SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wired Gaming Mouse

Most ultralight mice drop buttons to save weight. The Aerox 5 goes the other way: it stays at 59 grams with its perforated shell but still has nine programmable buttons, including an up/down flick switch on the side. That makes it a rare fit for players who want quick aim in shooters plus a few extra binds for battle royales or MOBAs.

The holes do raise a fair question about dust and spills, and SteelSeries handles that with its AquaBarrier design, rated IP54 for splashes, dust and dirt. The Golden Micro switches carry the same rating, so a stray crumb isn’t going to take out a click. Tracking comes from the TrueMove Air optical sensor, developed with PixArt, and there’s three-zone RGB that glows through the shell.

The flick switch takes a little practice before it feels natural, and the honeycomb texture isn’t for everyone. Some people love the airy feel, others find the edges odd under their fingers. This is also the wired version, so you’ll want a decent cable setup. If you want something lighter than most mice with this many buttons, it’s a smart middle ground between a pure esports mouse and a heavy MMO mouse.