Best Gaming Mouse: Complete Review with Comparisons

The VersionTECH is the most colorful member of this list. Also, it is super-affordable. It offers simple design and construction, which clearly puts it in the FPS/Action class.

Highlights

Some of the main features of this low-cost gaming mouse include breathing light, multiple DPI settings, ergonomic design, and 6 programmable buttons.

As far as sensitivity is concerned, VersionTECH’s mouse peaks at 2,400 DPI. However, four different settings are available – 800, 1,200, 1,600 and 2,400. They are selectable via the DPI button behind the scroll wheel.

The number of buttons tilts this mouse primarily towards FPS games. MMO and MOBA players might need additional buttons for all the spells, attacks, and skills.

Due to its size and shape, the VersionTech Wired Gaming Mouse is best used with the palm grip. However, due to its light weight, tip-grip gamers might also find it useful.

VersionTech has opted for an optical sensor for this low-cost mouse. The precision admittedly is less than stellar, though satisfactory for casual gaming.

It is wired and uses USB (2.0 and 3.0 USB-compatible). The manufacturer claims that this model is compatible with all major operating systems.

Customization is also one of the VersionTECH Wired Gaming Mouse’s weak points. There are only 7 fixed color patterns to choose from.

Affordability is clearly the strongest point of this model.

The weak points include poor material quality and unimpressive features overall.

Buying a dedicated gaming mouse can be a tricky task, as there are countless options out there. You should be careful, though, for what might work for one gamer might be a complete mismatch for another.

When shopping for a gaming mouse, there are many things to consider and many choices to narrow down. First, you will have to decide on a budget, as dedicated gaming mice can go from around $10 for a no-name generic mouse to over $100 for high-end, ultra-customizable models.

After the price range, you should consider the type of games that you play most often and look into mice oriented towards your favorite genre. While there are no hard and fast rules there, many of the current models tend to gravitate towards a specific genre.

There are other important things to consider when choosing a gaming mouse. These include but are not limited to mouse sensitivity, type of sensor, your preferred grip, connection type, and more.

Finally, there’s customization. All gaming mice will offer you some level of customization, some more so than others. The common options include custom user profiles, full RGB lighting, weight tuning, interchangeable button panels for different types of games, wireless charging, and more.

Let’s dive deeper into the specifics and see what separates good gaming mice from the best gaming mouse.

DPI, or dots-per-inch, is the most prominent and talked about feature in gaming mice. But what is it? In a nutshell, it is the number of dots a mouse’s sensor can register per square inch. In other words, DPI is a measurement for the sensitivity of a mouse’s sensor to movement.

On a low DPI setting, the cursor on the screen will be slower and cover less distance when you move your hand. Conversely, the higher the DPI, the more responsive the cursor will be and more “ground” it will cover.

High DPI is one of the basic distinctions between the gaming and non-gaming mice. Non-gaming models usually peak around 1,000 DPI, while some of the fancier gaming models can go well over 10,000. Some even exceed 15,000.

High DPI is advantageous when you need fast response and to cover a great distance in one short sweep. On the other hand, the low DPI setting allows you to execute a sniper shot with more precision, for example.

Gaming mice should have adjustable sensitivity. Many gaming mice, at least the good ones, allow you to change the DPI without interrupting the gameplay.

Most players rarely venture above the 10,000 mark, as superior control is required to handle things on such a high setting. Usually, their preferences hover in the 800-3,000 range, which is often enough for professional and casual gamers alike. Regardless of the number (of DPI) printed on the box, you should find the setting which suits you and your playing style and stick to it.

Grip style is how you hold your mouse. It is important to buy a mouse which suits your grip style, for you will be using it over extended periods of time. There are three basic styles – palm, claw, and tip grip.

The palm grip is the most common variation among gamers (and non-gamers as well). While the vast majority of gamers will use one exclusively, some switch styles depending on the mouse they’re using.

A palm grip is the most common and is used by the vast majority of gamers. With the palm grip, you rest your palm on the mouse and your fingers lay flat on the buttons. The majority of mice are made for players using a palm grip. They commonly feature long and wide bodies and flat, smooth buttons. Palm-grip mice are jacks of all trades, suitable for all types of games.

With the tip grip, only your fingers touch the mouse. Your thumb is positioned on the side, while the index, middle and ring fingers are on the top, resting on the buttons. Models made for players who favor the tip grip tend to be light and on the smaller side. These mice are made for games for which the speed of movement is crucial.

Claw is the third major grip type. With this grip, your palm only partially rests on the body of the mouse, with only your fingertips touching the buttons. Mice designed for the claw grip tend to be shorter and have a less aggressive back arch than palm-oriented models. Claw-grip models are great for RTS and Action-RTS games.

Gaming mice can also be distinguished by the types of games they are intended for. While there are no rules or official classes, mice made for certain game genres do tend to share some features.

Two of the most common types are FPS-oriented mice and MMO/ MOBA-oriented mice. The third class, commonly referred to as hybrid, exists in the middle ground.

FPS-oriented mice are tailored to the needs of first and third-person shooter games, as well as other action games. They feature a rather simple button layout. The basic left/right button and scroll wheel setup is usually expanded to seven customizable buttons. Some models also have dedicated sniper commands.

MMO and MOBA-oriented mice tend to be far more elaborate than their FPS brethren. In addition to the basic button/wheel/button section, MMO models have a slew of customizable buttons.

Some might even have entire button grids on the thumb side. These come incredibly handy in games where you need to use a wide range of attacks, spells, and skills in short succession. If you’re new to the concept, MMO/MOBA-oriented mice might take some getting used to.

Finally, the all-rounder class aims to bridge the gap between the simple FPS models and over-the-top MMO/MOBA models. These mice tend to be a good option for any gaming genre. Conversely, they are not the best for any of them.

Usually, they feature more buttons than a simple FPS model but less than a MMO mouse. A hybrid/all-round model might be the way to go if you play both genres and are looking for a one-size-fits-all solution.

Modern gaming mice mostly rely on two sensor types – optical and laser. Modern optical mice use optoelectronic sensors to track movement. On the other hand, laser mice use coherent light (laser) to track movement.

The main difference between them, and the one that spawned the heated “optical vs. laser” debate, is lift-off distance. Laser mice tend to have a significantly higher lift-off distance than their optical siblings.

This might prove disadvantageous in situations where you need to lift the mouse off the pad and reposition it without (or with minimal) in-game movement. (More on the lift-off distance in the FAQ section.)

Whichever way you go, you will find high-quality sensors with great performances and abundant DPI. Both perform well on a wide range of surfaces and will more than satisfy the needs of casual players. If you are interested in the professional scene, it bears mentioning that many professional gamers use optical mice.

Connectivity is another important aspect to consider when shopping for a new gaming mouse. Basically, there are wired and wireless. Both are sufficiently reliable and offer a more than satisfactory performance. This choice should chiefly be based on your personal preference and taste. However, there are things to consider.

Wired mice offer almost zero latency and don’t depend on a battery. You might find these traits desirable if you intend to use your mouse in tournament settings. Other things to consider are that wired mice are generally more affordable and, thanks to the battery-free construction, lighter.

Wireless mice, on the other hand, offer autonomy and reduced cable clutter. Up until recently, wireless mice had too big of a latency issue to be suitable for competitive gaming.

Today, however, wireless mice are on par with their cable counterparts. Granted, you will have to pay more for a wireless mouse that has minimum latency. Also, you will have to buy batteries or use another way to recharge your mouse.

All gaming mice will, without exception, offer some level of customization. Generally, the more expensive the mouse, the greater the level of customization it offers. This is not, however, set in stone as some intermediate-tier mice also offer a wide range of customization options. You can customize your mouse in two ways – through software and hardware.

Every gaming mouse will come with software with which you can modify it. The primary function of these programs is for customizing the buttons. In most cases, you will be able to create profiles with different roles assigned to different buttons. Some high-end mice can store profiles internally, while others have to rely on the computer.

Some mice even allow hardware modifications. The most common options include interchangeable grips and button panels. Some mice also offer weight tuning options, having sets of removable weights installed on the body.

Though it technically belongs to the customization section, mouse lighting has become so popular among gamers that it’s become a separate category. All dedicated gaming mice now feature lighting.

While some offer simple predefined lighting patterns, others boast the full RGB range. If you’re new to gaming mice, please note that lighting is there for aesthetic reasons and has no effect on the mouse’s performance.

Regardless of the type of lighting your mouse has, you should be able to customize it via the same software that you use to program its buttons. You can even assign certain patterns to certain profiles. Some manufacturers allow for peripherals (mice, keyboards, headphones) from the same series to be synced and assigned matching lighting.

The answer to this question depends on what you want and need. It would be advisable to first determine what you are looking for in a gaming mouse and then determine the budget. The following bullet list should give you a rough idea.

• Basic gaming mice usually cost the least and concentrate on the essential features. Usually, the models in this class either sacrifice design for sturdy construction and reliable performance or the other way round. These mice usually cost less than with exceptions
• Intermediate mice offer you a mix of premium and basic features. Models in this class typically lean on one of two sides – great performance or great customization options. Whichever you choose, the other area won’t suffer much. The intermediate class is heavily contested and these mice generally offer good design and build quality. Generally, models under $60 make up this category
• The high-end class is for gamers who want the best of everything. In this class you will get premium features, exceptional craftsmanship, and a wide range of customization options. Mice that cost over $60 are generally considered high-end. $100+ mice are in a league of their own at the absolute pinnacle of the gaming class.

It goes without saying that each category has its strengths and weaknesses, and they are aimed at different types of gamers.

Generally, gaming mice can take far more punishment and abuse than their non-gaming siblings. Also, gaming sessions can last for hours on end and in the heat of the battle some gamers can get pretty rough. This is the reason gaming mice are more robust and resilient.

Of course, even among gaming mice, there are differences in sturdiness. This is mainly dictated by each mouse’s price, though robust and affordable mice also exist.

In a nutshell, polling rate is the frequency which your mouse uses to report its position on the tracking surface to your computer. It is measured in Hz, just like radio waves. Gaming mice go up to 1,000Hz. Some fancier models let you adjust the rate on the go.

A high polling rate means that your mouse’s movement can be transferred more accurately to the display. The downside of a high polling rate is that it will put additional strain on your PC. If you’re a casual gamer, you will hardly notice the difference between 500Hz and 1kHz polling rate.

Your mouse stops registering movement if it’s lifted up to the lift-off distance and above. The ideal distance depends on the player and their playing style. If you use sharp moves and lift your mouse high when repositioning, high lift-off distance will not bother you.

On the other hand, if you use more fluid movements, it is advisable to get a mouse with a low lift-off distance. Optical mice generally offer lower lift-off distance than their laser-equipped counterparts.

The situation with southpaw gamers is not very bright, as there’s a serious lack of gaming mice made for left-handed use. So if you insist on using a left-handed mouse, you might have problems finding your perfect match.

Another option is to use an ambidextrous mouse. These mice feature symmetrical bodies with an equal number of extra buttons on each side. You should note that ambidextrous mice are mostly tilted towards the FPS crowd. The third and final option is to buy a right-handed mouse.

Now it’s time to pronounce the winner of the best gaming mouse roundup. The winner is the Redragon M911 Perdition. This mighty mouse offers exceptional features, a fantastic build quality, and a top-notch performance. Its magnificent PMW3366 optical sensor, highly adjustable DPI, excellent grip on the thumb side, and sturdiness clinched the victory.

The best alternative for gamers looking for an affordable option is Pictek’s Wired Gaming Mouse. It offers highly adjustable DPI (goes up to 7200), adjustable polling rate (up to 1,000Hz), customizable light, low latency, and macro programming.