So you want to buy a gaming mouse.
But with so many options out there, it is super hard to pick the right one.
Don’t worry - we have curated the top ten gaming mice with hours of research and putting each one through stringent performance tests.
With all the legwork done for you, here are the best gaming mice for the money:
Best Gaming Mouse: 2021 Definitive Guide - At a Glance
- 1Razer DeathAdder V2 Gaming Mouse
- 2SteelSeries Rival 710 Gaming Mouse
- 3Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
- 4Razer Viper Ultimate Hyperspeed Lightest Wireless Gaming Mouse
- 5SteelSeries Sensei 310 Gaming Mouse
- 6Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
- 7Corsair Ironclaw RGB - FPS and MOBA Gaming Mouse
- 8MSI Clutch GM30 6200 DPI Gaming Mouse
- 9Razer Naga Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
- 10Razer Basilisk V2 Wired Gaming MouseHome Dakota L-Shaped Desk
Best Gaming Mouse: 2021 Definitive Guide
If you want the absolute best gaming mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V2 is for you. The company has improvised the Deathadder for many years, but its shape stays the same - because it is amazing.
The mouse comes with a 20,000 DPI Razer Focus+ optical sensor, which shows how high-quality it is. It also has extraordinary tracking due to the best technology deployed by Razer. The optical mouse switch provides fast actuation, so each input is registered before you even blink.
The mouse has customizable RGB lighting that allows you to choose from 16.8 million colors. It comes with color presets as well. The RGB lighting syncs with gameplay to provide an immersive experience.
This is not an ordinary mouse. It comes with 8 programmable buttons that allow you to set macros through Razer Synapse 3, the company’s cloud-based configuration tool. The mouse has rubberized grip on the side to give enough stability for intense gaming sessions. The DPI button is pre-set up to 5 custom DPI stages on Razer Synapse 3 and allows you to keep your configurations and settings across devices.
Its cord is drag free and doesn’t require you to use any mouse bungees. If you like wireless mice, you can buy the DeathAdder v2 Pro - Wireless variant.
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If you want an absolute beast of a gaming mouse, go for the Rival 710. It comes with premium features and offers the best gaming experience. The mouse comes with a 12,000 DPI 350 IPS optical sensor that is custom made for optimal accuracy and tracking. The mouse comes with a customizable OLED display. This allows you to access controls and settings on the go.
You can see everything including notifications from apps like discord, in game performance stats, button mapping information and even custom GIFs. You can personalize the display with your game tag or your favorite team logo.
SteelSeries knew how to deliver immersive experiences with features like OLED display. But this is not all. The mouse also comes with a tactile feedback mechanism for next-level responsiveness and immersion. You can customize its tactile sensitivity as well vibration patterns and make the mouse come alive. This feedback mechanism is great for MOBA players.
It also has a modular ID that lets you swap the sensor, change the cable or its cover so that you can personalize it and get the kind of performance you want. It has true 1-to-1 tracking. This means moving the mouse a particular distance moves the cursor in the same exact distance on screen. This ensures that there are no errors in tracking and no lag.
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The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is a great choice if you are looking for a wireless gaming mouse. It comes with Corsair’s proprietary slipstream wireless technology that has sub 1 ms response time to avoid any lag. It also connects wirelessly via bluetooth with low latency and can even be connected with a USB wire.
Its rechargeable battery provides up to 60 hours of battery life. So you can game for hours without worrying about charging. Its advanced optical sensor has 10,000 DPI and tracks each movement with precision and accuracy. We like that it comes with six programmable buttons, so you can set macros and customize the buttons for your favorite commands and inputs.
The mouse has a contoured shape which fits in your hands and its rubber side grips ensure you maintain a steady grip even during merciless shooting streaks or intense chase of your opponents. Its Omron switches are durable and can last 50 million clicks, enough to “grow” with you. Setting up the Harpoon mouse is easy - just plug the wireless adapter in the USB port on your PC and switch the mouse on. The mouse is pretty lightweight at 99 grams, so you can make smooth movements and play a long time without getting tired.
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If you are looking for a killer wireless gaming mouse, the Razer Viper Ultimate is a compelling choice. This mouse is expensive, but it provides a range of exciting features, exactly what gamers want.
Its Focus+ optical sensor has a sensitivity of 20,000 DPI, double of what most mice have. Its accuracy is high at 650 IPS. It effectively means that you can move the mouse at lightning fast speeds without losing accuracy.
Its battery runs for 70 hours on full charge. It also comes with a neat charging dock so that you don’t have to stand up in the middle of gaming to charge it. The charging dock has RGB lighting too, which makes it immersive.
It is also an ambidextrous gaming mouse because of its design. It has programmable buttons to remap them to your required commands. The buttons are on both sides which will suit both left and right-handed gamers.
The mouse only weighs 74 gms, which helps make smooth movements all day without getting tired.
The downside to such an expensive mouse is that its buttons don’t feel sturdy. Now, don’t get us wrong - they aren’t cheap or flimsy. But we expected sturdier buttons at this premium price.
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If you are looking for the best ambidextrous gaming mouse, SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a compelling option. The improvised version of the Sensei comes with a new plastic shell that gives a better grip and doesn’t leave your palm sweaty.
The company uses its own custom sensor with 12,000 DPI to ensure you don’t miss any movement and kill each of your opponents when you want and how you want.
This is a medium-sized mouse which can fit both left and right hands. This is due to the identical thumb buttons on either side.
The mouse also comes with custom RGB lighting with two zones implementation. You can choose your favorite colors and save the settings for an immersive experience each time you play.
It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux - so you can sync it across your devices. The mouse comes with configured buttons for most of the basic controls. The company’s software allows you to enable the buttons on the side.
The mouse isn’t too light and provides a stable movement. Scroll wheel feels good in hand too. The downside is that it can store only two DPI settings. The software can take some getting used to as well.
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The Razer Basilisk X is a great wireless mouse with excellent accuracy and fast tracking. The mouse works up to 450 hours in bluetooth mode, which is insanely good. This is the longest ever run time we have seen on a gaming mouse.
Its sensitivity is high at 16,000 DPI and its tracking accuracy is flawless at 450 IPS. It has a tracking acceleration of 40G which means you can make fast movements.
The mouse is excellent for MMO games because it has programmable buttons. Its shape and texture also allows gamers of all hand-sizes to have a comfortable grip.
Note that it does not come with any RGB lighting or other flashy design features. But this can be an advantage for people who want to use it in professional settings too.
It uses an AA battery for power, so it is a bit heavy. This makes it decent for FPS games. Its latency is really low when you connect it with bluetooth or via USB receiver.
Although you won’t need it, the mouse doesn’t come with a wired connectivity option for backup. Nor does it have a DPI indicator, which some gamers will miss.
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Best Gaming Mouse for Large Hands
Let’s be honest. While small and feather-light mice are great, they don’t mean anything to gamers with large hands. This is where the Ironclaw mouse comes in - it is lightweight yet good for gamers with larger hands.
The Ironclaw comes with a 18,000 DPI optical sensor, so it is sensitive to each little movement that you make. The best part is that you can customize its sensitivity in steps of 1 DPI. This makes its tracking the most accurate to a gamer’s taste.
Corsair knows how important customization is. Therefore, the Ironclaw comes with 10 programmable buttons that allow you to set macros or key remaps to have total control in game.
The mouse also comes with fully customizable RGB lighting divided in two zones. You can choose from lighting presets or make your own.
This mouse is more responsive than its counterparts due to its tactile buttons. They give you instant feedback and allow you to dominate your opponents with improved performance.
Its sides are made of rubber for a solid grip during fast and instant movements. The wavy rubber on the scroll wheel makes things even better. It is also amazing that the mouse is made with multiple materials - one for each panel, which makes the overall fit excellent.
The mouse comes with onboard memory too, so that your settings can sync across devices.
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The MSI Clutch GM30 is a compelling gaming mouse for those on a budget. It comes with interesting features that make it worth your money.
It comes with an optical motion sensor with 6200 DPI sensitivity. This makes sure that you can make fast movements with precise tracking. Its design is also unique - large polygonal buttons on each side allow easy key pressing. The mouse is designed such that you can use both palm grip and claw grip with utmost comfort. It comes with U-shaped RGB lighting around the scroll wheel to make your gaming experience fun and immersive.
The RGB lighting has over 9 types of effects that you can choose from. The lights can be programmed from a collection of millions of colors.
Its build quality is impressive at this price. It has Omron switches that can last up to 20 million clicks. This means you can use this mouse for years before it would ask for an upgrade.
The exit point for the cable is elevated to prevent any unnecessary drag on the mousepad. This helps provide smooth movement and faster response.
You can use the MSI Dragon Center app on your computer to configure settings such as lighting control, button assignment, DPI setting and macro recording.
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Razer Naga Pro is an excellent option if you are looking for a feature-rich gaming mouse. It comes with segment-leading features that put it at the top of the totem pole when it comes to gaming mice.
It has a 20,000 DPI optical sensor, so it will track every little movement you make and show it with an on screen cursor. There are dedicated DPI buttons to set it to your preferred sensitivity level.
It comes with 12 buttons on the side to give you a range of customization. In fact, the side plates can be changed with 2, 6 and 12-button options. 19 buttons allow you to assign a certain command to buttons and remap inputs.
You also get access to a range of chroma color RGB profiles. It has an optical switch that registers input way faster than mechanical switches. Every click is actuated at 0.2 ms, so every stroke and movement is executed immediately.
You can connect it via the company’s Hyperspeed Wireless technology with low latency and 25% faster speeds than competitors. It can last up to 100 hours on full charge.
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Razer Basilisk V2 Wired gaming mouse is a solid option if you want a value for money mouse. The V2 comes with a sensitivity of 20,000 DPI in its optical sensor. So it will track each micro movement and execute it on screen. It comes with programmable DPI buttons so that you can set your preferred sensitivity level. The scroll wheel comes with customizable scroll resistance - a rare feature to personalize its responsiveness.
There are 11 programmable buttons so you can set macros and remap keys for desired commands and functions.
This allows you to personalize your gaming experience. The mouse uses Razer’s cloud based configuration tool called Synapse 3 to configure complex macros.
The mouse comes with a SpeedFlex cable, which doesn’t drag and allows you to swipe and move the mouse without any restrictions. It has RGB lighting that allows you to customize your gaming experience and choose from millions of colors. There are two Razer Chroma lighting zones. Its textured grip improves stability during intense gaming maneuvers.
The mouse is excellent for FPS games because of its low latency. It is comfortable for anyone who uses a claw or a palm grip. If you have small hands, the sniper button may be hard to access for you.
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Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Gaming Mouse
Gaming Mouse vs Regular Optical Mouse
First, let us understand why gamers prefer a gaming mouse over a stock optical mouse that you get with your PC. The answer is that a gaming mouse is more responsive and accurate than a regular mouse. It has high optical sensitivity often around 10,000 DPI and above. Gaming mice also come with programmable buttons for a personalized experience.
Size
Gaming mice come in all shapes and sizes. You need to pick one based on how big your hands are.
Shape and Ergonomics
Some mice are meant for right-handed gamers only, while others are ambidextrous.
Gaming Type
You can pick a specialized mouse based on the type of games you play. For example, if you play FPS games, you should buy a gaming mouse with a sniper button to control DPI sensitivity when lining up difficult shots.
If you are into MMO games like World of Warcraft, you should go for a gaming mouse with lots of programmable buttons. These buttons help you execute a range of shots and techniques to dominate your opponents.
Type of Sensor
The sensor is the heart of a gaming mouse. Gaming mice usually come with optical sensors because they are fast and responsive. But if you are browsing through products online, avoid mice with laser or other types of sensors.
Optical Sensitivity
Check the DPI rating of the mouse. It denotes dots per inch that the mouse can cover while moving. Good gaming mice come with 10,000 DPI or even 20,000 DPI.
Tracking Accuracy
Tracking accuracy measures how fast you can move the mouse before it loses accuracy. The unit of measurement of tracking accuracy is IPS.
Wired vs Wireless
Gaming mice can be wired or offer wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or USB receiver. If you buy a wireless mouse, make sure to check its run time on a single charge.
Programmable Buttons
Programmable buttons allow you to set macros and execute complex gameplay actions at the touch of a button. They make the whole gaming experience immersive and enjoyable.
Weight
Weight affects your gaming performance in several ways. A heavy gaming mouse will get you tired sooner. A lighter mouse will help you perform better in fast paced games such as First Person Shooter (FPS).
Final Thoughts
So there you have it - the complete buying guide to choose the right gaming mouse for you.
While buying a gaming mouse, you need to consider all the factors listed above. Whether you need a wireless gaming mouse, an MMO gaming mouse or one for big hands, this guide has the right gaming mouse for everyone.
Finally, our top pick is the Razer Deathadder V2.
Don’t forget to check it out!
