11 Best Gaming Mice in 2023

A gaming mouse is an essential but oft-ignored part of your overall gaming setup. An ideal gaming mouse satisfies your unique needs, performs well, and lasts long. If you’re building a gaming PC and looking for a gaming mouse that can be the best fit for you, check out this list of the best gaming mice in 2023 for every type of user.

1. Best Overall: Razer Basilisk V3

Price: $59

The Razer Basilisk V3 is our pick for the best overall gaming mouse that works well even in productivity workloads. The package is irresistible: highly responsive sensor and signature premium finish, customizable buttons, RGB mode, and a comfortable shape for long gaming sessions. The lightweight design is also in a manageable range for multiple gaming genres, from FPS to MMO. The Basilisk V3 comes well-equipped and will likely remain your trusted pointer for years.

Pros

• Premium, textured finish with a comfortable thumb rest
• Highly responsive 26,000 DPI Focus+ sensor
• Optical switches for faster actuation
• Ideal for multiple grip types
• 11 customizable buttons, including a dedicated “sniper” button to instantly reduce sensitivity (DPI)
• Scroll wheel can be switched between tactile and free-spin modes
• Tasteful RGB underglow with all zones fully customizable

Cons

• Scroll wheel slightly noisy when switching modes
• Sniper button hard for smaller hands to reach

Good to Know: if you are in the market for a new keyboard, there are some solid wireless mechanical keyboards available.

2. Best Wired Option: Razer DeathAdder V2

Price: $39.99

Rzaer’s dominance in the gaming mice segment sees it capture the best wired mouse category as well. The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a simpler, yet equally impressive, version of the Basilisk V3. The versatile grip, customization options, and excellent performance all carry over. Unfortunately, you do not get the customizable scroll wheel and have fewer buttons overall. However, the DeathAdder V2 is still a safe and highly feature-packed option for gaming and non-gaming needs.

Pros

• Comfortable, ergonomic design with optical switches
• Smooth yet tactile scroll wheel preventing accidental turns
• Competent 20,000 DPI Focus sensor
• Highly flexible cable allowing smooth movement
• Optical switches found in several pricier Razer models
• Extremely accurate sensor tracking fast movements
• Eight (8) programmable buttons

Cons

• Software is not the simplest
• Side buttons should have been tighter

3. Best Wireless: Logitech G Pro X Superlight

Price: $136

When it comes to wireless gaming mice, the technology has evolved far beyond what users could have imagined. And the Logitech G Pro X Superlight is the poster child of that progress. If you prioritize weight and performance over endless customization and RGB, you can’t do better than the G Pro X Superlight. With a lightweight build and an understated, comfortable design, this high-end offering from Logitech is powered by the Hero 25K sensor. The flagship sensor offers insanely high accuracy and tracking. On the battery front, you can squeeze out a solid 70 hours from this lightweight beast. Overall, Logitech has almost managed to touch wireless perfection while not skimping on performance.

Pros

• Shockingly lightweight for a high-end wireless mouse
• Comfortable ergonomic design
• Flagship sensor providing top-notch accuracy
• Ideal for competitive esports players
• Solid 70-hour battery life

Cons

• Not suitable for left-handed users, a departure from the previous G Pro Wireless
• Reduced RGB lighting compared to the G Pro Wireless
• No DPI switch button

Related: check out our top recommendations for the best gaming headsets as well.

4. Best Lightweight: Glorious Model O Minus

Price: $49.99

The Glorious Model O Minus sports a honeycomb chassis, shaving off weight with its hole-filled design. Weighing a featherlight 2 ounces (58g), it feels right at home, flicking and darting across in FPS games. What’s more, its ambidextrous design is ideal for multiple grip types. You won’t see impressive specs on the performance front, but it does the job with a reliable Pixart sensor, decent acceleration, and sufficiently high DPI. Overall, the Glorious Model O Minus is a surefire option for those looking for a light and fast bargain gaming mouse.

Pros

• Extremely lightweight at 2oz (58g)
• Attractive honeycomb design
• Ambidextrous build suitable for all users and grips
• Solid gaming performance with a fast and accurate sensor
• Sufficient RGB

Cons

• Potential twisting issues with the cable
• Aesthetics not for everyone

5. Best Claw and Palm Grip: Razer Basilisk Ultimate

Price: $79.99

For those looking for a perfect fit for claw and palm grips, the Razer Basilisk Ultimate could be where your search ends. This wireless mouse is powered by Razer’s Focus+ Optical sensor and has an ergonomic design suited for large hands. In short, the mouse will feel incredibly accurate and responsive in your hands and is a joy to use. You can even control the scroll wheel resistance, a feature not found in many of its competitors. Although its optical buttons aren’t the most tactile, you get a 100-hour battery life, which is much more than many other mice on this list.

Pros

• Comfortable for large hands preferring palm and claw grips
• State-of-the-art sensor with up to 20,000 DPI and 650 IPS
• Premium build quality
• Impressive software suite
• Long battery life
• Adjustable scroll wheel resistance

Cons

• Optical switches lack tactility
• A bit pricier than comparable models

Tip: you may need to optimize Windows 11 to get the best gaming performance our of your PC.

6. Best Budget: SteelSeries Rival 3

Price: $20.99

For budget buyers, dependable performance and quality matter more than a laundry list of features. The SteelSeries Rival 3 fits this description better than most in its price range. SteelSeries is known to deliver with its Rival series mice, focusing on a balance between performance, looks, and customization. The Rival 3 continues this trend and doesn’t feel cheap, either. It features the same mechanical switches used in SteelSeries’ more premium models, making it a slam dunk for price-conscious buyers looking for a consistently impressive gaming performance.

Pros

• Powerful sensor for its price offering 8500 DPI, 300 IPS, and 35G acceleration
• Impressive build quality and comfortable design
• Includes programmable buttons and customizable RGB lighting
• Features mechanical buttons found in more premium models

Cons

• Squeaky buttons after extended use
• Software is not the best
• Only 6 buttons

7. Best Ergonomic Option: Logitech G502 X

Price: $51.99

The Logitech G502 X is yet another worthy addition to Logitech’s G502 lineup of gaming mice. It doesn’t do much differently regarding the sensor or other performance-oriented features but focuses instead on ergonomics. Retaining the tried and tested G502 HERO 25k sensor, with its subtle hand placement changes, the comfortable thumb rest, and spacious switches greatly enhancing its ergonomics. The hybrid optomechanical switches combine the responsiveness of optical switches with the precise actuation of mechanical ones. Lastly, the adjustable scroll wheel reappears in this comfortable and dependable gaming mouse.

Pros

• Near-unbeatable ergonomics in its price range
• Durable, comfortable, and lightweight build
• Reliable gaming sensor for no-compromise performance
• Removable DPI-switch buttons
• Scroll wheel can be switched between tactile and infinite scroll modes

Cons

• Weight is not adjustable like some other G502 models
• RGB lovers will need to look elsewhere

FYI: selecting the right monitor can make or break your gaming experience, so you should determine whether a curved or flat monitor makes more sense for you.

8. Best MMO Mouse: Razer Naga X

Price: $79.99

MMO players value programmable buttons and fast, accurate performance, all powered by compatible hardware and software. If Razer Naga X isn’t the exact answer to these requirements, we don’t know what is. Equipped with a whopping 12 programmable buttons, the Naga X enables complex macros to be set up using the Razer Synapse software. Plus, the highly flexible cable and customizable RGB lighting further make this an easy recommendation.

Pros

• A total of 16 programmable buttons controllable with Razer’s intuitive software
• Responsive 18,000 DPI sensor
• Excellent optical switches, flexible and drag-free cable, and lightweight build
• Ample RGB customization

Cons

• No option to customize weight
• Missing features like a free-spin scroll wheel and removable buttons

9. Best FPS: Razer Basilisk V3 Pro

Price: $159.99

We have yet another Razer model to recommend for the quintessential FPS gaming mouse. The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro is a high-end and pricey mouse, but you get top-notch specs and superior in-hand feel for the price. This wireless model features Razer’s Focus Pro sensor, 11 programmable buttons, and a highly comfortable build. Whether you’re an FPS enthusiast or an MMO pro, the Basilisk V3 Pro won’t disappoint you.

Pros

• High-end Focus Pro sensor with ridiculous DPI, IPS, and acceleration
• Top-of-the-line optical switches
• Extremely responsive thanks to Razer’s HyperSpeed wireless standard
• Bluetooth and wired connectivity also available
• 11 programmable buttons
• Impressive RGB lighting with 13 customizable zones

Cons

• On the pricier side
• Weight might be too heavy for some users

Tip: if you are having issues while playing online, you may want to try these solutions to fix slow Wi-Fi connections.

10. Best Ambidextrous: Logitech G Pro Wireless

Price: $98.37

We haven’t ignored our left-handed readers; the Logitech G Pro Wireless is our top pick. Its symmetrical and highly comfortable design fits right-handed and left-handed grips easily. Its lightweight design and PTFE feet make it easily movable during gaming. You can also remove 4 of its programmable buttons for easy customization. There are some persistent double-click issues in this Logitech model as well, but overall, it’s a solid wireless offering with impressive battery life.

Pros

• Ambidextrous design suitable for left-handed users as well
• Lightweight with PTFE feet for smooth movement
• Powerful sensor for responsive gaming
• Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED wireless tech for superior connectivity
• Removable side buttons for customization
• Enabled for wireless charging

Cons

• Widely reported double-click issues after a few years of use
• Buttons should be more clicky

11. Best for Customization: MadCatz R.A.T. 8+

Price: $99.99

The MadCatz R.A.T. 8+ might look like it has too much going on but delve a bit deeper, and you might discover your perfect mouse. The R.A.T. 8+ has customization written all over it, with its movable rests and adjustable weights, allowing you to create a configuration that’s just right for your hand. Users with large hands and those who prefer palm grips will find the R.A.T. 8+ incredibly functional and flexible.

Pros

• Incredibly flexible with movable rests and adjustable weights
• Plenty of programmable buttons and Omron switches
• RGB lighting
• 16,000 DPI sensor
• Proficient Pixart PWM 3389 sensor for responsiveness
• 11 programmable buttons
• Rated for over 50 million clicks

Cons

• Aesthetics may not be for everyone
• On the heavier side, even with removable weights

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a gaming mouse better than a regular mouse?

Gaming mice have specialized hardware to maximize responsiveness, precision, and comfort during gaming sessions. Unlike a regular mouse, a gaming mouse can significantly enhance the gaming experience, thanks to a superior sensor, adjustable DPI, multiple programmable buttons, and even variable weight and movable rests (in some models). Also, gaming mice generally provide additional gaming-focused features like customizable RGB lighting, a modern design, adjustable scroll wheel, and more.

Is a wireless mouse good for gaming?

Wireless mice technology has rapidly advanced in recent years, and the differences between wired and wireless mice have disappeared. Whether it’s input lag, response time, or any of the crucial specifications, you have a wireless variant for every great wired mouse out there. If you’re willing to pay a slight premium over wired mice and put up with charging it, there’s no reason that a wireless mouse can’t be a dependable pick for your gaming needs. Check out our best wireless mice list to fast-track your buying decision.

Which features should I look for in a gaming mouse?

The most important features you should look for in a gaming mouse are design, responsiveness, programmable buttons, and weight. One of the most important aspects of a gaming mouse is how comfortably it fits in your hand, followed by how fast and responsive its sensor is. Lastly, the number of programmable buttons and how light and smooth the mouse is can also help you narrow your options and choose one that fits your needs the best.

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