No gaming mouse will magically cease you from getting wrecked in Counter-Strike or Name of Responsibility, however a very good one can provide you a higher sense of management whereas making your playtime extra comfy. Which one is “finest” will all the time be subjective: Form is king, because the adage goes, and everybody’s arms are totally different. That stated, we’ve examined dozens of well-reviewed gaming mice over the previous a number of months to seek out those that stood out probably the most. After enjoying by numerous classes of CS2, Overwatch 2, Ultimate Fantasy XIV and extra PC video games, listed below are our picks for the perfect gaming mice you should buy, together with some normal procuring recommendation to remember earlier than you pull the set off.
The perfect gaming mouse
Connectivity: Wi-fi, wired (USB-C) | Form: Symmetrical | Weight: 54 grams | Dimensions: 5 x 2.51 x 1.57 inches | Sensor: Razer Focus Professional 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2 | Switches: Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 | Most polling charge: 8,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 6 | Battery life (rated): As much as 95 hours at 1,000Hz
If cash isn’t any object, the perfect gaming mouse with a symmetrical design that we’ve examined is the Razer Viper V3 Professional. It prices a hefty $160, but it surely’ll provide you with little to complain about when you play a ton of aggressive PC video games and may abdomen the worth.
With its frivolously grooved sides, noticeable however not aggressive hump and delicate flare-outs towards the again, the Viper V3 Professional’s form must be comfy for a variety of hand sizes and grip sorts. It’s a bit on the broader facet, and it most likely works finest with a claw or fingertip grip, but it surely’s not so quick or flat that it may well’t accommodate palm grippers. The principle mouse buttons are contoured in a means that offers your fingers a pure resting place, and there are little ledges on both facet to subtly nudge them to the suitable spot whenever you’re scrambling in-game. Put one other means, this is likely one of the safer shapes we’ve examined.
The Viper’s construct high quality is great. It’s impressively gentle at 54 grams, which makes it a breeze to flick round in fast-paced video games, but its matte plastic body isn’t lined in dust-inviting holes like many different choices across the identical weight. We’ve seen zero hints of creaking, flexing or rattling after months of testing. The end picks up some finger smudges however is grippy and delightfully delicate to the contact. The principle click on buttons use sturdy optical switches however aren’t particularly loud. Although they aren’t fairly as full or crisp as the best possible mechanical switches, they’re nonetheless snappy to press, neither too agency nor too gentle. The 2 programmable facet buttons are well-sized and simple to achieve. The scroll wheel, in the meantime, is tight and quiet, with clearly outlined steps and a textured end.
Efficiency, as is the case with many high-end gaming mice as of late, is successfully flawless. Razer’s Focus Professional 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2 — say that 5 instances quick — is mainly overkill from a technological perspective however makes the mouse exceptionally correct and constant all the identical. It’s aided by amply-sized, smooth-gliding PTFE ft and a rock-solid connection to an included “HyperPolling” dongle. The latter lets the mouse attain a most polling charge of 8,000Hz, however as famous beneath, few individuals will truly seen any profit from leaping that top. Principally, it’ll simply zap battery life: Razer says the Viper V3 Professional can stand up to 95 hours at 1,000Hz, which is okay for this market and roughly in step with our expertise, however that drops to only 17 hours at 8,000Hz.
If the worth didn’t make it apparent, the Viper V3 Professional is for gaming lovers. As such, it provides up among the perks you’d discover on extra mainstream mice: There’s no RGB lighting or Bluetooth, whereas the facility button/DPI switcher is situated on the underside of the machine to make it more durable to hit accidentally. For the reason that machine makes use of a particular dongle as an alternative of a standard receiver, it nonetheless requires you run a separate USB-C cable out of your PC or gaming laptop computer. You possibly can join over that cable when the battery is low, fortunately, but it surely’s comparatively thick. And whereas Razer’s Synapse software program makes it easy sufficient to regulate settings, it’s one thing of a useful resource hog. It’s additionally Home windows-only. These are all nitpicks, although. The Viper V3 Professional is excellent, and it ought to really feel proper at residence within the arms of dedicated FPS gamers.
- Distinctive efficiency
- Excellent construct high quality
- Comfy for many grip sorts and hand sizes
- Costly
- Little bit of a fingerprint magnet
- Thick charging cable
Connectivity: Wi-fi, wired (USB-C) | Form: Proper-handed | Weight: 63 grams | Dimensions: 5 x 2.67 x 1.73 inches | Sensor: Razer Focus Professional 30K Optical Sensor | Switches: Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 | Most polling charge: 8,000Hz (“basic base” mannequin requires non-compulsory dongle) | Programmable buttons: 6 | Battery life (rated): As much as 90 hours at 1,000Hz
In order for you a premium gaming mouse with a extra ergonomic form, get the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional. It packs many of the identical strengths because the Viper V3 Professional however has a taller, barely wider and extra dramatically flared design that’s tailor-made to right-handed customers. Most individuals with medium to giant arms ought to discover it to be a pure match with a palm or claw grip, although it’ll most likely be a contact too fats for smaller-handed people and fingertip grippers. This type of form isn’t as straightforward to whip round because the Viper, however its excessive, sideways-sloping hump ought to present a extra enjoyable place to relaxation your hand over the course of the day.
Razer sells two variants of the DeathAdder V3 Professional: one with an identical soft-touch end because the Viper V3 Professional, and one with a extra textured matte plastic coating. We examined the latter; it’s not as grippy or {smooth} to the contact, but it surely’s nonetheless good, and it’s a lot much less of a fingerprint magnet. Additionally, the facet buttons are larger, nearer collectively and a smidge much less tight, however they’re nonetheless tough to hit accidentally. The design is heavier at 63 grams, too, however nonetheless severely light-weight. The PTFE ft are smaller however nonetheless glide reliably. And whereas the sensor is technically a technology older, efficiency is successfully flawless.
In any other case, you’re taking a look at an identical function set. The optical primary buttons are satisfying and constant however not overly delicate. The frivolously notched scroll wheel is delicate, quiet and resistant sufficient, if not agency. Battery life is rated at a good 90 hours, and you may join a lighter and extra versatile USB-C cable in a pinch. Each variations of the mouse additionally assist polling charges as much as 8,000Hz, although solely the SKU with the “smooth-touch” texture comes with a wi-fi dongle that permits these greater charges within the field. The textured “basic base” mannequin comes with a smaller USB receiver that “solely” goes as much as 1,000Hz, however because it’s typically accessible for much less at third-party retailers, it’s most likely a greater worth. On the whole, the largest knock towards the DeathAdder V3 Professional is that it’s costly, with the 8,000Hz mannequin priced at $160.
The newer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, which prices $99, is a “1B” decide right here. Though it’s positioned beneath the Professional in Razer’s lineup, it’s extra of a “DeathAdder V3 Professional Mini” than a transparent downgrade. It doesn’t hand over the rechargeable battery, cutout-free shell, optical switches and delicate (if smudge-heavy) coating of its larger sibling, and whereas its sensor is technically worse, it nonetheless performs splendidly. Its battery life ranking is definitely 10 hours greater at 1,000Hz, plus it has a built-in storage compartment for its USB receiver. The key distinction is that it’s lighter (55g) and extra compact, with a lower-profile scroll wheel and a touch shorter hump. In case your arms are on the smaller facet, it’s price grabbing as an alternative.
- Prime-shelf efficiency
- Light-weight
- Comfy for these with medium to giant arms
- Costly
- Naggy software program
- Not superb for smaller arms
Connectivity: Wired (USB-A) | Form: Proper-handed | Weight: 49 grams | Dimensions: 4.65 x 2.38 x 1.46 inches | Sensor: PixArt PAW3395 | Switches: Kailh GX | Most polling charge: 8,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 6 | Battery life (rated): N/A
Should you don’t thoughts connecting over a cable, our favourite wired gaming mouse with a symmetrical design is the Endgame Gear OP1 8K. It weighs simply 50 grams and has a easy design with flat sides and a reasonably-sized hump sloping down the again. It’s a bit smaller and extra slim than most mice we’ve examined, so it’ll be comfiest with a claw or fingertip grip, although a palm grip may also work in smaller arms. The entire thing is extremely sturdy, with no flex or rattle, whereas the sleek matte plastic coating provides a good bit of grip. The built-in cable is gentle, versatile and cleverly titled upwards on the base of the mouse, all of which helps scale back any dragging sensation as you throw your hand round.
The OP1 8K makes use of mechanical switches, however the mouse is designed in a means that makes them (comparatively) straightforward to swap out in a worst-case situation. On the whole, the machine’s openness to customization is commendable — there are readily uncovered screws on the underside and a screwdriver, non-compulsory facet grips and bigger PTFE ft within the field.
By default, the principle clicks are on the stiffer facet however quick to actuate and noticeably crisp. You possibly can truly set these switches to make use of a “velocity mode” that reduces click on latency even additional, however both means the buttons are straightforward to spam. The proper mouse button on our unit does sound a bit sharper than the left, however the distinction isn’t extreme and you may pop in quieter switches on a budget if you need a special noise profile. The notched scroll wheel and two facet buttons are well-tensioned, too. The latter really feel considerably hole, however they’re arduous to hit accidentally.
Sensor efficiency is predictably glorious; we noticed no accuracy or movement delay points throughout a variety of video games. With its gentle weight, quick clicks and {smooth} inventory skates, the whole lot about it feels tailored for snapping round in esports-style video games like Counter-Strike 2 that prioritize fast reactions. The mouse additionally helps polling charges as much as 8,000Hz — that’s nonetheless removed from important, but it surely’s a minimum of simpler to activate when there’s no battery drain to fret about. We additionally like Endgame Gear’s configuration software program, which seems to be like one thing out of the Home windows 95 period however is easy to grok and takes up subsequent to no assets.
At $75, the OP1 8K definitely isn’t the most affordable wired mouse, but it surely’s nonetheless a great way lower than wi-fi high-performance fashions. Essentially the most urgent problem could also be that it may well fall out of inventory every now and then, as Endgame Gear is a comparatively small firm out of Germany.
- Quick to click on and flick
- Sturdy, ultralight design
- Mild and versatile cable
- {Hardware} is customizable
- A bit small for big arms
- Facet buttons really feel considerably hole
- Occasional inventory points
Connectivity: Wired (USB-A) | Form: Proper-handed | Weight: 101 grams | Dimensions: 5.11 x 2.95 x 1.65 inches | Sensor: Razer Focus Professional 30K Optical Sensor | Switches: Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-2 | Most polling charge: 1,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 11 | Battery life (rated): N/A
It’s a number of years outdated, however the Razer Basilisk V3 stays our favourite wired gaming mouse with an ergonomic design. This one is extra aggressively contoured than “ergo” mice just like the DeathAdder V3 Professional, with a big rubberized thumb relaxation, lengthy primary buttons and a rounded, moderately-sized hump working down its center. It’s fantastically cozy for palm grippers with medium- to large-sized arms, but it surely’ll additionally play properly with claw grips. Those that favor a fingertip grip or simply have smaller arms will seemingly discover it too chunky, nevertheless.
The design as an entire feels sturdy; there’s some minor flexing on the bottom-right facet whenever you press down arduous, however you’d must exit of your strategy to discover it. The matte plastic end is pleasingly textured and sufficiently grippy. The cable is loads versatile, whereas the PTFE ft glide easily. We additionally dig the fun-but-not-garish RGB lighting across the mouse’s underside and scroll wheel. There are 11 customizable buttons in whole, together with two easy-to-reach facet buttons and a devoted “sensitivity clutch” that allows you to momentarily drop to a decrease DPI for moments the place you could must purpose extra exactly. The latter will likely be significantly powerful for the smaller-handed to achieve comfortably, although.
The Basilisk V3 makes use of older optical switches than our different Razer high picks, however we haven’t had any double-clicking points after properly over a 12 months of testing. Whereas primary clicks aren’t almost as quick as these on the Endgame Gear OP1 8K, they strike an agreeable stability between firmness and velocity. They aren’t all that loud, both. Just like the Viper V3 Professional, the buttons are grooved in a means that naturally invitations your index and center fingers.
The scroll wheel is likely to be the weakest component: It has clearly outlined steps and an simply identifiable texture, but it surely’s pretty loud and a bit wobbly. That stated, it may well tilt side-to-side — which helps clarify the wobbliness — and there’s a built-in toggle that allows you to swap between a standard ratcheted scroll and a free-spin mode. That may be useful exterior of video games — say, when it’s essential scroll by an enormous doc or Excel sheet.
Razer’s Synapse software program remains to be naggy with updates and Home windows-only, but it surely makes customizing DPI ranges, macros and RGB results easy sufficient. It can save you as much as 5 totally different profiles to the mouse itself, although your lighting customizations received’t carry over.
We haven’t had any main points with sensor accuracy, both, however at roughly 100 grams, the Basilisk V3 is clearly heftier than the ultralight mice we spotlight above. Whilst you completely can go off in Counter-Strike or Valorant with it, the mouse’s weight and huge body imply it’s not expressly designed for video games like these. It can also’t go above a 1,000Hz polling charge. In some ways, that is the precise reverse of the OP1 8K, a tool that feels designed from the bottom up for aggressive fare. As a substitute, the Basilisk V3 is smart for righties who need a cozy and dependable mouse they’ll flip to for extra informal gaming throughout genres. Razer sells it for $70, however because it’s normally accessible for lower than $50 at third-party retailers as of late, you may contemplate it our decide for the perfect price range gaming mouse as properly.
It’s price noting that Razer launched a barely refreshed mannequin referred to as the Basilisk V3 35K since our final replace. That one comes with a technically improved sensor and newer optical switches, although the load and total form are just about equivalent. On condition that we didn’t have many points with the tech within unique V3, we’d nonetheless suggest getting the older model whereas it’s nonetheless in inventory and accessible for much less. Should you see the V3 35K on sale for the same value, nevertheless, it must be secure to only get that one as an alternative.
- Tremendous comfy for medium to giant arms
- Properly-built, with versatile cable
- Versatile scroll wheel
- Good worth
- Too heavy to be superb for FPS video games
- Too cumbersome to be superb for small arms
- Scroll wheel is noisy
- Naggy software program
Connectivity: Wired (USB-A) | Form: Proper-handed | Weight: 108 grams | Dimensions: 4.98 x 2.48 x 1.57 inches | Sensor: PixArt PMW3391 | Switches: Omron D2FC-F-Ok | Most polling charge: 1,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 17 | Battery life (rated): N/A
In order for you a mouse particularly designed for MMO and MOBA video games, get the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite. It does an important factor any MMO mouse can do, which is allow you to entry a number of in-game actions with minimal effort. That’s because of its 12 programmable facet buttons, all of which ship a cushty, firm-but-not-stiff sensation when pressed. Two of the panel’s 4 button rows are textured, which makes them simpler to differentiate with out having to look down. Uniquely, you may bodily reposition this facet panel with an Allen key included within the field, so when you discover the buttons tough to achieve by default, you may handle that. Both means, having a number of buttons proper beneath your thumb makes it a lot simpler to play MMOs like Ultimate Fantasy XIV and even single-player RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, which ask you to navigate a number of “hotbars” of instructions at any given time.
Like most MMO mice, the Scimitar RGB Elite is on the bigger and heavier (108g) facet, but it surely’s not the bulkiest mannequin we’ve seen. Its form must be accommodating to palm and claw grips, and most hand sizes. The center has a rounded, not-overly-aggressive hump, whereas the underside is extra gently sloped than rivals like Razer’s Naga lineup. The general building feels well-built, with a {smooth} matte end, a grippy pinky relaxation and respectable PTFE ft. Internally, its optical sensor (the Pixart PMW3391) isn’t precisely superior as of late, but it surely’s greater than constant sufficient for MMOs and MOBAs, which don’t depend on exact, quick-twitch actions. It has no important points with latency, both.
Nonetheless, there are a number of downsides. The braided cable feels sturdy however considerably stiff. The scroll wheel is grippy and correct sufficient, but it surely’s a contact too recessed between the principle buttons, and it could possibly be firmer. These primary buttons by no means really feel mushy, however they use mechanical switches, so that they carry extra of a long-term sturdiness threat than optical options. (Corsair charges them at 50 million clicks.) And Corsair’s iCue software program is, frankly, the worst: You can use it to customise key bindings, assign macros, modify the (delicate) RGB lighting and save profiles to the mouse, however determining how is wildly unintuitive.
However, the MMO gaming mouse market doesn’t actually have one killer possibility as of late. At a value that normally hovers within the $60 to $75 vary, the Scimitar RGB Elite affords higher worth than most. Should you hate cables, Corsair sells a wi-fi model of the machine too.
- Cleverly textured facet buttons make MMOs simpler to navigate
- Typically comfy and well-built
- Respectable worth relative to MMO mouse market
- Stiff cable
- Scroll wheel is simply too recessed
- Annoying software program
Connectivity: Wi-fi, wired (USB-C) | Form: Symmetrical | Weight: 57 grams | Dimensions: 4.84 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches | Sensor: PixArt PAW3395 | Switches: Huano Clear Blue Shell Pink Dot | Most polling charge: 4,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 6 | Battery life (rated): No ranking supplied
Whereas our high wi-fi picks are nice, we notice that they aren’t low cost. In order for you a performance-focused mannequin with a symmetrical form that isn’t as expensive, contemplate the Lamzu Atlantis OG V2 4K. Clunky identify apart, it tracks precisely and feels well-built. Its mechanical clicks are crisp and full, whereas its scroll wheel is quiet and sufficiently tight. The light-weight wi-fi design (57g) is delicate within the hand, although it’s one other one that may decide up smudges pretty simply. It has a wider and lower-profile form than the Viper V3 Professional, significantly towards the entrance, with a centered hump that isn’t fairly as aggressive. It’ll really feel at residence with a claw grip for any hand dimension, however fingertip grippers ought to discover it comfy too. (Simply keep on with the Viper when you use a palm grip.) Past that, Lamzu’s companion software program is ugly however useful, and the included charging cable is suitably versatile.
The principle knock towards the Atlantis is the set of cutouts strewn about its baseplate, which scale back the load however depart the mouse’s inside open to mud and particles. It’s higher to have these holes on the underside than the highest in the event that they have to be there, however the Viper avoids this threat solely. That stated, the Atlantis prices $60 much less, so it’s a good worth for a premium mouse.
- Satisfying clicks and quiet scroll wheel
- Cozy for claw or fingertip grips
- Respectable worth
- Holes in baseplate depart inside open to mud and particles
- Not superb for palm grips
- Ugly software program
(Xlite V3 Medium) Connectivity: Wi-fi, wired (USB-C) | Form: Symmetrical | Weight: 55 grams | Dimensions: 4.8 x 2.6 x 1.7 inches | Sensor: PixArt PAW3395 | Switches: Raesha Optical (90 M) | Most polling charge: 1,000Hz (4,000Hz with non-compulsory dongle) | Programmable buttons: 5 | Battery life (rated): As much as 100 hours at 1,000Hz
The Pulsar Xlite V3, in the meantime, is a wonderful various to the DeathAdder V3 Professional if you need a right-handed design. It has an identical contoured form, so it’s nice for palm and claw grips, but it surely’s a pinch lighter. Notably, Pulsar sells mini, medium and giant variants, so you may select a dimension that matches your arms finest. Every have inflexible outer shells and snappy optical buttons, although the sleek plastic coating isn’t as grippy as both of the DeathAdder’s finishes and the facet buttons aren’t as crisp.
Just like the Atlantis, the Xlite V3 additionally has cutouts throughout the underside, making it extra inclined to gunk. Nonetheless, it is a gentle, comfy and extremely responsive ergo mouse. For a typical avenue value of $70, it’s a robust purchase.
We’ll notice that Pulsar has launched a revised model of this mouse referred to as the Xlite V4 since our final replace. We haven’t been in a position to check it simply but, although it doesn’t look like an enormous refresh, primarily including a more moderen sensor in successfully the identical form. We’ll replace this advice as soon as we’re in a position to get our arms on the V4, however for now we stand by our present decide, particularly when it’s accessible for a lower cost.
- Stable worth
- Properly-suited for palm and claw grips
- Out there in numerous sizes
- Holes in baseplate depart inside open to mud and particles
- Coating could possibly be grippier
Different gaming mice we examined
Observe: The next is a number of particularly noteworthy mice we have examined, not a complete checklist of each single mannequin we’ve put by its paces.
Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2
The Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2 is a detailed rival to the Razer Viper V3 Professional for many who need a no-frills, high-end wi-fi gaming mouse. It has an identical “potato”-style form, its monitoring is equally super and its optical-mechanical switches have a definite really feel. Not like the primary Superlight, it additionally fees over USB-C. However the Viper’s primary clicks are crisper and extra pleasant-sounding, its facet buttons aren’t as mushy and its scroll wheel is each firmer and grippier. It’s additionally barely lighter.
Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2 DEX
The G Professional X Superlight 2 DEX is the ergonomic model of the Superlight 2, packing the identical sensor and hybrid switches in a chunkier, right-handed form. We discovered its proper facet to flare out a bit an excessive amount of, although, typically leaving our pinky finger in a less-than-comfortable place. These with medium-sized arms might discover its heart hump to be too aggressive for constant aiming as properly. The DeathAdder V3 Professional’s primary buttons are nonetheless extra invitingly curved and constant to press past that, whereas its coating isn’t as slippery. The DEX’s scroll wheel is tighter, and all of its inside tech is nice, so not at all is that this a poor alternative. However at $159, there are higher values on the market.
Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed
Very like the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, Razer’s Viper V3 HyperSpeed is a lower-cost variant of the top-end Viper V3 Professional. (Complicated, we all know.) At $70, it’s a stable worth. Its symmetrical form and soft-touch end are just about equivalent to the extra premium mannequin, and although it technically has a worse sensor, the drop-off is hardly noticeable. The principle trade-off is that it’s heavier (about 82g), because it requires a AA battery for energy. That doesn’t make it outright hefty, however you may really feel the distinction in twitchier video games. It makes use of older mechanical switches and smaller PTFE ft, too, plus it lacks a port for connecting a cable. So it’s not as near its huge sibling because the mid-tier DeathAdder. Some might favor that its DPI button is situated on the highest of the mouse, although, and its easier on-off change is good.
Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed
The Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed is a extra reasonably priced wi-fi model of the Basilisk V3 with the identical comfy form and format, plus a quieter scroll wheel. As a result of it requires a AA battery for energy, although, it weighs round 115g. That is not nice for fast-paced video games. The scroll wheel can’t tilt left or proper, both, nor can it change between a ratcheted and free-spin mode. It additionally makes use of much less sturdy mechanical switches and solely helps one onboard profile. All that stated, it’s a good worth at $70.
Pulsar X2 V2
The Pulsar X2 V2 is an effective various to the Lamzu Atlantis OG V2 4K if you need a high-performing symmetrical mouse for lower than the Viper V3 Professional. It has a broadly related form as Lazmu’s mouse however is marginally lighter. Its plastic shell is good and durable, however we discover its flatter sides and hump make it rather less inviting to palm and claw grips. It does use optical switches, however its primary clicks aren’t as quiet or full-feeling as these of the Atlantis. It, too, has cutouts throughout the underside shell. We’ve seen the X2 V2 go for $70 on Amazon in current months — at that value, it’s nonetheless higher for FPS gamers than the Viper V3 HyperSpeed, however we favor the Atlantis when each are at their regular MSRP of $100.
Pwnage Stormbreaker
The Pwnage Stormbreaker is a superlight (51g), exceptionally sturdy and premium-feeling wi-fi mouse that’s largely made out of magnesium alloy as an alternative of plastic. It performs about on par with our high picks, which is great, whereas its right-handed, medium-sized form ought to swimsuit palm and claw grippers properly. (If you already know BenQ’s Zowie EC line, the form is mainly that.) Nonetheless, the intensive cutouts all around the sides and high shell are noticeable within the hand and make the machine extra inclined to mess buildup than the DeathAdder V3 Professional. Whereas the buttons and scroll wheel are impressively tight, the principle clicks are a bit too stiff and high-pitched for our liking. We additionally seen extra connection stutters than standard on our check PC, and it’s costly at $169.
BenQ Zowie U2
Talking of BenQ, its Zowie U2 is a wonderfully respectable various to the Viper V3 Professional that prices about $30 much less. It tracks nice, it’s light-weight (60g) and its mechanical clicks really feel advantageous. It additionally comes with two receivers, certainly one of which doubles as a useful charging dock. It has a symmetrical form with sides that curve inwards and a decently-sized hump on the again; BenQ says it’s designed for claw grips, and it’s certainly good for that, but it surely must also work for fingertip grippers with bigger arms or palm grippers with smaller ones. Alas, the scroll wheel is gratingly loud and the plastic coating picks up smudges and hand oils prefer it’s its job. There’s additionally no configuration software program, which may make adjusting settings a bit cumbersome, although some might favor not having to put in any further bloat on their PC. This mouse additionally maxes out at a reasonably primary 1,000Hz polling charge — that’s not an enormous deal in observe, but it surely is technically behind many different mice on this value vary.
Logitech G309 Lightspeed
There isn’t a lot fallacious with the Logitech G309 Lightspeed in a vacuum. It’s constructed like a tank, its sensor is correct and its egg-like form ought to really feel OK, if not superlative, in most hand sizes and grip sorts. It makes use of the identical hybrid switches because the G Professional X Superlight 2, so the clicks don’t sound nice however are quick. It additionally has a supercapacitor inside, which provides it successfully infinite battery life when you personal Logitech’s (pricey) PowerPlay charging mat. That’s neat! Most individuals, although, might want to pop in a AA battery, which pushes the load up round 85 grams. As most of that weight is felt towards the again, the mouse can really feel comparatively clunky to fling round in FPS video games. We’re not followers of the ugly recess throughout the center of the machine, both, because it creates an area for mud to gather. At $80, the G309 remains to be advantageous for extra informal sorts who’ll solely purchase from a reputation model. However until you utilize PowerPlay, it doesn’t do a lot to face out from different choices across the identical value.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is a good wired mannequin for many who need a flatter ambidextrous form. It performs properly for aggressive play, and it’s loads gentle (53g) because of a intelligent design with cutouts on the underside which are lined by the mouse’s label. However the Endgame Gear OP1 8K is better-built and extra comfy, so we expect it’s price the additional money. The Razer Viper 8KHz was one other stable, albeit heavier, possibility with an identical form, but it surely’s now not accessible for buy.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wi-fi
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wi-fi is a budget-friendly wi-fi variant of the Haste 2. It might be OK when you should go wi-fi and solely have $50 to spend, as its shell feels sturdy and its low-profile form is well-suited to claw or fingertip grips. It’s a bit weightier than the wired Haste 2 (about 70g) because it runs on a AAA battery, however that’s nowhere close to heavy. That stated, its primary buttons really feel considerably mushy, and we noticed a number of sensor hiccups and inconsistencies, significantly once we had HyperX’s Ngenuity software program open.
Logitech G502 X
The Logitech G502 X has a usually related form because the Razer Basilisk V3, with a decrease weight (84g) and extra facet buttons. Nonetheless, its primary buttons are noisier, it’s a barely extra awkward match for many arms, its rubber cable isn’t as versatile and it lacks RGB.
Logitech G203 Lightsync
The Logitech G203 Lightsync is our former price range decide. It’s typically accessible within the $30 vary as of late, and at that value it’s nonetheless advantageous if you need a reliable gaming mouse for as little cash as doable. You possibly can really feel the associated fee slicing in its rubbery cable and mushy scroll wheel, nevertheless, and its form is a bit too small and flat for bigger arms. The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a wi-fi mannequin with kind of the identical form, but it surely requires a AA battery to work and thus weighs simply over 100g. It, too, feels considerably outdated in 2024.
Razer Cobra
The Razer Cobra is one other value-oriented wired possibility with a compact form. It’s a lot lighter (58g) than the Logitech G203, with a extra versatile cable and optical switches as an alternative of mechanical ones. It’s priced at $40, although, placing it in one thing of a no man’s land between the G203’s and Basilisk V3’s standard going charges. The Endgame Gear OP1 8K nonetheless feels higher-quality throughout the board, however you probably have smaller arms, use a fingertip grip and need a symmetrical mouse on a budget, go for it.
Wonderful Mannequin I 2 Wi-fi
There’s loads to love in regards to the Wonderful Mannequin I 2 Wi-fi: an ergonomic form that’s paying homage to the Basilisk V3/Logitech G502 X however lighter at 75g, 4 customizable facet buttons, the flexibility to attach over a USB receiver or Bluetooth, a {smooth} scroll wheel and tasteful RGB lighting, all for $100. Nonetheless, its honeycomb-style design and mechanical switches each increase issues about its long-term sturdiness.
Wonderful Mannequin D 2 Wi-fi
The Wonderful Mannequin D 2 Wi-fi additionally has holes throughout its shell but doesn’t carry out or really feel considerably higher than different mice across the $100 mark. Critiques from different websites say it has latency points, too. The ergonomic Mannequin D 2 Professional and symmetrical Mannequin O 2 Professional aren’t loaded with cutouts, however their primary buttons are comparatively loud and sticky-feeling.
Razer Naga Left-Handed Version
The Razer Naga Left-Handed Version isn’t almost pretty much as good of a price because the Scimitar RGB Elite, but it surely’s one of many few MMO mice that’s truly constructed for lefties.
Logitech G600
We’d proceed to suggest our former MMO decide, the outdated however splendidly versatile Logitech G600, however sadly it’s been discontinued.
What to search for in a gaming mouse
Wired vs. wi-fi
Shopping for a wi-fi gaming mouse used to imply sacrificing a sure stage of responsiveness, however fortunately, that’s now not the case. Over the previous couple of years, wi-fi connectivity has improved to the purpose the place the distinction in latency between a very good wi-fi mannequin and a tried-and-true wired gaming mouse is barely perceptible.
Observe, nevertheless, that we’re strictly speaking about mice that use a 2.4GHz connection (over a USB dongle), not Bluetooth. Most of the finest wi-fi gaming mouse fashions assist each connection choices, which is nice for journey, however Bluetooth’s latency is mostly too excessive to be dependable for gaming.
Going wi-fi nonetheless has different trade-offs, too. Battery life is bettering on a regular basis, however with their greater efficiency calls for and RGB lighting, most wi-fi gaming mice normally do not final so long as “regular” wi-fi fashions. You shouldn’t count on various days of energy from a chargeable gaming mouse you utilize usually. Some gaming mice provide wi-fi charging too, which makes issues a bit simpler. Good wi-fi gaming mice normally come at a a lot greater price than their wired counterparts as properly.
That’s to not say the premium isn’t price it: Who desires but one other cable on their desk? It’s possible you’ll want a wi-fi mannequin when you hate the texture of “cable drag” or in case your gaming PC is situated in an ungainly spot. Many wi-fi gaming mice include a cable you may hook up in a pinch as properly. But when value is your main concern, a very good wired mouse could also be a greater worth.
Consolation and grip sorts
Everybody’s arms are totally different, so on the finish of the day, calling one mouse “extra comfy” than one other is usually subjective. Guaranteeing your consolation is probably the most important step when shopping for any mouse, although, so we’ve executed our greatest to think about how every machine we examined works with smaller, average-sized and bigger arms alike.
We additionally thought of how every peripheral accommodates the three grip kinds most individuals use whereas holding a mouse: palm, fingertip and claw. As a refresher, a palm grip is when your complete hand rests on the mouse, together with your fingers resting flat on the principle buttons. A fingertip grip is whenever you steer the mouse solely with the information of your fingers, together with your palm not involved with the machine in any respect. A claw grip is when your palm solely touches the again fringe of the mouse, together with your fingers arched in a claw-like form towards the buttons.
On the whole, most individuals use a palm grip, which tends to supply the best sense of management — although, relying on the dimensions of your hand, you could want your mouse to be a particular size to make use of it comfortably. A fingertip grip can enable for extra fast actions, whereas a claw grip is one thing of a stability between the 2. Change and Click on has a very good breakdown when you’d like a bit extra element, however we’ve famous above if a mouse isn’t well-suited for a specific grip fashion. For what it’s price, yours really is a claw gripper more often than not.
Construct high quality and design
gaming mouse feels sturdy and received’t flex or creak when used strenuously. We valued mice with none overly sharp angles or grooves that could possibly be awkward for most individuals to carry. And whereas most gaming mice have plastic exteriors, not all plastic is created equal, so we appeared for finishes that have been {smooth}, not too slick and able to withstanding the sweaty palms that usually include aggressive gaming classes.
The gaming mouse market is usually cut up between two design kinds: ergonomic and ambidextrous. Ergonomic mice are nearly all the time made with right-handed customers in thoughts and sometimes function devoted thumb rests. Ambidextrous mice are extra symmetrical and designed for use with both hand (although they could not have further buttons on either side). Whether or not an ergonomic or ambidextrous gaming mouse works finest for you is essentially a matter of private choice.
A gaming mouse’s ft, in the meantime, ought to present a constant glide and scale back the friction between your mouse and mouse pad beneath it as a lot as doable. For the perfect efficiency, search for ft made out of PTFE (aka Teflon). All ft will finally put on down, however many mice include spares, and most producers promote replacements if wanted.
As for flashy RGB lighting, it’s a pleasant bonus, however little greater than that. Nonetheless, when you’ve already kitted out your setup with RGB, having a mouse with adjustable lighting results can add to the gaming expertise (and extra client tech may stand to do issues for pleasure’s sake). Extra virtually, some mice allow you to assign customized lighting settings to separate profiles, which may make it simpler to see which one you’re at the moment utilizing.
Weight
Gaming mice have gotten lighter and lighter over time, with some current releases weighing lower than 40 grams. Your mouse doesn’t want to be that feathery — something beneath 80g remains to be fairly gentle, and it’s not like a 100g mouse seems like a complete anchor. Regardless, a light-weight mouse makes it simpler to drag off quick actions repeatedly, with much less inertia. That stated, some gamers nonetheless get pleasure from a bit little bit of bulk of their gaming mouse (comparatively talking), particularly with video games that aren’t as reliant on twitchy reactions.
To succeed in these lightest weights, some producers have launched gaming mice with “honeycomb”-style designs, which function an array of cutouts within the outer shell. These mice can nonetheless carry out nice, however having a bunch of holes that expose the inner circuit board to doable sweat, mud and detritus isn’t the perfect for long-term sturdiness.
Switches, buttons and scroll wheel
A rising variety of gaming mice use optical switches as an alternative of mechanical ones. Since these contain fewer bits making bodily contact, they need to usually be extra sturdy and fewer liable to undesirable “double-clicks” over time. Many avid gamers nonetheless discover good mechanical switches extra satisfying to press, so it is not like you must keep away from mechanical mice altogether. They simply carry a bit extra long-term threat in a vacuum.
Since most individuals will use their gaming mouse as their mouse-mouse, it’s your decision primary buttons which have a softer really feel when pressed, with sufficient journey to make inadvertent actuations much less frequent. However even that may be a matter of choice: You might have considered trying lighter buttons when you play video games that decision for fixed clicking. We additionally appeared to testing from websites like Rtings to make sure every mouse we suggest has a sufficiently low click on latency, that means your clicks will register with minimal lag.
Past the usual click on panels, a very good gaming mouse must also have programmable buttons for fast macros or shortcuts. For many video games, shoot for a minimum of two further buttons on the thumb-side panel which are straightforward to achieve and tough to press accidentally. Many mice have extra buttons, which could be a plus, however not in the event that they drive you to contort your fingers to keep away from hitting them. For MMO mice, having a minimum of 12 facet buttons is preferable with a view to entry as many hotbar instructions as doable.
As for the scroll wheel, it ought to have distinct, ratcheted “steps” that aren’t too resistant however make it clear whenever you’ve truly scrolled. Its texture must be grippy, and it should not make a distracting quantity of noise when used. The wheel must also be clickable, supplying you with one other enter to customise for sure video games (e.g., to regulate the zoom on a sniper rifle).
Sensors and efficiency
Some are more adept than others, however usually talking, the optical sensors constructed into most fashionable gaming mice are greater than quick and correct sufficient for most individuals’s wants.
Whereas searching for gaming mice, you’ll see plenty of phrases associated to sensor efficiency. To be clear, a gaming mouse’s responsiveness doesn’t come right down to only one spec. However for readability’s sake, right here’s a rundown of the extra noteworthy jargon:
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DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of a mouse’s sensitivity. The upper the DPI setting, the extra your cursor will transfer with each inch you progress the mouse itself. Most of the finest gaming mice promote extraordinarily excessive DPIs that high out above 30,000, however that’s largely advertising and marketing fluff: Few individuals play above 3,000, with 800 a typical candy spot. This idea can also be known as CPI (counts per inch), which might be the extra correct time period, although DPI is used extra typically.
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IPS, or inches per second, refers back to the most velocity a mouse sensor helps. The upper the IPS, the sooner you may transfer the mouse earlier than it turns into incapable of monitoring motions appropriately.
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Acceleration goes with IPS. On this context, it refers to what number of Gs a mouse can stand up to earlier than it begins to trace inaccurately.
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Polling charge is a measure of how typically a mouse tells a pc the place it’s. On the whole, the extra ceaselessly your mouse experiences data to your PC, the extra predictable its response time must be. Something at 500Hz or above is okay for gaming. The candy spot for many is 1,000Hz. Many more recent mice can go all the best way as much as 8,000Hz, however you begin to see diminishing returns the upper you go until personal a robust PC and play on a gaming monitor with a very excessive refresh charge.
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Raise-off distance is the peak at which a mouse’s sensor stops monitoring the floor beneath it. Many aggressive gamers like this to be as little as doable with a view to keep away from unintended cursor actions whereas repositioning their mouse.
Software program and onboard reminiscence
It doesn’t take lengthy to seek out horror tales about bugs and different niggling points attributable to gaming mouse software program, so the perfect app is one which doesn’t drive you to make use of it on a regular basis. It ought to allow you to modify as lots of the features above as doable, ideally to a number of distinct profiles. Ideally, it can save you your settings on to the mouse itself, letting you decide your customizations again up on one other machine with out having to redownload any software program. All that is most vital on Home windows, however Mac compatibility is all the time good to have.
Guarantee and buyer assist
Most main gaming mice manufacturers provide warranties between one and three years. The longer and extra intensive a producer’s program is, the higher. That is the case with most client tech, however we notice it right here as a result of the gaming mouse market is especially flush with merchandise from less-than-household names, a lot of which you may even see overvalued on YouTube, Reddit or elsewhere across the net. A bunch of those extra obscure mice are genuinely nice, however when you ever purchase from a extra area of interest model, it’s price checking that some stage of buyer assist is in place. We’ve made positive our picks for the perfect gaming mice aren’t riddled with an irregular quantity of poor person opinions.
Current updates
November 2024: We’ve up to date this information with testing notes on the Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2 DEX. We’ve additionally added mentions of the Razer Basilisk V3 35K and Pulsar Xlite V4, two lately launched updates to a few our present picks. We purpose to check these extra absolutely, alongside a number of others, for our subsequent replace.
September 2024: We have utterly refreshed this information for late 2024, including new primary picks based mostly on form alongside notes on a number of different gaming mice we have examined in current months. We’re now within the technique of testing Logitech’s new G Professional X Superlight 2 DEX, a flagship ergonomic mouse that the firm introduced proper as we have been placing the ending touches on this replace.