10 Best Gaming Mouse with Buying Guide and Reviews

Gaming mice are easily the most efficient way of gaming. They’re fun, boost scores and incredibly easy to control. Plus, there are extra buttons you can program and alter to suit your particular needs, which leaves quite a lot of scope to modify and customise the mouse as you deem fit. Since every game is different, and brings in its own particular strategies and methodologies to employ to win, it makes much more sense to use a gaming mouse than a simple keyboard, a console or anything else. We decided to compile a list of the best Gaming Mice the market has to offer, and compare them based on their features and the customer reviews they received to rank them in order of awesomeness.

It isn’t wise to pass a blanket judgement about which gaming mouse is the best, since there is so much to consider, but if we were forced to, there is no doubt the Logitech G502 would get the first place. The second place belongs to the Razer Naga Hex V2 for its laser sensor and wide-ranging OS support.

How we came up with the list:

You can be sure it was difficult to decide which gaming mice deserved to be put in the top ten list especially given the lack of absolutes; there were so many times we argued deciding which mouse should be ranked higher when faced with the many ties. The thing is how good a mouse works depends on more than one factors. So if two mice perform really well on two different criteria, it can be difficult to place one over the other in an absolute hierarchy. Want to know what those features were? Here they are:

The DPI of a mouse is a primary criteria to know how well a mouse will register your movements. DPI stands for dots per inches. It varies from a few hundred to as much as 2 thousand. The average mouse often registers around 800 to a thousand DPI. Gaming mice are special because they can be customised to change the DPI range as is convenient to you, which can get you an advantage in a game by altering the sensitivity and response.
Ambidextrous design is important. There are a lot on left handed and ambidextrous players in the gamer community, and most everyday mice are wholly inconvenient and uncomfortable to use, not to mention they land left handed players with a lower score than others.
A proper weight can go a long way to making a gaming mouse amazing at its job. A mouse that’s too light will probably be too easy to flick around, which is just as inconvenient as a mouse that’s so heavy it has to be moved with considerable effort.
Connectivity matters as well. Wireless gaming mice are really versatile in terms of how they can be used, where you can operate them from and other such crucial considerations. But that often comes at a cost many don’t often notice – you need to charge it. Mice that need only be plugged in to continue playing without a lag are therefore even more amazing.
And of course, the final criteria is cost. You don’t want to pay a bomb for an average mouse.

There are other criteria as well, such as how customisable the grip and design are (many mice come with detachable fins and grips), or the number of customisable buttons a model offers (of course, more is better).

How did the many mice we tried out fare? Check out our list of the ten best gaming mouse below, each followed by a detailed and comprehensive review. Your comments about each are welcome as well.

Top 10 Best Gaming Mice 2021

Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum – Best All-Purpose Gaming Mouse 2021

After some serious testing, we’ve found it. The Holy Grail of gaming mice. It’s sleek, it’s powerful, but most of all, it’s all about YOU. It’s so customizable that it’s about as close to gaming mouse perfection as you can get.

The G502 Proteus Core may be a fantastic mouse, but the upgraded Spectrum takes it to a whole other level. The Spectrum runs on the same Logitech software, has a nearly nonexistent learning curve and you can tailor the five 3.6g weights to your preference.

After playing through several different rounds (we couldn’t decide on just one), we found the optical sensor to be quite responsive and the DPI easy to switch with the flick of a finger. Tracking was precise, and with the two easy-to-reach thumb buttons and a third sniper button, the Spectrum works well with any genre.

The Spectrum is a G502 with full RGB Illumination on the Logitech logo and the DPI indicators on the side. You select the lighting color and brightness to match your system, your environment, and your style. When your system is not in use, it’s easy to put the lights to sleep.

DPI: 200 to 12,000
Buttons: 11 – Customizable
Size: 4.5 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches (115 x 65 x 37 mm
Weight: 4.5 ounces (127 grams) adjustable
Lighting: RGB 16.8 million colors
Other Cool Features: Three on-board profiles, Five on-the-fly adjustable DPI settings, Free-spinning mouse at the click of a button

Verdict

Everything else you loved about the original G502 is still there, including the 11 programmable switches and the comfortable scroll wheel. Crisp precision and a sturdy, ergonomic body make this our Grand Champion of gaming mice. Definitely worth the upgrade!

Razer DeathAdder Elite – Most Responsive Razer Ever

The new Elite model is just what you’re expecting from a Razer DeathAdder, but more. More responsive. More buttons. More mouse.

The Elite’s right-handed ergonomic design and two left-mounted buttons won’t let you down. Two new buttons on top adjust the DPI on the fly, or you can customize them for whatever you need them to do in Razer Synapse. Overall, seven programmable buttons emphasize efficiency on this sleek little rodent.

Flipping the Elite over, we found some cool upgrades that make the whole gaming experience smoother than ever. The streamlined skates offer seamless maneuvering after switching from two small dots in the corners to two long strips across the top and bottom of the mouse’s underbelly. This is also where we find the new eSports-grade sensor–the reason your enemies won’t stand a chance.

DPI: 200 to 16,000
Buttons: Seven – Programmable
Size: 5 x 2.8 x 1.7 inches (127 x 70 x 44 mm)
Weight: 3.7 ounces (105 grams)
Lighting: Razer Chroma Lighting
Other Cool Features: Resolution accuracy of 99.4%, Racer Synapse software

Verdict

After extensive testing, we found the new DeathAdder to be an ideal shape for palm or claw grips as well as a variety of hand sizes. It may not have a free-spinning wheel like the Spectrum, but the Elite’s own reactive scroll wheel and the accessible buttons on the left-side make this mouse a definite contender. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

Razer Naga Hex V2 – Best MOBA and MMO Mouse

With the new Naga Hex V2, gone are the 12 buttons that we had a hard time differentiating. The new Hex V2 has seven customizable buttons surrounding the circular rubber thumb rest, optimized for MOBA players. Although it took a little getting used to, we soon had the hang of the out-of-order buttons.

The redesigned Naga Hex V2 took a page from the DeathAdder’s book by switching to a matte finish, giving it a better grip and sleeker look. The true 16,000 DPU 5G laser sensor reacted quickly during testing. The scroll wheel on top has tilt and click capability, so it’s easy to use with a side-to-side motion.

Though not branded as a Chroma series, it still has the dramatic lighting on the logo, scroll wheel and around the thumb buttons that can be customized using Razer’s Synapse software. It’s easy to modify the profiles, lighting, and mouse to fit your style or system.

One thing we had to get used to was the seven-foot USB cable, but we found it gave us plenty of slack and room to move around, so it wasn’t in the way. The ergonomics on this mouse make it very comfortable, even with the large palm rest that appeared centered around the thumb buttons.

DPI: 200 to 16,000
Buttons: 14 MOBA Optimized Programmable
Size: 4.68 x 2.95 x 1.69 inches (119 mm x 75 mm x 43 mm)
Weight: .30 lbs. with cable (135 g)
Lighting: Razer Chroma Lighting
Other Cool Features: Zero-acoustic Ultraslick mouse feet, Razer Synapse enabled, Pre-configured MOBA profiles for maximum in-game efficiency

Verdict

The Razer Naga Hex V2 is a great mouse but if you don’t like all those buttons near the thumb, then best to go with something like the Proteus Spectrum that is all-purpose and fully customizable.

SteelSeries Sensei RAW – Best Claw Grip Mouse

Not all hands are created equal so why should the best gaming mice be any different? SteelSeries’ Sensei RAW did away with unnecessary features in its predecessor, and now, its stripped-down new body is ready to lift some heavy gaming muscle.

While we applauded the matte finish of the Hex V2, the glossy coating on the RAW is a nice touch. The rubberized version may give you a better grip. One thing we noticed was that we did sometimes accidentally hit the right-side buttons. But that will happen with any ambidextrous mouse, so it’s not much of a big deal.

The RAW comes with an extremely light body and a rubber mouse cord versus the braided nylon on most wired mice which we found to be both a pro and a con. While the lighter body does have a killer shape, the weight of the cord would sometimes move the cursor on the screen when we weren’t touching it. It isn’t a problem, just a bit annoying.

CPI: 1 to 5,670, increments
Buttons: Eight – Programmable
Size: 1.5 x 2.7 x 4.9 inches (38.7 x 68.3 x 125.5 mm
Weight: 0.2 lbs. (90 grams)
Lighting: Frost blue illumination on the logo, spin wheel and on top of the mouse.
Other Cool Features: Lighting has several modes including slow, medium, fast, pulse and off, Can record long and advanced Macros.

Verdict

We found the RAW to be the best mouse for claw grippers or even a combination of claw/palm grips. The Sensai is reasonably priced and an excellent wired gaming mouse. If you play with a claw grip or a claw/palm grip hybrid, go with the Sensai RAW.

Corsair Vengeance M65 – Best FPS Mouse

The Corsair Vengeance M65 is a big mouse. There, we said it. It is large, and it is in charge. If you want something a little lighter, that’s where the adjustable weights under its belly come into play. They’re screwed on so just twist and remove any unwanted pieces.

The M65’s larger size and heavier feel make it versatile for most grip styles, including palm grip. The ergonomic grip helped it win the title of Best FPS Mouse. That sturdier feel and high-stiffness skeleton creates an excellent center of gravity

It has eight programmable buttons, and yes, they will save so you don’t have to reset them every time you power down or transfer to another computer. It has one of the best scroll wheels we’ve experienced and was best for FPS gaming, Overwatch included.

Ok, so something we found pretty cool was the sniper button strategically placed at thumb level. It even has a crosshair design right on the button. Nice touch, Corsair.

The M65’s DPI settings go up to 8200 and can be adjusted instantly with the simple touch of a button. Maximum accuracy, high precision tracking, and smooth performance were all benefits of the Vengeance M65.

DPI: 1 to 8,200
Buttons: Eight – Customizable
Size: 1.53 x 2.83 x 4.64 inches (114 x 83 x 32 mm)
Weight: 4.77 ounces with weights (4.05 ounces on its own)
Lighting: LED blue light but no RGB
Other Cool Features: Available in different colors, Five smooth skate pads on bottom minimize drag, Highly precise laser sensor with an advertised polling rate of 1,000Hz (confirmed by our testers)

Verdict

Vengeance will be mine! Oh yes! It will be mine! (You didn’t think we’d let that one slip away did you?)

SteelSeries Rival 700 – Best Innovative Gaming Mouse

SteelSeries went somewhere not many gaming mouse makers have gone before – they added a black-and-white OLED display to the side of the Rival 700. And even though it only supports a few games – Minecraft, Dota 2, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive – our testers got a kick out of looping animated GIFs when they used it for other games.

Tactile alerts were also a big plus when we tested the 700. 13 different trigger vibrations alerted us when we reached certain in-game events, such as your character running low on health. While the vibrations were not enough to disturb gameplay, they were noticeable enough to get our attention.

One thing to keep in mind about the Rival 700 is that it does have less programmable buttons than, say the Proteus Spectrum with eight versus 11. That will only impact gamers who really use all 11 buttons, and the trade-off of tactile buttons and a display may be worth it.

The Rival 700’s RGB lighting is programmable to parallel game events (as long as you’re playing one of the pre-loaded games). For all other games, you can expect RGB lighting like you’d find on the Proteus Spectrum. But with the 700, it’s pretty cool to tell how much life you have left just by looking at the scroll wheel LED: Green at full strength and red for close to death.

DPI: Optical sensor goes up to 16,000; optional laser sensor goes up to 8,200
Buttons: Eight – Programmable
Size: 1.65 x 2.7 x 4.92 inches (41.91 x 68.58 x 124.9 mm)
Weight: 4.8 ounces (136 grams)
Lighting: RGB Lighting and OLED Display
Other Cool Features: Modular design – removable covers, Comes with both a 3-foot rubber cable and a 6-foot braided cable

Verdict

Very cool mouse but unless you’re playing the few supported games, we’d go with one of the Logitechs on this list.

Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum – Best Ambidextrous Mouse

Logitech did it again. They created another killer mouse. Not only is it the best wireless gaming mouse, but it’s also the best truly ambidextrous mouse that money can buy.

Other ambidextrous mice, like the Sensei RAW, have buttons on both sides, which we found could sometimes get in the way. The Chaos Spectrum offers removable thumb buttons that can move to either side based on the player. That’s a total game changer, Logitech.

The Chaos Spectrum has 11 programmable buttons and like it’s cousin the Proteus Spectrum, has DPI adjustment up to 12,000 at the flick of a finger. A wireless upgrade to the G502, the G900 also has an included micro USB cable.

Much lighter than the G502, the G900 Chaos Spectrum uses Logitech’s amazing PMW-3366 sensor, and through the use of what can only be called magic, managed to get the polling rate down to 1 millisecond on a 2.4 GHz connection.

DPI: 200 up to 12,000
Buttons: 11 Programmable
Size: 5.2 x 2.6 x 1.6 inches (130 x 67 x 40 mm)
Weight: 3.8 ounces (107 grams)
Lighting: RGB Lighting
Other Cool Features: Onboard storage capability of five unique profiles, Up to 32 hours battery life on a single charge.

Verdict

It’s the best mouse money can buy so if you have the money and are a serious gamer, we say, “Buy It!”

Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury – Best Budget FPS Gaming Mouse

Once again, Logitech has made an appearance on our list. This time, it’s one of their more budget-friendly versions that held its own against its higher-priced competitors. Stripped of all the bells and whistles standard with the G502 and G900, the G402 is ready to show you what it can do.

At the time of publication, the G402 Hyperion Fury rings in at under $40 and is perfect for the gamer who doesn’t need the fancy lighting or extra buttons on its pricier cousins. It has heart and a flawless optical sensor that avoids both prediction and acceleration.

We switched DPI effortlessly with the flick of a finger and found hotkey access readily available at our fingertips. The Fury also boasts a high-speed fusion engine that helps you track reliably and accurately. With eight programmable buttons, this little rodent has style, functionality, and precision with both small hand movements and powerful moves.

DPI: 250 to 4,000
Buttons: Eight – Customizable
Size: 1.7 x 2.8 x 5.3 inches (43.18 x 71.12 x 134.62 mm)
Weight: 3.7 ounces (105 grams)
Lighting: LED
Other Cool Features: Configurable “G” logo lighting, Onboard memory for profile storage

Verdict

Don’t underestimate the G402 Hyperion Fury because of its low sticker price, this little mouse can hold its own and then some!

Mad Catz RAT 8 – Best Gaming Mouse – Runner-Up

At first glance, the Mad Catz RAT 8 doesn’t look like your typical mouse, gaming or otherwise. After much debate, we found it resembled a Transformer stuck mid-transformation. But don’t let the bizarre shape fool you, we found this interesting little rodent quite comfortable to use.

The aluminum chassis and extra weights are removable to allow for four different weight settings. We loved the two scroll wheels–one in the traditional spot on top and the other just above the thumb rest with three buttons for forward, backward and sniper status. Oh, and did we mention the length of the mouse can be adjusted too? Score.

The RAT 8 houses a Pixart PMW3360 optical sensor that is ridiculously precise and steady. The main buttons are marked with a lifetime 50 million clicks so you should be rocking this mouse for quite some time. Not to be outdone, we found the scroll wheel also to be extremely precise and smooth rolling.

Overall, we really enjoyed the RAT 8 and although we were a bit happier with the Proteus Spectrum, found this came in a close second as the best gaming mouse 2018.

DPI: 200 to 12,000
Buttons: 11 – Programmable Macro
Size: 2.78 x 6.06 x 4.92 inches (70.6 x 153.9 x 124.9 mm)
Weight: 13.9 ounces (145 grams without cable)
Lighting: Kameleon RGB Lighting – programmable
Other Cool Features: Three RGB illumination zones, Onboard memory

Verdict

It’s a great talking piece and even more fun to play with, so we dub it a strong: YES!

Cougar Minos X3 – Best Gaming Mouse – Small Hands

The Cougar Minos X3 may not be the fanciest gaming mouse on the list, but it is the best for those gamers with small hands. Those with larger palms did not find this mouse as comfortable, but that’s ok because there are plenty on this list they loved.

We found the scroll wheel to be pretty sturdy as we tested it, while the rubber textured grips on either side made sure our pinkies stayed right where they belonged. It’s a lightweight mouse with smooth pads on the bottom that kept us moving around effortlessly and six buttons that do not need software to set-up.

The PMW3310 Pro-Grade optical sensor was deadly accurate, and the only-the-fly DPI adjustment allowed us to switch to the right DPI level as needed. The three zone LED RGB backlight is very cool with eight-color breathing backlight choices. With ten optional effects, you can customize this little guy to whatever works with your style, system or your environment, just like with the more expensive models.

DPI: 400 to 3,200
Buttons: Six – Customizable buttons
Size: 4.8 x 2.75 x 1.57 inches (122 x 70 x 40 mm)
Weight: 3.31 ounces (94 grams)
Lighting: Three-zone RGB Backlight
Other Cool Features: “White” LED light, Software Free

Verdict

Overall, the Cougar Minos X3 impressed us with its versatility, responsiveness, and cool color light show. Small Hand Gamers of the World, we’ve found the best gaming mouse for you!

So, hopefully this review of the Best Gaming Mice for 2018 helps determine your next gaming mouse. Now you can get back in the game and redeem yourself with that sniper!

How we came up with the list:

Top 10 Best Gaming Mice 2021

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