weight for the consolation of wi-fi, as long as it isn’t overkill — the Basilisk truly pushed that greater prohibit for me.
From left to correct: Razer Basilisk V3 Skilled, Aerox 5, DeathAdder V3 Skilled
I moreover need the honeycomb design of the Aerox 5, which not solely appears to be cool however moreover helps preserve my palm from getting too sweaty throughout the midst of a heated gaming session.
The Aerox 5 boasts ‘AquaBarrier’ experience and an IP54 rating to protect it from water splashes, mud and dust. It sports activities actions a TrueMove Air precision optical sensor with “true 1-to-1 monitoring” and Golden Micro IP54 switches. The Aerox 5 offers 100-18,000 CPI and a 1,000Hz polling cost. I moreover uncover the scroll wheel is way additional tactile on the Aerox 5 than each of the Razer mice I used sooner than.
The Aerox 5 battery life is okay nevertheless nothing crazy. Per week of heavy gaming, along with having fun with by the use of the Lightfall advertising marketing campaign and working spherical Neomuna, drained the battery to about 45 %. You presumably can perhaps squeeze additional longevity out of it by disabling the lights, nevertheless as is, attempt to be advantageous as long as you keep on prime of charging up the battery.
Like totally different mice I’ve examined, the Aerox 5 comes with a USB-C to USB-A fabric cable and an adapter to connect the USB-C wi-fi dongle to the cable. This allows you to preserve the wi-fi dongle tucked out of the easiest way in your desk, nevertheless you presumably can nonetheless merely entry the cable to value your mouse when needed.
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Future 2:Lightfall Model costs $189.99 in Canada, the same price as the regular version.
The sound of Strand
Lastly, the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ headset sounds superb and should present to be a steady audio chance not just for PC players, nevertheless for console players too. In distinction to the gear above, the Arctis 7+ is designed to work wirelessly with PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and cell devices. It’ll work with the Xbox Sequence X and S too, nevertheless solely over a wired 3.5mm connection.
Except for the Lightfall-themed colourway, the actual model Arctis 7+ sports activities actions a selected Future 2 audio preset from Bungie. Nonetheless, coming from the Razer Kaira Pro headset, I truly don’t uncover a distinction in the case of recreation sound. For that matter, I’d say the audio prime quality is nearly on par between the Kaira Skilled and Arctis 7+ — every sound superb for video video games, music and podcasts.
Often, I found I hottest the Arctis 7+ to the Kaira Skilled headset for a few minor quality-of-life causes. First, the Arcits 7+ has barely greater earcups than the Kaira Skilled. They actually really feel additional comfortable since there’s additional area for my ears, nevertheless I had no factors sporting each headset for a marathon gaming session.
One different huge win for the Arctis 7+ over the Kaira Skilled is the retractable microphone. The Kaira Skilled mic will probably be eradicated whilst you don’t need it, nevertheless I hottest the retractable mic on the Arctis 7+ since I’d preserve it out of my technique nevertheless nonetheless have straightforward accessibility to it when needed.
Not all of the issues with the Arctis 7+ was greater, nonetheless. I’m not an unlimited fan of the ‘ski goggle’ headband and just like the Kaira Skilled’s adjustable headband that enables a additional precise match. (The Arctis 7+ headband was lots comfortable, though). I’m moreover not an unlimited fan of the Arctis 7+’s unbiased amount administration — on the Kaira Skilled, turning the quantity dial modified the Dwelling home windows amount, affecting my whole system, whereas the Arctis 7+ lets me flip up the headphone amount individually from the Dwelling home windows amount. Whereas I’m constructive a great deal of of us need that, it was a critical departure from how I’ve managed amount on my PC for years.
On the battery entrance, the Arctis 7+ boasts 30 hours, and a 15-minute value presents you three hours of playtime. In my testing, I didn’t have any factors with the battery life. For comparability, the Kaira Skilled battery lasts as a lot as 11 hours with HyperSense (which vibrates the earcups primarily based totally on the audio) and lighting enabled, or as a lot as 50 with every disabled. I typically used the Kaira Professionals with HyperSense and lighting enabled and sometimes wanted to value all through a gaming session as long as I remembered to plug throughout the headset as quickly as per week. Moreover, it’s worth noting I didn’t miss HyperSense as soon as I swapped over to the Arctis 7+ — frankly, I hardly seen it when using the Kaira Skilled.
These are all minor nitpicks, nonetheless, and I depend on the Arctis 7+ shall be my essential headset going forward.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Future 2: Lightfall Model costs $229.99 in Canada, whereas the regular Arctis 7+ costs $219.99.
