When selecting a gaming mouse, it’s tempting to prioritize the one with the highest DPI count, but there’s much more to consider in choosing the ideal mouse. In fact, the DPI count may be one of the least relevant factors. The key lies in how the mouse feels and responds to your inputs, as well as its day-to-day practicality. Determining the best option for your needs is crucial for achieving optimal in-game performance.
Drawing from our experience in testing numerous gaming mice over the years, we’ve compiled a list of our top recommendations to guide you in the right direction.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2
Best mouse for FPS gaming
Pros
- Lightweight and nimble
- Responsive with low latency
- Up to 95 hours of battery
Cons
- Lacks dedicated DPI switch
- Not the cheapest
Why you should buy this: It’s the best overall gaming mouse you can buy.
Who it’s for: First-person shooter (FPS) gamers looking for the best
Why we chose the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2:
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight has long been one of the best lightweight wireless gaming mice on the market. This year, Logitech finally introduced a successor. While maintaining the overall shape and design, the newer version improves on almost every shortcoming of the original. It now comes with a USB-C port, an upgraded sensor, an increased polling rate, hybrid optical-mechanical switches, and improved battery life. It is also lighter at just 60 grams.
The new-and-improved Hero 2 sensor now brings in up to 32,000DPI (even though you are never going to game at such high settings) and a maximum speed of 500 IPS. It also supports a polling rate 2,000Hz, which is double of what you get on the original G Pro X Superlight, and the mouse also gets Logitech’s new Lightforce hybrid optical/mechanical switches. This makes it an excellent choice for FPS gamers or anyone who is looking for a premium lightweight mouse that offers excellent response.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2
Best mouse for FPS gaming
Razer
Razer Orochi V2
Best compact wireless gaming mouse
Pros
- Dual wireless connectivity
- Can be used with one AA or AAA battery
- Lightweight design
- Good battery life
Cons
- Might be small for some people
- No RGB
Why you should buy this: You need a reliable, ultralight mobile gaming mouse.
Who it’s for: Laptop gamers, or gamers who like small mice
Why we chose the Razer Orochi V2:
The Razer Orochi V2 stands out as a compact and efficient wireless gaming mouse, boasting top-tier technology and remarkable battery life in a portable design .Unlike Logitech’s MX Anywhere mouse, commonly chosen for on-the-go use, but not ideal for gaming, the Orochi V2 offers similar dimensions paired with a lighter weight, superior sensor, and 1000Hz polling for swift responses.
The Orochi V2’s emphasis on weight is notable — it weighs 74 grams with a lithium battery and drops to a mere 69 grams with a standard alkaline AAA battery, making it impressively lightweight. This weight optimization contributes to enhanced maneuverability during gaming sessions, providing users with a comfortable and responsive experience. The efficient battery usage ensures extended playtime, reducing the need for frequent recharging or battery replacements.
Compact yet powerful, the Razer Orochi V2 strikes a balance between portability and gaming performance, making it a reliable choice for users who prioritize both convenience and functionality in their gaming peripherals.
Razer Orochi V2
Best compact wireless gaming mouse
Cooler Master
Cooler Master MM711
Best budget gaming mouse
Pros
- Dirt cheap
- Pleasing honeycomb pattern with RGB
- Lightweight
- Ambidextrous design
Cons
- May not be suitable for large hands
Why you should buy this: A highly affordable, lightweight gaming mouse that is functional and looks good too.
Who it’s for: Beginners looking for a low-cost option that doesn’t compromise on design and performance.
Why we chose the Cooler Master MM711:
The Cooler Master MM711 is an affordable and proficient gaming mouse option catering to gamers seeking a flashy, lightweight, and practical device. While visually appealing with its honeycomb pattern and polytetrafluoroethylene feet, it features a simple two-button mouse appearance with essential design elements. The emphasis on comfort and customization is evident, with ambidextrous design catering to both left-handed and right-handed users, as well as various grip types.
The inclusion of Pixart’s PMW3389 sensor means that it offers excellent tracking while the 1000Hz polling rate should ensure a fast and responsive experience. Cooler Master has also incorporated Omron switches for both the left-click and right-click functions, and they are renowned for delivering a comfortable and gratifying clicking sound.
Weighing just 60 grams, the mouse boasts an Ultraweave cable and RGB lighting, offering a balance between portability and gaming performance. Despite its limited additional buttons, the MM711 excels in simplicity for MOBA or FPS gaming. The accompanying MasterPlus+ software is also quite useful as it enables customization of features, DPI adjustment, and lighting, providing a comprehensive gaming experience. While it may lack ergonomic design for larger hands, the MM711’s competitive price of $20 positions it as a reliable choice for beginners entering the PC gaming realm.
Cooler Master MM711
Best budget gaming mouse
Corsair
Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite
Best MMO gaming mouse
Pros
- Variety of customizable buttons
- Solid constuction
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- Low click latency
Cons
- Slightly bulky
- Suitable for right-hand users only
- Has a learning curve
Why you should buy this: It’s a well-built mouse featuring an array of additional customizable buttons.
Who it’s for: MMO gamers or anyone who wants a gaming mouse with a ton of buttons.
Why we chose the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite:
The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite, priced at $80, stands out as the top choice for MMO gaming with its grid of 12 side buttons. The mouse boasts a sturdy construction and features a soft-touch plastic body. The right side incorporates a textured grip, providing an enhanced feel, while on the left, a 12-button side panel adds versatility, allowing you to adjust its position forward or backward according to your hand size. These buttons, featuring varying textures, are easily distinguishable in intense gaming situations.
Ideal for a claw grip, this mouse accommodates hands of any size. Additionally, it proves comfortable for a fingertip grip, except for those with extra-large hands, and for a palm grip, except for those with smaller hands.
With four distinct RGB lighting zones and companion software compatible with both Windows and macOS, this mouse offers extensive customization options. It is notably heavier than most gaming mice at over 120 grams, but that’s due to the array of additional customizable buttons. Thankfully it comes with low click latency, and a low liftoff distance. If you don’t want to deal with cables, the Scimitar RGB Elite also comes in a wireless version.
Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite
Best MMO gaming mouse
Digital Trends
Razer Deathadder V3 Pro
Best wireless gaming mouse
Pros
- Perfect for palm grip
- Fantastic battery life
- Lightweight for its size
- PTFE feet
- Slight tweaks to design look great
Why you should buy this: Carries the legacy of Razer’s premium wireless gaming mouse tech.
Who it’s for: Those who want a no-compromise high-end wireless gaming mouse.
Why we chose the Razer Deathadder V3 Pro:
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, an iconic gaming mouse, has undergone significant improvements in its third generation. Weighing just 63 grams, it sheds 25 grams compared to its predecessor, offering a super-light feel without RGB lighting. The palm grip-friendly design, ergonomic shape, and white color option enhance its appeal. With a new microtexture coating on the shell, the mouse ensures a secure grip during intense gaming sessions.
With a 90-hour battery life and the inclusion of the Razer HyperPolling wireless dongle, it provides excellent wireless performance. Razer is also using its new Focus Pro 30K optical sensor for enhanced accuracy, while the third-generation Razer optical mouse switches are said to offer a rapid 0.2ms response time and a 90 million-click life span.
While tailored for esports professionals, its minimalistic button configuration should suit diverse gaming genres or work tasks. With a price tag of $150, the DeathAdder V3 Pro caters to those seeking a high-performance, no-nonsense gaming tool.
Razer Deathadder V3 Pro
Best wireless gaming mouse
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DPI and why does it matter for a gaming mouse?
DPI, or dots per inch, measures the sensitivity of a gaming mouse, determining how many pixels the cursor moves for each inch the mouse is physically moved. While often emphasized, its importance depends on personal preferences and game types.
Here’s why DPI matters for a gaming mouse:
- Precision: Higher DPI offers more precise movements, which is crucial for accuracy in games like first-person shooters.
- Adjustability: Adjustable DPI caters to different gaming scenarios, allowing for fine control or quick, responsive movements.
- Gaming Styles: Preferences vary; some prefer low DPI for control, while others favor high DPI for agility.
- Large Monitors: Higher DPI benefits those with larger monitors or higher resolutions, covering more screen with less movement.
- Personal Comfort: Ultimately, DPI importance is subjective; personal comfort dictates its significance.
What DPI should I play at?
Although many gaming mice tout sensors with extremely high DPI figures, we’re telling you now: You’ll never use anything above 4,000 DPI. In fact, most pro gamers play at 400 DPI to 800 DPI, with the goal being longer swoops for the same in-game movement, allowing you to take aim with much higher accuracy. This is also why 60% and 65% keyboards are so popular among gamers: They give the player much more space for mousing around without a numpad in the way.
But don’t take that to mean you should ignore all these high-DPI mice. Rather, take the high DPI number as the maker vouching for its sensor’s performance, as high-DPI mice generally have better tracking, zero pointer acceleration, adjustable or pre-optimized liftoff distance, and most importantly, they are capable of high-speed sweeps while maintaining accurate tracking, something that’s important when playing at much lower DPI settings.
Should I buy a wired or wireless gaming mouse?
This one’s really a matter of cost, but generally, our preference goes to wireless mice. It used to be that wireless gaming mice suffered in performance compared to their tethered counterparts due to slow communications and interference, but that’s no longer the case thanks to radio developments over the last few years. Wireless mice today perform as well as, if not better than their wired counterparts due to not having to drag a cable around. The flip side is that they cost more, need to be charged (especially if they have RGB), and tend to weigh a little more, but we believe the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Do I need a ton of buttons?
If you’re an MMORPG gamer, then the answer to this is a resounding yes. But other than that, most gamers should focus on finding a mouse with a comfortable shape, excellent sensor, and light weight, as these will help better your performance more than having buttons that you don’t use. Because, remember, those buttons add complexity and weight, which will slow you down when aiming down sights.
It is also recommended that you invest in a quality mouse pad for seamless gliding. For optimal gaming performance, consider a compact keyboard with a TKL layout and a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor. To enhance your advantage in competitive games, target a powerful PC capable of achieving higher frame rates that prioritizes performance over visual aesthetics.
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