Best Gaming Mouse – Buyer’s Guide

What’s the best gaming mouse? We run you through the best mice we’ve reviewed recently, from budget wired mice to premium wireless models. Plus, we offer our humble advice on how to choose your perfect mouse.

With that out of the way, this gave way to a lot of manufacturers like Asus, Logitech, Razer, Corsair, and a couple of other companies to step up their game and bring forth some of the best gaming peripherals in the market.

Considering how today, we will be discussing the best gaming mouse 2021, you should know that while the “gaming” and your standard mouse work on a similar fashion, and mechanism, gaming mice are better because they offer you to switch between different DPIs and extra programmable buttons. Imagine playing a Roleplaying game and having all your spells assigned to the buttons on your mouse along with the primary attacks.

Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Well, it has happened.

Best Gaming Mouse 2019

Now that we have everything out of the way, let’s take a look at the topic of discussion we have on our hands, today, we will be looking at the best gaming mice that are available in the market for the consumer to buy.

Why do you need the best gaming mouse? Because when you’re defending your team in Overwatch, there’s no time for the middling latency of a standard office mouse. Because in League of Legends and Dota 2, custom macro buttons are core to your success, not just in the short-term, but for your entire gaming career.

As a player, if your aim is to reach new heights, you’ll need to be equipped with only the best gaming mouse. That’s where we come in. We’ve tested mice that are ergonomic, ambidextrous, backlit by 16.8 million color variants and even those chock-full of buttons we didn’t know what to do with. And, like the MSI Clutch GM70, some are even modular.

To further complicate, different gaming mice have different strengths. MOBA players, for instance, may feel more at home with a Razer Naga Hex V2, with its oblique arrangement of seven mechanical, quick-access buttons. Other players will find convenience in the Logitech G703 and G903 that are just as wireless while charging as they are while gaming.

Best Gaming Mouse Reviews

1. Steel Series Rival 700

The first gaming mouse on our list is the Steel Series Rival 700, and for those who don’t know, the company’s Rival series is perhaps one of the most popular series that is currently under Steel Series, as for Steel Series itself, the company is the favourite among pretty much every single professional e-sports gamer, and has earned itself a lot of reputation among the most passionate gamers there are.

Before we begin looking at just how good the Steel Series Rival 700, there are some obvious things you should know about this mouse; the Rival 700 is unique in a sense that it carries an OLED display that can display a variety of different things including settings, as well as some GIFs that are specifically made for this display and can be downloaded from several series.

Speaking of the technical details, the Rival 700 is a modular mouse that offers features such as a modular design, RGB lighting, OLED display, adjustable DPI settings with DPI maxing out 16,000 on the optical sensor, and 8,000 on the laser sensor, and yes, you can change the sensor by buying one separately. Sadly, though, as much as we would have wished, the mouse doesn’t come with an ambidextrous design and might be a problem for people who aren’t left-handed. However, that doesn’t mean that the Rival 700 isn’t a good mouse, behind the expensive price lies a really good mouse that fits gamers of all sorts, it doesn’t matter if you are playing an FPS, an RPG, an MMO, the mouse is there to serve, and serve you well.

Our only issue with the Rival 700 is that it should have been available for the left-hand users and that the modules that are sold separately should have had a more affordable price tag. With that said, we are going to take a look at both the pros and cons of the Steel Series Rival 700.

Pros

• Industry standard RGB lighting
• Innovative modular design
• A gimmicky OLED screen that is still a welcome design change
• Programmable tactile alerts notifying players of in-game events
• Customize the mouse as per your own needs

Cons

• No left-handed or ambidextrous option available
• The price might be a lot for some
• Though useful, modules are a bit expensive

2. Asus ROG Spatha

Asus took everyone by surprise when they announced their flagship gaming mouse known as the Spatha, if you think the name sounds aggressive, take a look at the mouse itself. The Spatha, of course, belongs to Asus’ top of the line Republic of Gamers line up, so you should know that you’d be getting a massive gaming mouse that would be filled with feature of all sorts, additional buttons, RGB effects that even sync up to your other ROG branded products such as motherboards, graphic cards, and even the keyboard by Asus.

Now before we start discussing the in-depth details, you should know that Spatha is more than just a gaming mouse, from the construction standpoint, it actually is a marvel, and while Asus’ choice of using magnesium alloy instead of the traditional materials that are used in the gaming mouse. This mouse can be considered quite heavy as opposed to the competition it has, and the price is something only for the hardcore gamers. With said, if you are wondering about the technical details, you should know that the ROG Spatha comes with an awful lot of programmable buttons, and that’s not all, you also get a charging bad that looks stylish as hell. Now at this point, you may have guessed that the mouse is wireless, well, here’s a catch, you can use it wirelessly without any input lag, and you can use it with the wire as well. You get the RGB lights, and pretty much every other feature you’d expect from a flagship mouse. The mouse comes with 12 programmable buttons that can be programmed as per your needs using the Asus Armoury software, you also get 8,200 max DPI, amazing ergonomics and comfort for long gaming sessions, the main buttons use Omron switches that are rated for a really high click cycle, and even if they wear out, you can always replace them.

We won’t be saying that the ROG Spatha is the perfect gaming mouse, it does have some flaws like the buttons on the side feeling a bit too flimsy, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less capable. So, without further ado, let’s go ahead and read some of the pros and cons of this mouse.

Pros

• Beautiful, solid design that is suited for gamers.
• A lot of customizability, and ease of use.
• RGB lighting that looks stunning across the board.
• One of the most comfortable mice to use.
• Loaded with features hardware and software wise.

Cons

• One of the highest priced gaming mice in the market.
• The side buttons feel mushy, and stiff to press.
• Can be a bit too heavy, and huge for users with small hands.

3. Razer Ouroboros

The next up on our list is the Razer Ouroboros, and in case you don’t know, Razer is perhaps one of the best peripheral company out in the market, that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone because it’s simply too good. This mouse can be called the direct competitor of Asus Spatha but has been around for quite some time. It is again, a wireless/wired combination, and unlike Spatha, it does offer an ambidextrous design making it a top pick for many users. One should keep in mind that the Ouroboros is strictly made for the enthusiasts, and it doesn’t offer features such as the RGB lighting, though considering how it’s a pretty old mouse, Razer may release an updated version with the Chroma lighting in near future.

It can be called the direct competitor of “Asus Spatha” but has been around for quite some time. With that said, in case you are wondering about the good stuff that goes into this mouse, well, there is quite a lot. Razer has designed this mouse and kept modification in mind, most of the parts on the mouse can be removed and shifted around, and yes, you do get weight tuning, something most people love. Some of the adjustments include the ability to tune weight, as well as the palm rest in order to get the optimal gripping experience. The mouse also comes with 11 programmable buttons, as well as highly accurate dual sensors to keep everything in order.

There is no way that this mouse is perfect as there are some obvious flaws, for starters, the mouse is pricey considering how after all, it’s a gaming mouse. In addition to the price, for people who are looking for a simple experience, it can be a bit too confusing. However, don’t let that stop you from buying this otherwise amazing gaming mouse. So, let’s not waste anymore time, and get right into the pros and the cons.

Pros

• Extremely customizable; ranging from buttons to palm-rest
• Can be used wirelessly, and wired; using it with the supplied wire will keep the mouse on charge
• Ambidextrous design is perfect for both left, and right-handed users
• Dual sensors provide you with supreme accuracy in most intense gaming sessions
• Looks super conceptual, and definitely manages to stand out
• Long battery life ensures uninterrupted gaming experience
• Absolutely no input lag when used without a wire
• Razer Synapse 2.0 gives an enjoyable software experience

Cons

• Costs quite a lot for a gaming mouse.
• Can be a bit complicated to learn.

4. Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone but there is no peripheral list that would be complete without the inclusion of a peripheral from Logitech. Whether you are talking about keyboards, speakers, or headphones, Logitech has to be on the list simply because they are that good, and no, we aren’t just talking about the gaming peripherals from Logitech. We are talking about pretty much every single type of peripherals that the company has released in its long stay in the industry.

Similarly, a gaming mice list would have been incomplete without the inclusion of the Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum; now before we begin, you should keep in mind that this mouse can actually be considered a direct rival of much revered Asus Spatha, and the Razer Ouroboros mainly because of the price as well as the amount of features you get, and that’s nowhere near a bad thing.

So, what’s good about the Chaos Spectrum? Well, there are a lot of things, for starters, you can go from 200 to 12,000 DPI on the fly, and that’s really impressive, do keep in mind that this isn’t just software increase, and the DPI is effectively changed across the board, you get the Spectrum lighting, something that is Logitech’s own version of RGB lighting, and you get the legendary software suite that Logitech is known and loved for. The Chaos Spectrum can be used wirelessly and wired, and just like the Ouroborus, does come with an ambidextrous design.

Bear in mind that this is a flagship mouse from Logitech, so if you are concerned about paying a high price, you are also getting some of the finest features, regardless of you needing them or not. With that said, if you are wondering about us encountering any downsides, there aren’t any deal breakers here. Sure, the mouse carries a hefty price tag, and the overall aesthetics of the ambidextrous design might put off some design conscious people, but under the hood, the Chaos Spectrum happens to be one of the MOST powerful, and over the top brilliant gaming mice we have used. So with that out of the way, pros and cons, shall we?

Pros

• Beautiful Spectrum RGB lighting.
• Amazing Logitech Gaming suite that is elegant and easy to use.
• Customizable, and fully programmable buttons.
• Best in class performance thanks to the brilliant switches and sensor.
• Amazing ambidextrous design for every grip style.

Cons

• Somewhat pricey for the budget oriented users.
• The design may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
• Doesn’t come with a charging dock.

How To Choose The Best Gaming Mice

Although you’re bound to determine the best gaming mouse for you based on our rankings, doing so is no effortless task. There are a lot of complicated technical specifications that go into gaming mice, including fancy jargon such as polling rates and DPI ratings. You’ll want a higher number of both, but there’s a stark difference between these two nonsensical, yet crucial terms.

For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, that DPI is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify your how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available and you want accuracy and precision, then opt for a gaming mouse featuring a higher DPI rating. Of course, you can always toggle a lower DPI too.

Meanwhile, a high polling rate gives you faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, so it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second. Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to consider are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting.

How We Test Gaming Mice

When we receive a new gaming mouse, we plug it into a gaming rig to evaluate how difficult it is to set up the mouse and install its software (if there is any). From there, we investigate how to create multiple profiles, assign button commands, tweak lighting options and set dots-per-inch (DPI) sensitivity settings.

Most important, we run the mouse through at least four games across a variety of genres to evaluate where it excels and falls short. Generally, we use a mouse for at least two days to get a good idea of how comfortable it feels.