The Best Gaming Mouse
Picking a gaming mouse can be difficult. There are countless metrics to factor in, and a nearly unlimited number of mice with unique approaches in defining what's best. Quite honestly, it’s a market rife with opportunities for analysis paralysis to take hold. That’s why I take the time to test countless gaming mice—to tell you what works, and what doesn’t. I can’t say precisely which mouse will work for you—that’s dependent not only on technical specs but on your preferences, needs, and hand size—but hopefully I can provide some insights into the top options out there, what's the best for specific types of gamers, and why I’ve picked them.
Be sure to read our other peripheral buying guides for more, including the Best Ergonomic Mouse, Best Gaming Headsets, Best Mechanical Keyboards, and Best Hall Effect Keyboards.
Updated August 2025: We've overhauled this guide with many new picks.
What Makes a Good Gaming Mouse?
Here are a few features that really separate a gaming mouse from a regular came-with-my-PC kind of mouse:
Extra-sensitive optical sensors: Gaming mice should have more sensitive optical sensors that can detect smaller movements more quickly than a standard mouse.
More buttons: At a minimum, a good gaming mouse should have a clickable scroll wheel, a button for adjusting sensitivity, and two buttons where your thumb rests. Those extra thumb buttons can be lifesavers in competitive games.
Better buttons: They should also have higher-quality buttons, and more of them, than a standard office mouse. The left and right buttons should have individual switches inside, tensioned to register rapid clicks and reinforced to withstand more frequent clicks than a normal mouse. Top-of-the-line gaming mice often feature proprietary mechanical switches inside that give them a more tactile feel when you click.
Polling rate: For most games, the typical 1,000-Hz polling rate will be sufficient, but if you play a lot of fast-paced competitive games, where split-second actions can be crucial to victory, than you may get some benefit out of mice with faster polling rates.
Don't buy the dpi hype: Dots per inch (dpi) is a metric that describes a mouse’s overall sensitivity. A higher dpi means it can respond quicker, which is helpful in competitive online games. However, even if your mouse can go all the way up to, say, 20,000 dpi, most people (even in online games) keep their sensitivity around 1,000 to 1,600 dpi. More doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Your Palm Size and Grip Style Matters
A major aspect when shopping for a gaming mouse is size. Using a mouse that’s too small for your hand can cause strain on your hand and wrist, while a mouse that’s too large can feel unwieldy and be difficult to move precisely. It’s important to measure your hand and take into account the grip style you plan to use.
There are three primary mouse grips: Palm grip, claw grip, and fingertip grip. Palm grip is typically considered the most accurate but least agile, and it’s how most people use their mouse day-to-day. Your entire hand sits on the mouse, with your palm resting on the back half and your fingers laid along the mouse buttons. Claw grip is more agile, but will sacrifice some accuracy and stability. For this grip, you rest the bottom of your hand against the mouse while bending your fingers into a claw-like shape, leaving a significant amount of open air between your fingertips and the back of your hand. Fingertip grip has the least contact and allows for the most agility, but also sacrifices even more stability. With this grip, your hand will hover over the mouse, with your fingertips resting on the mouse buttons, and your thumb and pinky finger gripping the mouse from either side.
For a standard mouse used with a palm grip, the best way to determine the correct size is to measure the distance from the tip of your middle finger to the bottom of your palm, and compare those numbers to an online guide. Rocket Jump Ninja has a helpful tool for this, which also provides measurements of the recommended mice for cross-referencing. Alternatively, I’ve found it helpful to hold your hand in an arc as if you’re holding a mouse, and measure the distance from the bottom of your palm to your fingertips to get a measurement you can directly compare to mouse length. This method can also work for claw grip, but since the bottom of your palm will be resting directly on the mouse instead of sitting at the back, I find it better to err on the side of caution and pick a mouse that’s a few millimeters longer than you need.
Mouse sizing is dependent on the type of mouse you’re looking for: Whether chasing lightness or portability, there are quite a few short and small mice on the market. Compact or fingertip-grip mice like the Razer Basilisk Mobile or the G-Wolves Fenrir won’t fit the standard recommendations of mouse measurements. Instead, for a mouse like this (or any mouse you plan to use with a fingertip grip), I find it best to compare the mouse’s width to the distance between your thumb and your pinky finger (or your ring finger, depending on how you hold a mouse) in a comfortable gripping position. A mouse that’s too narrow can cause strain on your hand, while one that’s too wide can be difficult to properly grip and move.
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Viper V3 Pro is an uncompromising mouse for lightweight, high-speed gaming performance. Razer's latest Viper has top-of-the-line specs, a great symmetrical shape, and some of the best-feeling buttons on the market. The battery lasts an incredibly long time (it’s rated for over 95 hours, and I didn’t need to charge it once during my testing). And with the included HyperPolling dongle, the mouse is capable of up to 8,000-Hz polling.
This mouse is comfortable and intuitive to use. The shape is easy to move around, with small curves on the mouse buttons for your fingertips to rest, and the curvature of the sides creates natural spots for your thumb and pinky. The Razer Synapse software is one of the most powerful and intuitive on the market. There are customization options for mouse dpi, tracking distance, dynamic sensitivity, and even adjusting the mouse sensor to accommodate a rotated grip.
The only downside of the Viper V3 Pro is how uncompromising it is— there's no Bluetooth, and the included 2.4-GHz HyperPolling dongle requires a USB-A to USB-C cable (included) that runs to your computer. These decisions were made to lighten the mouse and improve connection quality, but they can be inconvenient if you need a wireless gaming mouse to pair with a laptop.
Specs DPI: 35,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz/8,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, wired (USB-A to USB-C) Battery life: Up to 95 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed symmetrical Best Gaming Mouse Under $50
The Rival 3 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a simple, no-frills gaming mouse. It’s lightweight, robust, and pretty much hits all the marks for gaming: Easy-access side buttons, clicky main buttons, underside RGB lighting, and a grippy rubberized scroll wheel. This SteelSeries mouse doesn’t innovate much, but like a Toyota Camry, it’s simple and reliable enough to get nearly anything done. At a price below $50, you’re getting all the performance you can realistically use for non-professional gaming. There aren’t any unnecessary features that add complication, and the mouse can be fully disassembled in under five minutes with a set of Phillips and Torx screwdrivers.
Specs DPI: 18,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle or Bluetooth for wireless model, wired-only model Battery life: Up to 175 hours (two AAA batteries for wireless) Design: Right-handed symmetrical
Best Lightweight Mouse
While it isn’t the lightest mouse on our list (that award goes to the Viper V3 Pro), the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is still an incredibly competent mouse, weighing only 60 grams. As far as ultralight mice go, it’s one of the few models I’ve tested with a sculpted, ergonomic shape that’s genuinely comfortable to use even for extended sessions. The sensor is extremely competent, capable of 44,000 dpi and 888 inches per second, and the mouse has 8,000-Hz wireless polling with a dongle. The switches feel snappy and responsive, and the mouse overall feels sturdy and rigid despite its light weight.
Logitech’s software allows for extensive and intuitive customizations that are essential to any high-end gaming mouse, and unlike Razer’s ultra-lightweight offerings, the Superlight 2 Dex is compatible with Logitech's wirelessly charging mousepads.
Specs DPI: 44,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz/8,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 95 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed symmetrical Best Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
Razer’s latest installment in the Basilisk line pretty much hits every single mark. This mouse is comfortable, convenient, loaded with features, and it looks sleek on any desk. It’s also featured in our Best Ergonomic Mouse guide, but it performs so well that I had to include it here. Razer’s optical sensor is capable of up to 35,000 dpi, and the mouse has polling up to 1,000 Hz (or up to 8,000 Hz with a HyperPolling dongle).
As far as comfort and practicality, the Basilisk’s sculpted shape and thumb rest feel more like an office mouse than a gaming mouse, but the curved mouse buttons and smooth overall shape mean a claw grip still isn’t out of the question. The mouse wheel can swap between clicky and smooth scrolling, and the wheel can angle left or right for horizontal scrolling. My favorite feature is the mouse clutch, a third button on the side that’s natively mapped to temporarily lower mouse dpi for the duration it’s pressed down, ideal for high-precision work like sniping or video editing. The only downside is the weight. The V3 Pro tips the scales at a hefty 112 grams. If you aren’t concerned about weight savings, or if you prefer a heavier mouse, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35k has every feature you could possibly need.
Specs DPI: 35,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz/8,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 140 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed ergonomic design
Best for Chronic Wrist Pain
The Contour Design Unimouse isn't a traditional mouse, but it's deeply appealing if you've come down with a bad case of gamer hand. If you suffer from intermittent wrist pain, the Unimouse could prove beneficial (though you should first see a physician).
The Unimouse is designed from the ground up for better ergonomics. The top of the mouse is attached to the base via a customizable hinge that can tilt between a more typical mouse orientation to a nearly vertical one. The thumb rest on the side can be adjusted forward or back, so that it sits perfectly in your palm. While it lacks some of the more gamer-centric features of other mice on this list, it has a few customizable buttons that can help your gameplay. The best thing you can do for your wrist pain is probably to take more frequent breaks from the computer, but if you're not going to do that, this mouse is a great backup option.
Specs DPI: 2,800 Polling rate: 125 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle for wireless model, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 3 months (rechargeable) Design: Right or left models Best Gaming Mouse for Lefties
Left-handed gamers all too often have limited options in gaming mice, but Corsair's M75 has plenty of tricks up its ambidextrous sleeves. It has a symmetrical design with some of the smoothest mouse skates of any mouse I've used. It pairs wirelessly via either a 2.4-GHz dongle or Bluetooth. Best of all, it has two thumb buttons on both sides of the mouse, so no matter which hand you use it with, you have convenient shortcuts. The caps on these buttons are also magnetic, and you can swap them out for either flat or slightly raised caps, depending on your preferences.
Specs DPI: 26,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 105 hours (rechargeable) Design: Symmetrical (ambidextrous)
Best Gaming Mouse for MMOs
As mice with numpads become rarer, the ones that exist become far more special. While they may feel like they’re from a forgotten age, these kinds of mice are still incredibly useful for any game that requires more than two or three quick-access macros. The Scimitar Elite Wireless SE has 12 reprogrammable side buttons, a 33,000-dpi optical sensor, and 1,000-Hz polling via a 2.4-GHz dongle. These aren’t top-of-the-line specs compared to esports-focused mice, but these are more than enough for the average gamer.
The shape of this mouse is relatively unconventional, with a bulky, tank-like design that’s comfortable and practical for low-intensity gaming. At 113 grams, it isn’t quite as agile as more lightweight mice, and the wider footprint means anything other than a palm grip won’t be quite as comfy for average-sized hands. But a large, sculpted mouse like this is going to be ideal for long grinding sessions while still being serviceable for casual or low-stakes first-person shooter lobbies.
Specs DPI: 33,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 150 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed Best Portable Gaming Mouse
A lighter and more compact version of the Basilisk V3, the 76-gram Basilisk Mobile maintains most of the larger mouse’s functionality while being a good bit shorter and far easier to slip into a bag, backpack, or pocket. The Mobile uses an optical sensor capable of up to 18,000 DPI, has responsive optical mouse buttons, and includes a 2.4-GHz USB dongle with up to 1,000 Hz polling. The USB dongle fits into a small slot on the underside of the mouse for easy transport, too. The smaller shape retains a thumb rest and sculpted top buttons, and it has a customizable mouse wheel with clicky and smooth scrolling, along with horizontal scrolling by tilting the wheel left or right.
The only feature this mouse misses out on is the dedicated sensitivity clutch, although this can be mapped to any of the three side buttons instead. This mouse can also be connected via Bluetooth or wired, sports an RGB-illuminated logo, and has a battery rated for over 100 hours of use.
Specs DPI: 18,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 105 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed
Best Gaming Mouse for Tinkerers
Our previous pick for this category, the Razer Naga Trinity, was a great mouse, but the Naga V2 Pro has superseded it in just about every way (including price). Like the Trinity, the V2 Pro comes with three interchangeable plates with various arrangements of programmable buttons. However, this set no longer includes a plate with a circular array of six buttons like the Trinity, instead including a more natural panel with six buttons laid out in a curved grid. Underneath, it also has a slot for an optional wireless charging puck, and the mouse features Razer's ultra-customizable scroll wheel.
Specs DPI: 30,000 Polling rate: 1,000 Hz Connection types: 2.4-GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB-A to USB-C cable for wired Battery life: Up to 150 hours (rechargeable) Design: Right-handed
Other Good Mice to Consider
NZXT Lift 2 Symm for $50: PC manufacturer NZXT has been venturing out into the peripherals market with impressive products for a company so relatively new to the game. The NZXT Lift 2 Symm is no exception. This mouse has a hollow interior and a base that uses minimal plastic. This gives it an ultra-lightweight feel but avoids the odd feeling that other mice like the SteelSeries Aerox 3 give off by reducing the amount of plastic in the pieces that touch your hands. Combined with an 8,000-Hz polling rate, optical switches, and an excessively robust 26,000-dpi optical sensor, this mouse is more than capable of handling even the fastest games at a low price.
Logitech MX Master 3S for $120: The MX Master 3S isn't a gaming mouse per se, but it's also better at being a gaming mouse than many dedicated gaming mice. It features a few extra customizable buttons, plus a horizontal side scrolling wheel. It's ridiculously comfortable. Logitech's been making mice for years, and this mouse benefits from all that experience, with a smooth arc for your palm and a rest spot for your thumb. It even includes a button in that spot where your thumb naturally rests. This is the preferred daily mouse of many WIRED staffers. The one downside is that the 125-Hz polling rate is a bit low for competitive FPS games, but if you're looking for something more solo, it's hard to get more comfortable than this.
Logitech MX Anywhere 3S for $80: This a cheaper, compact mouse that can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth, and gets 70 hours on a single three-hour charge. It doesn't have as many fancy gaming-centric features, but if you just need a decent mouse and want to save a little money, this is a great option.
Logitech G203 for $35: Budget gaming mice often forgo a lot of the conveniences and performance you get out of nicer models, but the Logitech G203 never feels like it's lacking. The sensor has a lower maximum sensitivity than you'll get out of a more expensive offering—8,000 dots per inch—so if you need that top-end sensitivity, you'll want to look elsewhere, but it features six buttons, compatibility with Logitech’s G Hub software, and, most importantly, has RGB lighting. Those are all things you'd typically expect to pay more for.
Turtle Beach Burst II Air for $100: The Turtle Beach Burst II Air at times felt like it wasn’t even there. I've played with a lot of mice that cut out huge chunks of their plastic hull to reduce weight, but the Burst II Air feels incredibly light without all the gaping holes. The skates are so smooth I felt like I could push the mouse around by blowing on it. The USB-A wireless dongle fits inside a small compartment on the bottom, right next to a physical switch that swaps between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth modes. Two customizable thumb buttons sit along the side, while a third button for cycling dpi sits farther down along the edge, which I found particularly interesting. Most mice put this button on the top of the mouse, where it can sometimes be accidentally pressed, but this spot is so convenient it makes me wonder why Turtle Beach is the first company I've seen place it here.
Logitech G Pro Wireless for $110: Logitech's G Pro X series was designed with input from esports professionals. Lightning-fast response times and proper ergonomics ensure that the additional buttons are right where your fingers rest. The wireless receiver delivers 1-millisecond response times, so you won't miss headshots due to lag. The buttons are satisfying and sturdy, with mechanically tensioned springs under both the left and right buttons, and separate key plates for accuracy. It lasts around 48 hours on a single charge, but if you want to completely forget about charging, get the wireless charging-mat bundle.
SteelSeries Aerox 9 for $150: This has a large array of side buttons. Its shell also has a grid cutout pattern, which SteelSeries says helps reduce the weight of the mouse, but my roommate says it triggers her trypophobia, so your mileage may vary.
Razer Cobra Pro for $130: I am personally a fan of mice with a dozen extra buttons, but if you'd rather just have a little bit of extra power without being overwhelmed, the Razer Cobra Pro might be more your speed. It has two thumb buttons on the left side, as well as two dpi controls down the middle, all of which can be customized to your needs. While playing Overwatch 2, I like to use the dpi buttons to cycle between sensitivities for different heroes, but when I'm using it for work, I like that I can assign common shortcuts or macros that I need while getting things done.
Great Mousepads
One of the cheapest things you can do to upgrade your PC gaming experience is to invest in a high-quality mousepad. If you’re a mouse-and-keyboard gamer, having the right surface for your trusty little rodent can be super helpful. Not only do you have a nice little area of your desk cordoned off for mouse use, but you also get a surface designed to be as friction-free and slick as possible—so you’ll be as quick as possible.
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Harber London Professional Leather Desk Mat for $193: Despite more than a year of use, this Harber London leather desk mat still looks exquisite. The pebbled leather is supple and has a nice texture, but your mouse will glide over it effortlessly. It comes in three sizes and three colors.
SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad for $8: SteelSeries’ QcK mousepad is one of my all-time favorites. The medium size is perfect for most desks, even small ones. It’s well made and doesn’t fray easily—cheaper mousepads often fray at the edges, which ruins the aesthetic a good mousepad can lend to a workstation.
Grovemade Wool Felt Desk Pad for $70: This doesn't seem like your usual gaming accessory, because it's not. It's a wool felt pad from Portland, Oregon, company Grovemade, and it's large enough to fit a keyboard and a mouse with room to spare. It feels soft and plush under your wrists, and all of the gaming mice on this list just glide over its surface; it's like they're sliding on glass. It's a big surprise, honestly. Not to mention, a felt desk pad adds an air of sophistication and style to any desk, without making it seem too uptight. The color looks amazing under RGB lighting in a dark room. It's an easy and affordable way to inject some unique style into your work (and play) space.
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