The best gaming mouse you can buy

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Whether you’re on team wired or team wireless, here are the best gaming mice to get

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Finding the right gaming mouse amid all of the options available can, frankly, be a struggle. There are a lot of factors to consider, like how it looks, how it feels in the hand, the button selection and arrangement, the quality of its sensor, and whether you want a mouse that’s wireless or wired. These details, minor as they seem, can have a major impact on your experience with the mouse you choose to buy. On the other hand, sometimes mice have features that get overblown and don’t actually work as well as advertised.

However your taste leans, you almost certainly want the best gaming mouse that your budget allows for. We’re going to make this decision easy for you. The best gaming mouse is Logitech’s G502 Lightspeed. It’s the most well-rounded choice if you want comfort, a long-lasting battery, and the best selection and arrangement of buttons. This model’s design accommodates multiple grip styles, and Logitech’s companion software is unobtrusive and a breeze to use. It also has rock-solid wireless connectivity so you don’t have to deal with a wire entangling your gameplay.

If you don’t want a wireless mouse and are looking for the best wired gaming mouse, look no further than the Razer DeathAdder V2. It’s unbeatable in the ergonomics department, with a design that feels like a natural extension of your hand. And while this model has a fairly simple layout and button selection, it’s all just within reach and responsive.

That’s not to say that several mice released more recently haven’t tested the throne, so to speak. Our latest update ropes in a few of the latest wireless and wired models from Logitech, Razer and SteelSeries.

Updated December 11th, 2020: We added information on Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight, and on the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless as an option for those who want a lightweight wireless mouse that’s IP54 rated. Also added: the DeathAdder V2 Mini, a less expensive option for people who like the design of the larger version, but have smaller hands.

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The best wireless gaming mouse you can buy

The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is a great gaming mouse for discerning gamers who don’t want to compromise, as well as people who have no idea what they should look for in a mouse. It’s comfortable, feature-packed, and even though it’s wireless, it’s a fast and accurate performer that doesn’t feel at a disadvantage against opponents using wired mice.

At $150 (though commonly sold for around $100 these days), the best doesn’t come cheap. But if you’ve tossed around the idea of making an investment in a high-end wireless mouse, no other model that I tested for this buying guide justified its price so easily.

The G502 Lightspeed has Logitech’s best features for its gaming and general-use mice rolled into one. The main buttons deliver a satisfying bounce response when you tap them, and unlike some other popular models, they click easily no matter how you grip your hand on the mouse.

This mouse also features a quick-release button, a feature borrowed from other Logitech consumer-focused and gaming mice. By default, the scroll wheel staggers down a webpage with each step, which is how you expect a scroll wheel to work. Tapping the button releases the mechanism gripping the wheel, allowing it to freely sail to the bottom of a long page. It’s a small feature, but one that gives the mouse more versatility in certain situations, like being able to quickly scroll through your inventory when in a game.

The G502 Lightspeed has plenty of other gaming-centric features. Logitech’s latest sensor, the Hero 25K, is capable of up to 25,600 DPI (Logitech issued an update in September 2020 that boosted the DPI from 16,000 to 25,600) and over 400 inches per second, with a 1,000Hz report rate. It supports a wide range of sensitivities so that, depending on your playstyle and desk setup, it accommodates both small and sweeping arm movements with the push of one of its macro buttons.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Another nice feature is the inclusion of 16 grams of additional weights you can insert into the mouse to give it more resistance. A mouse’s weight comes down to personal preference, and that could vary from game to game. This mouse is among the few modern wireless devices to give you the flexibility to change up the weight.

No matter what weight you choose, the mouse easily glides across mouse pads with its soft feet. Those feet are made out of PTFE (a premium alternative to plastic), the same material found in many of Razer’s mice that helps to reduce friction.

Logitech’s arrangement of macro buttons on the G502 Lightspeed first struck me as over-crowded. You’ll find six of them placed around the mouse. (There are technically 11 buttons total, if you count the main mouse buttons, clicking in the scroll wheel, and the ability to program what the wheel does when you wiggle it to each side.) But when I’m using the mouse, each macro feels within reach, and it’s surprisingly easy to distinguish one from the next when you’re in the heat of a tense match.

Logitech’s software will let you configure the mouse’s LED lighting pattern, assign commands to macro buttons, and tweak the minute details of how its sensor tracks. And unlike the apps made to accompany mice from most other peripheral makers, Logitech’s G Hub software is simple to use and as unobtrusive as they come.

The fact that the G502 Lightspeed is wireless makes it that much easier to bring along with you wherever you go. But if you just can’t swing the $150 price, I suggest that you check out the $50 Logitech G502 Hero, which is the wired version of this mouse. It has almost every feature that you’ll find in the wireless model — except, you know, wireless capability.

Its feet aren’t made of PTFE, the material that makes the G502 Lightspeed smoothly glide across a mouse pad. It also has fewer onboard profiles (three versus five), and the scroll wheel has a slightly different look and feel. But if you don’t mind being wired up to your PC, it’s a great option for many of the same reasons I heartily recommend the G502 Lightspeed.

Before moving on, it’s worth mentioning where Logitech’s lineup of wireless gaming mice fits in comparison. The G Pro X Superlight is a $150 option made for people who want a very lightweight mouse. It has the same Hero 25K sensor, so the tracking is just as good as the G502 Lightspeed, but it doesn’t have any extra features. In addition to being far lighter, it’s more plainly designed, with far fewer buttons. In fact, it’s pricier and has fewer buttons than the G Pro Wireless.

You’ll likely know if this is something you’d want more than our top pick, but since it’s more expensive than our top pick and less ergonomic, we still recommend the G502 Lightspeed for most people.

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Image: Razer

2. Razer DeathAdder V2

The best wired gaming mouse you can buy

A great wired mouse doesn’t need countless features. It just needs to be extremely good at the fundamentals, including being comfy enough to use for hours at a time with games that require quick reflexes, having a simple assortment of buttons that take little to no time to master, and, of course, great performance. If this matches what you want in a mouse, the $70 Razer DeathAdder V2 is the one you want.

Of all the wired gaming mice that I tested for this buying guide, no other mouse felt like a more natural extension of my hand. That’s crucial when you’re playing a game that requires precision, and it’s good to have when you just want to feel support while you’re using your computer in general.

The DeathAdder V2’s design provides a lot of palm support, whether my fingers are flat and relaxed over the mouse or arched when I need to use faster reflexes. I use my index finger to left click and middle finger to right click; unlike most mice, this design gives me enough space on its right side to keep my ring and pinky fingers from dangling off the side and dragging on the mouse pad. That’s something I didn’t know I wanted out of a mouse until I started using this one.

Those design features keep things comfortable, but I think the part of the mouse that sold me is where my thumb rests. Many mice etch out an area for your thumb to relax and laze around. That’s fine, but I find that it necessitates more arm movement when the action ramps up. I prefer this mouse’s solution: its ergonomic design keeps my thumb wrapped around its side, naturally resting upon the edges of the customizable macro buttons. It’s good to have multiple buttons within reach, and the thumb location makes it easy for me to push the mouse around using just my wrist. It’s comfortable and has the dual purpose of keeping me limber in case I need to make sudden movements.

(Note: It’s worth mentioning before digging into specs that this mouse is rather large. If you want something a little smaller, but with the same design perks, check out the $49.99 DeathAdder V2 Mini. It doesn’t have the same sensor as the larger model, topping out at 8,500 DPI versus 20,000, but the complimentary grip tape that’s included is a small consolation.)

What’s inside of the DeathAdder V2 mouse plays an equal role in it being my top choice. It has Razer’s Focus Plus optical sensor with 20,000 DPI and up to 650 inches of travel per second. You can switch between custom DPI settings with the buttons near the scroll wheel, and this mouse supports multiple profiles that you can toggle on the bottom of the mouse — each with its own setting that you can modify using Razer’s Synapse desktop software. This makes it easy to create up to five profiles for people you might share the mouse with, or to make distinct profiles for work and play, or an individual profile for each game you play. And once the profiles are stored, you can swap between them on other computers, whether the Razer software is installed or not.

The DeathAdder V2 has a few other design touches that make it a joy to use compared to other mice. Razer’s Speedflex braided cable essentially nixes the likelihood of it snagging on your mouse pad by using a different kind of fabric and knitting pattern than other brands. It has PTFE feet that will help it glide smoothly across your mouse pad.

When it comes to longevity and durability, Razer claims the DeathAdder V2’s optical switches are rated for up to 70 million clicks. Razer also uses these features in several of its other mice, but the information further sweetens the deal here.

Razer DeathAdder V2

• $49
• $70
• 31% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

If keeping your hand supported during games is key, the DeathAdder V2 is one of the most supportive gaming mice you can find right now. It’s not full of fancy features, but this model nails the basics.

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Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

3. BenQ Zowie EC2

The runner-up choice for best wired gaming mouse

Razer’s DeathAdder V2 is still my personal pick in terms of comfort, though I’m convinced that some of BenQ’s latest Zowie mice — particularly the EC2 that I spent a lot of time with — may be an equally good, if not better, option for some people. The $69.99 Zowie EC2 is my favorite of the company’s current catalog. It’s shaped similarly to the DeathAdder V2, in that it’s ergonomic and sloped to give your palm a comfortable surface to lay on while you game or browse. What’s more, there’s a generous amount of thumb space underneath the side buttons that I found to be spacious and equally accommodating to my grip style. All of Zowie’s mice are delightfully no-frills in terms of their design, but the EC2 is the most curvy mouse the company offers.

(Note: BenQ Zowie no longer sells the EC2-A featured in our photos, though the EC2 model is similar in most ways to the one we tested. Its scroll wheel is black, not semi-translucent like the EC2-A. Zowie says that the sensor is a bit different, too, but it offers the same DPI resolution and USB polling rates.)

As a quick aside from this model, I want to praise Zowie for not trying to make a single one-size-fits-all mouse. Unlike other manufacturers, it makes a few size options for each mouse model. So if you’re thinking that you might want a slightly smaller version, the EC2 is something you can easily buy for the same price.

Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

The no-frills philosophy extends into the feature offering, but that’s not to say it’s lacking. I think the EC2 offers exactly what most gamers need, and perhaps of equal importance, nothing they don’t. This mouse features four buttons (two main, two side) and a DPI button that can be adjusted on the mouse’s bottom side. Even the more advanced settings, like adjusting lift-off distance or USB report rate, are done by holding down a unique sequence of buttons when you plug it in.

Most companies make you install companion PC software in order to adjust settings like these, so it’s cool that you don’t need to install anything here to tweak the settings yourself. On the flip side, unless you’re a diehard gamer who’s constantly using those features, you might have a tough time committing them to memory.

Some other things I like about the EC2 (most of Zowie’s mice share these traits in common) include the scroll wheel’s deep, grippy grooves. It makes a hearty click sound with every scroll, and advancing to the next notched step in either direction requires just the right amount of effort. Plus, its cable is 6.6 feet long, which is quite generous.

If you want a basic-looking mouse that’s just as capable as Razer’s, the Zowie EC2 is worth considering. The DeathAdder V2 feels more luxurious to use and has LEDs, if that’s your thing. I’m okay with relying on Razer’s software to adjust settings like polling rate and liftoff distance. Though, for a mouse that doesn’t require any software (or, in fact, even a driver), this is an alluring package that’s easy to recommend.

Zowie EC2

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Zowie’s EC2 is a wired gaming mouse that is built for claw or palm-style gaming. It has a more bulbous design than the FK2 mentioned below, making it an ergonomic option. Likewise, it doesn’t require drivers or software to use — just plug-and-play.

Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

4. Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE

A more affordable runner-up to the best wireless gaming mouse

Corsair’s latest high-end wireless gaming mouse comes dangerously close to dethroning our top pick. The Dark Core RGB Pro SE has a comfortable, ergonomic build with a high arch that makes it easy to relax with during long gameplay sessions or to power through work. Its design is less angular and sharp-looking than the G502 Lightspeed, so you might take to it more quickly based on looks alone. Though, when I’m not paying attention to how the two mice differ in appearance, they feel equally comfortable.

It’s worth noting that this mouse is much more affordable than our top pick. Though it’s listed at $140 through Corsair, Best Buy regularly sells it for $90 and sometimes less. For the price, it’s impressive that it has a few features up on Logitech’s mouse.

Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

It offers USB-C charging and supports Qi wireless charging if you have a wireless charger. This mouse can switch between 2.4GHz wireless mode via its included USB dongle (cleverly tucked under its removable, magnetic wing) or Bluetooth. Of course, you’ll get better results by using the dongle, but it’s great to have options. I found that the battery life, while decent, wasn’t quite as long-lasting as the G502 Lightspeed.

Some smaller, but equally welcome features here come in the form of that removable magnetic wing I just mentioned, which snaps onto its right side to let me comfortably rest my ring and pinky fingers on. The textured, grip-friendly sections at the palm and near the thumb are also great. Like the G502 Lightspeed and many other mice in this guide, the Dark Core also has smooth PTFE feet that easily glide across a mouse pad.

The Dark Core held up nearly just as well in-game as Logitech’s mouse above, though the omission of two features made me miss using the G502 Lightspeed. It doesn’t have a dedicated sniper button, and there were a few instances where the model that I tested had a squeaky left mouse button. I don’t think it made a noise more than once every few hundred clicks, and it was tough to replicate it when I tried. But that didn’t leave the best impression for a brand-new mouse. Also, I found that the battery life, while decent, wasn’t quite as long-lasting as the G502 Lightspeed. This isn’t a big issue if you can effortlessly rest it on a wireless charger to top up, but it’s a shortcoming nevertheless.

Outside of the price differences, these two play a game of teeter-totter with features. Depending on who you ask, the Dark Core might have one or two up on the G502 Lightspeed. But Logitech’s mouse edges it out with better build quality, extra buttons (not to mention the excellent scroll wheel), and optional weights.

Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Corsair’s Dark Core RGB Pro SE is loaded with features, including USB-C and Qi wireless charging, support for 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth, and great ergonomics.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

5. Logitech G502 Hero

The more affordable, wired take on the best gaming mouse

If $150 is too much for you to spend on Logitech’s wireless G502 Lightspeed, you might want to consider this wired version, the G502 Hero. It has the same design as our pick for the best gaming mouse — actually, it’s basically the same in almost every way, down to the kind of sensor it uses and its adjustable weights. That makes it almost as good, though some might take issue with its thick braided cable and the somewhat slippery plastic used on the scroll wheel.

Logitech G502 Hero

• $40
• $50
• 21% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Logitech’s G502 Hero has most of the same features of our top pick, the G502 Lightspeed — except it’s wired. If you’re okay with that, this is an excellent mouse that you can usually find for $50 or less.

Image: Razer

6. Razer Basilisk V2

A good alternative if the DeathAdder V2 is too basic or big for you

The Basilisk V2 is the wired mouse that I’d recommend to people who want the advantages of a modern Razer wired mouse, like the thin, braided SpeedFlex cable, fast performance, PTFE feet that let the mouse glide across your mouse pad, and, of course, LEDs. Despite having a design that might not fit well in everyone’s hands, it’s a smaller mouse that has more features than the DeathAdder V2.

For instance, the Basilisk V2 has a removable sniper button that’s easy to reach. Perhaps my favorite feature here is the scroll wheel that has an adjustable tension. It’s not quite as cool as the Logitech G502’s free-spinning wheel, but you’ll probably love it if you want a custom feel to your wheel. One of the best things about this mouse is that it has most of the same features found in the more expensive Basilisk Ultimate, Razer’s wireless version of this mouse.

Razer Basilisk V2

• $55
• $80
• 32% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Razer’s latest Basilisk is a solid option if you like the fit of Logitech’s G502 series mice, but want something that looks a little more slick. Ergonomically, they’re very similar, and this model even has a scroll wheel with adjustable tension.

Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

7. BenQ Zowie FK2

A great true ambidextrous mouse

While all of the mice above were built exclusively for right-handed gamers, BenQ’s Zowie FK2 is an excellent option that’s built for both right- and left-handed players. There are plenty of other true ambidextrous mice out there (meaning that there are thumb buttons accessible on both sides), but the Zowie FK2 is a low-profile, high-performance option that doesn’t cost too much. Like the EC2-A mentioned above, the FK2 works without the need for an installed driver. What’s more, it’s available in multiple sizes, and you can adjust DPI and a few other settings right on the mouse.

This isn’t the most comfortable option out there, perhaps because it was built to suit two separate audiences, though it’s tough to beat if you just want a simple, versatile gaming mouse.

Zowie FK2

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Zowie’s FK2 is a true ambidextrous wired gaming mouse made for right- and left-handed players. It features thumb buttons on both sides. This model doesn’t require drivers, so it’ll work as a plug-and-play device.

Image: SteelSeries

8. SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless

A feature-packed, lightweight wireless mouse

SteelSeries recently released the Aerox 3 lineup of gaming mice, and chief among them so far is the Aerox 3 Wireless. It’s a riff on the Rival 3 design that’s now poked full of holes to drop down its weight to just 66 grams, though it’s different enough to justify its $100 price point for some. What I like most about this model is that it charges via USB-C (still a rarity among other popular models from Razer and Logitech) and it can operate on 2.4GHz wireless with its included USB-C dongle or Bluetooth. The fact that it has an IP54 rating to protect it from water and dust is another perk.

This mouse has a false ambidextrous design, so while it will fit comfortably for either left- or right-handed gamers, the thumb buttons are only there to accommodate right-handed use. The reason why the Aerox 3 Wireless is on the bottom of this list, despite some great features, is because it’s perhaps the least ergonomic option. This won’t be as much of an issue for people who use it simply to game, but it’s not particularly comfortable to use as an all-day device. Also, I noticed that it loses connection with my PC regularly, but rather than a connectivity issue, it seems like it falls asleep to preserve power if you don’t use it for a few minutes. Again, not a huge issue, but it’s an annoyance to wait a few seconds while it wakes up before I can use it.

If you want to avoid this issue, the wired Aerox 3 with the same design and waterproof feature is $60.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless is an IP54 water-resistant wireless gaming mouse. It weighs just 66 grams and features USB-C charging. The design borrows cues from the Rival 3.

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