Having the best gaming mouse is important to every gamer’s setup. It improves reaction times and accuracy. The right gaming mouse gives competitors an advantage, especially in titles like Dota 2 to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
How do you find the best mouse for gaming? Performance determines the best gaming mouse, not flair. RGB lighting zones won’t matter if your mouse is difficult to maneuver. There are three important factors to consider when looking at a gaming mouse: weight, sensitivity, and the number of buttons. Weight affects your accuracy and mobility. DPI is the sensitivity of your mouse which impacts your reaction speed. The number of buttons a device has limits binding options and would be better depending on your gaming style.
Updated: January 2022
A good gaming mouse will be fine-tuned to your playstyle for lightning-fast reactions and is comfortable to use for extended sessions. FPS players might prefer a heavier mouse with minimal buttons for maximum aiming stability. MMO players may prefer a lighter mouse with plenty of side bindings. Those side buttons are critical for quick inventory or ability access in the heat of an MMO raid.
How much can you expect to pay for a premium gaming mouse? After averaging out our choices, $100 seems par for the course. Don’t underestimate budget selections. Less expensive doesn’t mean less performance. The best gaming mouse is subjective to your needs and playstyle. Scroll down to look at our top gaming mice currently on the market.
Best Gaming Mouse All Around
The best gaming mouse
Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Weight 114 Grams
DPI Up to 25,600
Buttons 11
Connectivity Wireless via dongle or wired via USB
Logitech’s G502 gaming mouse is a staple in the competitive gaming community. Its combination of unparalleled customizability with superior performance makes it the go-to mouse for esports. Logitech improved G502’s already best-in-class design by cutting the cable. The result is an unrivaled customizable wireless gaming mouse with an ergonomic shape that grips well no matter the game genre.
From MOBAs to FPS, the G502 Lightspeed just feels right in any hand. Sniping is as satisfying as slaying minions thanks to mechanical button tensioning. Each of the mouse’s 11 buttons is programmable for in-game, app, and system commands. An adjustable weight system lets you switch between game types as often as you want.
The Logitech G502 gives gamers a made-for-you gameplay experience, helping improve performance in any situation. You can even customize the RGB lighting color and animations to boot!
The Logitech G502 isn’t for everyone. It’s bigger and pricier than other gaming mice on the list. But it’s still lightyears ahead of the competition with advanced customization, lag-free wireless performance, and a refined design.
Best Gaming Mouse for FPS Players
The best gaming mouse for FPS players
Razer Deathadder V2
Weight 82 Grams
DPI Up to 20,000
Buttons 8
Connectivity Wired
If you’re looking for a performance gaming mouse feels good in the hand, Razer’s DeathAdder V2 hits the mark. The design is subdued and looks at place in an office as it does your gaming station. There are seven buttons enhanced by optical mouse switches that make each click precise and calculated.
It has two side buttons that are great for binding the reload and crouch buttons in FPS games. The lack of buttons wouldn’t make this a good gaming mouse for MOBA or MMO players who require complex quick bindings.
Like the G502 Lightspeed, can easily assign macros barring the left click. The DeathAdder V2 is a solid, wired gaming mouse that switches easily between a work input and a gaming peripheral. With best-in-class ergonomics and strong performance, this is a great wired gaming mouse that deserves a spot in your hand.
Best Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
The best modular gaming mouse
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
Weight 133 Grams
DPI 18,000
Buttons 8
Connectivity 2.4GHz Wireless and Bluetooth
Corsair’s Dark Core RGB Pro gaming mouse offers a premium feeling a cut above the competition. It boasts a texturized rubber construction. It has a removable magnetic side grip that contours your pinky and ring fingers for support to reduce strain. This results in a gaming mouse perfect for marathon gaming sessions or tournament play.
Performance-wise, the Dark Core moves gracefully with no latency. Eight fully programmable buttons have enough room to breathe for a near-perfect layout. This gaming mouse feels right no matter what type of game you’re playing.
It feels great, functions well, and it looks good, too. Corsair’s design team created an exceptional aesthetic that looks professional yet has the RGB flair of other gaming mice. The QI wireless charging capability that rivals more expensive options on the list is just icing on the cake. The Dark Core RGB Pro really is the best ergonomic gaming mouse out right now.
Best Budget Gaming Mouse
The best budget gaming mouse
SteelSeries Rival 3
Weight 77 grams
DPI Up to 8,500
Buttons 6
Connectivity USB Wired
Cherry-picking the top features from its lineup of professional gaming gear, SteelSeries incorporates premium performance into a consumer-level gaming mouse with the Rival 3. Rated for 60 million clicks, this gaming mouse is exceptionally durable, accurate, and fast. This impressive trio of characteristics makes it hard to believe that the Rival 3 is an entry-level product.
A slick matte black finish could fool one into thinking this is a simple productivity mouse. Just activate the RGB lighting in the scroll wheel and it’s on baby! The slim Rival 3 glows fiercely from its scroll wheel and bottom, contrasting tactile side buttons against the light. Skiddy feet make gliding across any surface a breeze no matter where you are. If you don’t want to physically move the mouse around too much you can kick the sensitivity up to a DPI of 8,500.
The Rival 3’s advanced tech includes a performance-focused optical sensor for true 1-to-1 precision. Its onboard memory allows you to save custom polling rate, keybind, and 5 CPIs directly to the mouse. This is great for those who switch tasks or game types frequently. SteelSeries’ Rival 3 punches well above its weight in terms of offering the most bang for your buck.
Best Gaming Mouse for Claw/Fingertip Grippers
The best gaming mouse for claw/fingertip grippers
MSI GM30 Clutch
Weight 98 Grams
DPI Up to 6,200
Buttons 6
Connectivity Wired
Players who use a claw or fingertip grip will benefit the most from the GM30’s slim symmetrical profile. The smaller size of the Clutch makes it more agile than competitors and perfect for players with smaller hands. All the bells and whistles of higher end competitors are here from a wide DPI range down to the customizable RGB lighting.
Maneuvering the GM30 is no problem thanks to its sub-100 gram weight. This greatly reduces strain from long gaming sessions. Unlike other wired mice, the cable is elevated 4.8 millimeters to prevent drag that would otherwise impede your movement speed.
A plastic matte material leaves more to be desired, but it’s surprising that’s all MSI had to sacrifice to make a quality mouse at this price point. The real star of the show is the perfectly curved design that features three independent RGB zones. Resting comfortably in the hands of both claw and fingertip grippers alike, MSI’s Clutch M30 is a good-looking mouse that won’t break the bank.
Best Lightweight Gaming Mouse
The best lightweight gaming mouse
SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless
Weight 66 Grams
DPI Up to 18,000
Buttons 6
Connectivity Wireless via Dongle and Bluetooth
SteelSeries’ Aerox 3 is an innovative gaming mouse that looks like a device from 2077. Engineered to be as light as possible, a honeycomb design removes excess materials such as plastic covers. This results in an ultra-lightweight gaming mouse with exposed RGB lit innards for a sleek futuristic aesthetic.
Airy yet accurate, the Aerox 3 flies with a minimal amount of pressure. With some fine-tuning the experience is unparalleled. At just 66 grams with a DPI adjustable up to 18,000, those looking for a lightweight high DPI mouse for twitch reactions will be left in awe. Competitive FPS players may find themselves overcompensating their aim. However, every other type of gamer will enjoy their experience.
If you’re looking for the lightest gaming mouse with a solid build quality, the Aerox 3 is your mouse.
Best MMO Gaming Mouse
The best MMO gaming mouse
Razer Naga Pro
Weight 117 Grams
DPI Up to 20,000
Buttons 19
Connectivity HyperSpeed wireless via dongle, Bluetooth and wired
Razer’s Naga series of gaming mice are renowned across MMO communities for their distinctive multi-button side panels. Twelve programmable buttons on the Naga Pro’s thumb grid offer plenty of space for ability and inventory bindings. If you find that you need fewer buttons, the Naga Pro includes two other side panels in a six or two-button configuration.
These magnetic panels are hot-swappable, meaning you can change out the side buttons in the middle of a game. Razer’s software automatically adjusts keymappings instantly without skipping a beat. Ultimately this helps the Naga Pro excel at not only MOBA and MMO games, but FPS as well. In addition to this slick adaptability is onboard storage with support for five profile configurations.
The Naga Pro is the definitive edition of the Naga gaming mouse and the best MMO mouse currently available. It has the most programmable buttons of any mouse on our list and boasts over one hundred hours of battery life.
Best Gaming Mouse for Professional Gamers
The best gaming mouse for professional players
BENQ Zowie EC2
Weight 90 Grams
DPI 400 - 3,200
Buttons 5
Connectivity Wired
You know those movies where the ugly duckling gets a makeover and turns out to be beautiful all along? That’s the best way to describe BenQ’s Zowie EC2. As an unassuming gaming mouse, the EC2 isn’t much of a looker. Plug it in for high-level competitive play and its true beauty emerges come performance time. It’s plain matte black body lacks software, RGB lighting and fancy extra buttons the competition flaunts. But a superiorly engineered shape, weight, and feel combine to offer players peak performance unlike any other gaming mouse on the list.
BenQ’s peripherals are a premier choice in professional esports. Some of the best aimers in Overwatch and CS:GO have been using EC2 predecessors for years. After loading into a lobby and experiencing the capability of the medium-sized gaming mouse, it becomes clear why the pros use this mouse. Cutting the fluff of extra software, superfluous buttons and obnoxious design helped create a refined grip neutral mouse perfect for tournament play. The side buttons are responsive and offer nice feedback with each click. Topped off with an ultralight build, this nimble compact mouse is esports best kept secret.
Comfort alone can only get the Zowie EC2 so far. Each of the seven keys have very low click latency for a responsive input. Unfortunately for those used to creating custom profiles, none of these keys can be reprogrammed. If you’re strictly in the market for peak performance and long lasting comfort the EC2 aims to please.
Best Gaming Mouse for Bigger Hands
The best gaming mouse for larger hands
Corsair Ironclaw RGB
Weight 105 Grams
DPI 100 - 18,000
Buttons 7
Connectivity Wired
Ironically, Corsair’s Ironclaw RGB mouse is not best suited for claw gamers. It’s wide for larger hands but naturally positions your hand into a palm grip. With that caveat out of the way, the Ironclaw retains everything we love about Corsair equipment from lightweight construction to mechanical switches.
This gaming mouse is chunky but weighs a mere 105 grams. Extra gripping room lends itself to contoured surfaces that remain both comfortable and cool throughout the duration of your games. We did however find Corsair’s use of different materials throughout the design a bit jarring. While your pointer finger rests on glossy primary buttons your other digits brush up against different rubber and plastic textures.
Once you’re using the Ironclaw everything else melts away. The extensive sensitivity range is inclusive of all large-handed gamers. Those who prefer a super fast DPI will be equally as pleased zipping across their monitors as players more inclined towards slower deliberate gestures. If you have big meaty claws and want a durable high-performance gaming mouse, look no further than the Corsair Ironclaw.
Best Mouse for Marathon Gaming Sessions
The best mouse for marathon gaming sessions
Logitech MX Vertical
Weight 226 Grams
DPI Up to 4,000
Buttons 6
Connectivity Wireless via Bluetooth and USB Dongle
Logitech’s MX Vertical gaming mouse blends precision with performance inside of a form factor best described as a tall teardrop. Favoring function over aesthetics, the MX vertical definitely isn’t the prettiest gaming mouse on our list. Those who give it a whirl will be pleasantly surprised when the elevated angular grip nearly eliminates wrist pressure.
Reminiscent of a finely engineered flight stick your hand naturally wraps around the mouse. It takes a little getting used to but the 57 degree gripping angle is highly effective at reducing fatigue during marathon gaming sessions. The lack of buttons is disappointing, however, the 4000 DPI is snappy.
Ultimately this is a great gaming mouse for knocking out a majority of games in your backlog and unranked competitive play. Those searching for a multitude of customizable buttons and advanced features won’t find them here. Beyond gaming, Logitech’s FLOW system allows you to transfer data between three separate computers at one time. That’s systems not monitors alone.
What is the most comfortable gaming mouse?
The most comfortable gaming mouse is different for every player and their hand size. From our list, the Logitech MX Vertical has made waves for its performance and comfort. It’s unique shape and grip transcends the competition. But at 226 grams the MX Vertical is a bit on the heavier side.
For players who prefer a lightweight gaming mouse, the Razer Deathadder V2 is hard to beat. The ergonomic design feels great in hand and its mere 82 gram weight shifts around like butter. You can use this mouse for hours on end without cramping.
If you play ability-heavy games or MMOs, the Razer Naga Pro provides a solid middle ground at 117 grams. Unlike the choices above, this mouse features a whopping 19 customizable buttons. Perfect for queuing abilities, items, and taunts, you can focus your other hand solely on movement.
What gaming mouse do pro gamers use?
Professional gamers care about two things: accuracy and speed. Twitch reflexes can help pro players climb to the top just as easily as they can knock them down. To stay on their A game, the pros are constantly looking for a gaming mouse equipped with the latest engineering breakthroughs.
The most popular gaming mouse brands in esports include Razer, Corsair and Logitech for their constant innovation. Unsurprisingly, these brands each have multiple entries on our list. Constantly evolving, building products around comfort and fine-tuning performance components, these brands continue to refine the quality of gaming mice.
Faker, one of the greatest esports pros of all time, uses the CORSAIR SABRE with a DPI of 3500 and in-game sensitivity 70. As a League of Legends star this profile is perfect for quickly scouring the map and cutting down minions and heroes alike. From the top-ranked FPS players, f0rest of CS:GO fame uses a Logitech G Pro Wireless with a DPI of 400.
While this works for the pros you should try multiple gaming mice to find the responsiveness and heft that’s best suited for both you and your playspace.
What’s the best white gaming mouse?
The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is the best white gaming mouse. It comes in multiple colors, including white. So, you can select from a variety of colors to fit your gaming setup style without compromising functionality.
Is a lighter mouse better for FPS games?
Some of today’s top esports titles include Call of Duty, VALORANT, and Overwatch. Each of these games share a common denominator: they are all first-person shooters. Aiming is more intense in FPS games because of their immersive field of view. While other games give you a third-person or God view of an entire area, you’re limited to a strict line of sight in FPS titles. Stakes are higher and require a gaming mouse that can strike as fast as lightning.
Lighter gaming mice fight against less friction and swiftly snap to targets. While you would think this would be ideal in a FPS, oftentimes players overaim. Add in the variables of a moving target and you can see why a more accurate mouse would be better. Heavier gaming mice improve the awareness of your movements for a more stable aim.
A heavier mouse with a low DPI is best for FPS games. Players limited in gaming space or arm strength may opt for a lighter mouse. There’s nothing wrong with either choice as long as you’re copping dubs.
