There are a lot of gaming mice on the market, but which one is the best for you? There are a lot of different types of gaming mice, and it can be hard to decide which one is the best for you. Here are some of the best gaming mice on the market today:
- Corsair M65 RGB Gaming Mouse This mouse is perfect for gamers who want an amazing experience while playing games. It has a RGB lighting system that lets you change how your mouse looks and feels, making it perfect for any game. It also has a great design that makes it easy to grip and move around. This mouse is also very affordable, making it a great option for anyone looking for an amazing gaming mouse.
- Razer DeathAdder Chroma Gaming Mouse This mouse is designed specifically for gamers who want the most advanced features and performance possible. It has an extra-large 16000 DPI sensor that allows you to play at high speeds with ease. It also has Razer’s own custom software that makes it easy to customize your mouse experience, making it one of the most user-friendly gaming mice on the market today. This mouse is also very affordable, making it a great option for anyone looking for an amazing gaming mouse without breaking the bank.
DPI, or dots per inch, is important to determine the range of speeds you can set your mouse to or how fast your cursor moves relative to your wrist. Think of it like how fast a car can go, except there are certain speeds that are far too ludicrous to matter in real-world use. Mice claiming high DPI settings aren’t bad, but only a niche set of gamers will use DPI settings above 2,000.
Response rate is important because it measures how fast your clicks and button presses are sent to your PC and your game. For most people, it’s a superfluous number. Almost all modern mice—gaming-specific and not—operate at high response rates. It’s a good thing to check for, but an acceptable response rate is basically a given with any mouse you’ll find today, and it’s certainly a given for all our recommendations below.
The features you really should pay attention to are the shape of the mouse, the available buttons it has and the customization of them, build quality, and battery life for wireless mice. All of the picks below include a lot of the basic requirements, or else they wouldn’t be some of the best.
But to find the perfect gaming mouse for you, you have to drill down. You want to think about how you’ll use this mouse, what games you primarily play, and whether or not a cord will bug you to determine which gaming mouse best suits you.
With that in mind, check out what we think are the best gaming mice.
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Best Gaming Mouse Overall: Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed
The Logitech G502 X Plus is a mouse that is unashamedly built for gaming. An incredibly responsive sensor, multiple customization options, RGB lighting, and hybrid optical/mechanical buttons all mark this out as a mouse ready to take on all comers. And as our in-depth review of the G502 X Plus shows, performance certainly lives up to the spec sheet.
✓ Responsive and accurate 25K DPI optical Sensor✓ 13 Programmable control buttons✓ Low-latency wireless connection✓ Compatible with POWERPLAY Charging mats
✗ Expensive compared to wired alternatives
This Logitech gaming mouse is fairly lightweight compared to some of the company’s other mice, but it’s still solid enough to feel stable when used. You can tweak with the removable weight slotted underneath, as well. It is also quite slim, even with the thumb rest on the side. That shouldn’t be an issue for most users, but worth considering if you have large hands.
The mouse features 13 programmable controls, letting you switch the scroll wheel from smooth to ratchet motion, change the DPI rate, or switch the control profile at the touch of a button. Combined with the excellent G Hub software, that allows for a high level of customization. The mouse buttons all use Logitech’s hybrid Lightforce switches, which blend the precision of optical switches with the tactile feedback of mechanical ones.
In addition, the aptly-named Hero Optical Sensor is extraordinary, allowing for the broadest range of DPI settings of almost any mouse we’ve seen. Adjustable from 100 to 25c600 DPI, it won’t matter if you’re playing a turn-based RPG or a fast-paced first-person shooter, you’ll be able to find a responsiveness level to match. The programable DPI button lets you switch between rates on the fly, so moving from gaming to productivity use is painless.
The only real problem with the G502 X Plus is the high price. It is, without a doubt, a great mouse, particularly for competitive gamers. But the $160 price tag is more than double that of its wired sibling. If you can live with wires and a lack of lights, the G502 X is a great alternative. But if you want a wireless, low-latency, responsive, RGB gaming mouse, the X Plus will be hard to beat.
Best Budget Gaming Mouse: Logitech G203 Lightsync
The Logitech G203 Lightsync is unparalleled when it comes to a budget mouse. It’s the mouse to get if you want something under $50 that performs as if you spent more. The Logitech G203 is a streamlined mouse that offers a medium-weight body, a solid range of DPI settings, RGB, programmable buttons, and onboard memory.
✓ Wide range of DPI settings✓ Very low price✓ Programmable buttons✓ Low latency inputs✓ RGB
✗ Limited amount of buttons✗ Wired
The biggest selling point of the Logitech G203 is a sensor that offers up to 8,000 DPI. While that high of a DPI is usually reserved for a niche type of gaming with a premium price tag, it means that should you ever need to crank the sensitivity up, the option is there. It also means the mouse is versatile for a variety of games, from FPS to MMOs.
This mouse also has low click latency, which should satisfy competitive shooter players. It might not seem like much, but having your click reactions register in a game as fast as possible can mean the difference between a win and a loss. This isn’t the sole selling point of the G203 for normal games, but it’s good to keep in mind if you have varied tastes in games or want a mouse for competitive play.
To have all these features in a mouse under $50 is almost unheard of, especially with one that shares internal hardware with much more expensive mice. All of that makes the Logitech G203 the mouse to get if you have a specific budget in mind.
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse: Razer Viper Ultimate
The Razer Viper Ultimate is the best wireless gaming mouse because it simply does its job flawlessly. Ideally, you want your gaming mouse to do everything but not drop clicks or inputs, especially when it comes to wireless ones that are often prone to poor battery life and connection quality. The Razer Viper Ultimate does it all without any fuss.
✓ Wide range of DPI settings✓ Low latency inputs✓ Solid battery life✓ Programmable buttons
✗ Extra cost for the USB dock
First things first, the Viper Ultimate is a solid, high-quality mouse. It’s a medium size that should work for most people and has a solid build that doesn’t feel cheap or loose. It might not seem like much, but for an item that you’ll use hours a day every day, it needs to feel sturdy and remain sturdy. Razer’s mouse also has a variety of buttons that you can customize using Razer’s software.
When it comes to battery life and wireless connectivity, the Viper Ultimate is top tier. You will only notice this mouse is wireless if you look down and don’t see the wire, the 70-hour battery life is that good. The mouse uses a dedicated USB receiver for wireless input like some other options on this list, ensuring that you won’t lose connection in the middle of a tense game.
We recommend getting the bundle that features a dock that will charge your mouse and give you information on its current battery life. It’s possible to get the Viper Ultimate without the dock, but if you want quick four-hour recharging, you should consider getting the full package.
Best Ultralight Gaming Mouse: Logitech G Pro X Superlight
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is a premium wireless gaming mouse that is incredibly lightweight. The mouse lacks RGB but makes up for that in its 63g weight, making this an ultralight mouse. Like Logitech’s other mice in their gaming line, it’s also solidly built and made for various uses.
✓ Extremely lightweight✓ Programmable buttons✓ Long battery life✓ Wide range of DPI settings
✗ Lack of buttons✗ No RGB or lighting✗ Micro USB charging cable
Unlike other ultralight mice that cut as much plastic as possible, the Pro X Superlight keeps room for a couple of extra programmable buttons. It also has a long battery life, despite its weight suggesting that there isn’t a big one installed.
The Superlight can last up to 70 hours, and it actually hits that frequently. A lot of the reason for this is that the mouse goes on standby while not in use and reactivates instantly when you move it, conserving battery charge in the process
If you’re someone that wants a mouse that glides like butter, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight is the way to go. It’s especially great for competitive games where quick reflexes are crucial. But even if you play casual games, Logitech’s mouse will more than deliver.
Best MMO Mouse: Logitech G600
MMO players have limited options when it comes to specialized MMO gaming mice, but thankfully, one of them is perfect for the job. The Logitech G600 is a top-tier mouse for people who need to press several buttons for an MMO and do it quickly. Its set of 12 keys on the side and two buttons tucked behind the mouse wheel make it an excellent choice for this specific use.
✓ Several programmable buttons✓ Wide range of DPI settings✓ Low latency inputs
✗ Stiff cable✗ Bulky size
The G600 is incredibly useful if you play multiple games that can utilize the numpad on the mouse’s side panel. Even if you don’t find a use for all the programmable buttons, you can stick to a few like you would on another mouse. Unlike other mice, The G600’s buttons won’t wear out or feel too recessed to hit mid-game. Logitech knows exactly what MMO players need.
Aside from the buttons, the Logitech G600 is simply a solid mouse. Its heavy, textured frame makes it feel sturdy to use—although FPS players might want to look elsewhere for a lighter mouse. It also has a good set of DPI options and is low-latency for inputs. Even though it’s called an MMO mouse, this device will handle almost anything you throw at it (even productivity tasks).
Those with small hands might find the Logitech G600’s large size a little cumbersome, but all of the extra buttons maximize the utility of the space. It also has a stiff cable that could interfere with precision movements, so toying with the sensitivity options will be key to dodging AOEs with ease. Thankfully, the mouse can go up to 8,200 DPI, so there’s plenty of room to find the right feel.
Best FPS Mouse: Razer Viper
First-person shooter (FPS) players want their mouse to be like an extension of their arm. Nothing matters more in a tense firefight than being able to whip your crosshair over an enemy and eliminate them. The best FPS mouse has to be lightweight, sturdy, and come with a strong set of DPI options to achieve that feel.
✓ Wide range of DPI options✓ Low latency inputs✓ Low lift-off distance
✗ Might be too light for some✗ Stiff cord
The Razer Viper is that mouse. Its ambidextrous design makes it useful for most gamers and packed with the features you need for competitive FPS play.
Primarily, it is extremely lightweight at just 69g. While not as light as our ultralight mouse recommendation, 69g is still lighter than a lot of other gaming mouse options. Essentially, this allows for you to swiftly track and flick to enemies in FPS games without trying to yank your mouse around like a dog on a leash. The Viper keeps up with you when a lot of other, heavier mice don’t.
Secondly, the Razer Viper has four customizable side buttons as well as incredibly low input latency. Your clicks will register almost instantly, perfect for getting the precise headshot.
A common worry with mice built for constant use like playing FPS games is that they will break over time. Razer is known for using durable optical switches that receive the downward pressure of your mouse clicks. These switches are in the Razer Viper, and they’re rated for a fast response time and won’t wear out for a long time.
The Razer Viper also allows you to crank up the DPI to 16,000 if you want. For most people using low DPI, though, the mouse also has a very low lift-off distance. This trait is important because it means when you lift your mouse off a surface to re-center it, your optical sensor won’t activate and the cursor will maintain its position.
Most mice handle this pretty well, but it’s especially important in shooters where everything happens quickly, so it takes very little lift to move the Viper back into position without messing up your aim.
The Razer Viper does everything you need in an FPS mouse and gets out of the way. If you need a fast, responsive mouse, this is it.