Best Gaming Mouse: Top Pointers for 2021

When it comes to finding the best gaming mouse, you need something that feels good for your grip and offers great performance with your favorite titles. Getting a mouse that feels like it belongs in your hand and has the right feature set and a strong sensor will inevitably improve the flow of your gameplay, the hits you land and the satisfaction you get from scoring those Ws. 

There are many players in the mouse game, and why not? Models can range from very cheap and simple to premium ones boasting handy (pun not intended) features, like wireless charging or a pile of programmable buttons. There are also bold design choices, like flashy RGB. 

Below we help make things easier by breaking down the best gaming mouse for different uses.

Quick Shopping Tips

• Optical or Laser? : Both sensor types offer a great experience, but optical mice have slightly better accuracy. Laser mice work on more surface types. If you’re really picky, go for an optical sensor, preferably one designed or developed with PixArt.

• Wireless or Wired? : Wireless mice have come a long way in the last few years, but they still have downsides, including limited battery life (particularly with RGB) and potential latency. If you opt for a wireless, aim for one with 30 hours or more battery life. You’ll also need to decide if you want Bluetooth a 2.4 GHz dongle connection or both. Bluetooth is handy for switching among multiple devices, but comes with a latency cost, but 2.4 GHz will requires a USB port and dongle that’s easy to lose.

• Palm, Claw or Fingertip Grip? : It’s good practice to examine how exactly you hold your mouse. There are three common mouse grips: 

1. Palm Grip - The base of your palm rests on the back of the mouse, with your fingers laying on top.
2. Claw Grip - Where your wrist rests on the mouse mat, the palm doesn’t touch the mouse, and your fingertips grip the edges of it and the buttons.
3. Fingertip Grip - Where your wrist and palm are both elevated off the mouse mat and the mouse, and it’s again gripped with just the finger tips at its edges and on the buttons.

Knowing your grip style will help you find a mouse that’s right for you, since each grip typically occurs due to the size of your hands. Therefore, a mouse designed for a fingertip grip will likely be larger than one designed for a palm grip.

• DPI, CPI, IPS and Acceleration? : DPI and CPI are effectively the same marketing terms. Traditionally we used DPI in print to declare how many dots per inch something would be printed in, in regards to image clarity. CPI, however, stands for counts per inch, and that’s how many counts your mouse takes per inch it travels.

A higher CPI doesn’t necessarily mean a better mouse sensor either. Important is a combination of CPI and IPS. IPS, or inches per second, is the max velocity at which your sensor can still track those counts. The higher the IPS combined with the CPI, the better the sensor.

And then there’s acceleration. That’s how many Gs your mouse can handle and still track effectively, if you’re dashing the mouse back and forth and left and right in short, sharp movements, some mice may flake once they reach a certain G rating.

Best gaming mouse round-up at a glance

1. Best Overall: Razer Basilisk V2
2. Best Splurge: Logitech G502 Lightspeed
3. Best Wireless: Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro
4. Best Budget: Corsair Katar Pro XT
5. Best FPS: Glorious Model D-
6. Best for Big Hands: Corsair Ironclaw RGB
7. Best Wireless Versatility: Razer Basilisk Ultimate
8. Best-Looking Honeycomb: HK Gaming Mira-M
9. Best MMO: Razer Naga Trinity
10. Best for Fingertip and Claw Grips: Glorious Model O-

The Best Gaming Mouse You Can Buy Today

The Razer Basilisk V2 is the best gaming mouse for those seeking a rat with versatility. It has an impressive number of gaming-relevant features that make it stand out against the mountain of mice out there as a true gaming weapon. 

Razer's Basilisk V2 uses a sensor packed with impressive specs, including a CPI that reaches up to a massive 20,000. When we gamed with the Basilisk V2, tracking was excellent, and we suffered nary a single mis-click. 

If you want something with a more traditional shape, the Razer DeathAdder V2 is a good alternative. But the Basilisk V2 earned our Editor's Choice Award with larger, more accessible side buttons and a scroll wheel with customizable resistance. Its 11 buttons are also customizable, so ultimately any gamer should be able to get the performance they crave. 

Considering it's wired, the Basilisk V2's $80 MSRP is high. However, it's currently on sale for $68, and this clicker earns it with high-end performance and long-term comfort. 

Read: Razer Basilisk V2 review 

A lighter and wireless version of the popular Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum, the Logitech G502 Lightspeed is a fantastic weapon for your arsenal if you can stomach the price tag. With premium features, like six additional weights (two 4g ones and four 2g ones) for customizing the mouse’s feel, the G502 Lightspeed starts earning your investment.  

With Logitech’s high-CPI and power efficient Hero sensor and an ample number of programmable buttons, the G502 Lightspeed is fit for any gaming genre. Its shape is familiar and comfortable, crafted in first-person shooter style. For times when you can’t risk a wireless connection, the G502 Lightspeed also comes with a reliable cable. 

In addition to connecting to your PC with a wireless dongle, you can make it so you never have to connect the G502 Lightspeed to a cable at all -- not even for charging. With the Logitech G Powerplay wireless charging mouse pad, the mouse is always getting charged as long as the pad is plugged into a USB port. Sadly, the mouse pad takes away the ability to use either of the G502 Lightspeed’s 4g weights and is $120as of writing. 

If you’d like a mouse that can charge wirelessly with a wider variety of mouse pads (and more), consider Qi charging mice, like the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE, Asus ROG Chakram and lower priced Cooler Master MM831. 

Read: Logitech G502 Lightspeed review 

The best wireless gaming mouse for most is the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro. It takes the popular and accessible shape of the wired Razer DeathAdder V2 and cuts the cord without cutting performance. With a 2.4 GHz USB-A dongle using Razer’s HyperSpeed technology, gaming performance proved on par with the mouse’s wired alternative.

The DeathAdder V2 Pro uses Razer’s most advanced optical sensor that excelled in gaming, even at high CPI settings. Dual sensitivity buttons help with on-the-fly adjustments. Meanwhile, the left and right click buttons’ mechanical-optical switches can be divisive, especially for those who like the feel of tactile mechanical switches, but we didn’t suffer any mis-clicks. 

The DeathAdder V2 Pro does face some stiff competition, especially considering its hefty $130 MSRP. For example, the Logitech G703 Lightspeed can currently be found for $70. And if you’re willing to go over $100, there are other premium cable-free gaming mice to consider, like the Razer Basilisk Ultimate and Logitech G502 Lightspeed mice listed on this page. But for a wireless gaming mouse that gets down to business without the fuss and extra features, the DeathAdder V2 Pro is top of the line. 

For more wireless mice recommendations, including for gaming and productivity, see our Best Wireless Mouse round-up. 

Read: Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro review 

If you want a well-specced, comfortable gaming mouse at an affordable price, the Corsair Katar Pro XT is the best gaming mouse for you. At just 2.68 ounces, this is a lightweight mouse that’s great for long gaming sessions and that you can quickly adjust to. It’s a bit low profile but has a nice, ambidextrous-shaped shell that doesn’t feel cheap, despite this being a budget mouse. Targeting FPS and MOBA players, Corsair’s mouse glides easily and without cable drag, thanks to PTFE feet and a paracord USB-Type-A tether.

Speaking of the tether, the wireless version of this mouse, the Corsair Katar Pro Wireless can be found for only slightly more, if not on sale for the same price, as this wired version. So that’s worth considering. And if you’re after the lightest mouse, something with a honeycomb shell, like the Glorious mice on this page, save more weight. 

The Katar Pro XT isn’t the flashiest or most unique mouse out there but will make a reliable gaming companion. 

More: Corsair Katar Pro XT review 

If you’re an FPS gamer, a lightweight mouse can really elevate your experience, making you never want to go back to a ‘normal’ mouse again. The Glorious Model D- (available here for $50) is the best gaming mouse for FPS titles because of its ultra light weight of just 2.15 ounces and comfortable shape that’ll be fitting for righties with a palm or claw grip, as well as smaller hands.

Glorious’ Model D- is an exceptional example of the honeycomb-style mouse we’ve been seeing more of lately. If you can deal with the questionable Glorious branding, you get a mouse that’s easy to push and glides nearly effortlessly on its high-quality PTFE feet.

If you want something that’s more ambidextrous, the HK Gaming MIra-M or Glorious Model O- (both also on this page) may be better fits. But for a premium mouse that can help change the way your play, the Model D- is an A+ choice.

Oh, and if you're worried about keeping it clean or working with all those holes, see what Glorious CEO Shazim Mohammad told us about that. 

Read: Glorious Model D- review 

The Corsair Ironclaw RGB wireless pointer (also available in wired form) is the best gaming mouse for those with wide big hands featuring wide grips. It’s the thickest mouse here, measuring 3 inches (77mm) at its widest point. It’s so incredibly comfortable for right-handed palm grips that we’ve nicknamed it Palmhugger. 

This mouse’s optical Pixart PMW3391 sensor boasts a high CPI of 18,000 and also has one of the highest IPS ratings around at 450. These are high-end specs, but unless you’re a competitive gamer you may not notice a great improvement over rivals, unless you have a multi-monitor gaming set-up. 

At 4.59 ounces, this isn’t a lightweight clicker, and FPS gamers may struggle with other design choices here, like the button layout. Still, when gaming with the Ironclaw RGB Wireless, action was smooth, and despite its wireless configuration, we didn’t notice any latency.

Read: Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless review 

The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is a fantastically adept wireless mouse featuring Razer’s latest sensor the Focus+ Optical. This semi-intelligent sensor packs in some incredible stats, with a max CPI rating of 20,000 and IPS rating of 650, and it’s also capable of withstanding upwards of 50G worth of acceleration before losing tracking.

Combine that with an impressive ergonomic design, and the Basilisk Ultimate is a killer wireless pointer. Although there are similarities to Logitech's very good G502 Lightspeed wireless mouse, the Basilisk Ultimate brings a myriad of improvements over the competition. You can control the scroll wheel resistance, for example, the sensor is arguably more accurate and the materials used are substantially better. Plus, the Basilisk Ultimate is lighter than rivals like the G502, and Razer’s Synapse software suite runs rings around Logitech’s G-Hub

The Basilisk Ultimate is not without flaws though. Its sensitivity clutch button is a little far forward for smaller hands, and the optical buttons feel less tactile than their mechanical brethren. If you really like what this mouse has to offer so far except the price, Razer has a similar, but cheaper, mouse in this family, the Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed 

For more wireless gaming mice recommendations, check out our Best Wireless Mouse round-up. 

Read: Razer Basilisk Ultimate review

There is a growing number of honeycomb style mice out there targeting gamers, but the HK Gaming Mira-M nails shape and design. It’s built like a honeycomb, wired version of the Logitech G Pro Wireless, making it fitting for both righties and lefties -- if you can deal with the left-flanked side buttons. It’s also much lighter -- a mere 2.22 ounces -- so it’s great for FPS gamers who want their mouse to be light so they can flick it about. 

Note that the Mira-M isn’t the lightest honeycomb mouse on this list. The Glorious Model O- is a lighter 2.08 ounces. But you might prefer the Mira-M’s shape, matte texture and lack of questionable logos. We reviewed the Mira-M in white, but it’s also available in black, bumblebee and pumpkin, catering to different styles even more. 

When it came to gaming, the Mira-M’s light build noticeably improved our abilities in FPS games and helped fight fatigue. That said, we have our complaints about the location of the Mira-M’s side buttons, but your experience may differ. The mouse’s paracord cable also proved advantageous. If you’re worried about similarly designed competition, note that the Mira-M’s sensor is equivalent to what’s in the Model O- and the popular Finalmouse Ultralight 2.

Read: HK Gaming Mira-M review

When seeking the best gaming mouse for MMO games, versatility is key; The more buttons you have, the more you can allocate to macros, to push-to-talk keys for Discord and for other key actions.

The problem with big MMO mice, is that they often feature one very specific way of gripping, with a grid of keys littered on the left hand side and that’s about it. Razer looks to change that with the Naga Trinity, which gives you three separate left-hand grips to choose from. You get a simple numpad, complete with 12 switches, a circular button pad, complete with 7 switches dotted around it and your standard two-button affair.

On top of that you also get the same PixArt sensor as found in the DeathAdder Elite, a nice helping of RGB, and an ergonomic pinky rest too. Sure it’s the heaviest of our mice on this list, but for MMOs and all those keybindings, it’s a great choice.

If you prefer to get your MMO on wirelessly, check out our Razer Naga Pro review covering this mouse's wireless counterpart. 

The Glorious Model O- saves weight with its hole-filled chassis. It differs from the other Glorious mouse on this page with an ambidextrous design. The Model O-, (as opposed to the standard O) is both tiny and lightweight, making it a great fit for those who prefer claw or even fingertip grips, especially if you're playing a twitch-heavy game. And if you have small hands, both the Model O- and Model D- are appropriate. 

 The price isn't bad either. You can find the Model O- on Glorious' website and, sometimes, at MicroCenter for $50. The Model O- doesn’t carry the most outrageous specs, but the honeycomb-style mouse feels great in the hands while gaming, providing reliable, responsive control. Although its specs are outshined by rivals, the Model O- felt eSports-ready in-game. That includes well-tracked flicks and smooth response, from the lowest to highest CPI settings. 

We wish it was easier to toggle through the Model O-’s  CPI settings, and the mouse’s ultra-flexible cable can look messy due to its loose covering. But the Model O- still has a lot to offer. 

Read: Glorious Model O- review 

Finding Discounts on the Best Gaming Mice

Whether you're shopping for one of the best gaming mice or a model that didn't quite make our list, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of the latest Best Buy promo codes, Corsair coupon codes, Logitech promo codes, Newegg promo codes, Razer promo codes and Micro Center coupons. 

MORE: All Mice Content
MORE: All Gaming Content
MORE: How to Completely Disable Mouse Acceleration In Windows