If you're a keen PC gamer, then a bog-standard mouse just will not do. And while there's a huge selection of gaming-specific mice out there, finding the best gaming mouse for your hands, your playing style and your preferred type of game isn't always straightforward. To help you choose from the vast number of different designs from manufacturers, and decide what features you really need, here you'll find our reviews of the best gaming mice you can buy, and we'll explain everything you need to know in the buying guide below.
If you already know what you're looking for, then scroll down and you'll find seven of the best gaming mice you can buy right now. With prices starting at a budget-friendly £30 and stretching up to a wallet-bruising £140, there's something here for everyone, from beginners looking to gain an edge in their favourite games, to seasoned experts who want to maintain their kill-to-death ratio. If, on the other hand, you don't know your palm grip from your claw grip, or your Pixart sensors from your Avago, then read on.
How to buy the best gaming mouse for you
To find the best mouse, there are a few things to consider before splashing out: your hand size and grip; its weight; mouse sensor accuracy; whether it's wired or wireless; your preferred game genre (FPS, MOBA, RTS, RPG); the buttons required; and whether you want fancy LED lighting.
Hand size and grip: Will my hand size change the mouse I get?
If you're going to perform to your fullest, a mouse needs to ergonomically fit your hands. Every hand is different, but you'll find manufacturers tailoring mice to certain hand sizes and grips. Your hand size will change the way you grip a mouse, and different mice will be designed with specific grip styles in mind – buy the wrong one, and you'll never be able to play to the best of your abilities. There's no right or wrong way to grip a mouse, though; it's all about choosing the most comfortable grip for you. In this article, I'll list which grip type each mouse is best suited for, using my hands as a median.
Do I have a palm grip, fingertip grip, or a claw grip?
Palm grip: You have a large contact area between your hands and the mouse, with the majority of your palm and fingertips touching the mouse's surface.
Fingertip grip: Only the fingertips of your hands touch the mouse's surface, with your palm remaining elevated from the mouse.
Claw grip: Your fingertips and the bottom part of your palm touch the mouse's surface, with your fingers raised above the right and left mouse buttons.
Is a heavy mouse better than a lighter one?
Just like your grip, the weight will depend on your own taste. I personally like a mouse that weighs between 80-100g, and it's not uncommon for gaming mice to provide optional add-on weights so that you can tailor them to your preferences.
Should I buy a gaming mouse with an optical or a laser sensor? Is the mouse sensor really important?
Optical sensors are better for use on soft mousemats, whereas a laser’s light can get confused by the slightly hollow structure. Laser is still a superior tech for a larger variety of surfaces, though, particularly shiny ones.
For FPS gamers, the sensor manufacturer and specifications are arguably the most important things to look out for, as they can greatly affect your feeling of the game. There are various manufacturers of mice sensors out there, such as Pixart Imaging and Broadcom, both highly respected companies among mice enthusiasts for their sensors. I personally use the Pixart PMW3366 (and variations of it), as my go-to gaming mouse for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The sensor can change the way positive and negative acceleration is felt, drastically changing your performance in-game.
Wired vs wireless: Can I get the same performance on a wireless mouse?
It's argued by many that the performance of a wireless mouse is limited by its extra latency over a wired alternative. Having tested the Logitech G403 in both wired and wireless iterations, it's clear that wireless technology has greatly improved over the years. However, if you're a seriously competitive gamer, a wired mouse will still provide the best, most consistent gaming experience. If you're a casual gamer, though, a wireless mouse will be perfectly acceptable, especially as the wireless technology is now far more reliable and robust than it used to be.
How many buttons do I need on a mouse?
Just like the grip and weight, this is entirely up to you. I used to need nine buttons to feel comfortable, but now I only need three buttons. Most mice can be fully programmed, right down to applying dedicated macros to each button – which provides vast scope for customisation and game-specific tweaking.
The aesthetic design and bonus features such as integrated LED lighting are entirely more trivial, as you won't be looking at your mouse when you're gaming. Still, it's always nice to have something beautiful on your desk. Certain companies use RGB lighting, whereas others have a fully customisable OLED display, such as on the SteelSeries Rival 700.
It should also be mentioned that all popular gaming mice are designed for right-handers, but due to symmetrical design, some can be used by left-handers. It's worth mentioning, however, that left-handed usage may mean that some buttons are no longer usable, so it's worth taking a closer look at the button layout before you buy.
The best gaming mice to buy
1. Logitech G403 Prodigy: The best gaming mouse for FPS games
Price when reviewed: £52
The Logitech G403 is simply the best gaming mouse for FPS games. It only weighs 87.3g (although it is bundled with a 10g optional weight), has the perfect ergonomics for a palm/fingertip grip, and features the Pixart PMW3366 sensor to provide a zero-acceleration mouse. This also allows it to go up to 12,000dpi.
The mouse has RGB lighting by the scroll wheel and Logitech "G" logo. It features three additional buttons, two on the side and one at the top, equating to a total of six buttons.
In performance tests, I didn't experience any jitter at high DPI, had perfect 1:1 tracking, and didn't experience any problems on different surfaces. It should be noted that you can also get a wireless version of G403, which comes with the same features. This isn't recommended for seriously competitive gamers, but is a fantastic wireless gaming mouse for everything else.
Key specs – Grip: Palm and Fingertip; Weight: 87.3/97.3g; Sensor: Pixart PMW3366; Maximum DPI: 12,000; Buttons: 6; RGB: Yes; Dimensions: 124 x 68 x 43mm
2. SteelSeries Rival 700: The most advanced gaming mouse
Price when reviewed:£56
SteelSeries' Rival 700 is a mouse to be reckoned with. The modular design means that you fine-tune the feel by swapping out the soft-touch top plate with a selection of different textured panels, and you can even replace the supplied Pixart optical sensor with an upgraded laser sensor for around £25.
At 135g, the mouse is very heavy and will suit a palm or fingertip grip. Featuring the Pixart PMW3360 sensor, it's ideal for all types of games and provides a zero-acceleration experience. The GameSense feature is moderately handy, too, using the small OLED display on the front left of the mouse to display customisable information from compatible games. You can add small images or even GIFs to your mouse, where they'll be displayed in monochrome – which is novel.
The mouse also features a removable cable, so you can replace the long braided cable (which is ideal for desktops) with the supplied short rubber cable (which is ideal for laptops). To top it off, it has RGB lights by the scroll wheel and by the SteelSeries logo, and has seven customisable buttons. As long as you can live with its weight, the Rival 700 is the most advanced mouse on the market.
Key specs – Grip: Palm and Fingertip; Weight: 135g; Sensor: Pixart PMW3360; Maximum DPI: 16,000; Buttons: 7; RGB: Yes; Dimensions: 124.85 x 68.46 x 41.97mm
3. Cooler Master MasterMouse Pro L: The best gaming mouse under £40
Price when reviewed: £39
The Cooler Master MasterMouse Pro L is easily the best mouse I've come across for under £40. It has a large array of features, which include RGB lighting and eight programmable buttons (one is found underneath). You can even change the covers to transform it from a palm-grip to a fingertip-grip mouse.
Cooler Master has really thought through the design of this mouse, providing two different, magnetically attached covers – one in a softer UV coating, one in hard plastic – and as one of them is 5mm longer, the MasterMouse Pro L can be customised to suit larger hands. It's ambidextrous, too, so lefties aren't left out in the cold. The covers can even be 3D-printed, with Cooler Master providing you with the blueprints to make it happen.
It's no slouch in performance either, coming equipped with the excellent Avago PMW3360 sensor, so you'll be able to enjoy a zero-acceleration mouse for less than £40. The only moan? There's no on-the-fly DPI adjustment, as the button is located underneath.
Key specs – Grip: Palm and Fingertip; Weight: 98/99g; Sensor: Avago PMW3360; Maximum DPI: 12,000; Buttons: 8; RGB: Yes; Dimensions: 125(130) x 67.8 x 38mm
4. Corsair Gaming M65 Pro: A fantastic flat gaming mouse
Price when reviewed: £55
If you're a self-affirmed claw-grip or fingertip-grip gamer, the Corsair Gaming M65 Pro might just be your dream come true.
The M65 Pro features the impressive Pixart PMW3366 sensor for zero-acceleration performance that goes up to 12,000dpi and, since the two main buttons use high-quality Omron switches rated to last over 20 million clicks, this mouse should last the course for even the most dedicated gamers. The mouse also has eight programmable buttons and three-zone RGB lighting.
The mouse is relatively heavy at 115g, and can be further increased in weight to 135.5g with the supplied weights. The weight system itself is rather clever. Three bolts are spread out across three corners of the base, and each bolt has a ring-shaped weight under it. Spreading them out allows you to customise the weight distribution, so the mouse balances perfectly when gripped in the way you like.
Key specs – Grip: Claw and Fingertip; Weight: 115/135.5g; Sensor: Pixart PMW3366; Maximum DPI: 12,000; Buttons: 8; RGB: Yes; Dimensions: 118 x 72 x 39mm
Corsair CH-9300011-EU M65 PRO Multi-Colour RGB Backlit Performance Optical Gaming Mouse - Black
5. Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum Wireless: The best wireless gaming mouse
Price when reviewed:£135
There are very few mice in the market that are all things to all gamers, but Logitech has come up with the goods. The only downside to the G900's versatility, however, is its price. Originally reviewed at £135, it's one of the most expensive mice on the market.
The G900 features the highly impressive PMW3366 sensor, with zero-acceleration performance for FPS gamers. It has a whopping 11 programmable buttons, plus a dedicated profile-switch button found underneath the mouse. There are two buttons on either side of the mouse (and if they get in your way, you can replace the buttons with plastic blanking plates instead), two buttons at the top, your standard three left/right/scroll buttons and scroll left-right buttons.
The mouse has RGB lighting, weighs 107g and is ideal for palm- or fingertip-grip gamers. Like the popular Logitech G502, it features two scroll wheels: hyperscroll and regular clicky scrolling. Best of all, the mouse can be used both wirelessly and plugged in, and its shielding prevents it from any picking up any wireless interference. If you're a super-competitive gamer, though, then wired is the only way to go.
Key specs – Grip: Palm and Fingertip; Weight: 107g; Sensor: Pixart PMW3366; Maximum DPI: 12,000; Buttons: 11; RGB: Yes; Dimensions: 130 x 67 x 40mm
6. Havit MMO gaming mouse: The cheap MMO/RTS gaming mouse
Price when reviewed: £33
If you're an MMO gamer looking for a mouse with a lot of customisable buttons, the Havit MMO gaming mouse is a godsend. Not only is it cheap at only £33, but it comes with 19 buttons that can be fully programmed, zonal RGB lighting, a 12,000dpi sensor, and is suited for palm-, fingertip- and claw-grip gamers.
The type and brand of sensor isn't disclosed, but I did notice positive acceleration in FPS games, so I can only presume it's utilising a budget Avago sensor. However, this is unlikely to matter to MMO/RTS gamers. There's very little this mouse does wrong and, given its features and keen pricing, it's a great choice for the MMO/RTS gamers out there.
Key specs – Grip: Claw, Palm and Fingertip; Weight: Unknown; Sensor: Unknown; Maximum DPI: 12,000; Buttons: 19; RGB: Yes (zonal); Dimensions: 128.83 x 73.87 x 43.77mm
