Different games — and different gamers — need different mice.
The right gaming mouse will fit your hand and grip-style so perfectly, you’ll forget you’re even using a mouse. It will glide effortlessly across any surface you choose to play on, and will have intuitive, well-placed tactile buttons. Oh, and it will also pack a powerful sensor and near-zero latency — so you can nail the perfect headshot, every time.
There are dozens of players in the gaming mouse industry, and models can range from budget-friendly basics to ultra-premium devices with physics-defying upgrades. There are also some bold design choices out there, such as flashy RGB (see the Roccat Kone XP Air), removable/swappable parts, and adjustable weight systems.
There’s no one-size-fits-all mouse, here. The right gaming mouse for you depends on everything from the games you play (and how you play them) to how big your hand is and how you hold your mouse. We’ll help you hone in on the perfect gaming mouse for your unique style by breaking down the best gaming mice for different uses (and users) below.
This list focuses on gaming mice — both wired and wireless. If you’re looking for a mouse that will boost your skills in the office, take a look at our list of best wireless mice for productivity.
Quick List
Best Compact Gaming Mouse
Smaller and lighter than most flagship gaming mice, but with all the features (and RGB) you’re looking for.
Read more below
8. Logitech G Pro X Superlight
Best FPS Gaming Mouse
Shockingly lightweight and easy to flick.
Read more below
The Best Gaming Mouse You Can Buy Today
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Best Gaming Mouse
The Razer Basilisk V3 is the best gaming mouse to hit our lab. Its 9 (13 if you include all the scroll wheel inputs) programmable buttons, well-crafted shape, and premium, textured finish make it versatile across gaming genres and even productivity workloads. While it is on the heavier side compared to ultra-lightweight mice for FPS games, it glides well and has a dedicated sniper button that’s easy to reach and drops DPI instantly for headshots.
Customization options abound, from the 11 individual RGB zones to the aforementioned buttons. Each button can also have a secondary function when using “HyperShift.” The Basilisk V3 also has a dual-mode scroll wheel that can swap from tactile to smooth, free scroll at the tap of a button or based on how you flick it. However, this does mean the wheel can sound rattly and is particularly noisy when switching modes.
The Basilisk V3 is wired, but it has a wireless counterpart: the Basilisk V3 Pro, which also sports an upgraded sensor — Razer’s Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor — as well as updated optical switches. It’s twice the price, of the Basilisk V3, though, and that price tag doesn’t even include the Mouse Dock Pro, which was tailor-made for the Basilisk V3 Pro.
Read: Razer Basilisk V3 Review
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse
Razer’s DeathAdder V3 Pro sports a subtle-but-significant redesign that makes it lighter, more tactile, and more ergonomic than its predecessor, the DeathAdder V2 Pro. The new V3 Pro weighs just 2.22oz (63g) and features a streamlined silhouette with a split key cover design (instead of the usual unibody shell) and five programmable buttons. (To get the weight down, Razer stripped the V3 Pro of unnecessary frills, including RGB and Bluetooth).
The DeathAdder V3 Pro may not be as flashy as other gaming mice, but it still has plenty of features packed under its ultra-lightweight hood. The mouse is equipped with Razer’s Focus Pro 30K Optical sensor, which has a max sensitivity of 30,000DPI, a tracking speed of 750 IPS, and up to 70g of acceleration. The sensor tracks seamlessly on a variety of surfaces, including transparent glass.
The V3 Pro comes with a Razer HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and is also compatible with Razer’s HyperPolling Wireless Dongle (sold separately for $30 or bundled with the V3 Pro for $165) — which upgrades the V3 Pro’s wireless polling rate to 4,000 Hz (from 1,000 Hz). Using the V3 Pro with the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle does have the downside of dropping the mouse’s impressive 90-hour battery life down to just 24 hours — maybe that’s why Razer doesn’t automatically include it.
Read: Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Review
Best Budget Gaming Mouse
If you want a well-specced, comfortable gaming mouse at an affordable price, the Corsair Katar Pro XT is the best gaming mouse for you. At just 2.68 ounces, this lightweight mouse is excellent for long gaming sessions and is quickly adjustable. It’s a bit low profile, but has a nice, ambidextrous-shaped shell that doesn’t feel cheap, despite this being a budget mouse. Targeting FPS and MOBA players, Corsair’s mouse glides easily without cable drag, thanks to PTFE feet and a paracord USB-Type-A tether.
Speaking of the tether, the wireless version of this mouse, the Corsair Katar Pro Wireless, can often be found on sale for the same price as this wired version. If you’re looking for an even lighter mouse, the Corsair Katar Elite Wireless weighs just 2.24 ounces (69g), though you will pay for the extra ergonomics.
The Katar Pro XT isn’t the flashiest or most unique mouse out there, but will make a reliable gaming companion.
Read: Corsair Katar Pro XT Review
Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse
You might not have heard of Redragon before, but we’re getting more and more acquainted with the Chinese company, which is also on our Best Wireless Keyboards page. The affordable, well-built M686 Vampire Elite is currently just $36 and carries many hallmarks of a premium wireless gaming mouse. That includes 8 buttons you can program, including with macros, and fast USB-C charging (Redragon claims just 5.5 hours to a full charge) via its 5.9-foot braided cable. If you’re a gamer whose budget tops out at $50, this may be the best wireless mouse for you.
In a rare move, Redragon included grooves for righties to rest their ring and pinky fingers on this mouse. Many mice neglect those digits, leaving them dragging on the mouse pad. The M686’s shape comfortably served my long hands, plus another person’s larger hands and also accommodates wide grips.
The M686 has soft, rubber side grips, and the rest of the chassis has a smooth, almost gel-like feel. It’s nice but can lack resistance, especially by the left and right click buttons. Meanwhile, the scroll wheel is tactile but still glides pretty smoothly and shows slight wobble, making precise scrolls hard. And you won’t get the same springy feel from the left and right click buttons that pricier wireless gaming mice offer.
The M686’s PixArt PMW3335 sensor goes up to 16,000 DPI, 450 IPS and 40g. Those specs match more expensive mice, and mainstream users won’t notice any tracking issues, whether using the lowest (100 DPI) or the highest setting. I never suffered any dropouts over my few weeks using it, including over a couple days of pairing it with a wireless keyboard.
Unfortunately, Redragon’s free software for the M686 is almost mandatory, because out-of-the-box the three side buttons are programmed to Alt, Ctrl and Shift. You only get one profile (with onboard memory) and very few Windows programs are launchable via the mouse. RGB is also limited to a rainbow effect, breathing one color or outputting a static color (there’s a color picker and the ability to enter red, green and blue values).
Redragon claims up to 45 hours battery life with Eco Mode, which confines RGB to the scroll wheel. The software provides a meter reading, but, confusingly, even with the battery fully charged, the software read 90 for me. After about 11 hours using the mouse at RGB set to max brightness and speed, the app said 70% battery remained.
If you’d prefer a more familiar name, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is sometimes sold for less than $40, but isn’t rechargeable.
Best RGB Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G502 X Plus is the successor to the Logitech G502 Lightspeed, and while it retains the overall shape of its predecessor, it sports a moderate redesign that’s less aggressive, less angular, and features a very pretty eight-zone RGB light strip that will look fantastic on your desk.
The G502 X Plus also has some internal upgrades, including Logitech’s latest Hero 25K sensor, which has a maximum DPI of 25,600, a maximum speed of 400IPS, and can handle up to 40 G’s of acceleration. It also features the brand’s new “Lightforce” switches, which are hybrid optical-mechanical switches designed to have the speed and durability of optical switches and the tactility and feel of mechanical switches. The mouse has 13 programmable buttons — that’s two more than the similar-looking Razer Basilisk V3 Pro — and features a dual-mode tilt wheel that lets you switch between notched and free-scrolling modes.
The G502 X Plus is a solid all-purpose gaming mouse that will work for everything from MMOs and MOBAs to competitive FPS games and even productivity tasks. And its colorful, glowy lightstrip is one of the prettiest implementations of RGB we’ve seen on a mouse.
Read: Logitech G502 X Plus Review
Best Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G Pro Wireless is about as premium as gaming mice get with one of the most comfortable designs available. It’s ambidextrous, with a pleasantly soft, matte plastic shell that’ll please both left and right hands for hours. The coating helps your grip, with its light, 1mm shell making it feel easy to control without making it feel cheap. The light weight combined with the PTFE feet help it move around with easy control.
Logitech’s HERO 16K sensor goes up to a whopping 16,000 DPI (or 25,600 via software), 450 IPS and 40G. Logitech also claims it eats less battery than sensors like the Pixart PMW3366. The vendor says the mouse will last up to 48 hours with RGB lighting on and 60 hours without the flash. After about 30 hours with the mouse on, with both RGB on and off, I didn’t even make a dent in its battery life meter.
Gamers enjoy 5 profiles of onboard memory, which makes this wireless mouse even easier to use across multiple PCs. There are 4-8 programmable buttons (left and right click, 2 left side buttons, 2 right side buttons and scroll wheel in). The left and right clicks are rather light, and along with the scroll wheel, which presses in shallow and soft, they aren’t anything special.
I had no issues in my time with Logitech’s Lightspeed 2.4 GHz dongle. Even with a Bluetooth keyboard and the occasional 2.4 GHz headset connected, the G Pro Wireless kept up with its claimed 1ms report rate.
The biggest concern is longevity. The mouse is expensive and comes with a two-year warranty; however, my colleague started noticing accidental double-clicks after about 2 years of use. This is apparently a problem others have encountered too. Logitech has told me that it’s aware of and is working on the issue.
Best Compact Gaming Mouse
Thanks to the popularity of eSports and online competition, It’s not hard to find small, lightweight gaming mice these days. But it’s a little harder to find small, lightweight gaming mice that aren’t also stripped down because they’re designed for, well, competitive eSports. The Razer Cobra Pro is a small(er), lightweight compact gaming mouse that isn’t designed specifically for FPS gamers — it’s got a semi-ambidextrous design, grippy sides, and bright 11-zone RGB lighting for immersive gaming.
The Cobra Pro features Razer’s most recent Focus Pro 30K optical sensor, which has a maximum sensitivity of 30,000 DPI, a maximum speed of 750 IPS, and can handle up to 70 G’s of acceleration. It tracks well over all surfaces (including glass) and weighs just 77g — not the lightest mouse on the market, but significantly lighter than the flagship Razer Basilisk V3 Pro. And like the Basilisk V3 Pro, the Cobra Pro is compatible with Razer’s Mouse Dock Pro and HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, which means it can get a super speedy 4,000 Hz wireless polling rate (at the expense of battery life, naturally).
Speaking of which, the Cobra Pro gets a solid 100+ hours of battery life over a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection, and up to 170 hours over Bluetooth (with the lighting turned off, of course). (It also comes with Razer’s SpeedFlex cable, which is a great drag-free cable for wired use.)
But perhaps most importantly: the Cobra Pro is small. Most of the flagship gaming mice from mainstream companies measure over five inches long and three inches wide — sized to fit medium-to-large hands. The Cobra Pro is 4.71 inches (119.6mm) long and 2.46 inches (62.5mm) wide — not tiny, but much easier to wield if your hands are on the smaller side. Good news: the downsizing affects price, as well — the Cobra Pro retails for $129.99, a solid $30 – 50 cheaper than other flagships.
Read: Razer Cobra Pro Review
Best FPS Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is an update to the already excellent Logitech G Pro Wireless (also on this page). However, the G Pro X Superlight lands itself as the best wireless mouse for FPS titles because it manages to be shockingly lightweight, despite requiring a power source. At 2.12 ounces, it’s slightly lighter than the Glorious Model D- (2.15 ounces), a wired honeycomb mouse. This is a remarkable achievement.
In our testing, the G Pro X Superlight proved great for twitchy games due to its lack of a cord, expanded area of PTFE feet and how easy it is to flick. It also boasts the same shape as the G Pro Wireless, which is handy for righties and lefties. However, while the G Pro Wireless lets you swap the position of its side buttons, those on the G Pro X Superlight are always left-flanked. This makes the G Pro Wireless a better option for lefties.
But with a high-end sensor that can climb to a DPI of 25,600, handle a speed of 400 IPS and has 40g acceleration, Logitech has built a mouse that boasts the specs and build of many premium FPS mice but without the cord.
Read: Logitech G Pro X Superlight Review
Best MMO Gaming Mouse
Razer has made its incredibly versatile MMO-focused Naga mouse even more versatile with the Naga V2 Pro, which maintains its predecessor’s swappable side plates and adds in a uniquely customizable scroll wheel that lets users tweak scroll tension, number of scroll steps, and haptic feel.
This medium-sized wireless mouse has three connectivity options (2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and wired via USB-C) and three swappable side plates with 12, six, and two buttons. That’s up to 20 programmable buttons (including the three-click scroll wheel and the profile switch on the bottom of the mouse). The side plates are magnetic and swap out easily, and even hide a section to store the mouse’s 2.4GHz wireless dongle when you’re not using it.
Despite being on the heavier side at 4.72 ounces (134g), the Naga V2 Pro is a very comfortable and versatile mouse that’s perfect for MMO players who might occasionally want fewer than 12 side buttons. For those who are all MMO, all the time, however, there’s also the Naga V2 Hyperspeed, which costs $99.99 (versus the Naga V2 Pro’s $179.99), uses 1x AA battery, and has a fixed 12-button side plate.
Read: Razer Naga V2 Pro Review
Quick Shopping Tips
🖱 Weight: Lightweight mice — weighing 80g or less — are made for competitive shooting games, which require lots of quick, precise movements. They’re ideal for people who hold their mouse in a claw or fingertip grip (or who have smaller hands in general), and who don’t need more than a couple of programmable buttons. Heavier mice are designed for tasks that need slow, controlled precision. They’re best for palm grippers playing games where speed isn’t really a factor — but comfort and programmability are: MMOs, MOBAs, and other RPGs.
🖱 Wireless or Wired: Wireless mice have come a long way in the last few years, but they still have downsides, including limited battery life (particularly with RGB) and potential latency. If you opt for a wireless pointer, you’ll need one with decent battery life (40+ hours minimum) and a low-latency 2.4GHz connection — Bluetooth is too high-latency for gaming, though it’s convenient in non-gaming scenarios (many wireless gaming mice have both). If you decide to stick with wired, make sure the cable is designed to flex and move, so it won’t tangle or compromise your accuracy.
🖱 DPI, CPI, IPS and Acceleration: DPI and CPI are effectively the same marketing terms. Traditionally we use DPI in print to declare how many dots per inch something would be printed in, in regards to image clarity. CPI, however, stands for counts per inch, and that’s how many counts your mouse takes per inch it travels. Regardless, DPI is the more common usage, and it’s what we opt for here.
A higher DPI doesn’t necessarily mean a better mouse sensor. A delicate combination of DPI and IPS is essential. IPS, or inches per second, is the maximum velocity at which your sensor can still track those counts. The higher the IPS combined with the DPI, the better the sensor.
And then there’s acceleration. That’s how many Gs your mouse can handle and still track effectively. If you’re dashing the mouse back and forth and left and right in short, sharp movements, some mice may flake once they reach a specific G rating.
🖱 Grip Style: How do you hold your mouse? There are three common grip styles.
🖐 Palm Grip – The base of your palm rests on the back of the mouse, with your fingers lying on top. This is the most common type of mouse grip.
🖐 Claw Grip – Your wrist rests on the mouse mat/surface, your palm doesn’t touch the mouse, and your fingertips grip the edges/buttons.
🖐 Fingertip Grip – Your wrist and palm are elevated off the mouse mat/surface (and do not touch the mouse). Your fingertips grip the mouse’s edges/buttons.
Larger, heavier mice with a pronounced hump are best-suited for palm grips, as are mice with sculpted, ergonomic profiles. If you have smaller hands, however, these mice may still feel unwieldy with a palm grip.
Lighter, smaller mice with flatter humps are better for claw and fingertip grips.
Finding Discounts on the Best Gaming Mouse
Whether you’re shopping for one of the best gaming mice or a model that didn’t quite make our list, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of the latest Best Buy promo codes, Corsair coupon codes, Logitech promo codes, Newegg promo codes, Razer promo codes and Micro Center coupons.
