Handiest budget gaming mice 2024: High performers, finest for esports, and more
Image: Dreamstime: Mishoo
When your K/D tally is at stake it’s stunning tempting to take a top price gaming mouse with all of the most up-to-date bells and whistles. Nevertheless that in general is a costly transfer that can search you paying upwards of $150 USD—that’s coin that would bound against a ticket-original processor as a change.
The fact is you received’t lose worthy performance going for a more cost-effective option. Actually, you are going to win a high-performing mouse that—barring the sensor, which is most regularly more modest than in top price gadgets—is when it comes to the same in manufacture quality and styling and with equally hasty buttons.
That’s no longer to claim all budget gaming mice are alike. Admittedly, on the decrease end of the market there tends to be more variation within the manufacture quality, weight, and button configuration than on the end end, so that you’ll still want to construct your homework earlier than you take.
Or, you might per chance presumably presumably appropriate catch out about our checklist of finest budget gaming mice (below). We’ve already executed the study in your behalf by broadly attempting out a cohort of mice, sorting the wheat from the chaff, so as that what’s left is the upper of the explicit. We’ll maintain updating our chart as we evaluate more mice and catch even better products.
For the criteria we use to catch out about budget gaming mice and some handy purchasing for suggestion, study our postscript explainer below. For even more alternatives, search our entire roundup of the finest gaming mice, featuring both wired and wireless picks at so a lot of costs ingredients.
Updated 2/27/24 to consist of the Keychron M6 Wi-fi to our recommendations. This mouse packs so a lot of performance right into a mouse that costs appropriate $49, boasting a 26K Optical Sensor, two scroll wheels, a happy thumb leisure, and a proper scroll wheel switcher button — all of which attend max out the management you might per chance maintain in your recreation.
Logitech G502X – Handiest wired budget gaming mouse / Handiest general
Experts
- The 25K Hero sensor is terribly proficient match at high DPI settings
- The button are extremely wisely placed for accessibility
- The rubber thumb leisure supplies hundreds of grip
Cons
- No longer alongside with swappable trigger buttons appears esteem a overlooked opportunity
- There is just not any RGB lighting fixtures rather then a limited DPI indicator light
- The mouse wheel is somewhat noisy
Tag When Reviewed:
69.99
The G502X sports actions a want of nice upgrades over its predecessor the G502—which in its non-public lawful was as soon as a colossal hit with gamers—alongside with a tidy-hasty and appropriate 25,600 DPI sensor. Nevertheless what if truth be told sets this mouse apart is its button configuration—which is reach finest. It ingredients 13 programmable button alternatives in all, alongside with extremely sought-after DPI up/down buttons and a four-button mouse wheel. Nevertheless the gem in its crown is a trigger button reach your thumb, which makes letting off that must-hit whine or macro appropriate that worthy faster in quick-paced games.
On high of that, the G502X sports actions a refreshed fabricate that makes it eminently more delighted and more uncomplicated to transfer. I namely esteem a original, improved rubber thumb grip that replaces the plastic one from the G502, and the mouse’s longer dimensions that win it a worthy better match for tidy fingers.
Learn our full
Logitech G502X evaluate
Roccat Kone Skilled – Handiest wired budget gaming mouse runner-up
Experts
- The 19,000 DPI sensor is terribly right, and the buttons are hasty and clicky
- An ingenious fabricate elevates your index finger prepared to fire
- A delicate-weight physique adds to its velocity and precision and prevents fatigue
Cons
- No devoted DPI button arrangement you might per chance presumably no longer as without bid swap DPI settings
- Wired connectivity handiest, so that you are going to must lumber it in to play
- The mouse wheel lacks lateral left / lawful clicks
Tag When Reviewed:
39.99
The wired Roccat Kone Skilled is designed for right focusing on attributable to its light-weight fabricate and ambitious 19,000 Owl-Gaze DPI sensor, which in our playtesting proved an finest performer in quick-paced FPS games. Clicks are additionally extremely hasty attributable to Titan optical switches within the buttons and a diminutive left-to-lawful slant on high that completely poises your index finger on the left principal button prepared to fire.
A thin plastic outer layer keeps the Kone Skilled’s weight down to appropriate 66 grams, so as that it glides all over your mouse mat smoothly and with minimal effort. Whereas the Kone Skilled doesn’t maintain a proper DPI button, you might per chance presumably still alternate DPI on the soar in games by assigning this scheme to 1 in all its other buttons within the supporting Roccat Swarm instrument app.
Learn our full
ROCCAT Kone Skilled evaluate
Keychron M6 Wi-fi – Handiest wireless gaming mouse
Experts
- Exact and appropriate 26K sensor
- The sloping fabricate elevates your trigger finger
- Two scroll wheels give a boost to your play
Cons
- The manufacture quality will be better
- The mouse toes don’t appear to be 100 percent PTFE
- There is just not any RGB lighting fixtures
The Keychron M6 doesn’t maintain the most sturdy manufacture quality you’ll catch in a gaming mouse, but it absolutely does provide so a lot of performance that you appropriate can’t win someplace else for the reduce sign basement sign it wears. I’m speaking about its tidy and delighted thumb leisure, two scroll wheels (one with four clicks), handy aspect buttons, and its appropriate 26K optical sensor. You win all that for a mere $49. Inquisitive in regards to the closest match I will recall to mind scheme-lustrous is the $99 Logitech MX Master 3S, the Keychron M6 appears esteem distinctive sign!
This mouse additionally helps all three connectivity forms — 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wired connection — making it a extremely versatile option that you might per chance presumably hook up to appropriate about any PC or laptop laptop you non-public. Due to its more cost-effective manufacture quality, though, it’s positively one to defend safely housed out of wound’s capability.
Learn our full
Keychron M6 Wi-fi evaluate
Keychron M3 – Handiest wireless gaming mouse runner-up
Experts
- Very quick and right 26,000 DPI sensor
- Smartly-proportioned and if truth be told delighted
- The quickest buttons I’ve ever frail
Cons
- It would maintain been more handy for the DPI button to be placed the place the RGB button for the time being sits
- Mac users will must succor the instrument app
- The M3 is for the time being handiest sold by Keychron’s on-line retailer
With a flawless 26,000 DPI sensor, a timeless and delighted fabricate, responsive buttons and swish RGB lighting fixtures, the Keychron M3 is your entire bundle, worth every little bit of its $49 sign and presumably even a dime more. For a mouse with all three connectivity forms—wired connectivity by a USB cable, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity—it’s additionally exceptionally light, weighing in at appropriate 79 grams.
All this sign would maintain come to nada without some decent performance, which is suitable what the M3 Keychron delivered in our playtesting. From spinning around to get rid of foes from listless, to zipping up our cursor to flush out snipers dug into camping spots, the Keychron M3 handled every scurry smoothly and without a hint of ride. It additionally came bundled with about a extras within the sphere, together without a longer one but two separate dongles (one for USB-A and one other for USB-C) so as that lets join up to appropriate about all our gadgets.
Learn our full
Keychron M3 evaluate
Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed – Handiest for esports
Experts
- Swiftly and appropriate sensor
- High sensor positioning
- Very long battery life
- Hyperpolling pork up
Cons
- No RGB lighting fixtures
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity handiest
- Weighs no longer up to 3 oz.
Tag When Reviewed:
69.99
Razer’s Viper V3 Hyperspeed affords you a taste of expert gaming performance at half of the worth of one other expert-grade gaming mice. So, what’s the get rid of? Very small if truth be told — a modest RGB-free fabricate and no Bluetooth performance, is all. In my playtesting I discovered its 30K Razer Point of curiosity Skilled sensor to be extremely appropriate and hasty and the Razer Gen 2 Mechanical Switches within the buttons felt soft and responsive — appropriate finest for FPS.
This mouse’s handling is additionally as right because it gets attributable to a full-bodied grip with hundreds length within the fingers. Connectivity is by a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi dongle handiest. The mouse is powered by a single AA battery which affords a whopping 280-hour battery life. Whereas the Viper V3 Hyperspeed comes with an long-established 1,000Hz polling price out of the sphere, it additionally helps 4,000Hz HyperPolling by a Razer HyperPolling dongle (sold individually).
Learn our full
Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed evaluate
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wi-fi – Handiest for esports runner-up
Experts
- The steady high attend is worked up and wisely-kept
- Its 26,000 DPI sensor can target at lightning speeds
- Bluetooth performance makes it one in all the most versatile esports mice you are going to win
Cons
- The compact buttons can feel a chunk limited every now and then
- There might per chance be appropriate the one RGB zone to play with
- Or no longer it’s more dear than its predecessor
Tag When Reviewed:
$89.99
The six-button HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2’s symmetrical fabricate and 26,000 DPI sensor give it laser-esteem pinpoint precision in games, a truth which in itself doesn’t win it something else particular. What sets it apart is that it weighs appropriate 2.15 oz. (61 grams)—that’s lighter than more dear expert-grade esports mice esteem the Razer DeathAdder V3 Skilled and Logitech G X Skilled Superlight. Suffice to claim it’s tidy hasty off the ticket.
Reaching one of these light-weight fabricate is somewhat an unparalleled feat by HyperX for two reasons: The Pulsefire Haste 2 has a traumatic high attend in want to the perforated one we seen in its predecessor the Haste 1, which additionally arrangement it’s better suited to claw grippers. It additionally sports actions Bluetooth to boot to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, the extra Bluetooth performance being still a rarity amongst expert-grade esports mice. All these components win it one in all the explicit sign esports mice you might per chance presumably take lawful now.
Furthermore be particular to try the Haste 2 Wi-fi’s forebear, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wi-fi, which is still an finest all-spherical performer for instantaneous motion games.
Learn our full
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wi-fi evaluate
Logitech G203 LightSync – Handiest ultra-budget gaming mouse
Experts
- A happy fabricate that resembles more dear esports mice
- Sturdy and wisely-built
- The RGB lighting fixtures if truth be told pops
Cons
- Some sensor ride was as soon as experienced with tidy, quick actions
- The sensor’s defend-off distance is greater than some mice
- The RGB logo on the end is never any longer customizable
Tag When Reviewed:
$39.99
The G203 proves gaming on a budget needn’t be touchy, combining model, performance, and consolation for a shoestring sign. This wired mouse sports actions a limited ambidextrous physique and familiar six-button configuration that resembles top price esports mice, rather then it has a more rounded attend end that affords palm grippers a high stage of precision.
In phrases of hardware performance, the G203’s buttons feel hasty and clicky. Its 8,000 DPI proprietary gaming sensor might per chance merely no longer be as hasty as some rival sensors, but it absolutely’s still extremely appropriate and performs decently in barely about every casual gaming scenario.
In our evaluate, we heaped praise on the G203 for its animated RGB lighting fixtures band and Logitech logo that illuminate your mouse pad with pops of colour, the band of which additionally splits into three lighting fixtures zones customizable within the Logitech G Hub app.
Learn our full
Logitech G203 LightSync evaluate
Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed – Handiest twin-reason budget mouse for gaming and productivity
Experts
- Happy, ergonomic fabricate
- Twin Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Lengthy battery life
Cons
- No RGB lighting fixtures
- Fairly of slower than high-shelf gaming mice
Tag When Reviewed:
$59.99
A stealthy profile is this wireless mouse’s greatest relieve—it sports actions an completely matte-sunless physique without a RGB lighting fixtures, meaning your work colleagues will be none the wiser in regards to the gaming energy that rests beneath your palm.
The V2 X Hyperspeed packs a if truth be told succesful 14,000 DPI sensor that performs a treat in AAA games esteem Metro Exodus. Its seven buttons sport Razer 2nd-generation mechanical switches, which Razer says makes them last as long as 60 million clicks.
The V2 X Hyperspeed affords the convenience of twin wireless connectivity, allowing you to swap between 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with the flick of a button. It’s additionally extremely portable attributable to a long battery life, which affords approximately 235 hours in Wi-Fi mode and up to 615 hours in Bluetooth mode on a single AA battery.
Learn our full
DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed evaluate
Roccat Kone XP – Handiest for MMO, RPG, and RTS gaming
Experts
- Beautiful RGB lighting fixtures that lights up your entire high fragment
- The Owl-Gaze sensor might per chance maybe be very appropriate and extremely efficient
- The 15 buttons shall be customized with up to 29 capabilities
Cons
- The button layout shall be confusing earlier than you win the dangle of it
- Some gamers might per chance merely no longer esteem the brave RGB
- The supporting Swarm instrument might per chance presumably construct with an update
Tag When Reviewed:
74.99
The Kone XP is the flashiest mouse we’ve had the pleasure of attempting out, featuring no longer no longer up to eight customizable RGB “pipelines” illuminated by 22 LED lights, yet it’s additionally a steady performer. With a ambitious contingent of 15 buttons—customizable to 29 capabilities—the Kone XP is namely suited for MMO, RPG, and RTS games that require gamers to love a flash deploy a high want of instructions or macros.
Below the hood, the Kone XP sports actions a 19,000 DPI Owl-Gaze sensor in preserving with the flawless PixArt PMW3370, which has confirmed its worth amongst aggressive gamers.
In our PCWorld evaluate we discovered it to be right and appropriate in games esteem Cyberpunk 2077. We additionally loved the Kone XP’s four-directional scroll wheel, which felt sturdy and responsive.
Learn our full
ROCCAT Kone XP evaluate
Roccat Kone Air – Handiest battery life
Experts
- Exact Owl-Gaze sensor
- Durable Titan Switch Optical switches
- Spectacular battery life up to 800 hours
- Twin wireless connectivity
Cons
- Uneven weight distribution with one battery
- No wired mode
- Restricted to a single profile
- Perchance too heavy and tidy for esports
Tag When Reviewed:
$79.99
Popping appropriate two AA batteries within the Roccat Kone Air affords you a whopping 800 hours battery life in Wi-Fi mode. Suffice to claim, the Kone Air has one in all the explicit battery lives of any wireless mice you might per chance presumably take. That stated, it’s positively a mouse for gamers who esteem a steady weight of their hand — it weighs all of 147 grams when loaded with batteries — so it’s no longer going to be colossal for esports. Its hardware is on the different hand very unswerving, and in our PCWorld evaluate we discovered the 19,000 DPI Owl-Gaze sensor to be very right and hasty off the ticket.
The mouse’s Titan Switch Optical switches within the 2 principal buttons are additionally extremely hasty and so they maintain a high sturdiness ranking of 100 million clicks. If connectivity alternatives are going to sway you one capability or the different, it’s worth noting that the Kone Air depends completely on wireless connectivity. Though, you construct win both a 2.4GHz low-latency connection to boot to Bluetooth, so the Kone Air will join to nearly any instrument.
Learn our full
Roccat Kone Air evaluate
Razer Basilisk V3 – Most ergonomic and delighted
Experts
- The Razer Point of curiosity + sensor affords faultless performance
- Scrolling is made more shimmering with the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel
- The RGB lighting fixtures appears to be like unattainable
Cons
- Or no longer it’s somewhat heavy and pudgy
- You’re restricted to wired connectivity handiest
Tag When Reviewed:
69.99
Due to its extremely delighted fabricate, this lawful-handed mouse is a pleasure to use for prolonged gaming classes. Amongst the ingredients that win it so cozy are an ergonomic thumb leisure that elevates your thumb off the skin you’re taking part in on, two extremely tactile injection-molded grips on either aspect, and 11 wisely-placed, easy-to-reach buttons.
The Razer Basilisk V3’s hardware additionally performs handsomely. In our evaluate we opinion its 24,000 DPI sensor tracked flawlessly, and the buttons, which scheme 2nd-generation Razer Optical Switches, responded in a immediate time. The Basilisk V3 additionally has one in all the explicit scroll wheels of any budget mouse we’ve locate, allowing you to swap between additional scroll modes, alongside with a Free-Run Mode and Tactile mode with the contact of a button.
Learn our full
Razer Basilisk V3 evaluate
FAQ
1.
How worthy have to still I exploit on a gaming mouse?
In relation to what you’ll want to still pay, there’s if truth be told no one sign that matches every gamer. Though, as a classic recordsdata, you shouldn’t pay more than $90 for a budget gaming mouse—that being absolutely the maximum cost of the most scheme-stacked budget gaming mice you are going to win.
Broken-down wired gaming mice with six-button configurations are inclined to be about a of the most reasonable nowadays, with finest sign-for-cash alternatives esteem the Logitech G203 Lightsync, offering gamers with appropriate about the entirety they’d want for casual gaming for around $25. Set a query to to pay pretty more for a wireless mouse, such as the $50 USD Keychron M3 Wi-fi, whose tetherless fabricate makes it a technique more portable instrument.
2.
What form mouse construct I want?
Many budget gaming mice share the the same fabricate as their top price counterparts, so probability is you might per chance presumably also merely already be accustomed to a fabricate you esteem that feels delighted. Whereas you occur to’re ranging from scratch, first off you’ll want to catch a mouse with a form that matches your dominant gaming hand. There are three principal shapes: left-handed, lawful-handed, and ambidextrous.
Left and lawful-handed mice are appropriate what their names counsel—mice designed to accommodate left or lawful fingers. These mice contain fabricate traits that provide advantages to left- or lawful-handed users, alongside with curves to video display the contours of their fingers and button configurations that shall be more without bid reached.
Alternatively, ambidextrous mice are designed to be frail by either hand. These mice sport a more unbiased form, which is most regularly somewhat symmetrical. Ambidextrous mice are somewhat on the final appreciated by aggressive gamers who esteem the predictable capability they transfer.
3.
What measurement mouse is lawful for me?
Correct esteem a original pair of sneakers, you’re going to be spending so a lot of time with your gaming mouse, so if it’s a abominable match your needs’re no longer going to be at liberty and that’s going to electrify your performance. Mice are inclined to compare into three principal classes: limited, medium, and tidy. To search out a mouse that finest fits your hand measurement you might per chance presumably use this straightforward measurement recordsdata:
- Limited gaming mouse: Size: No longer up to 6.7 inches; width: 2.9 to a pair.3 inches
- Medium gaming mouse: Size 6.7 to 7.9 inches; width; 3.9 to 4.3 inches
- Mammoth gaming mouse: Size 7.9 inches; width; 3.9 to 4.3 inches
4.
What mouse fits my grip model?
The capability you snatch your mouse have to still match into one in all three principal grip kinds: a palm grip, claw grip, or fingertip grip. Whereas you might per chance presumably truly ignore your grip model altogether and play with any gaming mouse you uncover, whenever you occur to’re taking a look to maximize performance, you’ll need a mouse that affords you the most management in your grip. Right here’s a recordsdata for what to search for:
- Palm grip: Lengthy, flat mice are inclined to be a better match and more delighted
- Claw grip: Narrower and smaller mice are inclined to suit this grip model
- Fingertip grip: Lighter mice are on the final preferred by fingertip grippers to diminish stress
5.
How many mouse buttons construct I want?
Your mouse’s button count will restrict the necessity of instructions and macros you might per chance presumably note in-recreation, and it might per chance maybe per chance presumably additionally impact the mouse’s weight, which is able to one draw or the other impact gaming performance.
Ideally, the necessity of buttons you wish wants to be instructed by the categories of games you snatch to play. To illustrate, whenever you occur to play so a lot of first-particular person shooters, then preserving your mouse’s weight to an absolute minimal with a limited button count is of paramount importance. On this case an long-established six-button mouse is better, offering enough performance for a minimal of six instructions, but optimizing weight for scurry and focusing on.
On the different hand, whenever you occur to predominately play scheme-taking part in games (RPGs), or vastly multiplayer on-line games (MMOs), a mouse with from 10 to 18 buttons is preferable since you’ll maintain more alternatives for the myriad instructions these games require. For the time being you might per chance presumably additionally win mice esteem the Roccat Kone XP that enable you to customize buttons with extra capabilities, which greatly will enhance the necessity of instructions you might per chance presumably deploy.
6.
What DPI sensor have to still I look for?
In relation to performance so a lot of emphasis is placed on the DPI (dots per run) resolution of a gaming mouse’s sensor, with producers touting the advantages of high-of-the-line mice with sensors between 20,000 to 30,000 DPI.
With some exceptions, budget gaming mice are inclined to maintain sensors which are worthy decrease in DPI resolution than top price items, which by the the same thinking have to still imply they’re so a lot much less succesful. Nevertheless that’s merely no longer the case. Actually, budget gaming mice with sensors as low as 8,000 to 12,000 DPI can still song scurry faster than what the human admire can witness, and, rather then some aggressive gaming scenarios, shall be appropriate as succesful performers.
The takeaway is, whereas it doesn’t hurt to take a mouse with the finest DPI sensor as your budget will allow, you’ll want to still additionally location appropriate as worthy importance on other components esteem the mouse’s weight and its button configuration, which is able to be appropriate as principal as your mouse’s sensor by performance.
7.
How light have to still my mouse be?
Weight comes down to deepest want. Some gamers (namely these that play FPS games) whine by light-weight mice for faster scurry and aiming and to stay soreness in long gaming classes, whereas others snatch the fixed feeling of a heavier mouse.
That stated, producers proceed to win lighter mice as soon as a year. This year we’ve seen a bucket load of original releases that weigh worthy no longer up to their predecessors—some six-button mice are even breaking the beforehand unparalleled 60-gram ticket.
You might per chance merely catch it traumatic to catch a budget mouse that light, since the lightest mice on the final carry the most top price sign tags. A more practical weight is something else below 100 grams, it being more or much less an unspoken benchmark for optimum mouse weight amongst extreme gamers. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is one mouse that’s amazingly light-weight for its $89.99 sign weighing appropriate 61 grams.
8.
What’s the explicit budget gaming mice for kids?
Most children maintain smaller fingers than adults, so whenever you occur to might per chance presumably maintain children, you’d be finest instructed to win a compact gaming mouse esteem the Razer Viper Mini, Corsair Scimitar Skilled, or Logitech G203 Lightsync.
Apart from to moderately sized dimensions, these mice pack gaming-grade sensors and hasty switches of their buttons so your kids received’t fail to location any performance relieve in games. Whereas you occur to might per chance presumably maintain older teenagers, any medium-sized gaming mouse esteem the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 will construct appropriate stunning, since older child’s fingers are inclined to be proportionally as colossal as most adults.
