A gaming mouse is one of the most critical components of a gaming PC setup, and our top choice is the SteelSeries Rival 5. But there are plenty of other options ready to keep up as you play the best PC games, from wireless to wired or high-end to budget. Jump to a detailed look at the best gaming mice, or check the list below:
TL;DR – These are the best gaming mice:
- SteelSeries Rival 5
- SteelSeries Rival 3
- Roccat Kone Air
- SteelSeries Sensei 310
- Logitech G502 X Lightspeed
- Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
- Corsair NightSword RGB
- Razer Orochi V2
- Lamzu Atlantis
- Razer Viper V2 Pro
- Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini
Accurate tracking, solid ergonomics, responsive buttons, low latency, and maybe a few extra features are what you should expect from the best gaming mice. However, there are quite a few duds out there, so we’ve done the testing in research, bringing you some exceptional mice sure to amp up your gaming experience – and click here to find them in the UK.
Best Gaming Mice
1. SteelSeries Rival 5
Best Gaming Mouse
Our top honor goes to the SteelSeries Rival 5 for being impressively capable and stunningly affordable. This pick doesn’t leave much else to be desired with its $60 price point and versatility. Impressively, SteelSeries actually increased the number of buttons available on the Rival 5 over those found on the Rival 600. You get your usual assortment, plus a third thumb button situated near the front of the mouse as well as a two-way, flickable button above the Back and Forward buttons. This makes it a great combo of an average gaming mouse and MMO or MOBA option.
The SteelSeries Rival 5 follows the trend of gaming mice shedding weight, as it’s slightly cut back from the Rival 600. Part of that weight loss may come from the omission of a depth sensor, but the Rival 5’s TrueMove Air optical sensor still provides solid tracking. Being a wired option also helps contribute to its lightweight. An added perk is the considerable RGB lighting on board with a zone at the scroll wheel, a zone in the SteelSeries logo on the palm rest, and two RGB strips on each side of the palm rest each with four independent lighting zones.
2. SteelSeries Rival 3
Best Budget Gaming Mouse
Undoubtedly, SteelSeries makes some of the best mice around, and that goes for both its premium gaming mice as well as its budget options. The Rival series has long been a competitor in the best budget gaming mice space, and that's still true with the SteelSeries Rival 3. It's impressive what capability SteelSeries is able to pack into this mouse for under $30.
First, you get a fairly straightforward gaming mouse with a regular accouterment of dual thumb buttons, a clickable scroll wheel, and a DPI button. And, SteelSeries didn't skimp on the triggers, as the same mechanical switches used in the Rival 3 are featured on more premium models. The star of the show though is the TrueMove Core Optical sensor, which offers phenomenal tracking that'll keep up in the most demanding games. It may not be as fast as the TrueMove 3, but most of us probably don't mouse around at 300 inches per second or pull off 35G acceleration for our flick shots. SteelSeries even offers a bit of flair with RGB lighting from the logo on the palm rest as well as an RGB strip along the base of the mouse.
3. Roccat Kone Air
Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse
Do you want a wireless mouse that's affordable without sacrificing features? Look to the Roccat Kone Air, which costs around $50 and delivers multiple wireless connectivity options. There’s a 2.4 GHz dongle for a low latency link between the mouse and your gaming desktop to give you similar response times to wired competitors. Bluetooth is also supported, so you have extra flexibility. Since the mouse is exclusively wireless, AA batteries power it, and with that comes an option to use two batteries to keep the peripheral running for an epic 800 hours or one to keep things lighter.
It doesn’t stop with wireless connectivity, as this mouse delivers nine programmable buttons, including Roccat’s easy-to-reach Easy-Shift[+], effectively doubling the number of button functions to 17. However, you can only store one profile on the mouse. The optical switches are also snappy and reliable, while adjustable DPI up to 19,000 and 50g acceleration ensure smooth tracking that’s accurate even during lift-off.
4. SteelSeries Sensei 310
Best Wired Gaming Mouse
Yes, of course, we have another SteelSeries mouse on our list. The Sensei 310 is one of the finest we've tested. This pick comes toting the TrueMove3 Optical sensor with 12,000 DPI sensitivity. Though keeping your sensitivity capped to 3,500 will enable the 1:1 tracking—which is to say the on-screen cursor will follow your exact hand movements. You can also program the eight buttons on board to do as you please in different games.
This great wired mouse is one of the most comfortable gaming mice on the market thanks to a coat of soft-touch rubber covering a majority of the peripheral. The sides of the mouse also feature two large silicon pads, which aid in keeping a firm hold of it. And, for those who are right-handed, the SteelSeries Rival 310 is a similar mouse but in an ergonomic shape. You'll also find a bit of RGB lighting on the mouse as an added bonus.
5. Logitech G502 X Lightspeed
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G502 X Lightspeed is the successor to one of our favorite mice, the G502 Lightspeed, and this wireless mouse has all the features we love with a few extras. You get a beautifully angular mouse with enough geometry incorporated into its design to make it look straight out of CyberPunk 2077, while the sculpted curves almost wrap around your thumb and support the rest of your hand. It's responsive and the controls are reliable, including a new and improved sniper button, DPI-shift button, and scroll wheel. Beyond that, you can reprogram controls and save up to five profiles on the mouse, or even more using the G Hub software, making it super handy for tournament players or gamers that play on multiple devices. You’re also getting almost perfect tracking from 100 to 25,000 DPI, not that you'll ever even need to go that high.
Since the G502 X is a wireless mouse, latency and battery life are always a concern. Luckily, Logitech continues to use its “Lightspeed” wireless connection, so after plugging in its USB dongle, you’ll experience a speedy and accurate mouse. That dongle can connect to a Logitech G keyboard simultaneously, so you won’t have to clog up your device’s USB ports. Unfortunately, you still don’t get Bluetooth, though. As far as power is concerned, the mouse supports Powerplay wireless charging, so you can juice up while still in the heat of battle. However, you won’t have to worry about charging that often with its 140-hour battery life.
6. Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Best FPS Gaming Mouse
The Razer Basilisk has been our favorite gaming mouse for first-person shooters since it hit the scene in 2017, and it continues to endure with the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro. This gaming mouse takes a great ergonomic design and pairs that with fast, smooth, and responsive movement. It boasts 30,000 DPI, 750 IPS max speed, and 70G acceleration, plus there are 11 programable buttons toting optical switches. The Basilisk is a fully loaded gaming mouse when it comes to connectivity, too. You get Razer HyperSpeed Wireless or a USB-C wired for a lag-free connection, while Bluetooth allows the mouse to work with a majority of your other devices. And to top it off, you get 13 customizable RGB lighting zones to play with.
Beyond the specs, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate feels and plays great. It has the perfect shape to be cupped in your hand, and hitting the DPI clutch to pull off a precise shot feels as good as pulling the e-brake on a hairpin turn in a rally car. You can also program the side paddle to toggle your second ability bar in MMOs or trigger your class ability in a MOBA game. And the improved scroll wheel allows for free spinning to run through content quickly, while a tactile mode makes it easy to cycle through weapons or skills.
7. Corsair NightSword RGB
Best MOBA Gaming Mouse
The Corsair NightSword RGB is a highly customizable weapon designed specifically for right-handed, claw-grip gamers who play battle arena (and first-person shooter) games. This gaming mouse has all the usual programmable buttons, an 18,000 DPI optical sensor, and some aesthetically pleasing RGB lighting. It then adds six underside weights to adjust this peripherals center of gravity. Corsair could've just left things there, but with the iCUE software, you can track how shifting the center of gravity is affecting the way you play. Now, that's nifty.
A key feature of the Corsair NightSword RGB is that it's designed slightly larger than your average gaming mouse, so it should fit like a glove for users with larger than average mitts. This pick also offers gamers a completely rubber-covered finish, sizable thumb rest, and 10 easily reachable mouse buttons. Packed with customizations on top of a quality build and insane accuracy, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better MOBA gaming mouse.
8. Razer Orochi V2
Best Portable Gaming Mouse
If you're constantly on the go and want a quality gaming mouse that's ready to come along for the ride, your best bet is the Razer Orochi V2. There's a lot that makes this a great gaming mouse, but the biggest feature for mobility has to be the battery life. On a single AA battery, this mouse can run for 950 hours over a Bluetooth LE connection. Even using its low-latency Hyperspeed Wireless connection, it can last for 425 hours. You won't have to worry about swapping in a new battery for a while, and most of your devices will easily connect to this peripheral using one of the two wireless options.
The Razer Orochi V2 also manages to stay impressively light, weighing just 60 grams excluding the weight of the battery. And, slotting in a battery won't make it much heavier because it can actually run on either a AA or a AAA battery. All that comes paired with your standard set of gaming mouse controls and Razer's optical sensor for all the basic capability needed for competitive gaming on the go.
9. Lamzu Atlantis
Best Mini Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Lamzu Atlantis is an undeniably great wireless gaming mouse. With it, you get a symmetrical, hourglass shape with a slightly curved top, broad back, and subtly indented midsection that’s comfortable to hold and lends itself well to claw grippers. The mouse is well-built and feels sturdy in hand while remaining remarkably lightweight. It is a wireless option, so you get a reliable 2.4GHz dongle to slot into your device for a low-latency connection, and the rechargeable battery should last a good 70 hours.
When it comes to the Atlantis’ performance, you won’t be disappointed. On mouse is an efficient Pixart PMW3395 sensor for insanely accurate tracking and stable polling. Its main buttons feature Huano Blue Shell mechanical switches for snappy actuation, which can be especially handy in flick shots. You’ll also appreciate the mouse feet that glide smoothly on just about any surface. But due to its popularity, this mouse comes in and out of stock frequently.
10. Razer Viper V2 Pro
Best Lightweight Gaming Mouse
The wireless Viper V2 Pro is part of Razer’s Viper lineup which features pro-level mice, but this one trims some of the fat to bring you an option weighing less than 58g grams, making it one of the best lightweight gaming mice. Though it is physically light, the mouse is mighty powerful where it counts, delivering an adjustable up to 30,000 DPI and 750 IPS max speed for insanely great tracking. You’ll also have no problem pulling off flick shots in FPS, thanks to the 70G acceleration.
It doesn’t stop there, as the Razer Viper V2 Pro is comfortable to hold and durable with reliable and tactical optical switches, though to help keep the weight down, you won’t find any RGB lighting. There are also five programmable buttons, which should be plenty for most and the perfect amount for esports. Topping this mouse off is an impressive 80 hours of battery life and a simple, low-latency connection to your devices via a USB dongle.
11. Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini
Best Small Gaming Mouse
If you don't have the biggest hands or just don't like the extra bulk of some gaming mice, Razer has a solution. The Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini takes the design of the exceptional Razer DeathAdder V2 and shrinks it down a bit while also cutting the weight and a few features. This option sticks with the same shape as the original, offering a slight curve and tall hump towards the center that contours to your right hand, but it trims the length and width to give small hands an easier grip and access to the main buttons. Those who prefer a claw grip can also appreciate this mouse, and it even comes with grip tape.
The Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini still has the perks you expect in a gaming mouse, with a high-DPI sensor, optical switches, six programmable buttons, and a healthy dose of RGB lighting. It will hold up during all the fast moments in your game, even tracking 35G and moving at 300 inches-per-second. You can also customize that lighting to your liking using Razer's Synapse software. Even though this is a corded mouse, Razer has aimed to make it perform smoother with a specially designed cable that resists dragging on surfaces.
Where to Get the Best Gaming Mouse in the UK
You want to get it right when choosing the perfect gaming mouse. Thankfully, every single one of the mice we mentioned in this article is also available to pick up in the UK, so take your pick.
What to look for in a Gaming Mouse
The decision-making process when it comes to a good gaming mouse really boils down to how it feels in your hand, whether you want it to be wired or wireless, and if you want any other customizable features.
Some people grip the mouse with their fingertips, while others use a claw or palm grip, so the shape of the mouse is easily the biggest factor you should consider.
If you're right-handed, you're going to find a large number of ergonomic options to choose from. If you play left-handed, your options are a bit more limited, which sucks. You're pretty much going to have to go with something that's shaped symmetrically or designed for ambidextrous usage. There are very few gaming mice out there designed for left-handed users.
As far as wired versus wireless goes, the wireless technology is so good these days that it's hard to tell the difference either way, so that should not be a factor if you're worried about losing some performance. However, wireless mice are usually more expensive than their wired counterparts, so expect to pay for your freedom from cables.
Also, some mice are rechargeable while others just use replaceable batteries, so pay attention to how long each wireless gaming mouse can last on a charge if that's important. The addition of the battery can also make some wireless mice heavier than a wired version, but this isn't the case for all wireless mice.
Lastly, many of our picks come with other customizations whether it be adjustments to the physical design or programmable buttons. You'll want to pick something based on the type of games you're playing to give you an advantage over opponents.
After you find a mouse, be sure to grab one of the best gaming keyboards to complete you setup.
For more guides to the best tech, check out the best gaming headset, best desk for gaming, and the best graphics card round-up.
Keyboard and Mouse vs. Controller for Gaming
The biggest—and most obvious—difference between the best PC controllers and a gaming keyboard and mouse combo is the physical design of the peripherals. A great controller rests in your hands, putting all the inputs in an easy-to-reach location, making it ergonomic and simple to use. Its buttons and triggers are also often remappable. A keyboard and gaming mouse are larger and more spread out, requiring you to use a gaming desk or lapdesk when playing. However, you get an excess of possible inputs at your fingertips, and oftentimes, many keys and buttons are customizable.
Where a keyboard and mouse pairing often pulls ahead of controllers is in precision and responsiveness, so most will turn to this trusty combo when playing competitive FPS. But the analog sticks on a gamepad deliver smoother control over certian movements, which is a boon in racing games. Modern controllers even offer haptic feedback for a more immersive gaming experience.
Still, whichever input device you choose, it’s more a matter of personal preference than anything else. While playing the best PC games with a comfortable controller might seem sacrilege to an accuracy-focused keyboard and mouse enthusiast, you just need to do you.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
