Finest low-cost gaming mice in 2023

Over the previous few years, gaming mice have developed to match the wants of the rising esports market. Nowadays, the best gaming mouse is gentle, strips out pointless frills, and packs a wonderful sensor that may deal with aggressive play. With such particular calls for, it’s simple to imagine a good gaming mouse ought to value a fairly penny, however the esports growth elevated the baseline high quality for consumer-level gaming gear, mice included. That doesn’t imply each gaming mouse is nice, although. Each gamer is completely different and it’s best to take the time to seek out the perfect low-cost gaming mouse to suit your wants—and your hand.

How we chosen the perfect low-cost gaming mice

Our picks for the perfect low-cost gaming mice had been chosen by Fashionable Science’s opinions editor, Mike Epstein, based mostly on his years of hands-on expertise reviewing nearly each noteworthy mannequin in the marketplace, in addition to the experiences of our friends and different trusted sources. Since we centered closely on mice constructed for esports with good-to-great sensors, we primarily judged every mannequin on its ergonomics, paying particular consideration to weight and dimension, and we made certain to guage which grip kinds work greatest with every mouse. Click on latency and battery life had been additionally essential concerns for the wi-fi fashions we chosen. 

Issues to think about earlier than shopping for a gaming mouse

There are just a few essential components to bear in mind when judging a gaming mouse’s efficiency, consolation, and general viability on your gaming fashion.

Sensor

One of the best gaming mice launched within the final couple of years are likely to characteristic good sensors—adequate that you just don’t essentially want to stress over {hardware} specs anymore. Nonetheless, as you have a look at lower-priced gear, you’ll discover that some mice characteristic nice sensors, and others characteristic one thing extra, properly, low-cost.

When gaming mouse specs, you’ll usually see producers tout a mouse’s most sensitivity, which successfully determines the mouse’s cursor pace. Sensitivity or monitoring is measured in DPI (dots per inch) decision. You might also see it listed as CPI (counts per inch). Both approach, it notes the best attainable cursor pace setting. Most producers use high-DPI sensors that may attain resolutions far past what anybody would ever use, usually exceeding 10,000 to twenty,000 DPI. 

You’re not locked into your mouse’s most DPI, although, as most gaming mice allow you to tune the DPI settings utilizing configuration software program or onboard controls. The “proper” DPI settings will differ for everybody and will even range from recreation to recreation. For reference, I normally set my mouse to properly under 2,000 for shooters however will bump it up for action-RPGs or technique video games. Aggressive gamers will truly flip their DPI very low to boost their precision, even when it means they need to swing their arm throughout their desk to maneuver their mouse throughout the display.

Aspiring execs can also need to examine a mouse’s pace (generally known as “accuracy”), which tells you quick you’ll be able to transfer your mouse earlier than the sensor begins shedding observe of its place.

Measurement, form, and grip fashion

Mouse form is arguably an important, and most malleable, aspect of any mouse—gaming or in any other case. Having a mouse that helps your hand and feels comfy to carry ensures you need to use it for so long as you want with out cramping or ache, and obtain your private greatest efficiency in video games. 

Many esports mice, which comprise the vast majority of this record, describe themselves as “ambidextrous” mice, that are uniformly spherical and aren’t molded to suit particular hand shapes. More often than not, they don’t seem to be truly ambidextrous, as a result of they lack secondary thumb buttons for left-handed gamers. It’s a worst-of-both-worlds state of affairs as a result of molding a mouse for a particular hand—virtually all the time the best—permits the producer to create a mouse that naturally helps your hand.

Fake-ambidextrous mice have worth for a lot of gamers, although. Whereas smaller, ambidextrous mice really feel awkward and even uncomfortable if you maintain them with the usual grip, referred to as “palm” in gaming circles, many players use different “claw” or “fingertip” grips, the place you don’t lay your hand flat in your mouse. In case your hand doesn’t grip the mouse, then its form doesn’t matter as a lot. For this record, we’ll word if a selected grip fashion works higher than the others for our picks.

Enter latency

Enter latency, the time between if you transfer your mouse or click on a button and when these actions are mirrored in your recreation, is one thing you need to keep away from. We’ve reached some extent the place latency is usually a non-issue for many gamers, even when utilizing wi-fi mice. 

Polling charge, measured in Hz, is a spec that tells you what number of occasions a mouse sends directions to your pc per second. In 2021, the usual for each wired and wi-fi mice is 1,000Hz, or 1,000 alerts per second. There are some high-end mice that obtain a better polling charge, however that could be a high-end characteristic for costlier mice.

That stated, wi-fi mice that join through Bluetooth normally have increased enter latency than different connection varieties. Relying in your sensitivity to enter lag, it could or will not be an element. Generally, we search for wi-fi gaming mice that hook up with a 2.4GHz USB dongle, which offers a much less laggy connection.

Weight

Gaming mice range broadly in weight and the best weight is a matter of desire. Esports mice are usually smaller and lighter than your common gaming mouse, making them simpler to maneuver round your desk. It’s best to shoot for a mouse that weighs lower than 3.5 ounces, and ideally one thing under 3 ounces if you happen to’re critical about quick hand actions. Heavier mice have their makes use of, too, as further resistance provides extra management. Some fashions embody detachable weights, although this isn’t a typical characteristic for cheaper esports-specific mice.

One of the best low-cost gaming mice: Opinions & suggestions

Armed with this info, you’re able to strike out by yourself and discover the perfect low-cost gaming mouse for you. If you need a head begin, we’ve been doing this for some time so allow us to handle a few of the guesswork by highlighting our picks.

Except in any other case specified, all the mice on this record value $50 or much less. (We now have one barely costlier choose to focus on what you may get if you happen to’re prepared to spend slightly further.) They’re all excellent for gaming, however each has its personal strengths to go well with specific existence and gameplay wants.

Finest for esports: HyperX Pulsefire Haste

Why it made the lower: HyperX’s Pulsefire Haste is a small, light-weight mouse with a wonderful sensor that doesn’t sacrifice consolation or sturdiness for efficiency.

Specs:

• Most Sensor Decision: 16,000 DPI
• Dimensions: 2.58 inches x 4.9 inches x  1.41 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 2.01 ounces
• Connection: Wired USB

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste’s standout trait is its light-weight design. As the perfect low-cost esports mouse, it’s fairly small and weighs in at simply over 2 ounces due to its honeycombed chassis. Some producers make ergonomic concessions to hit these measurements, however the Pulsefire Haste manages to remain comfy and drop right down to an esports-grade “combating” weight. It feels greatest when used with the claw grip, however isn’t so small you could’t use it with a palm grip—so long as it suits your hand.

The Pulsefire Haste’s Pixart 335 sensor tracks at as much as 16,000 DPI and is correct at as much as 450 inches per second, so your speedy hand actions will translate to correct in-game actions. The mouse additionally performs properly in decrease DPI settings, which you’ll swap to on the fly to fit your gameplay wants at a given second. The inner reminiscence shops as much as 5 DPI presets and RGB profiles, that are programmed with HyperX’s Ngenuity desktop app and cycled by means of with the DPI button simply behind the RGB-lit scroll wheel. For those who want greater than the 5 the mouse saves regionally, the desktop app also can retailer further mouse profiles in your PC with their very own presets. To be truthful, a set of adjustable DPI presets is a ubiquitous gaming mouse characteristic lately, however the Pulsefire Haste is a kind of uncommon mice with a spec sheet that punches above its weight.

Finest wired: Corsair Sabre RGB Professional Champion Sequence

Why it made the lower: Corsair’s Sabre RGB Professional Champion Sequence may not appear to be a hardcore gaming peripheral, however few different mice can match its flexibility, accuracy, and luxury at simply $50.

Specs:

• Most Sensor Decision: 18,000 DPI
• Dimensions: 2.7 inches x 5.02 inches x 1.37 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 2.43 ounces
• Connection: Wired USB

The Corsair Sabre RGB Professional Champion Sequence’ well-rounded specs can fulfill a number of roles aside from the perfect low-cost wired gaming mouse. It sports activities a easy, unassuming aesthetic that would slot in knowledgeable setup with out screaming “gamer gear.” At 2.43 ounces, it’s very gentle, permitting for fast motion, and its devoted right-handed design provides higher ergonomics than different small gaming mice.

The Corsair RGB Professional Champion’s sensor has a most 18,000 DPI decision, higher than most gaming mice at this worth level. It additionally lets you fine-tune your DPI setting, elevating or decreasing your monitoring in 50 DPI increments, with the choice to shortly revert again to your DPI presets with easy button combos.

The Sabre RGB Professional Champion Sequence additionally options “Hyperpolling,” which will increase the polling charge above the usual 1,000Hz. Elevating the polling charge, notably to the possibly helpful 8,000Hz, requires extra computing energy than merely utilizing a mouse, which is an odd situation to think about. Different corporations have managed to supply 8,000Hz polling with no CPU hit, so that is, in truth, a “price range” model of higher polling. That stated, it’s additionally the one mouse beneath $50 that provides it, so it’s not all dangerous. Extra importantly, the Sabre RGB Professional Champion Sequence continues to be an ideal mouse even with Hyperpolling turned off, particularly inside its worth vary.

Finest wi-fi: Corsair Harpoon RGB wi-fi

Why it made the lower: The Harpoon RGB Wi-fi’ low latency, lengthy rechargeable battery life, and ergonomic body are shocking for a compact wi-fi gaming mouse that solely prices $50.

Specs: 

• Most Sensor Decision: 10,000 DPI
• Dimensions: 2.67 inches x 4.56 inches x 1.77 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 3.65 ounces (with out charging cable)
• Connection: 2.4GHz wi-fi USB; Bluetooth 5.0; Wired USB 

As the perfect low-cost wi-fi gaming mouse the Corsair’s Harpoon RGB Wi-fi has glorious specs and options for a $50 wi-fi mouse. The Pixart PMW335 sensor tracks as much as 10,000 DPI, and there are buttons to shortly bump the DPI up or down by 200 DPI increments. It will get a really wholesome 40 hours of battery life and provides 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wi-fi connectivity, supplying you with the liberty to decide on between a extra steady connection and a extra power-efficient one. (It additionally lets you join it to extra gadgets, together with telephones.)

The Harpoon RGB Wi-fi’ solely potential drawbacks as an esports mouse are its weight and dimension. The mouse weighs 3.65 ounces as a result of inside battery and wi-fi sensors, and if you happen to plug in its charging cable, the entire thing jumps to five.11 ounces. In both configuration, the Harpoon RGB Wi-fi will really feel a bit heavier in comparison with a wired esports mouse, and even a few of its wi-fi rivals. 

Finest for journey: SteelSeries Rival 3 Wi-fi

Why it made the lower: The Rival 3 Wi-fi’ lengthy battery life and tiny footprint are excellent for touring, and it helps a number of connection varieties to slot in with any distant gaming setup.

Specs:

• Most Sensor Decision: 18,000 dpi
• Dimensions: 2.62 inches x 4.87 inches x 1.43 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 3.74 ounces
• Connection: Bluetooth 5.0; 2.4Gz Wi-fi USB; Wired USB

The Rival 3 Wi-fi is the perfect low-cost gaming mouse for touring. Its signature characteristic—an unbelievable 400-hour battery life—makes it the best choose for players on the go. It solely lasts that lengthy in “high-efficiency” mode, which reduces the mouse’s polling charge, however even with out that, you’re nonetheless getting an unbelievable quantity of utilization on a pair of AAAs. That’s proper: Like many cheaper wi-fi mice, the Rival 3 requires disposable batteries for energy. Whereas not preferrred, the unbelievable period of time you get from them is difficult to move up.

The SteelSeries Rival 3 Wi-fi’ TrueMove Air sensor boasts a most 18,000 DPI, which is best than most different $50 mice. For connectivity, the Rival 3 helps both Bluetooth or 2.4Ghz wi-fi, so you’ll be able to pair the mouse with nearly any gadget and hold room for different cordless peripherals.

There’s one disadvantage to the Rival 3’s absolutely wi-fi nature, nevertheless: it’s comparatively heavy. The batteries and wi-fi elements within the mouse ups its weight to three.74 ounces. For those who can sacrifice some battery life, SteelSeries properly engineered the Rival 3 Wi-fi to work simply nice on a single AAA battery, which brings the load down to three.14 ounces. Might it’s lighter? Positive, however slightly further weight is a compromise you must make to go wi-fi.

Finest beneath $50: Roccat Burst Professional

Why it made the lower: The Burst Professional is extra comfy than different esports mice, has optical switches, and a sensor that outclasses most mice under its worth level.

Specs:

• Most Sensor Decision: 16,000 DPI
• Dimensions: 2.62 inches x 4.83 inches x1.5 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 2.33 ounces
• Connection: Wired USB

The Roccat Burst Professional is just like the opposite mice on this record in lots of key methods: it’s a 6-button gadget aimed toward esports gamers, with a small handful of additional options like RGB lighting and programmable buttons, and wired USB connectivity. It’s a fairly normal gaming mouse. Its general efficiency and specs, nevertheless, make a giant leap, despite the fact that it solely prices $10 extra.

The Burst Professional options Roccat’s customized Owl-Eye sensor, which is basically a retooled Pixart PMW3389, with monitoring that tops out at 16,000 DPI and stays correct at as much as 400 inches per second. In apply, the Burst Professional’s in-game efficiency appears like a way more costly mouse. It additionally sports activities Roccat’s “Titan” optical mouse switches, relatively than mechanical switches, which reduce enter lag and improve button sturdiness. At 2.33 ounces, it’s positively a aggressive contender, too.

It’s additionally a pointy, distinctive-looking mouse. It has a dual-layer chassis that features a honeycombed plastic interior layer and a easy, clear plastic outer shell with a matte end, which creates a delightful delicate glow impact when the interior RGB lights shine by means of. It’s an ideal match for any participant’s gaming PC “battlestation.”

Finest beneath $30: Logitech G203 Lightsync

Why it made the lower: Logitech manages to suit a good gaming-quality sensor and RGB lighting into the G203 Lightsync’s tiny body for lower than $40.

Specs:

• Most Sensor Decision: 8,000 DPI
• Dimensions: 2.27 inches x 4.5 inches x 1.37 inches (WDH)
• Weight: 2.86 ounces
• Connection: Wired USB

The Logitech G203 Lightsync is a quite simple, 6-button gaming mouse. At $40, nevertheless, one of many least fashionable mice you may get from a high producer. Whereas Logitech positively held again in locations to hit the G203 Lightsync’s $40 worth level, the gadget nonetheless performs exceptionally properly. The sensor’s most decision is a decent 8,000 DPI and is correct at as much as 200 inches per second. Positive, that lags behind higher-end mice which are twice the worth, however squares up properly in opposition to most different choices in the identical sub-$50 vary.

The G203 Lightsync positively falls throughout the common sizing requirements of esports mice and is greatest used with the claw grip, but it surely’s tall sufficient to accommodate palm grip customers, too. Nevertheless, it’s heavier than most wired fashions at 2.86 ounces, so that you received’t get the complete advantages of the tinier kind issue an esports mouse is supposed to confer.

If there’s something “lacking” from the G203 Lightsync in comparison with the opposite choices on this record, it’s onboard reminiscence. The G203 Lightsync can’t retailer DPI presets internally to make use of on any gadget. You’ll be able to nonetheless save them in your PC with the G Hub app, although, so it could not seem to be an enormous loss. It’s very primary, but it surely’s the perfect model of primary you may get at such a low worth.

FAQs

Ultimate ideas on the perfect low-cost gaming mice

You don’t must spend some huge cash to get the most effective gaming mice. Sure, there are unbelievable, feature-rich mice which are value $100 or extra, however if you happen to concentrate on the fundamentals and getting excessive efficiency, you may get every thing you want from the perfect low-cost gaming mice.