Best gaming mouse rundown
Update: We’ve added Logitech’s weighty G502 Proteus Spectrum to our list of best gaming mice. Featuring customizable weights designed to quite literally tip the balance in your favour, it’s a great example of a solidly-built, attractive gaming mouse that isn’t short on features.
PC gamers have never had it so good. The e-sports scene is enjoying unprecedented popularity, with plenty of (not entirely frivolous) talk about how gaming should be added to the Olympics roster.
Whether you fancy becoming the next League of Legends or Call of Duty superstar, or something more sedate, like leading a vicarious virtual life in an MMO or RPG, one thing is for sure: you will be at an instant disadvantage if you skimp on your choice of mouse.
And there’s no excuse for that if you’ve lashed out eye-watering sums on an overclocked, water-cooled rig festooned with neon lights, or a top-of-the-range gaming laptop.
How to choose the best gaming mouse
Your choice of mouse depends very much on your gaming preferences: if you’re into first-person shooters, say, finding the right balance of sensitivity and responsiveness is vital, so you’ll need to pay attention to DPI ratings and decide between optical or laser sensors (fear not – leave the technical stuff to us). Whereas if you’re into real-time strategy, MMOs or MOBAs, it’s vital to pick a mouse that lets you map macros triggering the actions you use most to specially configured buttons.
So, we’ve picked the 10 best gaming mice: whatever your gaming preferences or needs, one of these will complete your ultimate PC or Mac gaming setup.
1. Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum
DPI: 200 – 12,000 | Features: 11 programmable buttons and controls, including DPI shift, Customizable lighting from a palette of 16.8 million colors, Add up to five 3.6g weights for personalised mass and balance, Surface-turnable gaming sensor with Delta Zero tech, 5 on-the-fly adjustable DPI settings , 3 on-board profiles
See more Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum deals
Customizable weights RGB lighting Satisfying scroll wheel Weights can be tricky to remove
Logitech’s gaming mouse turns being heavy handed into a good thing. Its hexagonal core can be customized with up to six 3.6 gram weights, giving you a lighter or heavier mouse to wield. Adjusting the mass and balance isn’t the G502’s only trick: its Surface-turnable gaming sensor packs Logitech’s Delta Zero tech, which lets you use it on a wide variety of surfaces beyond your regular mouse mat.
Clicking a middle mouse button lets the G502’s scroll wheel spin freely, which is handy for preventing knuckle strain when navigating long webpages and forms. Add to that 11 customizable buttons including four on the left-hand side, a three-speed DPI shift under the scroll wheel and a logo lit up by RGB backlighting, and you have one attractive, tech-stuffed gaming mouse.
2. Roccat Nyth
The most customizable mouse, bar none
DPI: 12,000 | Features: Custom button layout, Mid-finger fin switch, AlienFX Illumination, 3D printing support, 2x hotswappable sidegrips
Highly customisable Contoured body Can’t change length
Roccat’s Nyth is one of the more innovative mice in recent times. Clicking a button pops out its 12 side buttons, which you can then re-configure in any order you like – giving you a potential 36 side button combinations. Mapping is done using Roccat’s Swarm driver, which lets you create custom button configurations and map buttons to programs. That makes it suitable for not just MMOs, but a whole range of genres – from FPS to MOBA titles. If you’ve got a 3D printer, you can even 3D print your own buttons for it.
3. Razer DeathAdder Chroma
Sports a classic design and has an insane DPI
DPI: 10,000 | Interface: USB Wired | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Yes | Features: Textured rubber side grips, Chroma lighting, 1000Hz Ultrapolling, On-the-fly sensitivity adjustment, Always-on mode
See more Razer DeathAdder Chroma deals
High DPI Grips well Pedestrian design No macro buttons
Many pro gamers swear by Razer’s PC peripherals, and the Death Adder Chroma mouse is one of the most popular gaming mice around. There’s nothing too flash about it (except for the ability to make various bits of it glow in different colours), but it feels right in the hand, is light, the rubber side-grips come in handy at frenzied moments, its optical sensor is tried-and-tested and it goes up to an insane 10,000DPI (probably too sensitive for mere mortals, but it’s there if you need it). MMO fans may be slightly disappointed by a less-than-generous allocation of macro buttons, though. But in the world of gaming mice, it’s considered something of a design classic.
4. Roccat Kone XTD
A true button-basher
DPI: 8200 | Interface: Wired | Buttons: 8 | Feature: Ergonmic design, 1000Hz polling rate, 1ms response time, 12000fps, 10.8megapixel, 30G acceleration, 16-bit data channel, 1-5mm Lift off distance, 72MHz Turbo Core V2 32-bit Arm based MCU, 576kB onboard memory, Zero angle snapping/prediction
See more Roccat Kone XTD deals
Plenty of buttons Fast response time Software bit gimmicky
With a clever easy-shift system that effectively doubles the number of its buttons, Roccat’s Kone XTD scores particularly highly with those who crave macros at their fingertips. But it’s a great all-rounder which is built to last, with easily adjustable sensitivity and a rugged wheel. With a 32-bit processor and ability to analyse your mouse-pad and automatically set lift-distance, it might just be the most high-tech mouse on the market. Plus it looks and feels spot-on. Some of the software may be a tad gimmicky, but it provides all the customisability any serious MMO, MOBA or RTS gamer could desire, and can hold its own on the first-person shooter scene.
5. Razer Naga Chroma
The most colourful MMO mouse around
DPI: 8200 | Interface: Wired/Wireless | Buttons: 19 programmable | Features: Tilt-click mechanical thumb grid, Wireless gaming-grade tech, Charging dock, Chroma lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options, Razer Synapse software, 1000Hz Ultrapolling, up to 200 inches per second/50g acceleration
See more Razer Naga Chroma deals
Customizable lighting Plenty of buttons Hard to replace battery
Razer updated its Naga MMO mousse with Chroma lighting, and once again there’s more than enough buttons for fans of the genre to customize their moves. The Chroma Naga is connected using the supplied charging cable, which can be disconnected to provide up to around eight hours of charge. Sporting a sleek black matte design that contrasts well with the shifting colours, the Naga Chroma is a slick addition to Razer’s line-up of gaming mice.
6. Mad Catz R.A.T.M
Small rodent
DPI: 6400 | Interface: Wireless | Buttons: 12 (10 programmable) | Feature: GameSmart Multi-platform, USB Nano Dongle, Bluetooth, 1 year from 2 AAA batteries, Adjust grip in 0-15mm in 5mm increments, dang
See more Mad Catz R.A.T.M deals
Built-in Bluetooth Adjustable grip Fits better in smaller hands
Finding the right mouse is a perennial problem for gamers who prefer laptops to PCs, but Mad Catz’s R.A.T.M has been specifically designed to solve that conundrum. As is typical for laptop-specific mice, it’s tiny (which could prove problematic for the giant-handed), but at least it’s size-adjustable, and packs surprisingly decent specifications for such a tiny package, with 6,400DPI sensitivity and a clever four-way button that can run five macros. And it’s wireless – with a built-in Bluetooth dongle so it works even if your laptop doesn’t have native Bluetooth. Worth considering for those who place portability at a premium, but like to play MMOs and MOBAs.
7. SteelSeries Sensei
A shot in the (32-bit) ARM
DPI: 6400 | Interface: Wireless | Buttons: 12 (10 programmable) | Features: Customisable lift distance, Button functionality and CPI, Ilumination, Macros, SteelSeries Engine, 32-bit ARM CPU, 1 – 5,700 CPI, 10.8-MP HD image correlation at up to 12,000 FPS, Tracking movements of up to 150 inches per second
See more SteelSeries Sensei deals
Handy 8 macro buttons
Customisable “lift distance” Bland design
SteelSeries peripherals have a huge following among the professional gaming community, and many pros swear by the Sensei. With 11,400DPI sensitivity and a handy eight macro buttons, it comfortably straddles the first-person shooter/MMO/MOBA divide. Meanwhile, underneath its deceptively conventional looks, it’s precision-engineered for all the precision and sensitivity you could desire. And it even lets you customise its “lift distance” – so whatever surface you use it on, you can get it performing perfectly. We can’t vouch for your general level of talent, but the SteelSeries Sensei will at least put you on a par with the pros in terms of equipment.
8. Logitech G602
Battery warrior
DPI: 2500 | Interface: Wireless | Buttons: 2 | Features: 250 – 2,500 DPI, 20G max acceleration, Max speed 6.6ft/second, 250-hour battery life, 9.8ft wireless range, In-game sensitivity switching, Performance mode, Logitech Gaming Software
Long battery life
Low DPI
SteelSeries peripherals have a huge following among the professional gaming community, and many pros swear by the Sensei. With 11,400DPI sensitivity and a handy eight macro buttons, it comfortably straddles the first-person shooter/MMO/MOBA divide. Meanwhile, underneath its deceptively conventional looks, it’s precision-engineered for all the precision and sensitivity you could desire. And it even lets you customise its “lift distance” – so whatever surface you use it on, you can get it performing perfectly. We can’t vouch for your general level of talent, but the SteelSeries Sensei will at least put you on a par with the pros in terms of equipment.
9. SteelSeries Sensei [RAW]
White hot metal
DPI: 62155 | Interface: Wired | Buttons: 8 | Features: Advanced macros, Scalable pointer speed from 90 to 5670 in increments of 90, 10.8-Megapixel HD image correlation at up to 12,000 FPS, Tracking movements of up to 150 inches per second, White illumination, UPE material
See more SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] deals
Long battery life Scalable pointer speed Low DPI
The Sensei [RAW] is a cut-down, and considerably cheaper, version of the classic Sensei, which keeps all the Sensei’s most important attributes, but does away with some more exotic features – notably the 32-bit ARM processor and the LCD display. In terms of all its mechanical bits, though, it’s the same as the Sensei. So you get that tournament-honed feel and precision (and it’s available in a nice rubberised finish, too). Worth considering if you’re pretty sure that you don’t possess the raw talent to make it to the very top of the online gaming world, and happen to be a tad impecunious – yet still want a mouse that handles impeccably.
10. Cougar 550M
Responsive and well-built, it’s ready to pounce
DPI: 50-6400 | Interface: Wired | Buttons: 6 | Features: Braided cable, Omron micro switches, Gaming-grade scroll wheel, Programmable trigger buttons, Anti-slip flanks, Premium gaming surface, 1000Hz Polling Rate/1ms Response time, 3-stage DPI LED display, Multi-colour backlight system (2 zone RGB)
Fast response time Tough cable Won’t fit small hands
The Cougar 550M is a durable gaming mouse with a fast 1ms response time. Its side panels feature a mesh design that lend it some Crysis-esque cool and feel great to grip, and its two roomy side buttons on the left-hand edge are easy to press. We wish more manufacturers would make gaming mice with braided cables like the one on the 550M – they do a better job of staying untangled and add to your confidence levels in-game. Located under the scrool wheel, the 550M’s DPI switch feels curiously satisfying to press – like changing the gear stick in a sports car. The mouse feels solid in the hand, but its size doesn’t make it a great fit for small hands.
Roll on 1,000,000 dpi Eh? really … the rest of the world is wrong.
I know that Roccat, Razer, Mad Catz, and Cougar don't make the best products. Corsair, Logitech, and sometimes Steelseries make actual quality products. Mad Catz and Roccat especially are shoddy.
The best mice are:
Logitech G303 (best sensor)
Logitech G502 (best overall mouse)
Corsair M65 (just great)
Like cylinders in a car engine, there comes a point where smoothness is perceived and not felt…. DPI beyond 1600-2000 is ridiculous.. like V6 -V8 -V12 -V24. lets make it higher because it's about numbers & forget about innovation.
i find it interesting how the cougar 600m got in this review but the 700m didnt
How about this list: 144hzmonitors (dot) com/gaming-mouse-buyers-guide-october-2015/
I use 800-1000 and that is plenty, DPI has gone mad.
no zowie, what a joke
Another seemingly missing bit of information is are they ambidextrous. Based on the looks you can tell a lot of them aren't but some appear that they might be but just because it is a symmetrical shape doesn't mean the buttons are the same on both sides for someone who is left handed to use properly.
What idiots, Reviewer con: turtle beach, lack of right edge buttons? how about Lack of left edge buttons….. seriously… lack of review.
Higher DPI is bad because it causes artificial acceleration. Why do you think every CS:GO player plays on 400 dpi? Stop feeding incorrect information. High dpi = bad. If you want to be accurate you should playe around 400-500 dpi and not more.
Pretty obvious they don't use the mice when they say that a non-wireless mouse has a long battery life.
Proteus Core best. These mad catz mice are not so good…
I just swapped my Roccat for the Zowie because Roccat is dog shit.
Nice joke of a top 10. Zowie mice blow any of these out of the water. Roccat 2nd has to be a bad joke. I just got rid of mine that was 6 months old cause I couldn't handle how shit it was anymore.
There is a difference between optical LED, optical Laser, Optical checkerboard and Doppler Shift.
In the other hand, it's not about the surface, it's all about the sensor and the only sensors that are 100% zero acceleration and no tracking fix are optical LED.
Some of them are the avago A3090, Pixart PMW3310, Avago ADNS-S3080, etc.
And yep, not all optical LED are good sensors. For example the avago A3050 or the AM010 can't be considered in the "good list".
In the other hand, there is no laser, doppler or checkerboard sensor that can be considered 100% accurate.
this is a nice overrated and gimmick mouse list.
now if you want a REAL gaming mouse list, this is it
1. Logitech MX518 now called Logitech G400s
2. Roccat Kone Optical Pure – I own it and will buy it again if this one breaks.
3. Zowie EC1/EC2
4. Corsair M40 OPTICAL or M60 LASER (new m65 has a bad sensor)
5. Steelseries Sensei RAW
6. Razer Lachesis
7. Logitech G9
8. Steelseries Ikari
9. Razer Deathadder
10. Roccat Savu
That's wrong, I play at 12000 DPI 0.0756 sens on my Logitech G502 and experience no acceleration or deceleration no matter how I swing the mouse. Pro players play at 400 DPI because they are used to it and reluctant to change. 400, and even 800 DPI at any reasonable sensitivity is full of stair-step effects. I've experienced nothing but smoother movement with high DPI on this particular mouse.
It's ok – noman is a child that can't argue a point coherently without resorting to swearing
G400 is cheap and perfect. Ain't a better wired mouse out there.
I have very big hands (I mean, REALLY big). Yet, I don't like mouses that fit the size of my hands; I only play FPS with mini and very light mouses. It feels almost like I'm just moving my hand and I don't even have a mouse "attached" to it. But then I need some stability. I can't leave my arms too free, otherwise I can't control the mouse very well. So I sit in a position I shouldn't be able to move more than one – maybe one and a half – centimeters to any side. Actually, I just move the arms over my own skin, I don't really move the arms over the table (the table is always touching the same part of the skin). But for all that to work, I need very high DPI/sensitivity. After so many years playing this way I got used to it. I lose just a bit in control, and I gain a lot in speed. Plus it's very hard to kill me in the back, as I keep rotating the camera constantly, since my back is just a few milimeters away.
lazer mice ARE optical. On a hard surface, a lazer sensor is always going to be more precise than an IR based sensor. That's actually why they are less accurate on cloth or heavily textured mats. They're poling more info than they need to be. It's an old, old myth that IR sensors are better. They aren't, if your mouse is properly matched to your mousing surface.
I didn't say roccat is the best. I said kone optical pure is their best.
Still love my Logitech G600, somply because of the thumb buttons. I was going to buy another one but then I saw the Corsair Scimitar has a very similar thumb buttons layout. Another plus is the fibremesh cable that both mice use.
Good point! I'll add to the spec list and update.
I'm with you, DPI is ridiculous…. next 10,000 DPI… who the nutts uses it? SALES TEAMS & bad reviewers making it a plus.