Top-of-the-range gaming mice also have multiple buttons, highly adjustable dots per inch (DPI) accuracy and a mass of settings that include everything from custom lighting to macros for specific games. They are designed to be more accurate, offer a more comfortable experience and are built to last - as gamers are likely to spend more time with their mouse than anyone else.
However, finding the right mouse for you can be tricky. People hold them in different ways and have different-sized hands, which makes purchasing a tricky business. A wide mouse with thumb rests, and grips might be perfect for someone with large hands, but others might find a small and sleek mouse preferable, both in terms of fit and agility. The following is a breakdown of our favourite mice, as tested by the Pocket-lint team.
SteelSeries Aerox 5
Lightweight and feature-packed wireless mouse
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 is great for all sorts of reasons, including a comfortable shape, great button layout, reasonably lightweight design and great button action.
- Weight
- 74g
- Sensor and DPI
- TrueMove Air precision optical sensor 18,000 CPI
- Switches
- Next-gen Golden Micro IP54 Switches
- RGB Lighting
- 3-zone PrismSync
- Programmable Buttons
- 9 programmable buttons
- Connectivity
- Quantum 2.0 Wireless / BT 5.0 / USB-C
- Comfortable design
- Plenty of buttons
- Flexible and nicely customisable
- A smooth experience with the PTFE feet
- Battery life could be better
- Up/down flick switch is weird
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 is more than just another lightweight gaming mouse. This is an ergonomic right-handed with a great design. It's comfortable with multiple buttons for all your gaming needs, slick skates for fast movements and some decent specs to boot.
Highlights include a solid, low-latency wireless connection with Quantum 2.0 and fast charging via USB-C as well. The RGB isn't the flashiest we've seen, but otherwise, the Aerox 5 is one of the best mice we've gamed with.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
Ultra lightweight without the holes
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is not only easy on the eye, but it's also an excellent lightweight mouse that gamers will love.
- Weight
- 63g
- Sensor and DPI
- Hero sensor, 25,600dpi
- RGB Lighting
- No
- Programmable Buttons
- 5 buttons
- Connectivity
- Lightspeed wireless
- Battery Life
- 70 hours
- Polling Rate
- 1,000Hz
- Superb lightweight design
- Large slick PTFE areas
- Excellent battery life
- Uses micro USB charging
- No RGB
Our choice for the best gaming mouse may be too heavy for some, but that's okay, as there are other options. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight is one such choice.
If you're not fussed about having unnecessary frills and bells and whistles, then cast your eyes in this direction. This is a nifty, lightweight, wireless gaming mouse that has slippy PTFE feet, up to 70 hours of battery life and an understated design.
This is a serious gaming mouse designed for pros, which has the thrills of being lightweight but without the usual honeycomb shell. It's remarkably agile and wonderfully accurate, too. The only downside is the odd lack of a DPI switching button, but you can customise DPI and other button settings in the software.
Razer Naga Pro
Is this a mouse or a keyboard?
The Naga Pro has long been considered one of the top options for MMO players, thanks to an integrated macro pad nestled next to your thumb.
- Weight
- 117g
- Sensor and DPI
- Focus+ Optical sensor, 20,000 DPI
- RGB Lighting
- 2 zones
- Programmable Buttons
- 19 programmable buttons
- Connectivity
- Razer HyperSpeed / Bluetooth / USB
- Customisable side-plate design
- More buttons than you could ever need
- Heavier than many others
This mouse seemingly tries to cater to all with an interesting design that not only has everything you'd expect from a gaming mouse but also has swappable side buttons, meaning you can change the thumb button access depending on what you're playing. Two side buttons for FPS or 12 for MMO/MOBAs; the choice is yours.
The Naga Pro thrills in other areas, too. One of those is its ability to connect in wired, Bluetooth or wireless modes. In Bluetooth, with RGB lighting off, you can get as much as 150 hours of battery life out of it, too.
Throw in five onboard memory profiles, five custom DPI levels, 100% PTFE feet and a Pixart Optical sensor, and you've got a real gaming powerhouse.
Glorious Model O2
Holier than thou
The Glorious Model O2 wireless is another super-light gaming mouse with high-end specs but a reasonable price cost.
- Weight
- 68 grams
- Sensor and DPI
- Glorious BAMF 2.0 Optical, 26,000 max DPI
- RGB Lighting
- 16.8 Million Color RGB
- Programmable Buttons
- Six
- Connectivity
- 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth 5.2 LE and USB-C
- Battery Life
- 110 hrs (2.4Ghz), 210 hrs (Bluetooth 5.2 LE)
- Great specifications
- Wondefully lightweight
- Excellent lighting
- Perfect for FPS players
- Battery life could be improved
- Too slim for some
If you love lightweight mice and hate wires, then the Glorious Model O2 wireless could be the rodent for you. We love pretty much everything about this mouse: the styling, the switches, the comfort and the price - it really is a lot of mouse for the money.
It's a classic lightweight FPS-focused design, so it's perfect for nailing flick-shots but less ideal for triggering macros in an MMO. The RGB lighting looks excellent, but it does come at the cost of battery life. Glorious claims up to 210 hours via Bluetooth 5.2, but we couldn't get close to that - elsewhere, though, it's all top-notch.
Roccat Kone XP
A treat for the eyes and fingers
This mouse ticks a lot of boxes but still boasts a surprisingly low price tag, considering what's on offer.
- Weight
- 104g
- Sensor and DPI
- Owl-Eye optical sensor, 19,000 DPI
- Switches
- Titan Optical switches
- RGB Lighting
- 22 LED 3D RGB
- Programmable Buttons
- 15 programmable buttons
- Connectivity
- Wired USB
- Wireless
- No
- Superb ergonomic design
- Excellent RGB
- Slick feet and excellent comfort
- Titan optical switches are accurate and satisfying
- There's a dedicated button for Easy Shift
- Wireless would be better
- Not for left-handed users
The Roccat Kone XP is a mouse that thoroughly surprised us. It represents excellent value for money with a mass of features that make it appealing.
Firstly, it's striking thanks to that unusual RGB lighting, but it's also comfortable in the hand and rich specs. Secondly, it has 15 different buttons, which can be programmed with as many as 29 different functions. That's a lot of controls at your fingertips.
The bottom line: Best gaming mouse
From the selection of mice that we've tested recently, we think the SteelSeries Aerox 5 is the right choice for a lot of people. It's comfortable, durable and has a stylish and lightweight design. It also offers stellar performance while remaining relatively affordable. It's designed as more of an FPS mouse than something for MOBAs or MMOs, but with 9 programmable buttons, you can use it for just about anything.
SteelSeries Aerox 5
The SteelSeries Aerox 5 is comfortable, lightweight, highly configurable and has an ultra-low-latency wireless link.
However, that doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone. If you're not into the honeycomb aesthetic and want something that's even lighter, then we'd recommend checking out the Logitech G Pro X Superlight instead. And if you're an MMORPG addict and want to keep all your spells within your thumb's reach, then the Razer Naga Pro is the rodent for you.
How we chose these gaming mice
We've tried and tested every gaming mouse on this list. Not just in games, either, but throughout our working day to ensure that they don't just perform well but continue to do so after weeks of heavy use.
Before adding a mouse to this list, we consider numerous factors. This includes things like performance and build quality as well as value for money and brand reputation. It's impossible to include everything, but we've tried to select a range of different gaming mice to suit different users, whether you're a CS: GO pro or a LoL addict.
How to choose the right gaming mouse for you
Obviously, there's a lot to consider when buying a gaming mouse. Trying to find the right one for you can be tricky as there are all sorts of mice in all manner of shapes and sizes with different specs and features on offer. It can be hard to know what matters or what you'll like.
Specs that matter
You'll find all gaming mice have a number of specs worth paying attention to. These include max acceleration and max speed numbers. Usually, the higher these numbers, the better. Along with a good sensor, these specs ensure good tracking and accurate representation of your mouse movements and the ability to keep up with your quick flicks.
You'll also find the best mice often have insanely high DPI levels. Many of Logitech's mice, for example, boast as much as 25,600 DPI. The company says that its sensors and these DPI levels allow the mouse to "...accurately track movement at the sub-micron level (1 micron = 1 millionth of a meter, or 0.000001m). Without compromising on accuracy."
Realistically, most gamers will find that 25,000 DPI is far too much for standard use. Indeed, even the pro gamers will opt for lower DPI, lightweight mice or set their mice to low DPI levels. Still, having a good DPI range offers a lot of flexibility.
Grip type
There are three main grip types - palm grip, claw grip and fingertip grip. Some mice are designed to cater to all types, while others are only suitable for one or two. SteelSeries has a nice guide to the different grip types, and that's worth reading if you don't know how your hold your mouse already.
If you use a palm grip, then you'll often need a larger mouse, or you'll find the mouse is too small and uncomfortable to use. Smaller mice might only cater to claw grip and won't be suitable, so this is an important point of consideration before you buy.
How many buttons do you need?
Most modern gaming mice sport somewhere between six and eight buttons. These usually include the left and right buttons, mouse wheel, two side buttons and maybe a couple of DPI-level buttons.
This setup might be enough for most gamers - especially if you're mostly playing FPS games. But if you are more of a MOBA, MMO or RPG gamer, then you might like to consider a mouse with more buttons. That'll make life easier to carry out actions, combine in-game abilities and generally win.
Having more buttons isn't always better, though. We've found some mice offer buttons on both sides of the frame, but that can be problematic as you might accidentally activate these buttons when you don't mean to, which can be a real pain. So, think about which buttons you need and whether you actually need more before you commit to a purchase.
Ultra-light?
The latest trend for gaming mice is to shed as much weight as possible and offer up large, super slick PTFE areas to help your game. These lightweight mice mean you can run a low DPI but still flick them about quickly and easily. Pro players swear by these mice. They obviously have the added bonus of reducing any aches or fatigue you might otherwise get with heavier mice.
One downside, though, is the lighter mice often feel cheap, sound hollow, and aren't as feature-rich. If you prefer your mouse to have a bit of heft and a premium solid build quality, then there's nothing wrong with that. Some of the heavier mice also have a lot more to offer, not just RGB but more buttons, wireless connectivity and more.