The best gaming mouse can transform how it feels to interact with your favorite games. With a top rodent, every click or swipe takes you closer to winning in the best PC games, but a poor mouse that’s slow and unreliable can cost you the game.
Do you want a wired or wireless gaming mouse? We’ve got both on this list, plus lightweight and featherweight choices for different genres. The SteelSeries Rival 3 is our top option if you’re shopping with a small budget.
These are our tried and tested picks for the best gaming mouse. Even an amazing mouse can let you down without the right mouse pad, so check out our guide on the best mouse pad for a full suite of recommendations.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Best gaming mouse in 2024:
Best gaming mouse for most
Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed specifications:
Sensor |
Razer Focus Pro 30k Optical |
Battery Life |
Up to 280 hours (1,000Hz), Up to 50 hours (8,000Hz) |
Max DPI |
30,000 |
Buttons |
6 |
Weight |
82g |
Reasons to buy
- Ultra responsive
- Long battery life
- Fast polling rate
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy compared to the market trend
The Viper V3 HyperSpeed is as close to a no-compromises clicker as you can get. Razer has crammed in all the features you could want from a gaming mouse, wireless or otherwise, all for a surprisingly low price.
While the Viper V3 HyperSpeed shines brightest in esports FPS games, it’s an excellent option for practically any game. Its hand-feel is unmatched, smartly refining and improving the already great base established by its predecessor.
The decision to use an AA battery in place of a built-in rechargeable option does mean it’s relatively heavier than competitors, at 82g, but it does offer some unique advantages. You can expect to get up to 280 hours of use from the Viper V3 HyperSpeed, and can quickly swap in a new battery if your charge is low.
Read our Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed review.
SteelSeries Rival 3
Best cheap gaming mouse
SteelSeries Rival 3 specifications:
Sensor |
SteelSeries TrueMove Core |
Battery life |
N/A |
Max DPI |
8,500 |
Buttons |
6 |
Weight |
77g |
Reasons to buy
- Great value
- High quality
- Solid sensor
Reasons to avoid
- On the small side
- Side buttons can be sticky
You might think we have a soft spot for SteelSeries, but trust us when we say the Rival 3 is incredible value for money. For under $40, and sometimes even less if you can snag a discount, you’ll get a gaming mouse with a fantastic sensor, a lightweight body, and six programmable buttons — hardly a bland setup considering its price point.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is classy in its way, as it sticks to the basics in the best way possible. It looks great and feels fast, and its TrueMove Core sensor provides respectable levels of accuracy. Sure, it lacks the oomph of the Rival 5, and you’ll get more features if you fork out more for an alternative. Yet, we still reckon this rodent outclasses even premium picks, as it nails its primary goal of being a fantastic gaming mouse.
If the Rival 3 has one drawback, it’s perhaps its dinky size. Slightly amusing considering our main Rival 5 complaint links to it being unwieldy in smaller hands, but you might find your mitts are a little for this model.
Hand size woes aside, the SteelSeries Rival 3 is a cheap gaming mouse solution that doesn’t compromise performance. It’s great value for money even at full price, but you can more often than now find it reduced to as little as $20, and that’s a PC gaming bargain worth shouting about.
Best wireless gaming mouse
Corsair M75 Air specifications:
Sensor |
Corsiar Marksman optical |
Battery life |
Up to 34 hours |
Max DPI |
26,000 |
Weight |
60g |
Battery Life |
Up to 100 hours |
Buttons |
5 |
Reasons to buy
- Weighs in at just 60g
- Up to 100 hours of battery life
- Comfort palm grip
Reasons to avoid
- High price tag
- No onboard DPI switch
The best wireless gaming mouse options are capable of providing amazing responsiveness and response times without the need for a cable trailing across your desk.
The Corsair M75 Air comes in at an incredible 60g while packing in a battery capable of up to 100 hours of use in Bluetooth mode. While the battery life drops to around 60 hours on the 2.4GHz wireless, largely down to the standard 2,000Hz polling rate, it’s still more than enough charge to get you through a few weeks of play.
Our time with the M75 Air was filled with learning moments and it seems like the gaming mouse market is starting to move away from the concept that heavier = premium. Ultra-light gaming mice are the way forward and the M75 Air is the standard bearer for this.
Stripping back on customizable buttons might be a problem if you need to have multiple macros or binds set up for the games that you play, but they’re not a big miss in general. The lack of a DPI switch on the mouse is also a little frustrating, but the DPI is editable in Corsair’s iCue software.
Read our Corsair M75 Air review.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
Best wireless ergonomic mouse
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro specifications:
Sensor |
Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical |
Battery life |
90 hours |
Max DPI |
30,000 |
Buttons |
5 |
Weight |
64g |
Reasons to buy
- Really comfortable to use
- Lightweight
- High precision
Reasons to avoid
- No Bluetooth connection
- Could use more buttons
Razer mice are always among the best, and the DeathAdder V3 Pro is the latest in a long line of hits. It’s an expensive choice, for sure, but it more than justifies its price with its high levels of comfort and precision. It’s lightweight and easy to move around, but at the same time remains a sturdy and reliable build.
While it is limited to a USB dongle as its point of connection (rather than letting you use your device’s native Bluetooth connection), it’s not something that we found especially bothersome. Its specs are quite similar to the V3 HyperSpeed, but the loss of 20g in weight makes a huge difference to the overall level of control you have when using it (although we are disappointed that it has one less button too).
On top of that, it’s available in both black and white variants, allowing you to better match your aesthetic. Out of the box, it’s fantastic to use, but if you open up Razer’s Synapse software, you’ll find loads of options for customization, from adjusting the function of buttons to changing the sensitivity levels, and even saving up to five different settings for use at different times. You’ll struggle to find a mouse as good as this.
Best wired ergonomic gaming mouse
Razer DeathAdder V3 specifications:
Sensor |
Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical |
Battery life |
N/A |
Max DPI |
30,000 |
Buttons |
5+1 on underside |
Weight |
59g |
Reasons to buy
- Comfortable ergonomic shape
- Very light
- Fantastic gaming performance
Reasons to avoid
- Basic feature set
- Undefined scroll wheel detents
- Mediocre value
The Razer DeathAdder V3 is the latest in a long line of DeathAdder mice, with the newest version delivering an incredibly light 59g design that’s super easy to move around quickly. The core ergonomic DeathAdder shape remains, though, making this a larger mouse that’s ideal for casually draping your hand over for hours of comfortable gaming.
In terms of features, it’s a basic mouse with just five buttons on the top and a DPI switching button on the bottom. It’s also just a plain wired mouse. However, that simplicity makes it a reliable tool for intense gaming battles, with its 30K sensor also delivering flawless tracking performance.
It’s not outstanding value and we wish the scroll wheel detents were a bit more defined but if you just want a reliable, comfortable, lightweight gaming mouse without the extra cost and battery life worries of wireless, this is the mouse to get. And if you do want wireless, there’s always the DeathAdder V3 Pro.
Read our Razer DeathAdder V3 review.
Best lightweight wired gaming mouse
Endgame Gear OP1 8k specifications:
Sensor |
PixArt PAW3395 – optical |
Battery life |
N/A |
Max DPI |
26,000 |
Buttons |
5 |
Weight |
50.5g |
Reasons to buy
- Fantastic shape and design
- Incredibly light
- Excellent overall performance
Reasons to avoid
- A touch expensive
- Only in black or white
- No top DPI button
The Endgame Gear OP1 8k is our favorite top-tier wired gaming mouse for gamers who are after a lightweight, stripped-back mouse that’s ideal for competitive FPS and other competitive genres. Its incredibly light, symmetrical design is well suited to a wide range of hand sizes and grip styles (though it isn’t truly ambidextrous) and its build quality and surface feel great.
Performance from its PixArt 3395 sensor is also fantastic with flawless tracking performance while its buttons are officially the fastest-responding on the planet, so there’s minimal possible latency between thinking about firing and it happening on screen. Its up to 8kHz polling rate also ensures incredibly smooth tracking.
Several mice can claim to have most of the above core performance characteristics but what really sets the OP1 8k apart is its little extras. The cable bends upwards as it leaves the mouse, reducing cable drag. You also get easy access to the inside of the mouse with an included screwdriver, letting you swap out the switches. You can buy a wide range of replacements that plug right in – no soldering required. You also get spares skates and grips in the box.
The 8kHz polling version of this mouse is quite expensive – though not crazy price – but if you want the ultimate in performance with not battery concerns, it’s a great option. Meanwhile, if you’re happy with 1kHz polling the non-8k OP1 is a great buy at just $50.
Read our full Endgame Gear OP1 8k review.
Best lightweight wireless mouse
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 specifications:
Sensor |
Logitech Hero 2 |
Battery life |
Up to 90 hours |
Max DPI |
32,000 |
Buttons |
5 |
Weight |
60g |
Reasons to buy
- Long battery life
- High DPI
- Smooth to use on any surface
Ultra-light mice aren’t a fad, they’re the future. Gone are the days when heavy = premium and we’re quite pleased that this is the case. The Superlight 2 offers multiple connection modes and has up to 95 hours of battery life per charge.
If we were to compare this directly up against the Corsair M75 Air, it would come out slightly behind, only down to a minor price difference, but the Superlight 2 does hold some advantages over the M75. This includes a higher DPI, color options, and better storage for the USB receiver when it’s not in use.
One real advantage the Superlight 2 has over so many other mice, is its ability to glide with ease over any surface. The PTFE pads occupy the curved rear of the mouse and effectively the entire front end of the mouse just past the sensor. This means you’ll have no issue using the Superlight 2 with any existing or new mousemat you buy.
Read our Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 review.
Best fingertip grip gaming mouse
Cherry Xtrfy MZ1 Wireless specifications:
Sensor |
PixArt PAW3370 Optical |
Battery life |
75 hours |
Max DPI |
19,000 |
Buttons |
6 |
Weight |
62g |
Reasons to buy
- Great for fingertip grip
- Very light
- Excellent overall performance
Reasons to avoid
- Divisive shape
- Not ideal for claw and palm grip
- Quite expensive
The Cherry Xtrfy MZ1 wireless is a mouse that some users will love and some will hate. In a world where most gaming mice have the raw sensor and latency performance to cope with any gaming situation and mouse design is more about shape, weight, and the feel of a mouse, this mouse is our favorite for fingertip grip gaming.
That is, if you use a grip style where you just hold the mouse with your fingers and want to keep as much space as possible free under your palm then this mouse delivers that. If you prefer a bit more hand support, it won’t be to your liking, although we do find it works somewhat well for claw grip too.
The key to the design is how low it is and how pronounced the finger grooves are. Your fingers just lock into the two main buttons creating a really secure, accurate feel. You can even swap out the back section for a slightly different shaped rear and screws on the underside adjust the weight balance.
Shape aside, the buttons here are perfectly tensioned for a really precise, crisp response that combined with the excellent sensor makes for a mouse that feels just right for fast-paced FPS gaming.
Read our full Cherry Xtrfy MZ1 Wireless review.
Roccat Kone XP specifications:
Sensor |
Roccat Owl Eye 19K |
Battery life |
NA |
Max DPI |
19.000 |
Buttons |
15 |
Weight |
104g |
Reasons to buy
- Loads of each to reach buttons
- Comfortable shape
- Amazing RGB
Reasons to avoid
- A touch expensive
- A little heavy
MMO mice are all about providing loads of extra buttons so that you can fire off a multitude of actions with a single button press. The bad solution many MMO mice have taken to achieve this is to plaster loads of small, difficult to press extra buttons underneath the thumb area of the mouse, as on the Corsair Scimitar and Razer Naga. The Kone XP does things in a far more sensible way.
While it doesn’t have quite as many buttons in total as the Scimitar (17) and Naga (20), the Kone XP’s 15 buttons are all arranged in a way that they’re easy to reach and press accurately. You get two extra buttons just to the left of the normal left click button, a second row of two buttons below the normal back/forward thumb buttons, an extra button below the thumb, and a button on top of the mouse. Not only are these buttons all accessible but by leaving space for your thumb, this mouse is much easier to grip in a variety of grip styles.
All this and the Owl Eye sensor tracks superbly, plus you get truly dazzling RGB lighting shining through the translucent casing. The mouse is a bit heavy compared to modern ultra light options, at 104g, but it’s still not too bad considering the extra buttons you get.
Read our full Roccat Kone XP review.
Best gaming mouse for big hands
Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless specifications:
Sensor |
Custom Pixart PMW3391 Optical |
Battery life |
Up to 50 hours |
Max DPI |
12,000 |
Buttons |
11 |
Weight |
107g |
Reasons to buy
- Big mouse for big hands
- Wireless
- Three RGB zones
Reasons to avoid
- Slightly spongey buttons
- Not the prettiest
Hands come in all different shapes and sizes, and the Corsair Ironclaw RGB wireless gaming mouse understands the assignment. It’s much wider than other options out there, but it doesn’t miss a trick when it comes to specs, performance, and functionality.
The Ironclaw follows in the footsteps of many Corsair mouse models before it, but it admittedly looks a bit more rugged than its siblings. That’s because it’s designed to fit “most hands,” meaning aesthetics sort of take a backseat. It’s not what I’d call an ugly mouse, but if you’re looking for something that’ll feel /right/ in your specific palms, this clicker should do the trick.
As the name implies, the Ironclaw RGB wireless ditches cords for 2.4GHz Slipstream dongle connectivity, or you can hook it up to other devices using plain old Bluetooth. Opting for the latter will benefit battery life, but using Corsair’s proprietary connection will facilitate low latency.
While the Ironclaw will fit a variety of hands, Corsair’s chunky mouse won’t be for everyone. It’s not as pretty as alternatives, and its buttons are a tad on the spongey side, but it’s going to still put a smile on your face if every other option feels too small to handle.
Read our Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless review.
Best left-handed gaming mouse
Logitech G903 specifications:
Sensor |
Logitech Hero 25K |
Battery life |
Up to 32 hours |
Max DPI |
12,000 |
Buttons |
11 |
Weight |
107g |
Reasons to buy
- Wireless
- Infinite scroll wheel
- Ambidextrous
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy
- No Bluetooth connection
- No place to store dongle
The Logitech G903 is a magnificently versatile gaming mouse that, unlike the G900 Chaos Spectrum, includes compatibility with the Logitech G PowerPlay charging mouse pad so you can manage cables and never have to plug your mouse in again.
It’s rocking an ambidextrous design, with only a slight compromise in comfort for either left or right-handed users, and its ergonomic layout is equally adept at catering to either claw or palm grip gamers.
The G903 can also be used either as a wired or wireless gaming mouse, and we detect no compromises in performance should you decide to game without the cable.
Read our Logitech G903 review.
Best gaming mouse for work and play
Logitech G502 X Plus specifications:
Sensor |
Logitech Hero 25K |
Battery Life |
130hrs (RGB off), 37hrs (RGB on) |
Max DPI |
25,000 |
Buttons |
11 |
Weight |
104g |
Reasons to buy
- Comfortable shape
- Loads of easy-to-reach buttons
- Switchable scroll wheel is great for work
- Convenient stowage spot for wireless dongle
Reasons to avoid
- Far too heavy for competitive shooters
- Scroll wheel wobble is distracting
- Expensive
- Lacks Bluetooth support
The Logitech G502 X Plus is the ideal gaming mouse for those that mostly take their gaming at a more leisurely pace or that want a single mouse that’s a great crossover for gaming and general desktop productivity/work. Its extra buttons and clever scroll wheel are super useful both for work and play, making this a truly versatile mouse.
You get five more buttons than most typical gaming mice, all of which are in easy reach. Meanwhile, the scroll wheel’s ability to switch from a normal notched feel to a smooth freewheeling feel makes it great for scrolling through long documents or zooming in and out of your map view really quickly. It’s also a comfortable shape, has decent battery life, and is reasonably priced considering all its extra features.
However, this mouse isn’t well-suited for faster-paced gaming. The weighted, side-tilting scroll wheel feels imprecise for fast weapon switching or the like. Meanwhile, the mouse’s relatively high overall weight of 104g feels very cumbersome compared to the many mice now available that weigh less than half that.
Read our full Logitech G502 X Plus review.
Also tested
How to choose the best gaming mouse
A lot goes into picking the best gaming mouse for your needs. Pricing will be a consideration for many gamers, and while a decent gaming mouse doesn’t have to break the bank, we’d advise staying over $30. Cheaper products generally lack long-term durability or essential features for gamers.
Most importantly, do you want a wired or wireless connection? Some mice offer both options, while others are exclusively one or the other. With a wired connection, you’ll typically get lower latency and uninterrupted connectivity, which is crucial for competitive gaming. but there’s something to be said about the flexibility and freedom of movement a wireless gaming mouse offers.
The ergonomics of your new mouse are significant, as are the amount and style of configurable buttons, particularly for competitive gamers. Then there’s the design – you might want your mouse to match the best gaming keyboard or your streaming setup aesthetic.
We’ve listed the maximum DPI (dots per inch) in this guide, as it affects the control and precision of a gaming mouse. Higher DPI mice typically come with a higher price tag. Not everyone requires such precision, fast-paced FPS and RTS games benefit the most from higher DPI settings.
Frequently asked questions
What are palm, claw, and fingertip mouse grips?
Gaming mice are much like the shoes you wear in that there’s no real one-size-fits-all. You’ll want to pay attention to how you move your rodent around your mouse pad before you choose the right one for you. Here are the three main grip styles:
- Palm grip: your palm sits on the back of the mouse. This is the least fatiguing but it’s not quite as versatile as other grips, relying more on full arm movements for precision.
- Fingertip grip: you use your fingers to control the mouse movements without the aid of your palm. Your wrist can touch the surface below but might hover above. This is the most fatiguing because it relies on many wrist movements, but is also more precise than the palm grip.
- Claw grip: a combination of the previous two, this style is where you control the mouse with your fingertips but your wrist rests on the best gaming desk below.
Wired vs. wireless gaming mouse
This debate has existed since the first wireless gaming mice arrived on the scene, with wired previously offering a competitive advantage with their superior connection. Fortunately, a wireless gaming mouse no longer has the latency issues it used to, as 2.4GHz connections are so quick that you’ll barely notice a difference.
Switching to a Bluetooth connection makes your battery last significantly longer, enabling you to swap between devices easily. It comes with a noticeable amount of lag, which isn’t so bad when you’re working but can mean the difference between a win and a loss in FPS games.
What DPI is good for gaming?
That depends on what type of game you’re playing. If you want a game with lots of slow, delicate movements, we recommend around 600DPI, but if it’s a game with quick, frantic movements, upwards of 3000DPI is optimum. Many gaming mice go a lot higher than this, and it’s good for players to choose what suits them before hitting a glass ceiling.
Which mouse do pro gamers use?
Manufacturers like Logitech, Razer, and SteelSeries often sponsor pro gamers. However, the mantra is the lighter a mouse is, the better, as it allows for swifter arm movements with minimal fatigue.
The Logitech G Pro Superlight is still the weapon of choice for many, while other brands like Zowie, Xtrfy, and Cooler Master are coming for the crown with their ultralight rodents.