Gaming Mouse Recommend in 2019

Gaming Mouse Recommend in 2019

Gaming mouse recommend in 2019

Get the best gaming mouse available at a price that will leave some cash left over for games.

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With a massive proliferation of options flooding the market seemingly every week, finding the best gaming mouse can be a bit of a slog. Fear not, however, we test mice by the dozens to sort the best value propositions out of a crowded field, and to figure out which of the flashy gimmicks are actually valuable to human beings (and don't just look good in marketing copy). Our top picks don't just perform well, they're thoughtfully designed and built, and won't wear out after a few reckless weeks of late night Apex Legends. Esports mice might look great in the hands of your favorite professional gamer, but many of them are cheaply built en masse to ensure they're easy and inexpensive to replace after a couple of tournaments. Practical gamers need pointers that will endure, and that's a big consideration when we filter through the contenders.

So what else should you look for when you're shopping for the best gaming mouse? If you've been relying on the sort of unit that comes packed in with the best gaming PCs, getting your hands on a proper pointer is likely to be a rude (though welcome) awakening. You want a mouse whose weight feels good in your hand, that is sturdy and durable and built from premium materials. Under the surface, you'll need a quality sensor with a solid CPI rating, so it's as precise as you are, and high IPS, so you don't have to worry about losing tracking. Beyond that, it's largely down to features and your personal aesthetic. MMO and MOBA fanatics will want a mouse with plenty of programmable buttons, like the Razer Naga Trinity (which is currently $27 off at Amazon), while shooter fans will crave a streamlined, no frills workhorse like our top pick, the reborn Logitech MX518.

Logitech MX518

1. Logitech MX518

CPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Right handed | Weight: 101 g (0.22 lbs)

Top of the line HERO sensor and ARM 32-bit microprocessor

Fully customizable suite of buttons

Flexibile, intuitive software

Slightly narrow

The original Logitech MX518 is one of the most recognizable and celebrated gaming mice ever produced, and the refresh honors that legacy. Logitech has replaced the original's outdated 1,800 CPI sensor with their fancy new 16,000 CPI HERO sensor, one of the most accurate and best performing sensors anywhere. It's sensitive and incredibly precise, so it'll serve for both the most demanding productivity tasks as well as for lining up pixel perfect headshots.

The MX518 focuses on the things that matter in a proper gaming mouse while eschewing all the fluff and unnecessary bloat that finds its way into some of the competition. This not only means a streamlined mouse that's a joy to use but also means that Logitech is able to avoid wild price inflation. It also packs an ARM 32 microprocessor that pairs with the sensor to ensure a 1ms report rate, and its matte black build and Nightfall finish make it one of the sleekest looking mice we've tested.

Logitech G203 Prodigy

2. Logitech G203 Prodigy

The best gaming mouse to save a little cash

CPI: 8,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 6 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Weight: 85 g (3.0 oz)

Logitech build quality in a cheap mouse

Great shape for those who like smaller mice

Not the best sensor

You can find a lot of decent, no-name brand gaming mice on Amazon for less than $20, but it's worth spending just a little more for the Logitech G203 Prodigy(also called the G102 in some regions). With this mouse you get Logitech's fantastic, reliable build quality, good gaming driver software, and a tried-and-true mouse shape. Since its popular G100s years ago, Logitech has released several mice with a nearly identical small, almost-ambidextrous body, and it remains a comfortable mouse great for the active grip of FPS or MOBA players. And the G203 is damn cheap.

The G203 Prodigy doesn't use Logitech's top-end sensor, but testing has shownthat the Mercury sensor (developed by Logitech) in this mouse is so good, you probably won't notice the difference. It supports up to 8000 CPI and has no issue with jitter or acceleration. Unless you need insanely high CPI settings, the G203 is a killer mouse for a budget price. And if you decide you really like the shape and can spend a bit more, consider a step up to the Logitech Pro, which doesinclude that top-of-the-line sensor.

Razer Deathadder Elite

3. Razer Deathadder Elite

The best gaming mouse for shooters

CPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 6 | Ergonomic: Right handed | Weight: 105 g (0.23 lbs)

Rivals the best gaming mouse sensor available

Ideal shape for palm or claw grips and a variety of hand sizes

Driver software requires a sign-in

The Razer Deathadder has an all-around fantastic shape for all sorts of grips and hand sizes, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing games, using Photoshop, and browsing the Internet with it. Despite years of iterations, Razer never messes with the Deathadder's shape. There's no reason to.

The Deathadder Elite uses a 16,000 CPI optical sensor, but big numbers don't necessarily mean quality. Here's the important bit: for the Elite Razer chose a sensor based on the PMW-3389 developed by sensor company Pixart in collaboration with Logitech, which is easily one of the best mouse sensors available with 99.4% resolution accuracy and a 450 IPS rating. Razer's implementation should deliver flawless tracking, even if you move the mouse as fast as you can.

For the majority of games and gamers, the Deathadder Elite is an amazing mouse. It’s simple where it should be, with two perfectly placed, generously sized thumb buttons, has a great optical mouse sensor that will work on both hard and cloth pads, and has the ultimate body shape for a claw or hybrid claw/palm grip.

Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless

4. Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless

The best gaming mouse for those with capacious budgets

CPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB / 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 11 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Weight: 114 g (4.02 oz)

Excellent HERO sensor

Wireless upgrade to a venerable favorite

Compatible with the PowerPlay charging mat

Expensive

The original G502 has long been a classic, a favorite in circles that prize durability, accuracy, and high performance from their pointers. The refresh not only honors that legacy but actually improves upon it, with iterative but substantive changes that elevate a beloved classic to dizzying new heights.

Now packing Logitech's reliable 16K HERO sensor, and with a 7 gram reduction in weight over its predecessor, the G502 Lightspeed is also very forward looking by way of it's compatibility with the PowerPlay charging mat. The mat not only charges the mouse on the fly but will actually recognize it and pair it with your PC without requiring the use of a USB dongle. The G502 is also host to a number of other small quality of life features that push it ahead of its competition, like modular weights that can be added or removed to find the perfect hand feel, and a scroll wheel that can be locked to toggle through steps or unlocked to spin freely. It's one of the best wireless mice on the market, and priced accordingly, but if you have the cash to spare, the G502 is worth every penny.

Read the full review: Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless

Corsair Ironclaw RGB

5. Corsair Ironclaw RGB

The best gaming mouse for larger hands

CPI: 18,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 7 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Weight: 105 g (3.7 oz)

Great, comfortable fit for larger hands

Highly responsive with tactile buttons

Feels a bit heavy for a wired mouse, with no adjustable weights

The Ironclaw is the best mouse we've tested for gamers with larger hands. While its design encompasses a strange blend of materials, from smooth matte plastic on the buttons to the diamond print, grippy rubber sides, to the unique, wavy rubber on the scroll wheel, each conforms well to its function on the mouse. Instead of a single cohesive material, Corsair has designated one to suit each panel individually, which adds to the excellent overall fit of the mouse to make it feel really cozy gliding over your mouse pad. It's domed and curved fit perfectly in the palm of right-handed gamers, and is one of the best feeling mice to grip I've ever tested.

It does feel a bit weighty, particularly for a wireless mouse that doesn't require a discrete battery, and unfortunately doesn't offer customizable weights. While that means the Ironclaw feels just a hair more cumbersome than other, lighter wired mice, it also makes the mouse feel more significant and substantial. The RGB lighting is slick and understated, exactly the way I like it, and the unit can be fully customized through Corsair's iCue software, including the option to calibrate your mouse to the surface on which you're using it. While iCue isn't the most intuitive software suite I've ever used, it does offer a comprehensive set of customization options.

Razer Naga Trinity

If you can't find exactly what you're looking for here, a good tip is to check out some of the big retailers' landing pages, where they're constantly updating prices and deals. Some common options are below, leading straight to their latest selection of gaming mice.

  • Gaming mouse deals - Walmart
  • Gaming mouse deals - Amazon
  • Gaming mouse deals - Newegg

6. Razer Naga Trinity

The best gaming mouse for MOBAs and MMOs

CPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 19, 14, or 9 | Ergonomic: Right handed | Weight: 120 g (0.26 lbs)

Customizable thumb grip with three different button arrays

Buttons feel nice and clicky despite being removable

Design is a bit squat for larger hands

The form and function of Razer's Naga mouse has come a long way over the years. Its latest version, the Naga Trinity, is the best yet: a small, comfortable mouse with a high quality sensor and three interchangeable thumb grips with button arrays ideal for MOBAs, MMOs, or general use. The MOBA array is the best, offering seven buttons in a circle around your thumb. There are enough buttons to map multiple abilities, but not so many that they become an overwhelming samey blob. The 12 button array, designed for MMOs, has that problem for me, but anyone who wants a whole number pad under their thumb will appreciate the option.

The Naga Trinity's side panels snap into place with strong magnets and don't wiggle a bit when gaming. Otherwise, the Naga Trinity is the same as the Naga Hex before it, with a comfortable palm grip shape that includes a small pinky rest. The Naga Hex is a bit on the small side for larger hands, with more of a squat shape than some gaming mice. It's comfortable in the relaxed grip suited to MMOS, but will still do the job if you play MOBAs, shooters, or any other active games.

Steelseries Sensei 310

7. Steelseries Sensei 310

The best gaming mouse for the ambidextrous

CPI: 12,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 92.1 g (0.20 lbs)

Very light at 92 grams

Great shape with improved grips and materials

May be too small and light for those with larger hands

The updated version of this Steelseries mainstay, the Sensei 310, subtly reinvented a classic mouse. It needed it. Almost everything is new except the Sensei's ambidextrous shape, and that's exactly how it should be. Thanks to a new plastic, the Sensei is grippier and can shrug off a sweaty palm. And Steelseries is using its own custom version of one of the best gaming sensors around, ensuring the Sensei 310 won't suffer from any tracking issues.

The Sensei 310 fits in your hand just like the old Sensei, and is a great shape for either left- or right-handed gamers looking for a midsized ambidextrous mouse. That means it has a pair of identical thumb buttons on the left and the right, a common issue for ambidextrous mice—it can be far too easy to accidentally click the wrong side's buttons as you grip with your pinky. In my hours of testing the Sensei 310, that hasn't happened once. The size and shape of the thumb buttons has been tweaked, making it easy to rock your thumb upwards to press them but keeping them out of the way of accidental pinky clicks. Anyone looking for a small, light, or ambidextrous mouse: this should be your first stop.

Logitech G502

8. Iogear Fokus 2

The best gaming mouse for those who prefer a weighty pointer

CPI: 12,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 130 g (4.6 oz)

VIEW AT AMAZON

Durable aluminum chassis

Great Pixart sensor

Awkwardly positioned thumb buttons

The Iogear Fokus 2 is a 130 gram monster (not counting the cable), and an RGB spectacle of light when activated and appropriately programmed in the (excellent) Kaliber Gaming software that accompanies it. While it's aesthetic design is a bit divisive (it's one of the flashier gaming mice on our list), it's performance is unimpeachable, and if you're the sort who prefers a weightier, solid mouse, the Fokus 2 is a fantastic option.

That substantive feeling when curled against your palm isn't purely from the pointer's weight, either. It's also wrapped in a sturdy aluminum chassis that gives it a premium feel when you're maneuvering it around one of the best mouse pads for gaming. It's wreathed with eight fully programmable buttons, and is truly ambidextrous, though the thumb buttons are a bit of a reach. That said, this a mouse that feels sturdy and substantive without sacrificing performance, and that's quite an achievement.

Read the full review: Iogear Fokus 2

Logitech MX Vertical

9. Logitech MX Vertical

The best gaming mouse to preserve your wrists

CPI: 4,000 | Sensor: Laser | Interface: Wireless or USB | Buttons: 4 | Ergonomic: Vertical, Right handed | Weight: 135.5 g (0.30 lbs)

Extremely comfortable, fully ergonomic

Works wired through USB-C or wirelessly

Great battery life when wireless

Modest CPI compared to traditional gaming mice

Comfort is one of the most important factors in choosing any mouse, gaming or otherwise, and the Logitech MX Vertical is best-in-class. It's ergonomic design allows you to comfortably rest your hand in a neutral position, meaning you'll experience virtually no strain, even across marathon sessions. It's top CPI setting (4,000) doesn't compete with some of the other gaming mice on this list, but it's still extremely precise, with an excellent laser sensor that provides all the precision you're ever likely to need. You can also unplug it from your machine and run it wirelessly with virtually no input lag, and it's got a killer battery life - just three minutes of charging time will net around an entire day of use.

If you're a strategy gamer or anyone for whom CPI running into the 10,000+ range is a necessity, the MX Vertical is an awesome mouse that feels like a luxury. And its unique form factor is eye-catching and pleasantly curved, without relying on RGB gimmick lighting for its aesthetic appeal.

Logitech G Pro Wireless

10. Logitech G Pro Wireless

The best gaming mouse to go wireless

CPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical HERO 16K | Battery: 40+ hours rechargeable | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 81 g (0.18 lbs)

Swappable components

Excellent design

Extremely light

Pricey

The G Pro Wireless is peerless when it comes to cord-free pointers, packing Logitech's excellent 16,000 CPI HERO sensor and the kind of latency-free experience you'd expect from a wired mouse. Sitting just over the 80g weight mark, it's incredibly light, but unlike some lighter mouse, doesn't feel cheap or disposable. Instead, it's crafted of high quality materials and exhibits performance to match. Logitech designed every component in the G Pro Wireless to be as light and durable as possible, including shaving down the thickness of the chassis' side walls without sacrificing composition or density. Judging from the multiple hard tumbles the G Pro has survived from my desk, it's a very sturdy piece of kit.

It also boasts a length 40 hours of battery life and is customizable, with buttons on the side panels that can be removed and traded out for smooth inserts, if that's your preference. You could also pair the G Pro with Logitech's Powerplay charging mat and never worry about running out of juice again. The only real downside is the price tag: at a $150 MSRP, the G Pro isn't cheap, but it's able to fully justify its price tag.

Testing gaming mice

I’ve used enough gaming mice to have a good feel for build quality, button placement, and shape. My opinions on those aspects of mouse design are naturally subjective, but they’re also well-informed. The tricky part of testing gaming mice is analyzing the other part of the equation: tracking performance, jitter, angle snapping, acceleration, and perfect control speed, and determining how each of those issues affect the experience of using a mouse.