The best gaming mouse in 2024

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Whereas no gaming mouse will magically cease you from getting wrecked in Counter-Strike or Name of Obligation, the suitable mannequin can provide you a larger feeling of management and make your downtime altogether extra snug. Which one is “greatest” for you in the end comes all the way down to choice: Form is king, as they are saying, and everybody’s arms are completely different. However, we’ve examined dozens of well-regarded gaming mice over the previous a number of months and picked out a couple of choices that glided above the remaining. After numerous hours in CS2, Overwatch 2, Halo Infinite, Last Fantasy XIV and extra PC video games, these are our picks for the most effective gaming mice you should purchase, plus some normal suggestions to bear in mind throughout your search.

Greatest gaming mouse

Different gaming mice we examined

Word: The next is a choice of particularly noteworthy mice we have examined, not a complete listing of each single mannequin we’ve put by its paces.

Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2

The Logitech G Professional X Superlight 2 is an in depth rival to the Razer Viper V3 Professional for many who need a no-frills, high-end wi-fi gaming mouse. It has an identical “potato”-style form, its monitoring is equally super and its optical-mechanical switches have a definite really feel. In contrast to the primary Superlight, it additionally fees over USB-C. However the Viper’s major clicks are crisper and extra pleasant-sounding, its aspect buttons aren’t as mushy and its scroll wheel is each firmer and grippier. It’s additionally barely lighter.

Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed

Very similar to the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, Razer’s Viper V3 HyperSpeed is a lower-cost variant of the top-end Viper V3 Professional. (Complicated, we all know.) At $70, it’s a stable worth. Its symmetrical form and soft-touch end are just about similar to the extra premium mannequin, and although it technically has a worse sensor, the drop-off is hardly noticeable. The principle trade-off is that it’s heavier (about 82g), because it requires a AA battery for energy. That doesn’t make it outright hefty, however you’ll be able to really feel the distinction in twitchier video games. It makes use of older mechanical switches and smaller PTFE toes, too, plus it lacks a port for connecting a cable. So it’s not as near its huge sibling because the mid-tier DeathAdder. Some could want that its DPI button is positioned on the highest of the mouse, although, and its easier on-off swap is sweet.

Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed

The Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed is a extra reasonably priced wi-fi model of the Basilisk V3 with the identical snug form and format, plus a quieter scroll wheel. As a result of it requires a AA battery for energy, although, it weighs round 115g. That is not nice for fast-paced video games. The scroll wheel can’t tilt left or proper, both, nor can it swap between a ratcheted and free-spin mode. It additionally makes use of much less sturdy mechanical switches and solely helps one onboard profile. All that mentioned, it’s an honest worth at $70.

Pulsar X2 V2

The Pulsar X2 V2 is an efficient various to the Lamzu Atlantis OG V2 4K if you’d like a high-performing symmetrical mouse for lower than the Viper V3 Professional. It has a broadly comparable form as Lazmu’s mouse however is marginally lighter. Its plastic shell is sweet and durable, however we discover its flatter sides and hump make it rather less inviting to palm and claw grips. It does use optical switches, however its major clicks aren’t as quiet or full-feeling as these of the Atlantis. It, too, has cutouts throughout the underside shell. We’ve seen the X2 V2 go for $70 on Amazon in current months — at that worth, it’s nonetheless higher for FPS gamers than the Viper V3 HyperSpeed, however we want the Atlantis when each are at their regular MSRP of $100.

Pwnage Stormbreaker

The Pwnage Stormbreaker is a superlight (51g), exceptionally sturdy and premium-feeling wi-fi mouse that’s largely constructed from magnesium alloy as an alternative of plastic. It performs about on par with our high picks, which is great, whereas its right-handed, medium-sized form ought to go well with palm and claw grippers effectively. (If you understand BenQ’s Zowie EC line, the form is principally that.) Nevertheless, the in depth cutouts everywhere in the sides and high shell are noticeable within the hand and make the system extra vulnerable to mess buildup than the DeathAdder V3 Professional. Whereas the buttons and scroll wheel are impressively tight, the primary clicks are a bit too stiff and high-pitched for our liking. We additionally observed extra connection stutters than typical on our take a look at PC, and it’s costly at $169.

BenQ Zowie U2

Talking of BenQ, its Zowie U2 is a wonderfully respectable various to the Viper V3 Professional that prices about $30 much less. It tracks nice, it’s light-weight (60g) and its mechanical clicks really feel high quality. It additionally comes with two receivers, one among which doubles as a useful charging dock. It has a symmetrical form with sides that curve inwards and a decently-sized hump on the again; BenQ says it’s designed for claw grips, and it’s certainly good for that, but it surely must also work for fingertip grippers with bigger arms or palm grippers with smaller ones. Alas, the scroll wheel is gratingly loud and the plastic coating picks up smudges and hand oils prefer it’s its job. There’s additionally no configuration software program, which might make adjusting settings a little bit cumbersome, although some could want not having to put in any further bloat on their PC. This mouse additionally maxes out at a reasonably primary 1,000Hz polling price — that’s not an enormous deal in observe, but it surely is technically behind many different mice on this worth vary.

Logitech G309 Lightspeed

There isn’t a lot fallacious with the Logitech G309 Lightspeed in a vacuum. It’s constructed like a tank, its sensor is correct and its egg-like form ought to really feel OK, if not superlative, in most hand sizes and grip sorts. It makes use of the identical hybrid switches because the G Professional X Superlight 2, so the clicks don’t sound nice however are quick. It additionally has a supercapacitor inside, which supplies it successfully infinite battery life if you happen to personal Logitech’s (expensive) PowerPlay charging mat. That’s neat! Most individuals, although, might want to pop in a AA battery, which pushes the load up round 85 grams. As most of that weight is felt towards the again, the mouse can really feel comparatively clunky to fling round in FPS video games. We’re not followers of the ugly recess throughout the center of the system, both, because it creates an area for mud to gather. At $80, the G309 continues to be high quality for extra informal sorts who’ll solely purchase from a reputation model. However until you employ PowerPlay, it doesn’t do a lot to face out from different choices across the identical worth.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is an honest wired mannequin for many who need a flatter ambidextrous form. It performs effectively for aggressive play, and it’s a lot mild (53g) due to a intelligent design with cutouts on the underside which can be lined by the mouse’s label. However the Endgame Gear OP1 8K is better-built and extra snug, so we predict it’s price the additional money. The Razer Viper 8KHz was one other stable, albeit heavier, possibility with an identical form, but it surely’s now not out there for buy.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wi-fi

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wi-fi is a budget-friendly wi-fi variant of the Haste 2. It could be OK if you happen to should go wi-fi and solely have $50 to spend, as its shell feels sturdy and its low-profile form is well-suited to claw or fingertip grips. It’s a bit weightier than the wired Haste 2 (about 70g) because it runs on a AAA battery, however that’s nowhere close to heavy. That mentioned, its major buttons really feel considerably mushy, and we noticed a couple of sensor hiccups and inconsistencies, notably once we had HyperX’s Ngenuity software program open.

Logitech G502 X

The Logitech G502 X has a usually comparable form because the Razer Basilisk V3, with a decrease weight (84g) and extra aspect buttons. Nevertheless, its major buttons are noisier, it’s a barely extra awkward match for many arms, its rubber cable isn’t as versatile and it lacks RGB.

Logitech G203 Lightsync

The Logitech G203 Lightsync is our former price range choose. It’s usually out there within the $30 vary as of late, and at that worth it’s nonetheless high quality if you’d like a reliable gaming mouse for as little cash as potential. You may really feel the associated fee chopping in its rubbery cable and mushy scroll wheel, nevertheless, and its form is a bit too small and flat for bigger arms. The Logitech G305 Lightspeed is a wi-fi mannequin with roughly the identical form, but it surely requires a AA battery to work and thus weighs simply over 100g. It, too, feels considerably outdated in 2024.

Razer Cobra

The Razer Cobra is one other value-oriented wired possibility with a compact form. It’s a lot lighter (58g) than the Logitech G203, with a extra versatile cable and optical switches as an alternative of mechanical ones. It’s priced at $40, although, placing it in one thing of a no man’s land between the G203’s and Basilisk V3’s typical going charges. The Endgame Gear OP1 8K nonetheless feels higher-quality throughout the board, however you probably have smaller arms, use a fingertip grip and need a symmetrical mouse on a budget, go for it.

Superb Mannequin I 2 Wi-fi

There’s a lot to love concerning the Superb Mannequin I 2 Wi-fi: an ergonomic form that’s harking back to the Basilisk V3/Logitech G502 X however lighter at 75g, 4 customizable aspect buttons, the flexibility to attach over a USB receiver or Bluetooth, a {smooth} scroll wheel and tasteful RGB lighting, all for $100. Nevertheless, its honeycomb-style design and mechanical switches each increase considerations about its long-term sturdiness.

Superb Mannequin D 2 Wi-fi

The Superb Mannequin D 2 Wi-fi additionally has holes throughout its shell but doesn’t carry out or really feel considerably higher than different mice across the $100 mark. Evaluations from different websites say it has latency points, too. The ergonomic Mannequin D 2 Professional and symmetrical Mannequin O 2 Professional aren’t loaded with cutouts, however their major buttons are comparatively loud and sticky-feeling.

Razer Naga Left-Handed Version

The Razer Naga Left-Handed Version isn’t practically pretty much as good of a price because the Scimitar RGB Elite, but it surely’s one of many few MMO mice that’s truly constructed for lefties.

Logitech G600

We might proceed to suggest our former MMO choose, the outdated however splendidly versatile Logitech G600, however sadly it’s been discontinued.

What to search for in a gaming mouse

Wired vs. wi-fi

Shopping for a wi-fi gaming mouse used to imply sacrificing a sure degree of responsiveness, however fortunately, that’s now not the case. Over the previous few years, wi-fi connectivity has improved to the purpose the place the distinction in latency between wi-fi mannequin and a tried-and-true wired gaming mouse is barely perceptible.

Word, nevertheless, that we’re strictly speaking about mice that use a 2.4GHz connection (over a USB dongle), not Bluetooth. Most of the greatest wi-fi gaming mouse fashions assist each connection choices, which is nice for journey, however Bluetooth’s latency is usually too excessive to be dependable for gaming.

Going wi-fi nonetheless has different trade-offs, too. Battery life is bettering on a regular basis, however with their greater efficiency calls for and RGB lighting, most wi-fi gaming mice normally do not final so long as “regular” wi-fi fashions. You shouldn’t count on quite a lot of days of energy from a chargeable gaming mouse you employ repeatedly. Some gaming mice provide wi-fi charging too, which makes issues a bit simpler. Good wi-fi gaming mice normally come at a a lot greater price than their wired counterparts as effectively.

That’s to not say the premium is rarely price it: Who needs but one other cable on their desk? You could want a wi-fi mannequin if you happen to hate the texture of “cable drag” or in case your gaming PC is positioned in an ungainly spot. Many wi-fi gaming mice include a cable you’ll be able to hook up in a pinch as effectively. But when worth is your main concern, wired mouse is normally a greater worth.

Consolation and grip sorts

Everybody’s arms are completely different, so on the finish of the day, calling one mouse “extra snug” than one other is usually subjective. Making certain your consolation is probably the most important step when shopping for any mouse, although, so we’ve finished our greatest to contemplate how every system we examined works with smaller, average-sized and bigger arms alike.

We additionally thought of how every system accommodates the three grip kinds most individuals use whereas holding a mouse: palm, fingertip and claw. As a refresher, a palm grip is when your complete hand rests on the mouse, together with your fingers resting flat on the primary buttons. A fingertip grip is while you steer the mouse solely with the information of your fingers, together with your palm not involved with the system in any respect. A claw grip is when your palm solely touches the again fringe of the mouse, together with your fingers arched in a claw-like form towards the buttons.

Usually, most individuals use a palm grip, which tends to supply the best sense of management — although, relying on the dimensions of your hand, chances are you’ll want your mouse to be a selected size to make use of it comfortably. A fingertip grip can enable for extra speedy actions, whereas a claw grip is one thing of a steadiness between the 2. Swap and Click on has breakdown if you happen to’d like a bit extra element, however we’ve famous above if a mouse isn’t well-suited for a selected grip type. For what it’s price, yours really is a claw gripper more often than not.

Construct high quality and design

gaming mouse feels sturdy and gained’t flex or creak when used strenuously. We valued mice with none overly sharp angles or grooves that might be awkward for most individuals to carry. And whereas most gaming mice have plastic exteriors, not all plastic is created equal, so we seemed for finishes that had been {smooth}, not too slick and able to withstanding the sweaty palms that always include aggressive gaming classes.

The gaming mouse market is usually cut up between two design kinds: ergonomic and ambidextrous. Ergonomic mice are nearly at all times made with right-handed customers in thoughts and infrequently characteristic devoted thumb rests. Ambidextrous mice are extra symmetrical and designed for use with both hand (although they might not have further buttons on each side). Whether or not an ergonomic or ambidextrous gaming mouse works greatest for you is basically a matter of private choice.

A gaming mouse’s toes, in the meantime, ought to present a constant glide and scale back the friction between your mouse and mouse pad beneath it as a lot as potential. For the most effective efficiency, search for toes constructed from PTFE (aka Teflon). All toes will ultimately put on down, however many mice include spares, and most producers promote replacements if wanted.

As for flashy RGB lighting, it’s a pleasant bonus, however little greater than that. Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve already kitted out your setup with RGB, having a mouse with adjustable lighting results can add to the gaming expertise (and extra shopper tech may stand to do issues for pleasure’s sake). Extra virtually, some mice allow you to assign customized lighting settings to separate profiles, which might make it simpler to see which one you’re at present utilizing.

Weight

Gaming mice have gotten lighter and lighter through the years, with some current releases weighing lower than 40 grams. Your mouse doesn’t want to be that feathery — something underneath 80g continues to be moderately mild, and it’s not like a 100g mouse seems like a complete anchor. Regardless, a light-weight mouse makes it simpler to tug off quick actions repeatedly, with much less inertia. That mentioned, some gamers nonetheless take pleasure in a little bit little bit of bulk of their gaming mouse (comparatively talking), particularly with video games that aren’t as reliant on twitchy reactions.

To succeed in these lightest weights, some producers have launched gaming mice with “honeycomb”-style designs, which characteristic an array of cutouts within the outer shell. These mice can nonetheless carry out nice, however having a bunch of holes that expose the interior circuit board to potential sweat, mud and detritus isn’t the most effective for long-term sturdiness.

Switches, buttons and scroll wheel

A rising variety of gaming mice use optical switches as an alternative of mechanical ones. Since these contain fewer bits making bodily contact, they need to usually be extra sturdy and fewer vulnerable to undesirable “double-clicks” over time. Many avid gamers nonetheless discover good mechanical switches extra satisfying to press, so it is not like it’s best to keep away from mechanical mice altogether. They only carry a little bit extra long-term danger in a vacuum.

Since most individuals will use their gaming mouse as their mouse-mouse, it’s your decision major buttons which have a softer really feel when pressed, with sufficient journey to make inadvertent actuations much less frequent. However even that may be a matter of choice: You might have considered trying lighter buttons if you happen to play video games that decision for fixed clicking. We additionally seemed to testing from websites like Rtings to make sure every mouse we suggest has a sufficiently low click on latency, that means your clicks will register with minimal lag.

Past the usual click on panels, gaming mouse must also have programmable buttons for fast macros or shortcuts. For many video games, shoot for at the very least two further buttons on the thumb-side panel which can be straightforward to succeed in and tough to press accidentally. Many mice have extra buttons, which generally is a plus, however not in the event that they pressure you to contort your fingers to keep away from hitting them. For MMO mice, having at the very least 12 aspect buttons is preferable with the intention to entry as many hotbar instructions as potential.

As for the scroll wheel, it ought to have distinct, ratcheted “steps” that aren’t too resistant however make it clear while you’ve truly scrolled. Its texture needs to be grippy, and it should not make a distracting quantity of noise when used. The wheel must also be clickable, supplying you with one other enter to customise for sure video games (e.g., to regulate the zoom on a sniper rifle).

Sensors and efficiency

Some are more adept than others, however usually talking, the optical sensors constructed into most fashionable gaming mice are greater than quick and correct sufficient for most individuals’s wants.

Whereas purchasing for gaming mice, you’ll see a variety of phrases associated to sensor efficiency. To be clear, a gaming mouse’s responsiveness doesn’t come all the way down to only one spec. However for readability’s sake, right here’s a rundown of the extra noteworthy jargon:

• DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of a mouse’s sensitivity. The upper the DPI setting, the extra your cursor will transfer with each inch you progress the mouse itself. Most of the greatest gaming mice promote extraordinarily excessive DPIs that high out above 30,000, however that’s largely advertising fluff: Few folks play above 3,000, with 800 a typical candy spot. This idea can be known as CPI (counts per inch), which might be the extra correct time period, although DPI is used extra usually.

• IPS, or inches per second, refers back to the most velocity a mouse sensor helps. The upper the IPS, the quicker you’ll be able to transfer the mouse earlier than it turns into incapable of monitoring motions appropriately.

• Acceleration goes with IPS. On this context, it refers to what number of Gs a mouse can stand up to earlier than it begins to trace inaccurately.

• Polling price is a measure of how usually a mouse tells a pc the place it’s. Usually, the extra incessantly your mouse experiences info to your PC, the extra predictable its response time needs to be. Something at 500Hz or above is okay for gaming. The candy spot for many is 1,000Hz. Many more recent mice can go all the best way as much as 8,000Hz, however you begin to see diminishing returns the upper you go until personal a strong PC and play on a gaming monitor with a very excessive refresh price.

• Carry-off distance is the peak at which a mouse’s sensor stops monitoring the floor beneath it. Many aggressive gamers like this to be as little as potential with the intention to keep away from unintended cursor actions whereas repositioning their mouse.

Software program and onboard reminiscence

It doesn’t take lengthy to search out horror tales about bugs and different niggling points attributable to gaming mouse software program, so the best app is one which doesn’t pressure you to make use of it on a regular basis. It ought to allow you to modify as lots of the points above as potential, ideally to a number of distinct profiles. Ideally, it can save you your settings on to the mouse itself, letting you choose your customizations again up on one other system with out having to redownload any software program. All that is most necessary on Home windows, however Mac compatibility is at all times good to have.

Guarantee and buyer assist

Most main gaming mice manufacturers provide warranties between one and three years. The longer and extra in depth a producer’s program is, the higher. That is the case with most shopper tech, however we word it right here as a result of the gaming mouse market is especially flush with merchandise from less-than-household names, lots of which you might even see overvalued on YouTube, Reddit or elsewhere across the internet. A bunch of those extra obscure mice are genuinely nice, however if you happen to ever purchase from a extra area of interest model, it’s price checking that some degree of buyer assist is in place. We’ve made certain our picks for the most effective gaming mice aren’t riddled with an irregular quantity of poor consumer opinions.

Latest updates

September 2024: We have utterly refreshed this information for late 2024, including new major picks primarily based on form alongside notes on a number of different gaming mice we have examined in current months. We’re now within the technique of testing Logitech’s new G Professional X Superlight 2 DEX, a flagship ergonomic mouse that the corporate introduced proper as we had been placing the ending touches on this replace.

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