If you play games on a PC, you're going to want a gaming mouse to enhance your experience. Unlike traditional office mice, gaming mice feature extra buttons, high-grade sensors, swappable parts, RGB lighting and more. But not all gaming mice are created equal, which is why Tom's Guide is here to help you select the best gaming mouse for your particular setup.
The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum comes about as close as possible to the perfect gaming mouse. This device has a distinctive design, comfortable textured grips and 11 easily accessible, programmable buttons. Thanks to its tunable weights, adjustable scroll wheel and powerful software, the G502 plays nicely with any genre you can throw at it. With Logitech's powerful software and the G502's built-in RGB lighting, you can also optimize and customize the gadget for all of your favorite games. The device's angular aesthetics won't be to everyone's taste, but beyond that, it's hard to think of any area in which the G502 doesn't fully deliver.
The Logitech G903 is one of the most expensive wireless gaming mice on the market — but that's justified, because it's also one of the very best. A slight update of the nearly perfect G900 Chaos Spectrum, the G903 has one crucial update: compatibility with the Logitech PowerPlay wireless charging mat. This means that with the right hardware, you can use the G903 indefinitely without ever having to plug it in. Beyond that, the mouse is also gorgeous and comfortable, from its sleek black chassis, to its swappable side button. That means that the G903 is fully ambidextrous, as well as fully programmable, thanks to excellent software options.
You can pick up the Logitech G300s for a steal, but don't let the price fool you. This is no cut-rate peripheral; it's simply an old one. The model debuted in 2011, and in all fairness, Logitech has definitely come out with some more exciting designs since then. But if you want the best cheap gaming mouse that's built to last, and that comes from a reputable manufacturer, the G300s is as good as they get. This small mouse features an ambidextrous design, six extra programmable buttons and full compatibility with Logitech's gaming software.
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless came out of nowhere to be one of the best wireless gaming mice we've reviewed at Tom's Guide. It even costs less than a lot of wired models. This small, sleek peripheral cuts out a lot of the bells and whistles on which more expensive mice rely. There are only two extra buttons, and the mouse's layout is straightforward rather than ergonomic. And yet, the Harpoon RGB delivers where it counts, with comfortable grips, excellent performance, nuanced software, flawless wireless connectivity and even some pretty RGB lighting for the palm rest. If you want an excellent, no-frills wireless mouse, this is the one you're looking for.
It's not often that a textured contour becomes a gaming mouse's defining feature, but the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro has one of the most interesting grips I've ever felt. (In my original review, I compared the feeling to petting a hedgehog.) The coarse-but-comfortable grip is a good thing, since it helps keep the Pulsefire FPS Pro exactly where it needs to be during heated FPS matches.
You can also expect pretty RGB lighting, satisfying thumb buttons, customizable DPI and a design that makes the mouse easy to hold for hours at a time. While the Pulsefire FPS Pro is ideal for first-person shooters, it's also one of the best gaming mice to suit any genre.
The first few Razer Naga mice were excellent MMO peripherals, but their huge profiles and myriad buttons weren't necessarily that helpful for other game genres. The Razer Naga Trinity allows users more customization options by offering three separate side plates: one with 12 buttons in rows, one with seven buttons in a hexagon pattern and one with two buttons side-by-side. It's like getting three gaming mice for the price of one, and each mouse is a top-notch peripheral. There's a textured grip on the mouse's right side, which helps make it comfortable to hold. There's also RGB lighting, software connectivity and a variety of opportunities to customize the mouse to your liking.
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is visually striking, with two rainbow LED strips running down the center of the device. That alone isn't enough to recommend the Rival 600 as one of the best gaming mice, but its fantastic performance is. The Rival 600 offers adjustable weights, a comfortable grip, a subtly textured scroll wheel, and nuanced software that lets you program buttons and DPI options. Where the mouse stands out, of course, is that you can do some extremely eye-catching things with the lighting options, from rainbow waves to almost imperceptible color shifts. Better still, since the strips aren't hidden under your palm, you can even admire your handiwork while you game.
There are plenty of contenders for the best gaming mouse on the market, but most of them cater exclusively to righties. If you're a gamer of the sinistral persuasion, you have surprisingly few high-quality options at your disposal. Enter the ambidextrous SteelSeries Sensei 310, which works equally well in either hand. This mouse features a deceptively simple design, with textured grips and two programmable thumb buttons on either side. It's small, sleek and comfortable, and plays well with every genre, from FPS to MOBA to RPG. Thanks to the SteelSeries Engine software, it's also simple to customize DPI and button options. For right-handed gamers, the Sensei 310 is a fine choice; for left-handed gamers, it might be a lifesaver.
Stay in control
To cut right to the chase: The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is the best gaming mouse for most players, combining an ergonomic design with programmable buttons, robust software and tunable weights.
If you're on a budget, the Logitech G300s is the best gaming mouse value. This plucky little peripheral costs a fraction of others in its class, but still offers lots of programmable buttons and a comfortable, contoured grip.
