Club Benefits
I realized two key details once I grabbed the best gaming mouse for my needs. First, these clickers make PC gaming comfortable for those long sessions, and second, maybe my aiming isn't as bad as I thought it was.
If you're here to give your daily gaming (and non-gaming) routines an upgrade, the right gaming mouse can do the trick. Of course, it can be hard to know if a mouse is worth it without using one yourself, but my team of experts and I have the right idea of the clickers to go for — thanks to hundreds of hours testing them in the latest FPS, RPG, MOBA and single-player titles.
At Tom's Guide, I check out the latest in all things peripherals, and that (thankfully) includes the best gaming mice. I'm a huge fan of Logitech's offering of clickers, but that doesn't mean they're the best for everyone. There's a gaming mouse out there that will suit everyone's needs, and my team of experts and I have done the legwork (handwork is better suited here) to find the best of them.
The best gaming mouse you can buy today
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The best gaming mouse overall
You may find that gaming mice have hit a wall — reaching incredible heights in DPI, polling rate, comfort and precision that makes it hard to progress any further. Well, the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike amazingly broke new ground, ringing in a new era of competitive gaming.
How so? With its world-first Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS) taking over the mouse button switches we're used to, the Pro X2 Superstrike mixes real-time haptics tech and inductive analog sensing. The result is blazing-fast click speeds that you feel in control of, and with adjustable actuation points and customizable Rapid Trigger support, this mouse gives you the means to improve your click speeds, twitch-like reflexes and overall gaming performance.
It carries on the tried-and-tested design of the excellent Pro X Superlight 2 (that's still a great option), so expect a lightweight, comfy design for long gaming sessions for both casual and competitive FPS, RPG, MOBA, single-player epics and more. Oh, and the 44,000 maximum DPI and an 8,000Hz polling rate (fully customizable via the Logitech G Hub app) are premium bonuses.
It costs a pretty penny at $179, but it's well worth the price for what you get here, and what you can use it for (gaming and productivity, of course). If you're after the best PC gaming has to offer in the form of a mouse right now, the Pro X2 Superstrike is it.
Read our full Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike review.
The best budget gaming mouse
You don’t have to settle for less with the ultra-light Redragon M916. Weighing in at just 1.7 ounces and packing a 4,000Hz polling rate, it really raises the bar of what is possible for a budget gaming mouse.
It’s a little on the small side but is packed with customization and features, with angle snapping, ripple control, and an adjustable debounce time, which is perfect if you want maximum performance in a minimalist package.
A slightly boring visual design and cheap-feeling plastic won’t win everyone over, but the M916 is one of the lightest mice we have reviewed and a fantastic option for those looking for a wireless mouse below $50.
Read our full Redragon M916 review.
The best lightweight gaming mouse
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is an outstanding mouse that builds on the Superlight’s biggest selling points. Once crowned the best in the business, it's still a fantastic option for esports players and casual gamers for competitive play and more.
It is well-designed, high-performing, and the ideal mouse for gamers competing at the highest level, and a lot of that is thanks to its incredibly lightweight (and comfortable) form factor at just 2.1 ounces.
The 32,000 DPI and 4,000Hz polling rate means you can depend on this mouse when you need it to perform its best. Though it's expensive at $154 on Amazon, you get exactly what you pay for. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is the latest and greatest gaming mouse of the series so far, especially for competitive FPS players.
Read our full Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 review.
The best mid-range gaming mouse
The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 aims to give you a competitive edge in all the FPS, RPG and MMO titles you play for a very fitting $109 price, and from our testing, it nails the landing.
Lightweight, stylish (don't worry, it also comes in black or white) and mighty comfortable to hold, this is a gaming mouse that's premium to the touch. It also helps that its RGB lighting underneath gives it a splash of personality for any desk. Now, as you can tell, this comes with a honeycomb design, which keeps it lightweight and free from sweaty palms. But if those holes are an eyesore for you, then you'll want to look elsewhere.
If that's not an issue, though, then prepare for top-tier performance with its 26,000 DPI and 4,000Hz wireless polling rate. That means fast, precise movement, and its onboard DPI selector lets you adjust the mouse's sensitivity on the fly. Need ultra-responsive movement in games like Counter-Strike 2? Bump that number up. After more controlled aiming in Cyberpunk 2077? Keep it low at the press of a button.
Thanks to the SteelSeries GG software, you can customize DPI adjustments, as well as remap buttons, change polling rates and even light-off distance! And no need to worry about battery life, as this mouse will last you over 120 hours (at a 1,000Hz polling rate) before needing juice. Just be sure to keep its USB-C 2.4GHz dongle in a safe place, as there's no onboard storage for it.
For gamers looking for plenty of pro-level performance in a mouse that doesn't come with a premium price tag, the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 will do the trick.
Read our full SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review.
The best gaming mouse for work and play
The Cherry XTRFY M50 is so comfortable that one of our reviewers uses this very mouse as their daily driver at the office for all types of work. But don't get me wrong; this is still a gaming mouse, through and through, with some great gaming performance.
The M50 Wireless really impressed with its strong gaming performance — in casual titles, at least. Its customizable maximum 12,000 DPI and 1,000Hz polling are fantastic and work as intended, and its user-friendly companion software works like a charm, too.
If you’re right-handed and aren’t a competitive gamer — and don’t mind the Windows-only software — then you'll be a fan of this mouse working as a great all-rounder. Plus, its minimalist design is lovely to look at.
Read our full Cherry XTRFY M50 Wireless review.
The best gaming mouse for comfort
Looking to get an edge without the pains and aches? The Keychron M7 has you covered with its brilliant ergonomics. That, and its impressive performance for a budget price.
Starting at $49, the Keychron M7 is a standout in the budget gaming mouse market. With its ergonomic design, it caters to right-handed users who like using both palm and claw grips. The M7 features a high DPI of 26,000 and a 1,000Hz polling rate, enabling rapid, precise movements in FPS and RPGs alike. Its lightweight yet sturdy build, thumb rest and tactile switches enhance comfort and usability, making it a joy to use during long gaming sessions and at work.
The M7’s 26,000 DPI helped us achieve more accurate headshots and chain-stab opponents at close quarters in Counter-Strike. For those seeking a budget-friendly, high-performing mouse that's comfy to hold, no matter your grip style, the Keychron M7 is definitely worth considering.
Read our full Keychon M7 review.
The best gaming mouse for FPS
Sporting the bright orange and iconic logo of the world-renowned Fnatic Esports organization, the Fnatic X Lamzu Maya 8K is one of the best gaming mice we have used, thanks to its incredible power despite being wireless.
Supporting a polling rate of up to 8,000Hz and boasting one of the most comfortable symmetrical case designs we have laid our fingers upon, there is a lot that sets this mouse apart from the crowd. With two different models, the Maya and the Maya X, you can pick the one that best suits your hand size. Expect to use this mouse for marathon, high-stakes FPS sessions without getting tired or fingers aching, all helped with its 1.5-ounce weight and buttery smooth PTFE skates underneath the mouse.
The Maya directly competes with the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and Superlight to be the premier gaming mouse for competitive games, but it comes with some minor annoyances, like a subpar companion app and a weird wired connection. At just $119 for an 8K polling rate mouse, though, the Maya is a great deal for those looking to get the very best performing esports mice available right now.
Read our full Fnatic X Lamzu Maya 8K review.
The best gaming mouse for MMO
The Razer Naga Pro is arguably the best gaming mouse for MMOs. But thanks to its unique design, it can also be the best gaming mouse for MOBAs, or even action/adventure games.
Rather than being stuck with a single style of thumb buttons, the Naga Trinity offers three swappable panels: one with two buttons, one with seven buttons in a “hex” pattern (really, “hept,” but let’s not split hairs) and one with a whopping 12 buttons.
The 12-button configuration is incredibly useful for World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV and other MMO favorites, but the other two side panels ensure that you can use the Naga Trinity with just about any genre and still excel. It’s a large, heavy mouse, which is good for players with large hands, and the side panels are effortless to swap in and out.
Read our full Razer Naga Pro review.
Also tested
Frequently asked questions
How to choose the best gaming mouse?
There's a whole nest of gaming mice out there, with some more suited to specific needs (and some with a boatload of RGB lighting). However, to narrow down what you're looking for, keep these three key factors in mind:
Design: Probably the single most important consideration for a mouse. Ultimately, the best gaming mouse is the mouse that feels most comfortable in your hand; everything else really is secondary. As such, you should see if you can hold a mouse before you commit to buying it. If not, at least consider whether you want a large mouse or a small mouse, a mouse with a high profile or one that’s low to the ground, a mouse with a ton of extra buttons or just a few, and so forth.
Features: These include things like wireless connectivity, tunable weights, RGB lighting and swappable parts. The general rule here is that the more features you want, the more expensive a mouse will be. A wireless mouse with premium features (and possibly swappable parts) can cost beyond $150; a small mouse with just a few extra buttons and perhaps a light or two could cost $30, or even less, if you’re looking at older models. Keep polling rates (8,000Hz is usually more than enough, 1,000Hz should still be responsive for casual players) and DPI (gaming mice go well beyond the generally accepted 400-1,600 DPI) in mind, too.
Price: Usually a sign of how many features a mouse offers, but there’s another way to save: buy mice from an older generation. This doesn’t, however, mean “buy used mice.” That’s usually a bad idea. Once a shiny, new version of a mouse comes out, the perfectly good older models often plummet in price. However, the latest offerings deliver longevity, so weigh up your options!
What is DPI?
DPI (Dots Per Inch) measures the hardware sensitivity of a mouse sensor. Essentially, the higher the number, the more sensitive the cursor on a screen is to your movements. When you move your mouse, the sensor reads the surface beneath it. It measures how many of these "dots" are detected per inch of movement.
So, a low DPI, anywhere between 400 and 800, means you have to move your mouse a relatively significant distance to get the cursor across a screen. That's good for more accurate, micro movements, especially in FPS titles when looking down a scope for headshots.
A higher DPI, now going well past 40,000, means even the tiniest flick of your wrist will send the cursor flying across the screen, which is great for fast-paced gameplay. That's all so you don't have to move your hand so much to move around onscreen.
The level of DPI is completely up to how comfortable you feel it is, but gaming mice that allow for high DPI settings give you more options to tinker with. Really, though, DPI settings above 1,000 are already a good sweet spot.
What is polling rate?
Measured in Hertz (Hz), the polling rate of a mouse is the frequency at which your mouse reports its position and clicks to your computer. The higher it is, the less input lag you experience.
For example, if a mouse has a polling rate of 1,000Hz, it will send data 1,000 times per second, or every 1 millisecond. For polling rates at 4,000Hz or above, expect this to be every 0.25 milliseconds or less.
This is important for gaming mice, as the less input lag there is, the more snappy and accurate your actions are. That means making sure a shot in competitive FPS titles lands without delay, or clicks in MMOs or MOBAs are on point. The higher the polling rate, though, the more power it consumes, meaning more demand on a system and less battery life, so keep that in mind if you're planning on using a polling rate of 4,000Hz or 8,000Hz.
Having a 1,000Hz polling rate is already plenty for competitive gaming, while anything above this offers a very minimal difference, unless you're playing at a professional esports level. Our picks have 1,000Hz or over, so you're covered for all types of gaming!
How we test the best gaming mouse
To test gaming mice, we run them through at least four games across a variety of genres: usually FPS, RTS, RPG and MMO. We make sure we get a few hours of game time whenever possible. We also use mice for productivity for at least two days, in order to gauge the shape, comfort and overall design.
Software is another important part of a mouse’s evaluation, as almost every gaming mouse from a major manufacturer has access to a software suite. We analyze a software suite for functionality, ease-of-use and system resource drain. The best software packages are lightweight and easy to learn; weaker software packages tend to be unstable or convoluted.
For wireless mice in particular, battery life is a big concern. As such, we'll monitor how quickly the battery runs down, how long the mouse takes to recharge and how much of a difference options such as lighting and connectivity type make. While we can't always measure a mouse's full battery life from start to finish, we can usually extrapolate after a few days.
Price factors into our evaluations as well, although “cheaper” does not always necessarily equal “better.” Instead, we believe that more expensive mice should offer more features, especially if they’re priced similarly to competing mice that offer similar feature sets. Cheaper mice should always be comfortable and effective in-game, although we don’t penalize them for offering simpler designs or fewer bells and whistles.
