The best cheap gaming mice you can buy

Luke Little / Android Authority

As recently as a few years ago, the best gaming mice were priced out of reach for many people. Nowadays, it’s easy to find cheap gaming mice on the market that are reliable enough to be your daily driver. We’ve picked some of the best cheap gaming mice out there. Check it out!

See also: The best mice you can buy

Buying the best cheap gaming mouse

Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

You may find yourself wondering what exactly sets a gaming mouse apart from a regular computer mouse, and there are a few key differences. Firstly, the shape. Most gaming mice have a more “sporty” look, sort of like the difference between a sedan and a sports car. This look and design aim to help alleviate fatigue during long gaming sessions and bring a lot to the look of a setup.

Next, there are some hardware differences. While many standard computer mice have left/right/middle clicks, a scroll wheel, and sometimes back/forward buttons, gaming mice typically have extra buttons to support extra functions in games. Not only that, but the sensor that tracks mouse movement is usually much faster than that of a standard mouse. The difference likely isn’t perceptible to those who don’t use fast mice a lot, but even minute differences can make a difference in fast-paced games. 

Many of the mice in this list share similar features but vary significantly in aesthetics. Some of them even have standout features, while others cover the basics with no extra fluff.

The best gaming mice:

Razer Basilisk V3

Now, I know this is supposed to be a list of the best cheap gaming mice, but hear me out. Razer’s newest entry to its Basilisk lineup is the V3, and it looks to be a heavy hitter. If you can stretch your budget to $70, you’ll get the excellent ergonomics that Basilisk users know and love. You’ll also get a free-scrolling wheel with tilt clicks, a sensor that goes up to 26,000 DPI, and 11 RGB zones for levels of customization — uncommon in this price range. 

This is a feature-packed mouse for the money, and while it costs $70, it’s easily one of the best cheap gaming mice. 

Logitech G305

If you’re into a more minimal setup, the Logitech G305 is one of the best cheap gaming mice. It covers the basics, with fewer bells and whistles as more expensive models. You’ll get Logitech’s Hero sensor that can go up to 12,000 DPI, six programmable buttons, and an up to 250-hour battery life.

The G305 comes in a wide variety of colors, too, just in case you’re quite not the minimalist you thought you were. At less than $40, it’s hard to go wrong with this one. 

SteelSeries Rival 3

SteelSeries is known for great gaming peripherals; they’ve got you covered, from headsets to keyboards and mice. The Rival 3 makes our list for the sheer value presented here. For $30, you’ll get solid build quality, and an 8,500 DPI sensor, and three customizable RGB zones. 

The Rival 3 is pretty much the entry-level and one of the best cheap gaming mice. 

Razer Deathadder Essential

Razer’s Deathadder Essential mouse covers just that; the essentials. You’ll get two green LED-lit zones, six programmable buttons, and a sensor that goes up to 6400 DPI. Not much stands out about this one, but Razer’s accessories are typically reliable in the long run, so there is no need to worry about having to upgrade anytime soon. 

HyperX Pulsefire Haste

Kingston-owned HyperX is a lesser-known name in gaming mice, but that doesn’t detract from what it’s offering here. The Pulsefire Haste is ultra light due to the honeycomb-shaped holes in the mouse. Weighing in at just 59g, it’s geared towards those who want to improve their precision and aim in shooters with a mouse that takes minimal effort to move across a mousepad. 

Grip tape for the sides of the mouse is included for even more control over where your mouse goes. Overall, this is the best cheap gaming mouse for prospective FPS pros. $50 gets you a little and a lot all at once here. What’s not to like?

See also: The best gaming mouse for FPS

Corsair Katar Pro Wireless

Corsair’s Katar Pro Wireless sports an understated look, but make no mistake; this 6-button cheap gaming mouse has an up to 10k DPI sensor in it and features Corsair’s hyper-quick Slipstream technology to connect to a computer. 

Corsair advertises a 1ms latency and 135 hours of battery life on this $40 mouse, so this is a no-nonsense offering. Check it out at the link below.

Logitech G502 Hero

This mouse is a classic for a reason, and it recently received a price cut down from $80 to around $40, which officially qualifies it as a cheap gaming mouse. This mouse has Logitech’s Hyperscroll tech, two extra buttons at the index finger and two by the thumb, as well as a sniper button for precise aiming in games. 

Along with Hyperscrolling, the G502 Hero’s wheel will also click left and right, effectively granting you two more buttons for a total of seven extra buttons for use with additional functions in games. Every button on the mouse is programmable via Logitech’s G Hub software. Logitech has put out an ultra-high-performance piece of tech with this mouse, and the seemingly permanent $30 price cut makes it an absolute steal. 

EVGA X15 MMO mouse

Speaking of buttons, computer component maker EVGA has entered the accessory game with the X15 MMO mouse. This mouse gives you a total of 12 extra buttons with ten at the thumb and two at the index finger, as well as a sideways click scroll wheel. This mouse also features a blazing fast 8000Hz polling rate for extra responsiveness. 

Mice like this are essential for MMOs that typically have many available in-game functions. Most of the time, those functions are mapped to the keyboard by default, but with this cheap $30 gaming mouse, you’ll have most, if not all of them, at your fingertips. 

That’s it for our list of the best cheap gaming mice you can buy, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. Check out our guides on the best gaming keyboards and best mousepads as well to complete your setup.

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