No gaming mouse will magically stop you from getting wrecked in Counter-Strike or Call of Duty, but a good one can give you a greater sense of control while making your playtime more comfortable. Which one is “best” will always be subjective: Shape is king, as the adage goes, and everyone’s hands are different. That said, we’ve tested dozens of well-reviewed gaming mice over the past several months to find the ones that stood out the most. After playing through countless sessions of CS2, Overwatch 2, Final Fantasy XIV and more PC games, here are our picks for the best gaming mice you can buy, along with some general shopping advice to keep in mind before you pull the trigger.
The best gaming mouse
Connectivity: Wireless, wired (USB-C) | Shape: Symmetrical | Weight: 54 grams | Dimensions: 5 x 2.51 x 1.57 inches | Sensor: Razer Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2 | Switches: Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 | Maximum polling rate: 8,000Hz | Programmable buttons: 6 | Battery life (rated): Up to 95 hours at 1,000Hz
If money is no object, the best gaming mouse with a symmetrical design that we’ve tested is the Razer Viper V3 Pro. It costs a hefty $160, but it’ll give you little to complain about if you play a ton of competitive PC games and can stomach the price.
With its lightly grooved sides, noticeable but not aggressive hump and gentle flare-outs toward the back, the Viper V3 Pro’s shape should be comfortable for a wide range of hand sizes and grip types. It’s a bit on the wider side, and it probably works best with a claw or fingertip grip, but it’s not so short or flat that it can’t accommodate palm grippers. The main mouse buttons are contoured in a way that gives your fingers a natural resting place, and there are little ledges on either side to subtly nudge them to the right spot when you’re scrambling in-game. Put another way, this is one of the safer shapes we’ve tested.
The Viper’s build quality is excellent. It’s impressively light at 54 grams, which makes it a breeze to flick around in fast-paced games, yet its matte plastic frame isn’t covered in dust-inviting holes like many other options around the same weight. We’ve seen zero hints of creaking, flexing or rattling after months of testing. The finish picks up some finger smudges but is grippy and delightfully soft to the touch. The main click buttons use durable optical switches but aren’t especially loud. Though they aren’t…