The best gaming mice
In this review, you will find the best gaming mice you can buy this year. This is a selection of mice that offer the best features and performance for playing video games, and are also fairly priced.
I have included only gaming mice from brands with a recognized quality and warranty, such as Razer, Logitech, Corsair or Glorious Gaming Race, and that have passed rigorous tests such as those from RTINGS that validate their accuracy and speed in different situations and game types.
The 5 best gaming mice of 2024
Razer DeathAdder V2
- Mouse type: Wired
- Sensor: Optical
- Resolution: 20,000 dpi
- Response time: 0.2 ms
- Buttons: 8
Last price update on 2023-05-11. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best gaming mouse
The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a wired gaming mouse whose lightweight handling, high-precision optics and ergonomics make it the best gaming mouse of the moment.
So it’s no coincidence that it is one of the most popular mice among professional gamers and one of the best-selling mice in the world.
The V2 version is lighter, more precise and ergonomic than its predecessor, the DeathAdder Elite. It also has a better sensor, more buttons, a more flexible cable and memory built into the mouse, so you can save your button settings even if you change computers.
The DeathAdder V2 is designed to perform at its best in the most demanding games.
This mouse is especially agile to handle, as it is lighter than many of its direct competitors such as the Logitech G502 HERO, compared to which the V2 is 34% lighter.
In addition, the DeathAdder V2 features 100% PTFE (the material used to coat non-stick frying pans) in its base, for faster gliding on almost any surface.
Its ergonomics are designed for hours of play without straining your wrist and forearm muscles. If you have a medium or large hand, you’ll feel that it provides a very secure grip, whether you use a claw palm, claw or fingertip grip. If you want even more grip on your hand, you can add some non-slip grip tapes designed specifically for this model.
The only drawback is that it is a right-handed mouse. If you are left-handed, I recommend the Razer Ultimate Viper (reviewed below) because it is a left-handed mouse and, although it is wireless, you can use it wired and its performance is very similar to the DeathAdder V2.
Best FPS mouse
Although there are mice with very similar characteristics and with a higher poll rate, such as the Corsair SABRE PRO (8,000 Hz vs. 1,000 Hz of the DeathAdder V2), on the whole, the DeathAdder V2 is a better mouse, as it has lower latency, more configuration options and a higher resolution sensor.
Another great advantage is that its 8 buttons, scroll wheel and sensor resolution are fully customizable. In addition, you can save up to 5 different profiles in the mouse’s own memory that you can customize for your different games, with combos, shortcuts and shortcuts.
The best wired gaming mouse
There are many wired mice out there, but none offer, as a whole, the same performance and features as the Razer DeathAdder V2.
Moreover, Razer is constantly improving this mouse and the cable has also been improved over the previous version. The Razer Speedflex cable is still a braided cable, but it is now more flexible and offers less resistance when sliding.
Is the Razer DeathAdder V2 worth it?
There are many wired mice out there, but none offer the features of the Razer DeathAdder V2: only this one combines handling, performance, speed and precision to such outstanding levels.
View on AmazonLogitech G502 HERO
- Sensor: Optical
- Resolution: 25,600 dpi
- Response time: 1 ms
- Buttons: 11
Last price update on 2023-05-11. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The gaming mouse with the best price-performance ratio
The Logitech G502 HERO is one of the best mice on the market thanks to performance and features comparable to mice twice its price. That is why it is the best value gaming mouse on this list.
For starters, it has a very accurate sensor and is capable of a wide range of resolution, from 100 dpi to 25,600 dpi, superior to the DeathAdder V2 or Viper Ultimate. However, these are faster at detecting movements (650 ips vs. 400 ips of the G502 HERO) and have lower latencies.
The Logitech G502 HERO also features 11 programmable buttons via G-HUB You can define keys, actions, macros and even system actions. Also, through G-HUB you can adjust the sensitivity, speed and refresh rate of the mouse.
In this sense, it has a button to change the DPI quickly while playing to be able, for example, to aim accurately on FPS. Once you have everything defined, you can save up to 5 configurations in the mouse’s own memory.
Moreover, this mouse can be adapted to your strength and your tastes in terms of resistance and glide speed. To do this, it includes five 3.6 g weights that you can place in different ways to find the one that best suits your tastes. This way, you can load more on the front, the back, the sides, or make a balanced distribution.
Personally, I prefer a lightweight mouse that moves as fast as possible, so I don’t use weights at all. In fact, the Logitech G502 HERO is not exactly a light mouse (170 g with cable), so if you’re looking for a lightweight mouse, you’d better opt for the Razer Basilisk V3 whose design and price is very similar to the G502 HERO, but weighs between 25 and 30% less, depending on whether you weigh it with or without cable.
Otherwise, its design is quite ergonomic and its non-slip rubber grips make it feel secure in your hand at all times. Still, if you have a small hand, I’d recommend the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini (reviewed in this guide). If you’re left-handed or ambidextrous, better opt for a symmetrical mouse like the Viper Ultimate (also found in this guide) because the G502 HERO is right-handed only.
Is the Logitech G502 HERO worth it?
The great advantage of this mouse is its excellent performance and customization options. If we add to the mix that it has a very attractive price, we have one of the gaming mice with the best quality-price ratio on the market.
View on AmazonRazer Viper Ultimate
- Sensor: Optical
- Resolution: 20,000 dpi
- Response time: 0.2 ms
- Buttons: 8
Last price update on 2023-05-11. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best wireless gaming mouse
The Razer Viper Ultimate combines the speed and precision needed to play professionally, with the security of an ultra-fast connection and the convenience of using a wireless mouse. Without a doubt, it is a wireless mouse ready for the most demanding gamers.
This mouse is particularly light (0.16 lbs) and glides at high speed thanks to its PTFE (popularly known as Teflon®) coating on the base, which reduces friction between the mouse and surfaces.
This is also helped by the fact that it has a very good grip, very similar to that of the No products found., but unlike the latter, the Viper Ultimate can be used by right or left-handed users, as it is symmetrical.
In addition, it is very easy to handle, whether you hold it with the palm, claw type, or with your fingertips. If you add to this the fact that it has no cable, the comfort and agility it provides is excellent.
While the Razer Viper Ultimate is a top-tier mouse, it may be a bit pricey for some. An inexpensive alternative is the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED , whose performance and features are similar, although its click latency is higher and it uses an AA battery instead of a rechargeable battery, which will put more than a few people off.
Best wireless FPS mouse
It only takes a few minutes of playing an FPS game to realize that this is an extremely accurate and fast mouse, thanks to its Razer Focus+ optical sensor, developed by Pixart.
In terms of connectivity, it does not include Blueetooth like the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro, but uses a USB-RF connector with Razer HyperSpeed Wireless technology that, according to tests conducted by the brand, achieves latencies below 2 ms.
In addition, Razer has done a great job ensuring a stable connection, thanks to an adaptive refresh rate of 1000 Hz, so the feeling is like using a wired mouse.
The mouse battery reaches up to 70 hours of gaming at maximum level. In any case, it includes a Razer Speedflex cable (the same one used by the DeathAdder V2) with which you can charge the mouse and play even while charging.
Is the Razer Viper Ultimate worth it?
Wireless gaming mice have proliferated in recent years. However, no other can boast the speed, handling and performance offered by the Razer Viper Ultimate.
View on AmazonVGUARD Wired Gaming Mouse
- Sensor: Optical
- Resolution: 2,400 dpi
- Buttons: 8
Last price update on 2023-05-11. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best cheap gaming mouse
The VGUARD is a simple gaming mouse, but solid in what it offers. It grips well, looks attractive, has 6 buttons and its sensor offers an OK resolution, considering it costs about a fraction of what a high-end gaming mouse costs.
The design of this mouse is attractive and well finished, making it very comfortable to play with. The lightning bolt pattern and rubber texture make it very pleasant to the touch and offer a good grip; at no time do you feel that you are going to slip.
Its appearance is quite attractive and gains even more when its RGB lights are turned on, whose 7 colours can be rotated from the DPI change button.
As for the sensor resolution, it is somewhat limited, but many gamers usually play at resolutions between 400 and 1200 dpi, so the resolution of this mouse, between 800 and 2400 dpi, will be more than enough for many.
Is the VGUARD Wired Gaming Mouse worth it?
If you only want to pay for what you need, and you are not a professional gamer with very specific technical requirements, this mouse more than meets the needs of most casual gamers for a very affordable price.
View on AmazonRazer DeathAdder V2 Mini
- Mouse type: Wired
- Sensor: Optical
- Resolution: 8,500 dpi
- Response time: 0.2 ms
- Buttons: 8
Last price update on 2023-05-11. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The best mouse for small hands
The Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini is a mouse specifically designed for medium and small hands, thanks to a smaller and lighter body than the Razer DeathAdder V2. This, coupled with its precision and agile handling, makes it the best gaming mouse for small hands.
Its ergonomics are very good and it fits well in your hand, regardless of the type of grip you practice. Moreover, it includes a set of anti-slip grip strips that you can place around it for a more secure grip.
Note that this is a right-handed mouse, so if you are left-handed, you may want to consider another model for such as the Logitech G300s , of similar size, but suitable for left-handers. The performance of the latter is inferior to the V2 Mini, but it is still a good mouse. On the other hand, the Glorious Model O is a more comparable alternative to the V2 Mini in terms of performance, but its size is somewhat larger.
The best lightweight gaming mouse
Due to its smaller size and low weight (62 g) and also because its base has parts made of 100% PTFE, the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini is a lightweight mouse that offers fast and agile handling like no other.
The 6 mouse buttons and wheel are customizable according to the games or applications you use, and you can save the settings in the mouse’s own memory. All of this is managed through the Razer Synapse 3 cloud software.
Is the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini worth it?
The Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini allows people with small to medium-sized hands to comfortably use one of the best mice in terms of precision and agility of use.
View on AmazonThe best-selling gaming mice of 2024
Last price update on 2022-11-28. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
How to choose the best gaming mice. What to consider.
Sensor type
The sensor is the part of the mouse that detects and processes the movement made with the mouse on a surface. You can choose between mice with laser sensors and optical sensors, although I already told you that optical sensors are better for playing video games.
Laser sensor
Laser mice have a similar behaviour on all types of surfaces and, in fact, the best laser sensors are able to work even on transparent glass or shiny surfaces. However, they are not recommended for playing video games because they do not respond well to fast movements and, consequently, do not transfer them well to the screen.
Optical sensor (LED)
The optical sensor is more consistent than the laser sensor when it comes to capturing fast mouse movements. And while it has some difficulty performing well on transparent or reflective glass surfaces, this is easy to avoid with a simple mouse pad.
Otherwise, optical sensors are able to achieve higher resolution and more accurately capture fast movements than laser sensors. Therefore, they are a better choice for playing video games.
Sensor resolution
The resolution of the mouse sensor indicates the precision with which the mouse is able to transmit a change of position in one inch, and is measured in DPI (dots per inch). The higher the resolution, the more accurately the mouse is able to translate a hand movement to the screen.
In the video below, you can see a comparison of the gaming experience using a gaming mouse set at 100 DPI versus 10,000 DPI resolution. As you will see, higher resolution is not always better.
In my opinion, unless you already know what your ideal resolution is, it is best to opt for a mouse with a wide range of resolutions that you can customize to your liking, depending on the game. This way you can test what works best for you in each game, since there is no ideal sensor resolution.
There are also games where it is even practical to change the resolution while playing, depending on the situation, and many gaming mice come prepared with an extra button for this purpose.
Response speed
Response speed determines the number of times the mouse transmits information about its position and the clicks you make per second. This is especially relevant for gamers, as it allows mouse movements to be translated more accurately and faithfully to the screen.
Wired mice typically achieve a faster response speed than mice connected by Bluetooth or USB receiver, as wired data transmission is more direct and less susceptible to interference.
Buttons
Mouse buttons allow access to functions and keyboard shortcuts from the mouse itself, making the gaming flow smoother and faster. When shopping for a gaming mouse, consider whether the button placement is right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous.
Configurable buttons
Some mice allow you to customize all their wheels and buttons, and save the configuration on the mouse itself (they have a small memory card inside), so you can change computers and still carry your configuration.
Number of buttons
There is no ideal number of buttons, but it is important to keep in mind that it is easy to reach them with your fingers to press them. It is therefore essential that you consider whether the size of the mouse fits the size of your hand (small, medium or large).
Silent buttons or not?
Some mice have louder buttons and some have quieter ones. The ones with louder buttons are recommended if you like to have an audible feedback from each keystroke.
The silent ones are more recommended if you don’t want to disturb, either because you are playing near people who are doing other things or because you are playing at night.
Connectivity
There are two ways to connect a mouse to the computer, wired or wireless. Some mice offer more than one connection option and some offer only one.
The USB wired connection offers the fastest response speed. If you want to opt for a wireless connection, the USB-RF receiver works with all types of computers, and is especially recommended for low-end or older computers, whose Bluetooth versions may not be compatible with newer mice.
USB cable connection
You can find mice with 2 different types of cables for gaming mice:
- Braided cables
- Rubber cable
The cable is a piece that cannot be overlooked, especially when you are looking for performance at the highest level. It influences the overall weight of the mouse, surface resistance and data transmission, which impacts handling and latency, for example.
Braided cables
These are cables with a generally braided nylon sheathing around them. Because they are coated with fabric, these cables are more protected, they are customizable and nylon causes less friction on surfaces than rubber.
The main advantage of nylon sheathing is that it acts as an additional layer of protection for the cable, as nylon is a tough textile fibre, as well as flexible. This textile coating also offers greater customization options, so braided cables can be found in various colours and designs along the cable.
However, it is not all advantages. Nylon, as a material, offers less friction than rubber, but when the weight and volume of the sheathing is added to that of the cable, it ends up making the assembly much heavier and stiffer. Consequently, it ends up causing more friction and some discomfort when playing, as the cable does not move freely.
This sensation is accentuated when the cable goes over the edge of the table and hangs down, as the weight of the cable pulls on the mouse.
As a solution to this problem, you can use a bungee: a base that holds the braided cable up, so it doesn’t drag across the table. There are many bungee options, but not all of them are stable enough. If you want to play it safe, I recommend choosing between the Razer Mouse Bungee V3 the Mouse Bungee V2 de Casethrone or the Cougar Bunker.
Rubber cable
Rubber cables are lighter and more flexible than nylon braided cables, which offers greater agility and speed of movement when playing. The downside is that this type of cable is easier to break, especially if it constantly rubs against the edge of the table or other angled surface.
However, if care is taken, it doesn’t have to break so quickly. In my case, I have mice with rubber cables that are over 5 years old and not a scratch.
Wireless
Wireless gaming mice have improved a lot in recent years. The latency of some models is comparable to the best wired mice. In addition, the stability of the connection has improved, and the rechargeable battery life is now several days.
On the other hand, with any wireless device, there is always the risk that some interference in the connection will render the mouse inoperative during gaming, although it is true that the latest generation wireless mice have variable frequencies that avoid interference to achieve a stable signal.
Gaming mice use one or two of the following types of wireless connection:
- USB-RF receiver
- Bluetooth
USB-RF receiver
Within the wireless options, USB-RF mice offer a more stable, secure and faster connection than Bluetooth mice. This connection uses radio frequency (hence the “RF”), a technology that allows for lower latencies than Bluetooth connection (1 ms vs. 1.3 ms according to tests conducted by Razer).
Bluetooth connection
This is the only type of connection for gaming mice that does not occupy any port on the computer. On the other hand, it is the connection that consumes the most battery power and is the most susceptible to failure due to interference.
Ergonomics
The more hours you use a mouse, the more you must take into account its ergonomics, if you want to avoid joint problems. The best gaming mice have shapes that favor a more natural hand position, preventing the wrist and forearm from being in constant tension.
Choose a mouse that is the right size for your hand
Most gaming mice are designed for medium to large hands. But there are some that are designed specifically for small and medium-sized hands, allowing for a more secure grip and nimbler handling. They are often identified as “Mini”.
Of course, the size of the mouse will also determine its portability. While smaller mice can fit in a pocket, bulkier mice or mice with sensitive parts will require more care to transport.
Choose a mouse for right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous users.
Classic mice were symmetrical and therefore suitable for both right- and left-handed users. Nowadays, there are mice with symmetrical designs, but there are also specific mice for right-handed and left-handed users.
You should always pay attention to the specifications of the product to see for whom it is designed. The placement of the thumb-accessible buttons can also tell you who it is designed for, depending on whether they are left-handed (right-handed) or right-handed (left-handed).
Weight
The weight of the mouse influences the agility with which it is handled. The lighter the mouse, the faster it should be. That said, there are mice that achieve faster movement speed by having bases coated with Teflon and other sliding materials to achieve less friction with surfaces.
Less weight also usually means less muscular effort when using the mouse and, therefore, less fatigue in the long run. Still, not everyone finds lightweight mice comfortable. In this regard, there are gaming mice that include small weights to adjust the weight of the mouse to your preferences, such as the Logitech G502 HERO.
