Best gaming mouse 2021 – The top clickers for your setup

Picking the best gaming mouse is far more difficult than it used to be, with more gaming PC brands to choose from than ever before – and with advancements in low latency technology, even the best wireless gaming mouse is an option.

Nailing down exactly what you want can be tricky, as it’s a delicate balance of finding the right mix of features and design. You have to juggle comfort, ergonomics, performance, reliability, specs, and, as always, aesthetics. Figure out which of these attributes are most important to you, and then take a dive into the comparisons below.

While it used to be as simple as buying Logitech or Razer, competition is hot with digital rodents from SteelSeries, Corsair, Cooler Master, and more in 2021. We’ve tested a wide variety of gaming mice and have narrowed down our favourites based on the genres of games, grip styles, and hand sizes they’re most suited to, as well as the more affordable options for those of you that don’t mind sacrificing a few features.

Here are your options for the best gaming mouse:

• Razer Basilisk V3
• Corsair Harpoon Pro RGB
• Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
• SteelSeries Rival 5
• Razer Naga Trinity
• Logitech G903
• SteelSeries Sensei 310
• Corsair M65 RGB Elite
• Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless
• Cooler Master MM731

Check prices on the Razer Store

Razer Basilisk V3

The best gaming mouse is the Razer Basilisk V3.

How a rodent handles games is by far the main priority when it comes to choosing a gaming mouse, but being the primary way we control our PC, the fact is we do a lot with our mice. The Razer Basilisk V3 strikes a perfect balance of both productivity and play, with up to 13 customisable buttons and a unique scroll wheel that can automatically unlock depending on how fast you spin it.

It looks like it belongs in the Fast & Furious franchise, with 11 individual RGB LEDs bouncing off the mouse pad underneath, giving it an almost ethereal glide. It’s supremely comfortable if you’re right-handed, with wonderful thumb button placements. All in all, it’s a touch heavier than the SteelSeries Rival 5, our previous top pick, but it’s noticeably lighter than the Logitech G502 it takes after – and with a bit more functionality.

What we like…
 Comfortable with good button placement
 Unlockable scroll wheel
 RGB lighting akin to a suped-up street racer

Check prices on Amazon

Corsair Harpoon Pro RGB

The best budget gaming mouse is the Corsair Harpoon Pro RGB.

The Corsair Harpoon Pro RGB is a great value gaming mouse. The 6,000 DPI optical sensor at its heart is a Pixart 3320, offering the 1:1 tracking we’ve come to love their latest sensors for, but without the extreme sensitivity that makes them perfect for high-res displays. It’s also incredibly lightweight and will fly across your desktop. Great for 1080p gaming, not so much for the best gaming monitor with a 4K resolution. It’s also mighty comfortable as long as you’re using a palm grip – not so much for claw grip.

This mouse is by far the best mouse we’ve tried at this price range. While it’s not the best all-round mouse, being the best cheap mouse is no mean feat, either, and the Harpoon RGB is worthy of a spot on our list for that reason.

What we like…
 Great value
 High quality
 Solid sensor

Check prices on Amazon

CORSAIR HARPOON RGB WIRELESS

The best budget wireless gaming mouse is the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless.

The Corsair Harpoon Wireless sure packs a punch for only 50 bucks. Few wireless devices offer such a balanced and impressive blend of performance and value, and the Corsair brand sure nets you a few added benefits, too – including some of the best software in the game and trusted quality assurance.

With smooth, lag-free performance powered by Corsair’s Slipstream wireless technology, the Harpoon offers more than enough speed and responsiveness for most gamers. Not only that but it offers 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, great battery life for on-the-go gaming, and features a handy 2.4GHz dongle slot on its underbelly so you don’t misplace it on your travels.

What we like…
 Wireless
 Lengthy battery life
 Cheap

Read the PCGamesN Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless review for our full verdict and score.

Check Prices on Amazon

SteelSeries Rival 5

The best FPS gaming mouse is the SteelSeries Rival 5.

The SteelSeries Rival 5 does just about everything, and does it well. You’ll likely recognise the precision aim button from the Logitech G502, but SteelSeries’ rodent is significantly lighter at 85g, brighter with ten zones of RGB lighting, and has deeper-sounding clicks so it doesn’t pick up through the best gaming microphone.

Aside from the fair $60 / £60 MSRP, our favourite thing about the Rival 5 is its optical sensor. It features unique tilt tracking technology that recognises when the device is more than 0.5mm away from the best mouse pad for gaming, stopping your cursor in its tracks and helping you readjust to hit your shots that much easier in FPS games.

What we like…
 Lightweight
 Tilt tracking optical sensor
 Gorgeous lighting

Read the PCGamesN SteelSeries Rival 5 review for our full verdict and score.

Check prices ON aMAZON

Razer Naga Trinity

The best mouse for MMO games is the Razer Naga Trinity.

Razer’s Naga has long been known as the best gaming mouse for MMO, but, if we’re being honest, it was incredibly annoying to use for any other game type. All those extra buttons, arrayed in a grid of 12 around your thumb, were constantly responsible for errant thumb strikes.

But the Naga Trinity has removed that problem, while still retaining the ability to use the classic 12-button grid for the best MMOs or MOBA games. The special sauce is a magnetic attachment mechanism that allows you to remove the whole side panel of the mouse without doing anything more than levering it off. It’s completely hot-swappable so you can add or remove any of the three interchangeable panels at will without having to dig into the settings or unplug it. There’s the 12-button panel, a seven-button version arranged in a wheel, and a simple two-button design for basic use.

What we like…
 Versatile
 Interchangeable layout
 Comfortable

Read the PCGamesN Razer Naga Trinity review for our full verdict and score.

Check prices on AmAZON

Logitech G903

The best left-handed gaming mouse is the Logitech G903.

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

What we like…
 Wireless
 Supports Logitech G PowerPlay
 Ambidextrous

Read the PCGamesN Logitech G903 review for our full verdict and score.

Check Prices ON aMAZON

SteelSeries Sensei 310

The best budget ambidextrous gaming mouse is the SteelSeries Sensei 310.

Left-handed gamers shouldn’t be forced to pay a premium just to game like everyone else, which is where the SteelSeries Sensei 310 comes in. It doesn’t quite house the same versatility as our best left-handed gaming mouse, as the side buttons remain right-handed and it doesn’t cut the cord, but it still offers incredible value for money without sacrificing quality.

In fact, the Sensei 310 comfortably targets esports enthusiasts and competitive gamers in games such as CS:GO thanks to its light weight and unique TrueMove3 sensor, which supports up to 12,000 DPI – all without the premium pricepoint.

What we like…
Ambidextrous
Great value
  Low-latency sensor

Check prices ON aMAZON

CORSAIR M65 RGB Elite

The best gaming mouse with adjustable weight is the Corsair M65 RGB Elite.

With a price tag equal to the great M65 Pro before it, there’s little reason not to pick up the new and improved Elite instead. The glide pads make sure it doesn’t feel sluggish, and removable weights on the underside mean you can bring the overall weight down to 97g if it’s bothering you. This adjustable weight feature makes it an incredibly versatile mouse for all of the best PC games.

The sturdy construction and braided cable gives the M65 Elite a feeling of quality, even if it’s something of an acquired taste. It’s not quite our pick for the top mouse of all time, but it’s cheaper than many of our other favourites. It’s functional, comfy, and has that quality stamp of approval we’ve come to expect from Corsair.

What we like…
 Solid optical sensor
 Sturdy construction
 Removable weights

Read the PCGamesN Corsair M65 Elite review for our full verdict and score.

Check Prices ON aMAZON

Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless

The best gaming mouse for big hands is the Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless.

Since us humans all come in different shapes and sizes, so too should the gaming mice we wield. Those of you with bigger hands should turn your attention to the Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless gaming mouse, as its wider grips will help you avoid contorting your fingers to the array of smaller options out there.

You can connect it to your device via Corsair’s proprietary Slipstream technology for an almost unrivalled response or through Bluetooth for better battery life. And if you don’t fancy ditching the cord, you can always opt for the wired version for a little less.

What we like…
Big mouse for big hands
Wireless
Three RGB zones

Read the PCGamesN Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless review for our full verdict and score.

Check Prices on Amazon

Cooler Master MM731

The best lightweight gaming mouse is the Cooler Master MM731

Cooler Master is better known for, well, coolers, but the MM731 shows that it’s not a one-trick pony. The MM731 gaming mouse is one of the lightest rodents we’ve tested, coming in at 59g, but it also boasts optical microswitches, a max DPI of 19,000, and elegant RGB lighting that won’t stick out like a sore thumb at the office.

The Cooler Master MM731 is also versatile when it comes to connectivity, as you can cut the cord with 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth, or play and charge using USB. Despite being feature-packed, this gaming mouse also comes at an affordable price, especially when compared to similar products on the market.

What we like…
Lightest mouse on this list
Simple but robust build
Comes in black and white

Read the PCGamesN Cooler Master MM731 review for our full verdict and score.

Why use a gaming mouse?

The computer mouse is now a staple part of any PC setup, but standard options are built with regular clicks in mind. As a result, they can feel unresponsive and clunky when playing games, especially if you’re relying on rapid inputs and frantic mouse pad movements.

Opting for the best gaming mouse ensures reliability and accuracy, something that’s achieved with a higher DPI, high-quality micro switches, and ergonomics that are better suited to long gaming sessions.

Do I need a gaming mouse pad?

Pairing your gaming mouse with the best gaming mouse pad can ensure peak performance, as its surface facilitates a smooth experience. Sure, if you’re a monster, you could just use your bare gaming desk, but both your expensive accessory and furniture could end up damaged.

Just like every other “gaming” product out there, you can get RGB clad mouse pads, but if you’re just looking for something reliable, there are plenty of options by reputable companies like SteelSeries, Logitech, and Razer.

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.

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 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.

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.

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