Best gaming mouse 2023

What is the best gaming mouse? We’ve put our hands to work testing clickers of every shape and size to help you find a reliable rodent. Down below, you’ll find our recommendations and reviews for mice both big and small, premium and cheap. Just don’t expect any of them to squeak.

All of our picks for your next palm pal pair nicely with the best gaming keyboard, and some include wireless connectivity, extra MMO buttons, and flashy RGB lighting. We’ve even chucked in budget computer mouse options for good measure, as you don’t have to break the bank to craft the perfect desktop battle station.

Here are the best gaming mouse options in 2023:

• SteelSeries Rival 5 – best gaming mouse overall
• SteelSeries Rival 3 – best cheap mouse
• Razer Viper V2 Pro – best wireless mouse
• Razer Naga Trinity – best for MMO games
• Razer Basilisk V3 – best for FPS games
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste – best lightweight choice
• Mountain Makalu Max – best modular mouse
• Roccat Kone XP Air – best RGB mouse
• Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless – best for big hands
• Logitech G903 – best left-handed option

1. SteelSeries Rival 5

The best gaming mouse is the SteelSeries Rival 5.
Expect to pay around $59.99 (£59.99).

SteelSeries Rival 5 specs:

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Tilt tracking optical sensor
• Gorgeous lighting

Cons:

• Extra thumb button is hard to reach
• Not the best option for small hands

The SteelSeries Rival 5 is a jack of all trades, and it just about masters them all too. It’s light, fast, and makes time to put on a light show, but it’s also a chunk cheaper than other clickers that offer similar functionality.

If you like SteelSeries’ usual approach to subtle style, you’re going to dig what the Rival 5 has to other aesthetically. It’s sleek, clad with just a splash of RGB, and is 30% lighter than its main opponent — the Logitech G502. Its ergonomic ‘Chameleon’ shape will also protect your hands from enduring any strain, keeping your claws comfortable during even the longest of gaming sessions.

The Rival 5’s tilt tracking optical sensor is a great bonus for esports players, as it’ll ensure your cursor says put when more than 0.5mm away from a surface. You’ll ultimately experience less jiggle in games like Rainbow Six: Seige while chucking the mouse across your desk, something that’ll help keep your aim true during ranked matches.

Our favorite mouse hasn’t got many flaws, but if you’ve got small hands, getting to grips with the Rival 5 could be a struggle. Your thumb might additionally have gripes with the placement of its additional side button, but these niggles are hardly a deal breaker.

Read our SteelSeries Rival 5 review.

2. SteelSeries Rival 3

The best cheap gaming mouse is the SteelSeries Rival 3.
Expect to pay around $29.99 (£19.99).

SteelSeries Rival 3 specs:

Pros:

• Great value
• High quality
• Solid sensor

Cons:

• On the small side
• Side buttons can be sticky

You might think we have a soft spot for SteelSeries, but trust us when we say the Rival 3 is incredible value for money. For under $40, and sometimes even less if you can snag a discount, you’ll get a gaming mouse with a fantastic sensor, a lightweight body, and six programmable buttons — hardly a bland setup considering its price point.

The SteelSeries Rival 3 is classy in its own way, as it sticks to the basics in the best way possible. It looks great, feels fast, and its TrueMove Core sensor provides respectable levels of accuracy. Sure, it lacks the oomph of the Rival 5, and you’ll get more features if you fork out more for an alternative. Yet, we still reckon this rodent outclasses even premium picks, as it nails its primary goal of being a fantastic gaming mouse.

If the Rival 3 has one drawback, it’s perhaps its dinky size. Slightly amusing considering our main Rival 5 complaint links to it being unwieldy in smaller hands, but you might find your mitts are a little for this model.

Hand size woes aside, the SteelSeries Rival 3 is a cheap gaming mouse solution that doesn’t compromise on performance. It’s great value for money even at full price, but you can more often than now find it reduced to as little as $20, and that’s a PC gaming bargain worth shouting about.

3. Razer Viper V2 Pro

The best wireless gaming mouse is the Razer Viper V2 Pro.
Expect to pay $149.99 (£149.99).

Razer Viper V2 Pro specs:

Pros:

• Weighs in at just 58g
• Up to 80 hours of battery life

Cons:

• Isn’t suited to left-handed gamers
• High price tag

The best wireless gaming mouse options can cut the cord without caveats, and the Razer Viper V2 Pro more than lives up to that standard. Rather than packing arguably unnecessary bells and whistles like RGB and extra buttons, this clocker prioritizes speed, and the result is remarkable.

At just 58g, the Razer Viper V2 puts its rivals to shame, and you’ll almost forget you’re clutching it in your hand. That’s a boon that’ll benefit performance in the best fps games like Valorant, CS: GO, and Overwatch 2, as you’ll not need to worry about the physical realm weighing you down during gunfights.

The Viper V2 also pulls off spectacularly speedy stunts in the specs department, as it rocks both a standard 1,000Hz polling rate and up to 4,000Hz while using the optional Hypersense dongle. On the accuracy front, Razer’s 30K sensor is going to add pinpoint precision to every twitch and swooping movement, so you won’t be able to use needing a new mouse as an excuse for losing.

Of course, premium peripherals come with appropriate price tags attached, and the Viper V2 costs a pretty penny. We’d argue that if you’re looking for a top-tier mouse that ditches its tail without injury, Razer’s solution is the way to go.

Read our Razer Viper V2 Pro review.

4. Razer Naga Trinity

The best MMO mouse is the Razer Naga Trinity.
Expect to pay around $99.99 (£150).

Razer Naga Trinity specs:

Pros:

• Versatile
• Interchangeable layout
• Comfortable

Cons:

• No easy way to store panels for travel
• On the wide side

Do you love sinking time into MMOs? Do you want a bucket of buttons in your palm? Well, you’re in luck, as the Razer Naga Trinity is a gaming mouse that’s begging to be your dungeon-crawling partner in crime. We’re talking about a rodent that can carry up to 19 buttons using three swappable magnetic modules, all while featuring all of Razer’s usual terrific traits.

The Naga Trinty caters to the best PC MMOs, but its module button system actually adds a layer of genre versatility. Naturally, if you’re playing World of Warcraft, you’ll want to whack on the plate that looks like a calculator. However, there’s also a wheel-shaped layout that pairs nicely with shooters and adventure games alike.

Button-swapping shenanigans aside, the Naga Trinity comes equipped with a 16,000 DPI optical sensor and Chroma RGB lighting, and you can even make it look like a conventional clicker using one of its modules. That latter point may sound reductive, but if you’re an office worker by day and a Horde member by night, it’s perhaps handy to have an extra layer of versatility,

We do have a few minor niggles with the Naga, as Razer doesn’t provide somewhere to store its trifecta of button plates. Its size also feels a tad disproportionate, as it simultaneously manages to be a bit too wide and not quite long enough. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for an MMO mouse champion, the Naga Trinity is the warrior you seek.

Read our full Razer Naga Trinity review.

5. Razer Basilisk V3

The best FPS mouse is the Razer Basilisk V3.
Expect to pay around $69.99 (£69.99).

Razer Basilisk V3 specs:

Pros:

• Comfortable with good button placement
• Unlockable scroll wheel
• RGB lighting akin to a suped-up street racer

Cons:

• Scroll wheel is sensitive

Trying to improve your skills in the best FPS games? You’ll want to include the Razer Basilisk V3 in your loadout. Not only does it boast preposterous performance, largely thanks to its Focus+ 26K DPI sensor and optical switches, but its got an impressive scroll wheel that offers more functionality than your average clicker.

On the surface, Basilisk V3 looks like other Razer products. That’s not a bad thing, as it’s drenched in delectable Chroma RGB, uses a familiar but effective ergonomic design, and wears 13 programmable buttons. Yet, the Basilisk is a different beast under its sleek shell, and you’ll notice the difference while engrossed in first-person shootouts.

Whether you’re playing Varorant or Apex Legends, the Basilisk V2 supports bespoke profiles that handle button mapping automatically, and you can create your own using Razer Synapse. Again, this mouse is also ridiculously quick, but every click you make will deliver a bullet with low latency, a feat that’ll pave your way to victory.

If you like using your mouse’s wheel as a fidget spinner, or you just require one at your office job, you’ll want to pay close attention to the Basilisk V3’s take on scrolling. The scroll wheel has the ability to swap back and forth between free scrolling, tactile, and a notched mode, and it’ll intelligently switch using a ‘smart reel mode’. These options are typically included on office mice, but it’s an impressive extra that could be beneficial in both gaming applications and everyday work tasks.

As for gripes, Basilisk V3’s is noticeably heavy, and none of that extra weight is removable. This will matter if you’re used to an existing peripheral with adjustable weights, but if you’re not that fussy about featherweight peripherals, Razer’s deadly mouse will answer most of your FPS prayers.

Read our Razer Basilisk V3 review.

6. HyperX Pulsefire Haste

The best lightweight gaming mouse is the HyperX Pulsefire Haste.
Expect to pay around $49.99 (£49.99).

HyperX Pulsefire Haste specs:

Pros:

• Lightest mouse on this list
• Simple but robust build
• Comes in several colours

Cons:

• Honeycomb design is hard to clean

Hyperx is best known for its efforts in the best gaming headset space, but its Pulsefire Haste mouse offers a unique, lightweight experience that makes an impression. Amusingly, its weight can be perhaps attributed to the fact it’s riddled with holes, a design choice that doubles as a physical benefit and a visual statement.

The Pulsefire Haste weighs just 59g, and it’s one of the lightest gaming mouse options we’ve tried. As mentioned above, it seemingly shifts the extra heft in part by fearing a honeycomb body, rather than a solid shell, but retains important features that matter when it comes to PC gaming.

HyperX’s mouse wields low-latency abilities and is pleasing to hold form factor, but manages to keep its price relatively low. For around $50 USD, you’ll get a fantastic wired mouse that delivers on all fronts. The Pulsefire Haste’s bold design choice won’t be for everyone, as that honeycomb shell is a nightmare to clean, but you could say the same for numerous other rodents out there.

If you rely on programmable buttons, you might want to opt for one of our other recommendations, as the Pulsefire Haste only has six. That drawback doesn’t drag the rest of its qualities down, but it’s worth keeping in mind before making it your daily driver.

Read our HyperX Pulsefire Haste review.

7. Mountain Makalu Max

The best modular gaming mouse is the Mountain Makalu Max.
Expect to pay $89.99 (£71).

Mountain Makalu Max specs:

Pros:

• Modular side panels
• Adjustable weight
• Striking RGB

Cons:

• Not as flashy as Mountain’s keyboards
• Missed opportunity to be ambidextrous

The idea of a modular gaming mouse may sound like a gimmick, but the Mountain Makalu Max uses subtle tricks to adapt to your specific palms. Detachable side plates allow you to completely change the rodent’s shape, which could save you from picking up a new peripheral in the future if your ergonomic needs change.

In addition to hot-swappable panels, the Makalu Max wields a ‘gravity control system’ that enables you to change its weight, adding an extra layer of customization to the mighty mouse. Ultimately, Mountain’s take on modularity enables the mouse to grow alongside its user, adapting to suit work, play, and general PC usage.

Performance-wise, you’re looking at a mouse that can keep up with the best on this list. It’s admittedly not as flashy as its keyboard counterpart, the Mountain Everest Max, but its substance shines much brighter than needless style.

Read our Mountain Makalu Max review.

8. Roccat Kone XP Air

The best RGB gaming mouse is the Roccat Kone XP Air.
Expect to pay $139.99 (£149.99).

Roccat Kone XP Air specs:

Pros:

• Unique glowing RGB
• Speedy 1,000Hz polling
• Recharge cradle included

Cons:

• Pricey
• Glow isn’t super bright
• Temperamental software

The Roccat Kone XP Air is pretty much a peripheral peacock, and its use of ‘RGB ribs’ looks like something from another planet. It’s a looker, but that’s not to say it’s all show, as this particular clicker boasts specs that punch hard where it matters.

Speed matters and the Roccat Kone AP Air features 19,000 max DPI and 1,000Hz polling. You’ll have to use the included USB dongle to reap those particular rewards, but it’ll also happily connect to devices like gaming laptops and the Steam Deck via Bluetooth.

Weighing in at 99g, the Kone XP Air is clad with 15 buttons, all of which can be programmed using Roccat’s ‘Swarm’ software. Admittedly, the app can be temperamental, but it gets the job done and will suit players who frequent both the latest FPS games and MMOs.

Like other candidates on this list, the Kone XP Air gaming mouse ditches its tail for wireless connectivity, and it’ll scurry across your mouse pad for up to 100 hours. That’s provided you can live without that pleasing glow beneath its semi-translucent plastic, but if you’re not into RGB, there’s little point opting for this Roccat rodent.

The Kone XP Air comes with a charging cradle in the box, and it too has a pleasing strip of RGB that can be customized. It’s subtle enough to blend in with most gaming desks, but if you’ve got a glossy surface, it’ll provide it with a gorgeous glow of color. Again, Roccat’s clicker packs more than just style, but flashiness is undeniably at the top of its agenda.

Read our Roccat Kone XP Air review.

9. Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless

The best gaming mouse for big hands is the Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless. Expect to pay around $79.99 (£71.99).

Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless specs:

Pros:

• Big mouse for big hands
• Wireless
• Three RGB zones

Cons:

• Slightly spongey buttons
• Not the prettiest

Hands come in all different shapes and sizes, and the Corsair Ironclaw RGB wireless gaming mouse understands the assignment. It’s much wider than other options out there, but it doesn’t miss a trick when it comes to specs, performance, and functionality.

The Ironclaw follows in the footsteps of many Corsair mouse models before it, but it admittedly looks a bit more rugged than its siblings. That’s because it’s designed to fit “most hands,” meaning aesthetics sort of take a backseat. It’s not what I’d call an ugly mouse, but if you’re looking for something that’ll feel /right/ in your specific palms, this clicker should do the trick.

As the name implies, the Ironclaw RGB wireless ditches cords for 2.4GHz Slipstream dongle connectivity, or you can hook it up to other devices using plain old Bluetooth. Opting for the latter will benefit battery life, but using Corsair’s proprietary connection will facilitate low latency.

While the Ironclaw will fit a variety of hands, Corsair’s chunky mouse won’t be for everyone. It’s not as pretty as alternatives, and its buttons are a tad on the spongey side, but it’s going to still put a smile on your face if every other option feels too small to handle.

Read our Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless review.

10. Logitech G903

The best left-handed gaming mouse is the Logitech G903.
Expect to pay around $100 (£85).

Logitech G903 specs:

Pros:

• Wireless
• Infinite scroll wheel
• Ambidextrous

Cons:

• Heavy
• No Bluetooth connection
• No place to store dongle

The Logitech G903 is a magnificently versatile gaming mouse that, unlike the G900 Chaos Spectrum, includes compatibility with the Logitech G PowerPlay charging mouse pad so you can manage cables and never have to plug your mouse in again.

It’s rocking an ambidextrous design, with only a slight compromise in comfort for either left or right-handed users, and its ergonomic layout is equally adept at catering to either claw or palm grip gamers.

The G903 can also be used either as a wired or wireless gaming mouse, and we detect no compromises in performance should you decide to game without the cable.

Read our Logitech G903 review.

How we chose the best gaming mouse

We compiled this list by thinking carefully about the needs of PC gamers and how different mice could accommodate these needs. These considerations included:

• Pricing: Everyone has a different budget, and we were keen to include cheaper alternatives alongside the premium options
• Ergonomics: A poorly designed mouse can do a lot of harm to your hand and wrist, so we’ve only included those with an ergonomic design
• Configurable buttons: This is especially important to competitive gamers, so we’ve been sure to include a few options with loads of configurable buttons
• Wired vs wireless: Everyone has their preference, and both have their place on this list
• Max DPI: The higher the DPI, the higher the level of control and precision you’ll have, though not everybody needs such high levels of sensitivity

If you have any other unanswered questions about gaming mice and their features, check out our FAQs below:

What are palm, claw, and fingertip mouse grips?

Gaming mice are much like the shoes you wear in that there’s no real one-size-fits-all. You’ll want to pay attention to how you move your rodent around your mouse pad before you choose the right one for you. Here are the three main grip styles:

• Palm grip: your palm sits on the back of the mouse. This is the least fatiguing but it’s not quite as versatile as other grips, relying more on full arm movements for precision.
• Fingertip grip: you use your fingers to control the movements of the mouse without the aid of your palm. Your wrist can touch the surface below but might hover above. This is the most fatiguing because it relies on lots of wrist movements, but is also more precise than the palm grip.
• Claw grip: a combination of the aforementioned two, this style is where you control the mouse with your fingertips but your wrist rests on the best gaming desk below.

Wired vs wireless gaming mouse

This is a debate that’s raged on since the first wireless gaming mice arrived on the scene, with wired previously offering a competitive advantage with their superior connection. Fortunately, grabbing a wireless gaming mouse no longer comes with the latency it used to, as 2.4GHz connections are so quick that you’ll barely notice a difference.

Switching to a Bluetooth connection makes your battery last significantly longer and lets you swap between devices easily, but it comes with a noticeable amount of lag, which isn’t so bad when you’re working but can mean the difference between a win and a loss in FPS games.

Which mouse do pro gamers use?

Pro gamers play for teams that are often sponsored by companies like Logitech, Razer, and SteelSeries. Breaking away from sponsorships, however, the mantra is the lighter a mouse is, the better, as it allows for swifter arm movements with minimal fatigue.

The Logitech G Pro Superlight is still the weapon of choice for many, while other brands like Zowie, Xtrfy, and Cooler Master are coming for the crown with their own ultralight rodents.

Of course, if you don’t have the right mouse pad, even an amazing mouse might let you down. Read our guide on the best gaming mouse for our recommendations. We also recommend reading our hard vs soft mouse pads guides for further insights into getting the right setup for you.