The best gaming mouse round-up

In a pinch, you could use a Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse, Logitech GX Master 3 or any other kind of everyday mouse for a dash of gaming. But if you’re serious about your gaming, a great gaming mouse annihilates everyday computing tasks as much as it does enemy players online.

Your next gaming mouse could be as cheap as sub-$50 or, if you go all out, as pricey as $300+. Most of our best gaming mouse picks on this page are wireless because, these days, a wireless gaming mouse is just as responsive as a wired one (but we’ve got wired options covered, too).

Logitech helped pioneer wireless gaming mice that are just as accurate, responsive and reliable as wired ones. And the Logitech G502X Plus Lightspeed is the top of the pack for us. Technically, there are 13 programmable buttons but, practically speaking, there are 11. That’s still a big number and versatile enough for a gaming mouse that’s a practical point between button-stuffed MMO mice and button-lean shooter mice. Online shooter fans shouldn’t have any issues avoiding misclicks of the extra buttons, either. The G502X boasts great battery life, too, and Logitech companion software is among the best out there for straightforward tweaks. I just wish it had Bluetooth for extra wireless versatility.

Consider the below-covered Razer Basilisk V3 Pro as a worthy contender alongside the Razer Viper V2 Pro and Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro.

The cheapest gaming mice cost under $50. But if you want a competitive alternative you can hang onto for years, spend a bit more on the SteelSeries Rival 5. Yes, it’s a wired gaming mouse—common at this price point—but you should immediately appreciate the smooth gliding. I found the Rival 5 as easy to use in online shooters as I did for everyday use. There are nine programmable buttons for added use-case versatility, plus the lack of wireless means it’s lightweight. Add a mouse bungee to tame the tail if it’s snagging. Admittedly, some of those button options are trickier to reach depending on your mouse grip. Still, the Rival 5 has 80-million-click durability and compatibility for Windows, Linux, Mac and Xbox platforms.

For a slightly pricier wireless alternative, consider the Logitech G305 Lightspeed.

I’m such a big fan of the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro that it’s been my go-to gaming mouse for the last year. And it’s just as great for everyday use as it is across gaming genres. The Basilisk V3 Pro glides like a figure skater and has practically placed buttons. I also really appreciate that it foregoes the typical Razer trend of hiding the DPI-shift button beneath the mouse. There’s a profile button tucked underneath alongside a switch to power off the Basilisk or flick between ultra-responsive 2.4GHz wireless or modern-device-ubiquitous Bluetooth. Razer Synapse software makes basic tweaks a breeze, and it’s great to see a calibration option, too, for different mouse mats. Spend around $100 more if your budget allows to pair the Basilisk with a magnetic mouse recharging dock.

Alternatively, the Logitech G502X Plus Lightspeed is a cheaper albeit Bluetooth-less competitor or you may want to consider the Corsair Sabre RGP Pro Wireless.

Most gaming mouse manufacturers like to push players towards wireless options with low-latency 2.4GHz. That’s understandable because they’re ultra-responsive. But not every wireless gaming mouse includes Bluetooth, which is a great addition for connecting to a wide range of Bluetooth-capable devices. That’s where the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless slides in. On the basics front, it has nine programmable buttons, eagle-like gliding and very responsive clicking. Aesthetically, it’s a hole-punched mouse, which does feel weird to touch at first but helps make it a lightweight gaming mouse. That lightweight design makes it even breezier to shift around between devices and surfaces. Just keep the detachable recharging cable nearby to stay juiced up.

Alternatively, scroll back up and have a look at the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro for a pricier high-end contender.

If you want a wired gaming mouse, they’re typically a cheaper purchase than their pricier wireless brethren. But just because a gaming mouse uses a fixed USB cable, doesn’t mean it’s sporting old tech. Case in point, the Razer Viper 8KHz. That “8KHz” in the name is in reference to an epic max 8,000Hz polling rate, which is even more impressive when you consider most gaming mice tap out at 1,000Hz. Admittedly, 8KHz is very future-focused, so much so that certain games didn’t support the 8KHz polling rate at the time of review. Mercifully, Razer lets you drop it to 4KHz or 8KHz for more straightforward game support and less of a need for a modern CPU to tap into the beyond 1,000Hz responsiveness.

For a more expensive albeit deeply customisable gaming experience like no other, consider the Mad Catz R.A.T. Pro X3.

We advise starting with your intended gaming mouse use case before looking at budget. Think of the genres you play most and the platforms you want to use the gaming mouse on, then go from there. MMO, MOBA and RTS fans should lean towards a gaming mouse with more buttons.

More buttons aren’t as useful for fans of fast-paced action games and online shooters but a mix between too many and too few makes for a great all-rounder gaming mouse that should also excel in everyday use. In terms of budget, paying under $100 will get you a decent wired gaming mouse, and the better wireless options are closer to $200 (or more).

Expect to pay more for a charging dock, otherwise you’ll be stuck with a USB cable to recharge. The gaming mouse should still work while recharging, though. For greater versatility, consider a wireless mouse with Bluetooth, though we don’t advise using Bluetooth connectivity for games that require fast reflexes as the wireless technology isn’t as responsive as 2.4GHz.