Image: Hayden Dingman / IDG
If you wish to be aggressive in PC video games lately you possibly can overlook about utilizing a run-of-the-mill workplace mouse. Instead, you’ll want a strong gadget that’s optimized only for gaming.
Manufacturers go to nice pains to design specialist gadgets that give gamers an edge, with enhancements like distinctive physique dimensions and shapes, customizable weight, and additional grips to extend velocity and accuracy. On prime of that, the very best gaming mice have distinctive {hardware} enhancements like extremely delicate sensors and sophisticated button configurations to maintain up with quick paced video games.
Deciding on the proper mouse is a extremely private resolution that wants cautious consideration. Factors like the dimensions and form of your hand, your most well-liked grip model, the forms of video games you play, and the variety of buttons you want, are all elements that you just’ll wish to ponder in your quest for the very best gaming mouse.
Below you’ll discover a listing of tried-and-tested gadgets chosen by PCWorld reviewers that sit among the many vanguard of gaming mice. For a rundown on how they have been chosen and additional shopping for recommendation, learn our useful recommendation beneath our listing of suggestions.
Updated 3/01/23 to incorporate the Keychron M3 as our decide for the very best wi-fi gaming mouse. In addition to its versatile connectivity (twin wi-fi and wired), this mouse is extraordinarily light-weight and cozy, with a few of the quickest buttons we’ve used. Scroll beneath to be taught extra about this mouse and our different prime picks.
1. Logitech G502 Hero – Best wired gaming mouse / Best general
Pros
- Incredibly comfy
- Buttons now rated for 50 million clicks
- Hero sensor performs in addition to the PWM3366
Cons
- More costly than the earlier mannequin, however not a lot has modified
- Fairly heavy, which could dissuade some customers
- Still no wi-fi choice
Price When Reviewed:
$79.99
Logitech’s G502 mouse has gained a legendary standing right here at PCWorld by making our ‘Best of’ listing yearly for the final 4 years, hitting the proper notes for energy, consolation, and sturdiness. Under the hood the G502 is powered by a really correct Logitech Hero sensor, whose exact efficiency is very wanted by severe players.
In the design division, it presents up dollops of consolation with an elongated pill-shaped physique and excessive scoop that’s equally appropriate for palm, claw, or fingertip customers. MMO and MOBA players are effectively catered to with 11 well-placed buttons that reply rapidly and are rated for as much as 50 million clicks. Admittedly, the mouse’s 121 gram weight doesn’t make it the lightest choice out there, however but it feels and performs simply in addition to lighter options.
Read our full
Logitech G502 Hero assessment
2. Keychron M3 – Best wi-fi gaming mouse
Pros
- Very quick and exact 26,000 DPI sensor
- Well-proportioned and really comfy
- The quickest buttons I’ve ever used
Cons
- It would have been extra handy for the DPI button to be positioned the place the RGB button at present sits
- Mac customers should wait on the software program app
- The M3 is at present solely out there for order on the Keychron web site
Few gaming mice can cater to a gamer’s various connectivity wants, which is why the Keychron M3 is so distinctive. It sports activities not one, however three connectivity choices, together with low-latency 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and wired connectivity by way of a USB cable, with the intention to join it as much as nearly any gadget in your dwelling. What’s much more spectacular is that the Keychron M3 weighs a lowly 79 grams, which makes it one of many lightest gaming-grade mice with wi-fi connectivity you will get.
In the {hardware} division too, the M3 could be very lucky, sporting an especially fast 26,000 DPI sensor with flawless monitoring. It proved simply superb for precision transferring and aiming in my playtesting. This sensor is backed up by a few of the quickest buttons I’ve ever used; they’re powered by Kailh GM 8.0 micro switches.
The M3’s buttons have additionally been designed with gamer comfort in thoughts. You get 9 in whole, however 4 permit you to change varied settings just like the polling fee, RGB lighting, connectivity mode, and DPI settings on the fly with out having to enter Keychron’s M3 companion software program app. It’s laborious to imagine, however you get all this for simply $49, which makes the Keychron M3 an distinctive worth purchase that’s prone to rapidly run off cabinets this yr.
Read our full
Keychron M3 assessment
3. Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ – Best gaming mouse for tinkerers
Pros
- Eminently customizable
- Uses a dependable PMW3389 sensor
- Feels sturdy
Cons
- Customization choices aren’t at all times intuitive
- Heavy, even with the weights eliminated
- Hard to know whether or not Mad Catz peripherals are the extra dependable these days
Price When Reviewed:
$76.08
The Mad Catz R.A.T 8+ is about as customizable as gaming mice come, that includes a modular design that permits you to change up its element components precisely as you want to discover your superb mouse form and weight. Doing so requires you to tug discrete levers and switch knobs built-in into the mouse’s physique, so there’s a reasonably steep studying curve earlier than you realize what you’re doing.
Still, when you love tinkering, this mouse will hold you entertained for hours at a time. It additionally doesn’t skimp within the button division, offering 10 buttons all instructed, oriented in some fairly unique positions for further comfort. With a stripped-back, bare-bones look, the Mad Catz R.A.T 8+ additionally stands out within the crowd, making it an apparent speaking level at any group gaming classes.
Read our Mad Catz R.A.T 8+ assessment
4. SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless – Best for MOBA and MMO video games
Pros
- 18 simply programmable buttons
- Weighs solely 89 grams
- Quick and responsive
- Dual Bluetooth 5.0 and a couple of.4GHz wi-fi
Cons
- Some buttons on the facet grid are laborious to achieve
Price When Reviewed:
$149.99
The extra buttons, the heavier and slower gaming mice are usually, however the SteelSereis Aerox 9 bucks this development with a whopping 18 buttons and weighing simply 89 grams. Needless to say, having 18 buttons at your disposal quite than 6, 8 or 12, provides you slightly extra firepower to launch instructions and macros in video games the place fast deployment is required—particularly in MMOs and MOBAs like The Elder Scrolls Online or Final Fantasy XIV.
On prime of the beneficiant button choice, the Aerox 9 encompasses a fast 18,000 DPI sensor and twin 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so it’s extremely versatile and moveable. Design-wise, the Aerox 9 seems to be and feels incredible because of a futuristic honeycomb-shaped again with RGB lighting. Additionally, because it weighs beneath 100 grams, it’s quick sufficient to maintain you aggressive in first-person shooters.
Read our full
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless assessment
5. Razer Basilisk V3 – Best mouse wheel / Best for scrolling
Pros
- The Razer Focus + sensor provides faultless efficiency
- Scrolling is made less complicated with the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel
- The RGB lighting seems to be incredible
Cons
- It’s fairly heavy and hulking
- You’re restricted to wired connectivity solely
Price When Reviewed:
69.99
The Basilisk V3 resembles the Razer Basilisk V2 in measurement and form, sporting related right-handed curves and a barely arched thumb relaxation. Among its greatest options are an 11 button structure, 26,000 DPI Razer Focus+ sensor, and second-generation Razer optical switches which can be quick sufficient for all types of gaming—whether or not that’s informal or severe. But the true magic lies within the Basilisk V3’s HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, which is a elaborate title for its mouse wheel. This tilts in 4 instructions and triggers downwards to place 5 instructions at your fingertips, superb for tactical FPS video games like Rainbow Six.
Impressively, the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel additionally has further AI scrolling modes that make your scrolling and shopping rather a lot simpler. In our testing we loved toggling between “Tactile” and “Free-Spin” modes, which allowed us to modify between a gradual, exact scrolling motion and a quicker, smoother scrolling motion that was helpful for attending to the top of lengthy web sites extra simply.
Read our full
Razer Basilisk V3 assessment
6. HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless – Best for esports / first-person shooters
Pros
- Weighs simply 61 grams
- Has a extremely correct sensor
- Design is comfy and aids efficiency
Cons
- Lacks Bluetooth
- Button configuration is uninteresting
- Has just one RGB lighting zone
Price When Reviewed:
59.99
If you’re merely a very good gamer HyperX’s Pulsefire Haste Wireless is the sort of mouse that may elevate you to the standing of excellence. Weighing simply 61 grams, it’s the lightest and quickest mouse I’ve had the pleasure of gaming with, feeling barely-there in my fingers.
Just wanting on the specs, you’d be mistaken for pondering its PAW3355 16,000 DPI sensor is slightly underpowered—it’s not, proving extremely correct in shooters like Overwatch and CounterStrike: Global Offensive, particularly with the DPI profile set to the bottom setting. Other issues that make this mouse a category act embrace its fast 2.4GHz wi-fi connectivity, futuristic and cozy honeycomb-shaped again, and the additional grips and PTFE glide skates that come provided within the field.
Read our full
HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless assessment
7. Cooler Master MM830 – Best price range gaming mouse
Pros
- Incredibly comfy and sturdy
- Top-tier efficiency, with a PMW3360 sensor
- You can put a gun on your mouse, I suppose
Cons
- D-pad is essentially the identical as another thumb buttons
- OLED display screen is superfluous at greatest
- PWM3360 cranked to 24,000 DPI for no purpose
Price When Reviewed:
$69.99
The MM830 differentiates itself from different price range gaming mice with enjoyable options like a built-in D-pad and tiny OLED show that you could set as much as present info like your RAM, CPU, and GPU utilization stats. But wanting past these novelties, it additionally performs effectively in video games, which is infinitely extra necessary. Powering that efficiency is a top-end 24,000 DPI PMW3360 sensor, which for comparability’s sake, is similar because the premium Logitech Hero sensor simply with the next energy draw.
On prime of the mouse’s physique the MM830’s sports activities a textured plastic exterior that gives loads of grip for your hand. A delicate right-hand scoop additionally makes it extremely comfortable to make use of even for lengthy gaming stints.
Read our full
Cooler Master MM830 assessment
8. Logitech G203 LightSync – Best ultra-budget gaming mouse
Pros
- A cushty design that resembles costlier esports mice
- Sturdy and well-built
- The RGB lighting actually pops
Cons
- Some sensor lag was skilled with giant, quick actions
- The sensor’s lift-off distance is increased than some mice
- The RGB emblem on the highest is not customizable
Price When Reviewed:
$39.99
Few gadgets provide as a lot bang for buck as this wired RGB gaming mouse that mixes consolation, model and respectable efficiency however with no hefty price ticket. The Logitech G203 resembles costlier esports mice with its easy 6-button configuration, small physique and ambidextrous form, however regardless of being considerably cheaper than rivals, it nonetheless feels sturdy and well-built. The G203’s 8,000 DPI sensor isn’t the quickest you’ll discover, however for causal players it’s nonetheless a greater than sufficient performer that tracks precisely.
The G203 isn’t missing model both. It encompasses a signature rounded again design with colourful RGB band and Logitech emblem that lights up your gaming den with pops of coloration. The RGB band can also be customizable within the Logitech G Hub app, with the choice to personalize three separate lighting zones.
Read our full
Logitech G203 LightSync assessment
9. ROCCAT Kone XP – Best RGB gaming mouse
Pros
- Stunning RGB lighting that lights up the entire prime part
- The Owl-Eye sensor is very correct and highly effective
- The 15 buttons might be custom-made with as much as 29 capabilities
Cons
- The button structure might be complicated earlier than you get the cling of it
- Some players might not just like the daring RGB
- The supporting Swarm software program might do with an replace
Price When Reviewed:
74.99
There are odd RGB gaming mice after which there’s the wired ROCCAT Kone XP whose dazzling RGB lighting is one thing else. More exactly, it options eight inside lighting “pipelines” powered by 22 particular person LEDs that diffuse gentle all through the mouse’s clear plastic prime. That a lot RGB is a daring assertion that you just’re both going to like or hate. But both approach, it’s laborious to disclaim the Kone XP factors for originality.
Despite its flashiness, the ROCCAT Kone XP can also be a really succesful performer in video games. It sports activities a 15-button structure—programmable to 29 capabilities—that makes it superb for MMO, RPG, and RTS gaming, the place you possibly can not often have sufficient choices for instructions. What’s extra, a 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye optical sensor and fast optical switches make sure the Kone XP is suitably quick and responsive when you want to hearth off instructions rapidly and precisely.
Read our full
ROCCAT Kone XP assessment
10. ROCCAT Burst Pro Air – Best RGB gaming mouse runner-up
Pros
- Owl-Eye sensor could be very exact and fast
- You will not discover a mouse with extra gorgeous RGB lighting
- Dual wi-fi in addition to wired connectivity
Cons
- 81-gram weight can really feel heavy when you’re used to a lighter mouse
- Mouse wheel lacks left and proper lateral clicks
- Pricey in comparison with some rivals
Price When Reviewed:
79.99
The ROCCAT Burst Pro Air’s 4 devoted RGB lighting zones shine coloured gentle by its semi-transparent physique, making a mesmerizing sheen-like glow that appears completely gorgeous from any angle. If the semi-transparent shell is your canvas, then ROCCAT’s Swarm app gives your painter’s palette, letting you go to city customizing every zone with as much as 16.8 million colours and a variety of gorgeous results.
But as any gamer is aware of, seems to be aren’t every little thing. Consequently, we additionally selected the Pro Air due to its glorious gaming efficiency, which in our play testing we attributed to its comfy eight-button design, highly effective 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye optical sensor, and low-latency optical switches, that are rated for 100 million clicks.
The Pro Air additionally scores large factors for its glorious connectivity choices, which incorporates low-latency 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 wi-fi choices, and a USB-A to USB-C cable for wired connectivity.
Read our full
ROCCAT Burst Pro Air assessment
11. Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed – Best dual-purpose gaming and productiveness mouse
Pros
- Comfortable, ergonomic design
- Dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Long battery life
Cons
- No RGB lighting
- Slightly slower than top-shelf gaming mice
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
The Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed combines options for gaming in addition to productiveness, making it superb for each. In the boardroom it syncs stealthily with its environment because of an all-black design with no RGB lighting zones. But beneath its modest exterior it hides a extremely delicate 14,000 DPI sensor, which is a strong performer in AAA video games.
Dual 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity enables you to swap between your gaming PC and work laptop computer simply by flicking a swap beneath the mouse’s physique. Unlike some gaming mice, the Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed is powered by both an AA or AAA battery, making it ultraportable. It can keep powered a whopping 235 hours in Wi-Fi mode and 615 hours in Bluetooth mode simply on a single AA battery.
Read our full
DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed assessment
12. SteelSeries Rival 650 – Best rechargeable wi-fi gaming mouse
Pros
- Get 10 hours of cost in solely quarter-hour
- Comfortable and engaging design
- Removable weight system gives loads of choices
Cons
- Heavier than some may like
- Expensive
- Third thumb button is small and awkwardly positioned
Price When Reviewed:
$119.99
Two options stand out to make the SteelSeries Rival 650 a best choice for players. The first is a twin sensor system comprised of a TrueMove 3 sensor and a devoted depth sensor. The depth sensor permits the Rival 650 to detect lift-off at a distance as small as half a millimeter, which is double the sensitivity of rival gaming mice. Needless to say, when you’re liable to lifting, the Rival 650 ought to assist regular your goal.
The second characteristic highlighted by our PCWorld reviewer is its fast-charging functionality that will get you again gaming sooner when the battery runs out. SteelSeries claims simply quarter-hour charging time is sufficient to energy the mouse for 10 (or extra) hours of battery. On prime of those two helpful improvements the Rival 650 sports activities a chic design that allows you to peel of the left and proper facet panels and regulate it to your most well-liked weight.
Read our full
SteelSeries Rival 650 assessment
How we take a look at gaming mice
To be certain that our gaming mice picks are the decide of the crop, the PCWorld staff topics them to in depth play testing in addition to a legion of different assessments. We scrutinize every little thing from how effectively a mouse carry out in video games, to the dimensions and form of it within the hand, to consolation and ergonomics, to customizations. Here are the principle classes our assessments fall beneath:
- Gaming efficiency: At the top of the day it doesn’t matter how a mouse seems to be; it’s the way it performs that issues. To consider a mouse’s efficiency we glance particularly at how delicate and responsive its sensor is and in addition how effectively the sensor tracks motion. Precision can also be a key consideration, with mice which can be extra correct typically scoring higher in our critiques than people who aren’t. In wi-fi mice we additionally consider the velocity and power of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth indicators, retaining a glance out for crimson flags like sign dropouts or interference. Some mice additionally include software program enhancements that decide the mouse’s lift-off distance, which we additionally look at in our testing.
- Design and ergonomics: You received’t discover one other tech gadget for which design performs a extra essential a part of a person’s expertise. And, whereas it’s true that there’s nobody form, measurement, or configuration that matches each gamer, there’s sufficient variation on the market for each gamer to search out their very own perfect match. When design, we contemplate the dimensions and form of the gadget itself and the kind of hand it suits. Gamers have a tendency to make use of one in all three widespread grip varieties—palm, claw, or fingertip—so a mouse’s compatibility with one or all of these varieties is an enormous consideration.
- Software: Being in a position to tweak settings like your mouse’s DPI and polling fee and create particular profiles for your favourite video games could make or break your gaming expertise, which is why a mouse’s software program help is so necessary. Our PCWorld reviewers’ focus right here is to contemplate the vary and scope of software program help and the way readily settings might be modified, modified, and saved for future use.
What to search for in a gaming mouse
Connectivity: Wired versus wi-fi?
It was once typically effectively accepted that wired gaming mice had the sting over their wi-fi counterparts, offering players with a a lot quicker and extra correct sign between mice and PCs. However, that’s much less true than it was once because of the recognition of two.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wi-fi applied sciences, which have nearly levelled the taking part in discipline.
I say nearly, as a result of there’s no denying that wired gaming mice nonetheless ship the quickest and most safe connections you will get. That stated, whether or not or not you select one sort over the opposite ought to come all the way down to your gaming priorities.
If you’re a severe aggressive gamer or esports participant, the place profitable or dropping sits on a knife’s edge, choosing a wired mouse over a wi-fi one is an efficient resolution, because it’s much less probably a sign dropout or interference will disrupt your play. Every aggressive edge counts. However, wi-fi mice are infinitely extra moveable and permit you to swap between gadgets at a whim, so if nimbleness and portability is extra necessary, a wi-fi mouse will probably be a greater match.
What measurement and form ought to I get?
Hands, identical to gaming mice, are available in all completely different styles and sizes and for consolation causes it pays to match like with like. While categorizing sizes of fingers might be extremely subjective, chances are high you’ll have the ability to guess whether or not your hand is on common small, medium, or giant. You can then discover a mouse that most closely fits from among the many measurement classes beneath:
- Small gaming mouse: Length: Less than 6.7 inches; width: 2.9 to three.3 inches
- Medium gaming mouse: Length: 6.7 to 7.9 inches; width: 3.3 to three.9 inches
- Large gaming mouse: Length: 7.9 inches; width: 3.9 to 4.3 inches
Gaming mice typically are available in three shapes: left-handed, right-handed, and ambidextrous. Ambidextrous mice are designed to be impartial in that they are often simply as simply utilized by your left or proper hand. Alternatively, left-handed and right-handed mice are tailored for the dominant fingers specified by their namesakes, typically sporting bespoke curves and button placements for one or the opposite. Unless you turn between fingers, utilizing a gaming mouse that matches your dominant hand will go a protracted technique to enhancing your efficiency and luxury.
Your most well-liked grip sort also needs to be thought of when choosing a suitably formed mouse. Here’s a tough information for matching grip varieties with mouse shapes:
- Palm grip: Long, flat mice are usually a greater match and extra comfy
- Claw grip: Narrower and smaller mice are inclined to swimsuit this grip model
- Fingertip grip: Lighter mice are sometimes most well-liked by fingertip grippers to scale back pressure
How gentle ought to my mouse be?
Gaming mice weights have been step by step trending downwards through the years as gamers search for lighter choices which can be faster to maneuver and stop arms and wrists getting overly drained or sore in lengthy play classes. FPS (first-person shooter) players specifically are inclined to go for the lightest mice doable, seeing each millisecond of velocity benefit as price chasing.
Despite this, there’s no superb gaming mouse weight for all players, however quite a deeply private desire. In reality, some players—typically these with bigger fingers or stronger arms—truly choose heavier mice for the additional stability they get. Still if you’re a type of in search of the lightest mouse doable, something beneath 100 grams will probably be among the many lightest in the marketplace.
Does DPI actually matter?
Your mouse’s sensor is the important {hardware} element that relays motion to your PC. Mice sensors are rated for DPI, or dots per inch, which tells us how far a cursor strikes per inch of mouse motion—that’s, how delicate it’s. Manufacturers actually hype up the significance of excessive DPIs, which could be a bit deceptive as a result of they don’t essentially equate to higher gaming efficiency (they’ll, however not in all circumstances).
For instance, when you play a whole lot of FPS and wish the best possible accuracy whereas focusing on opponents, a decrease DPI (between 800-1,000) is preferable, since this lets you make quick, sharp, and exact actions extra simply. However, when you make a whole lot of vast, sweeping hand actions, or if your show is a really excessive decision, a mouse with a excessive DPI (between 12,000-30,000 DPI) might be a bonus.
The beauty of most trendy gaming mice is that they’ll swap between DPI profiles simply by clicking a small button behind the mouse wheel. That stated, our recommendation is to go for a gaming mouse with the best DPI your price range permits, after which select your most well-liked setting for various gaming situations by utilizing this helpful DPI-switching characteristic.
Is an optical or laser sensor higher?
Optical sensors are the preferred with players since they have an inclination to have much less jitter and smoothing issues. These sensors work by casting down infrared or LED gentle onto your mousepad and capturing 1000’s of digital photographs per second, that then reveals the exact location of the mouse to the PC.
On the opposite hand, laser sensors use a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode to find out positioning. In most instances an optical sensor will do exactly high quality. However, when you plan on utilizing your mouse on a translucent floor (like glass), a laser sensor is preferable since it’ll have higher sensitivity to quite a lot of floor textures.
Button rely: How many do I want?
The sort of video games you play ought to show you how to decide what number of buttons you want. For instance, when you’re an enormous fan of actual time technique (RTS), role-playing video games (RPG), or massively multiplayer on-line (MMOs) video games, you’d be we’ll suggested to decide on a mouse with between 10 and18 buttons—just like the Razer Naga Pro or the SteelSeries Aerox 9. These video games sometimes require you to fireplace off a whole lot of instructions rapidly, so the extra buttons you need to program instructions and macros in, the higher.
On the flipside, if FPS is your go-to recreation sort, you’ll most likely wish to hold your button rely to between 6 and eight buttons. Chances are you received’t want the upper button-count for your smaller listing of instructions. Plus, buttons have a tendency to extend a mouse’s weight, so choosing a mouse with fewer will most certainly imply it’s lighter and faster to maneuver within the frantic FPS motion.
RGB lighting or no?
RGB lighting is a enjoyable characteristic to have in any gaming gadget that may brighten up your gaming den with pops of coloration. It can be fairly helpful, permitting you to see your gadget higher in dimly lit rooms or at night time. And but, there could also be instances while you choose to make use of a mouse that has solely a minimal RGB, or none in any respect.
The commonest instance is when you plan on utilizing your gaming mouse covertly at work. In this case, mice just like the Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed, that haven’t any RGB lighting zones and might convincingly cross as customary black workplace mice, are superb as a result of your colleagues will probably be none the wiser.
Author: Dominic Bayley, PCWorld Australia Editor
Based in Australia, Dominic Bayley is a hardcore tech fanatic. His PCWorld focus is on PC gaming {hardware}: laptops, mice, headsets and keyboards.
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