Best gaming mouse

Why is having the best gaming mouse so important? For something you use every day, wouldn't you want a gaming mouse that is comfortable, durable and can up your game when playing your favourite online shooter? We've tested loads of gaming mice throughout the year and chosen our favourite ones. If you constructed yourself a fabulous high-end PC with all the best parts you can find, why not complete the package with an awesome gaming mouse instead of some dinky mouse you grabbed from your supply closet at work. Yes, we're looking at you.

So, what makes for the best gaming mouse? Look and feel are good places to begin. Gamers will need a gaming mouse that's as accurate as possible. The last thing you ever want is to lose tracking deep into a Destiny 2's latest raid. If you're a big MMO or MOBA player, some extra programmable buttons might be a bigger priority for you. Maybe you want something wireless with incredible battery life. Whichever you decide, we've picked the best gaming mouse for every occasion. 

Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless

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

The original G502 has long been a classic, a favourite in circles that prize durability, accuracy, and high performance from their pointers. The refresh not only honours 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 its 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 several 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.

Razer Deathadder Elite

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

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 G203 Prodigy

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

You can find a lot of decent, no-name brand gaming mice on Amazon, 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. 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 shown that 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 does include that top-of-the-line sensor.

Corsair Ironclaw RGB

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

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 mouse's excellent overall fit to make it feel really cosy 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

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

The form and function of Razer's Naga mouse has come a long way over the years. The Naga Trinity's latest version 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 a more 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 other active games.