One of the many great things about PC gaming is the ability to customize your setup and experience. That includes what type of input you’d like to use. On a PC, you’re not limited to specific controllers or other accessories. That trickles over to the most common PC input — the all-mighty gaming mouse. In this article, we’ll be listing the best gaming mice and how to choose the right one.
Mice — especially gaming mice — come in many shapes, sizes, and weights. They provide loads of options to match whatever it is you’re hoping to get out of your gaming mouse experience. Before we look at the mice and their specifications, let’s take a broader look at some features and other options you’ll want to consider before deciding on the best gaming mouse for you.
Optical vs. Laser
We are past the days of mechanical mice with the fun little ball on the bottom. Your mouse uses two main sensor options to tell the computer you’re moving it around: these are optical and laser.
You can take a deep dive into the differences and how each one relays movement information to your computer — or read up on DPI and polling rate. Although, for a quick guide, the two largest takeaways to consider are how accurate you need your mouse to be and what surface you’ll be using it.
Due to the way these two sensors process movement, an optical mouse tends to be more accurate — especially with fast or jerky movements. However, an optical sensor is not great on glossy or reflective surfaces like a laser mouse would be. It’s important to consider on what surface you’ll be using your mouse and what you’ll be using your mouse for. Since this is primarily for gaming, you’ll likely be using a mouse pad and want higher accuracy. This is why you’ll find most gaming mice use optical sensors.
Wireless vs. Wired
In past years, wireless mice really didn’t make much sense. Some earlier and cheaper ones weren’t rechargeable and used actual AA batteries. Also, before Bluetooth became more widely available, they required a dongle to connect. Today, wireless mice hold up well when compared to wired mice for casual gaming. However, depending on the mouse, you may experience some latency. Be sure to find a mouse with charge that will last you all day. 30 hours with no RGB lighting is the lowest recommended.
Wired mice provide the benefit of never having to worry about charge and knowing there’s no latency. Although, wireless mice are great for the simple fact of not having a wire to deal with. If you’re using Bluetooth to connect, you can quickly switch from one device to another. However, that may cause more latency. To combat the latency of Bluetooth some wireless mice opt for connecting using a 2.4 GHz USB dongle. While this does improve the connection to your PC, it also takes up a USB port; and in order to connect to another machine, the dongle would have to be moved. It’s, again, important to consider how you’ll be using your mouse and what your specific set up is.
Grip Type: Palm, Claw or Fingertip Grip
Take a look at how you hold your mouse. I know that may be hard to do consciously — like trying to stop manually breathing, blinking, or swallowing after someone mentions it. But next time you’re using your mouse and it pops into your head, don’t move your hand. Just look down and take notice of how you’re holding the mouse.
These are three main ways in which people tend to hold their mice:
Palm Grip: This grip is essentially your whole hand covering the mouse — from the back of your palm through the length of your hand and fingers to the fingertips.
Claw Grip: In the claw grip, only the back of your palm and your fingertips touch the mouse.
Fingertip Grip: This one is exactly how it sounds. You don’t touch the mouse with your palm at all and control movement and clicks with just the tips of your fingers.
You may also fall somewhere in-between any of those. If grip type is something important to you, be sure to look at the size and weight of the mouse. For example, if you prefer fingertip grip, you may want to look at a mouse with a flatter arch. You can hold most mice in any fashion you prefer, or switch it up until you find what works best. This is just another thing to consider when purchasing a gaming mouse.
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: We get to enjoy beautiful RGB with industry-leading design in the SteelSeries Aerox 5 wireless mouse. It has 9 buttons which includes a fully programmable up/down flick switch!
- Weighs 74g
- Wireless
- 18,000 DPI
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 is a featherlight champion, being 40% lighter than competitors. This wireless mouse is leading in an industry where speed and agility are top priority. Once you buy it, you get a right-handed palm grip for nonstop gaming sessions.
It features a custom TrueMove Air Sensor that provides 1-to-1 tracking with 18,000 CPI and 40G acceleration for pinpoint accuracy. With all it can do, maybe it’s the only thing you’re missing to become number one in your game!
SteelSeries Rival 600 Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: The Rival 600 Gaming Mouse has a unique center of gravity system that includes moveable weights and light-to-heavy customization. This wireless mouse by SteelSeries offers every gamer the widest range of adjustment of any gaming mouse, from 96g to 128g!
- Customizable weight tuning with moveable weights (from 96g to 128g)
- Wired with 6.5′ Cable
- 12,000 CPI
This mouse is built for eSports. So, if you’re looking for the mouse to start your pro-gaming career with, it’s got to be this one from SteelSeries.
It has a TrueMove3+ dual sensor system for true 1-to-1 tracking and precise lift-off detection. Its advanced 12,000 CPI, 350 IPS optical sensor and dedicated depth sensor ensure unmatched control and accuracy — even at lift-off!
Additionally, you get to customize your gameplay with the unique center of gravity tuning system, offering a weight range from 96g to 128g and easy-to-figure-out 4g weights.
Lenovo Legion M600 Wireless Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: Well, it’s a no-brainer. It has an ultra-long battery life and has rapid-charging capabilities that keep you connected to your games with no cable in the way!
- Weighs 110g
- Wireless
- Native 16,000 DPI
The Lenovo Legion M600 Wireless Gaming Mouse has an ergonomic design made for comfort, no matter what grip you prefer. Unlike other mouses, this one is ambidextrous, perfect for both left-handed and right-handed gamers. Comfort and versatility!
The Legion M600 has a feature or two for precision and style, too. With an adjustable DPI of up to 16,000 and 16.8 million colors across two customizable LED zones, your gaming setup is as vibrant as the worlds you play in.
Logitech G G502 LightSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: For its ultra-fast LIGHTSPEED wireless performance, precision with the HERO 16K sensor. Also, the convenience of POWERPLAY wireless charging.
- Weighs 121g
- Wireless
- Up to 16,000 DPI
Imagine this: A leveled up gaming experience with a mouse packed with cutting-edge tech, reliable performance, and a next-gen HERO 16K sensor. Top-notch and sought after by many, this mouse is labeled by Logitech as “for serious gamers.” If that’s you, then this mouse is what you’re looking for.
eSports pros and gamers at home go crazy for its full-spectrum LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting that moves with you as you play or watch. 16.8 million colors to choose from, each one sync-able with your gear, room lights, and rig.
XPG ALPHA WIRELESS Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: We chose the XPG ALPHA wireless gaming mouse for its precise PIXART PAW 3335 sensor, durable OMRON switches, and customizable settings via XPG PRIME software.
- Weighs 99g
- Wireless
- Up to 16,000 DPI
The ALPHA WIRELESS Gaming Mouse is the perfect companion for professional and recreational immersive gaming. It has a high-level PIXART PAW 3335 sensor, and it offers up to 16,000 DPI with 400 IPS speed. If you’re not a fan of technical jargon, here it is in simple terms: Your in-game actions will be smooth and responsive with this mouse, giving you the edge over any competitor.
When it comes to grip, it’s got your back. Its ergonomic shape and iconic triangular textured surface provide a firm, comfortable grip for right-handed gamers, reducing fatigue during speedrun or overnight sessions.
SteelSeries Aerox 3 2022 Edition Wired Gaming Mouse, Onyx
Why We Chose This Mouse: The SteelSeries Aerox 3 is an ultra lightweight mouse that is optimized for fast mouse movements and precision.
- Weighs 59g
- Wired
- 8,500 CPI
- 300 IPS
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 is all about quick swipes and rapid movement. The all-new soft microfiber mesh cable allows for less drag for those first-person shooters. With an ultra lightweight 59g design, this mouse will glide across your desk. The SteelSeries AquaBarrier creates a water resistant protection from water, dust, furs and oils.
The newly introduced TrueMove Core Sensor is a custom 1-to-1 tracking sensor built for performance. The optical sensor delivers speed and accuracy for peak gameplay performance. The open holey shell allows for breathability during long game sessions and RGB lighting to shine through. This mouse is wired, so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries or charging. It’s a fantastic mouse for rapid motion gameplay.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wired Gaming Mouse, Black
Why We Chose This Mouse: The HyperX Pulsefire Haste is all about affordability in the palm of your hand. This mouse empowers gamers to customize the grip and glide with tape and skates for a more personalized experience.
- Weighs 59g
- Wired
- 16,000 DPI
- 450 IPS
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste is an elite wired gaming mouse weighing only 59 grams. The TTC Golden micro switches have a rating for 60 million clicks that will have you gaming for years. With an open mesh honeycomb shell the HyperX Pulsefire Haste allows for ventilation and airflow during those intense moments. The mouse has low-friction skates to help it glide effortlessly and make the mouse more responsive. Included in the set is an extra set of skates in case they wear out.
For gamers who want more grip, the mouse also comes with grip tape for the sides and buttons. The HyperX NGENUITY software allows you to customize DPI settings, RGB lighting, button assignments, record macros, and more! With its lightweight design, customization features, and RGB lighting, this is a fantastic gaming mouse that won’t hurt your wallet.
MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2 Wired Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: The MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2 has a wide DPI range of up to 16,000, and comes with a charging dock for a seamless charge.
- Weighs 65g
- Wired
- 16,000 DPI
The MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2, in the middle weight class of our wired mice, weighs in at 65 grams. Built with the latest 2.4G RF wireless chip, latency is reduced to just 1ms. This allows responsiveness to be nearly 10x faster than most wireless mice on the market. The battery life is up to 80 hours, and the mouse comes with a charge dock to make charging even easier when not playing. With just a 10-minute charge, you get up to nine hours of playtime. The durability and toughness of the switches will last gamers over 60 million clicks.
The MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2 also comes with a cable to charge the mouse and offers connection via USB Type-A. We also can’t forget about the MSI Dragon Center app that allows you to control the lighting, change the DPI, and remap buttons.
MSI Clutch GM31 Lightweight Wireless RGB Gaming Mouse
Why We Chose This Mouse: The MSI Clutch GM31 is the most affordable, small, and ergonomic of the GM series. For gamers looking for a fast, lightweight mouse in the MSI family.
- Weighs 73g
- Wireless
- 12,000 DPI
Sticking with the MSI family, the Clutch GM31 is the smallest, more affordable mouse in the lineup. Weighing only 73 grams, this mouse is all about an ergonomic design. This mouse is designed for small to medium-sized hands in mind, and gamers who want a quick mouse to flick around their desk.
This wireless gaming mouse gets 110 hours of gameplay on a single charge! Plus, with just a 10-minute charge, you get up to seven hours of playtime. Like the other GM models, this mouse also comes with a wire for charging and a charging hub. The premium sensor provides a 12,000 DPI for precision. The mouse saves three onboard profiles, full RGB configuration, macro keys, and five programmable buttons. This is a great introduction into the MSI GM series.
Logitech Logisys G G502 X Wired Gaming Mouse, White
Why We Chose This Mouse: The Logitech G G502 X is all about style and customization with 13 programmable controls and 5 onboard memory profiles!
- Weighs 89g
- Wired
- 25,600 DPI
- 400 IPS
The Logitech G G502 X immediately catches your eyes with the all white design. This is the latest in the G502 line and completely redesigned for that wow factor. This has Logitech’s first-ever hybrid optical mechanical lightforce switches, which give players incredible speed, reliability and immense precision. The mouse is lightweight at just 89 grams, giving you that speed you want while gaming. The G502 features the all new HERO 25K sensor, which delivers sub-micron accuracy, with superior tracking and power efficiency.
The DPI-shift button is completely redesigned, allowing you to adjust the button how you want. You can remove, and reverse the DPI-shift button or even replace it with a blank cover. A dual mode scroll wheel gives you the option for a click scroll, or a fast smooth scroll. We can’t forget about the 5 onboard memory profiles, and the 13 programmable controls, giving you complete control during any game!
Frequently Asked Questions: Gaming Mice
When it comes to dpi, esports pros will say the lower DPI the better — but it depends on the game you’re playing. With a first-person shooter, a DPI of around 500-800 is ideal, allowing you to track and get those headshots. With MOBA and MMO games, a higher DPI allows for faster movement. It also depends on your screen size and resolution. I’d recommend starting at 800 and working down.
What is a good weight for a gaming mouse?
I prefer a heavier mouse because I like to feel the weight of the mouse. However, a lighter mouse is better for competitive use and quicker motions. An ideal mouse weight is around 50-90 grams. This allows the mouse to move quickly across the desk. It all comes down to preference.
What is a mouse gaming sensor?
A mouse gaming sensor enhances the mouse and creates a more optimized experience. The better the sensor, the lower the latency and lag. Gaming sensors also offer higher DPI, and incredible tracking for more precision.
