Image: Dominic Bayley / IDG
Now that wireless gaming mice are just as fast and feature packed as their wired counterparts, going wireless can be a smart move, giving you greater flexibility as a gamer. But before you cut loose and buy one, it’s worth noting they’re not all alike. You’ll still need to consider factors like weight, dots per inch (DPI), and battery life which can be telling factors in how your gaming mouse performs and ultimately how you will perform in games.
Our expert reviewers have put these mice through their paces, testing them across a range of scenarios, and over extended periods of time — you can find out all about our extensive testing process in the article “How we test gaming mice at PCWorld.”
Below are the results of that effort. While these are the current best wireless gaming mice available, for a no holds barred list, including both wired and wireless models, be sure to check out PCWorld’s all-inclusive selection of the best gaming mice.
Why you should trust us: We aren’t just tech enthusiasts we’re also keen gamers and we’re always on the lookout for better gaming gear to get an edge in our favorite games. We know that we’re adding our expertise to a large body of PCWorld product news and reviews that goes back 40 years — that’s credibility we’ve built up over four decades. Consequently, we want to tell you exactly what we find in a product — the good, the bad and the in-between.
Updated July 2, 2024 to include the Razer Basilisk Ultimate as an alternative pick for MMO gamers. This mouse is weighty, so it feels hyper-realistic when wielding MMO weapons. It also has a solid feel and an exceptionally smooth glide, so moving it is always a pleasure. We’ve also simplified our recommendation chart below to make selecting the right gaming mouse for your needs even easier.
Razer Cobra Pro – Best wireless gaming mouse overall
Pros
Its Razer Focus Pro 30K sensor is superb Dedicated DPI up/down buttons makes switching DPI on the fly easy Having all 11 zones of RGB is brilliant
Cons
The dimensions won’t suit large hands Buying the Cobra Pro with a Hyper polling dongle costs extra It’s a little heavier than its stablemate the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Price When Reviewed:129.99Best Prices Today:$115.93 at Amazon$129.99 at Best Buy$129.99 at GameStop
What I like about the Razer Cobra Pro
While some mice have fantastic sensors but fall short in the connectivity department, the Razer Cobra Pro seemingly has it all. It sports both a very high-resolution 30,000 DPI sensor as well as dual wireless connectivity. Not only is its 30K Razer Focus Pro sensor exceptionally smooth and accurate it also allows me to set my preferred lift-off distance from a total of up to 26 granular settings—that’s 23 more than most mice with this functionality.
There’s little to fault about the Cobra Pro’s design either—it’s symmetrical and feels balanced and I also get the benefit of dedicated DPI up/down buttons, which is a rare luxury in pro-grade mice. This allows me to change DPI settings on the fly so I can get the drop on opponents in an instant. To top all that off, the Razer Cobra Pro looks fantastic thanks to 11 programmable RGB lighting zones.
Who should buy the Razer Cobra Pro
Serious gamers looking for a do-it-all mouse with some of the best specs you can currently get. I’d also strongly recommend this mouse to gamers that tend to lift their mouse and want to have precise control over their mouse’s tracking when they do.
If you need a little more ergonomic glide, the kind only a thumb rest will give you, then be sure to check out the Logitech G502 Lightspeed. This mouse has a secret weapon — a side trigger button that lets you fire of commands at lightning speeds.
Read our full Razer Cobra Pro review
Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition – Best value for money
Pros
An excellent sensor that syncs movements precisely 4K polling rate Strong and lightweight metal chassis
Cons
Perforated back won’t suit claw grippers Smaller size isn’t great for large hands Battery life isn’t great in 4K polling mode Price When Reviewed:99.00Best Prices Today:$99 at Keychron
Why I like the Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition
It’s lightweight, weighing just 2.25 ounces (64 grams), yet it’s made of a robust magnesium that’s built to last and also shimmers beautifully under the light. The mouse’s sensor is extremely well honed for very quick tracking in games — it has a sensitivity of 26,000 DPI and supports up to 4K wireless polling via its 4K receiver. This 4K Metal Edition also won’t break the bank; yes, it costs $99, but compared to rivals with similar specs that’s a whole $50 less.
Who should buy the Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition
Esports players or serious gamers who want to track opponents at a blisteringly quick 4K in wireless mode should buy this mouse. One caveat is that its chassis is quite compact, so it’ll best suit players with small-to-medium sized hands. Another great value gaming mouse is the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless. This mouse has a feature set ideal for FPS games and also costs less than $100.
Read our full Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition review
Razer Naga V2 Pro – Best wireless gaming mouse for MMO / MOBA games
Pros
The Swappable button plates let you tailor your button setup to your game’s command load The sensor is very accurate and without a hint of lag There’s tons of comfort and the build quality is excellent
Cons
The Razer Gen 3 Optical Switches are a little stiff at first and need wearing in It weighs 134 grams which is quite heavy even for an MMO mouse It’s currently very expensive Price When Reviewed:$179.99Best Prices Today:$179 at Amazon$179.99 at Best Buy$179.99 at Razer
Why I like the Razer Naga V2 Pro
The Razer Naga V2 Pro follows in the footsteps of the Razer Naga Trinity, featuring magnetic swappable side-button plates that let you customize your button setup to match your gameplay. The side-button plates include a 12-, 6-, and 2-button option. It’s also stacked with upgrades such as a sporty 30,000 DPI pro-grade Optical Sensor, wireless connectivity, and Razer Gen 3 Optical Switches for lighting-fast button responses.
Admittedly, at 4.72 ounces (134 grams) the Razer Naga V2 Pro does weigh a lot even for an MMO mouse. But in my playtesting, I found the weightiness provided a nice authenticity to weapons play that I scarcely ever get from wireless gaming mice. At its current price of $180 USD, it’s not cheap. But considering how well it performed for me, it’s unlikely you will regret shelling out for such a capable mouse.
Who should buy the Razer Naga V2 Pro
The Razer Naga V2 Pro is perfect for gamers needing lots of buttons for MOBA and MMO games. With the mouse’s 12-button plate attached you get a maximum of 22 programable commands, which is just ideal for letting fly spells and other commands in games like WoW.
We have two more excellent options to recommend for MMO gamers: First is the SteelSeries Aerox 9. It’s a great all-around MMO mouse with a side grid of 10 buttons. If you don’t need a grid, however, it’s hard to beat the smooth glide, solid feeling, and accurate performance of the Razer Basilisk Ultimate.
Read our full Razer Naga V2 Pro review
Corsair M75 Air Wireless – Best ambidextrous grip
Pros
Its narrow high-backed design enables superior control The 26K Optical Sensor is quick and reliable Up to a quick 2000Hz / 0.5ms default polling rate
Cons
One button for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can be confusing There’s just one on-board memory profile No DPI switcher button Price When Reviewed:99.99Best Prices Today:$69.99 at Amazon$99.99 at B&H$99.99 at Best Buy
Why I like the Corsair M75 Air Wireless
Corsair’s M75 Air is a FPS performance dynamo just based on how smooth and precise its 26K Optical Sensor was in my playtesting, but it also felt really comfortable too. It boasts a symmetrical chassis with a high back and narrow front that allows it to work equally as well with all the major grip types. The mouse’s five-button configuration sports two buttons on the left-hand side that are very low-set, which along with its symmetrical body, means it’s a great mouse for switching hands with.
With no DPI button, the M75 Air doesn’t give you the option of switching DPIs on the fly. But it does have a not-so-vanilla 2,000Hz default polling rate, which I was super happy with, since it’s an improvement on the default 1,000Hz sensor reporting rate I often get in FPS mice. Thanks to extremely well-placed horseshoe shaped PTFE feet, this mouse also glides over a mouse mat or tabletop like a dream.
Who should buy the Corsair M75 Air Wireless
The Corsair M75 Air Wireless is the epitome of minimalism in an FPS mouse. Its perfect symmetry, high 2,000Hz polling rate and high-back, narrow front design works well with all the major grip types. If you like to switch grip types or hands and like the most precise control over your movements you can get, then the Corsair M75 Air is the best mouse you can buy.
Read our full Corsair M75 Air Wireless review
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro – Best pro-grade wireless gaming mouse
Pros
Ultra light and quick off the mark Perfectly chiseled to the contours of your hand The 30,000 DPI sensor is very impressive
Cons
It’ll cost you extra to upgrade to 4000Hz hyper polling Has fewer buttons than its predecessor DPI button is located on the underside Price When Reviewed:149.99Best Prices Today:$149.99 at Best Buy$149.99 at Razer$149.99 at Walmart
Why I like the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro has everything you need to perform at your best in quick, competitive matches, including a comfortable ultra-lightweight 2.22-ounce (63 grams) design that’s perfectly chiseled to the contours of your hand, a flawless 30,000 DPI optical sensor, and very quick Razer Gen 3 Optical Switches in the buttons, which incidentally are some of the quickest I’ve used.
Better still, the V3 Pro incorporates a few sweetener technologies that can provide big performance boosts if you’re willing to take the time to apply them. Two of these are, Asymmetric Cut-off distance, and hyper polling. The former lets you set a very precise landing distance up to 26 granular levels of adjustment — that’s 23 levels more than what you get in some pro-grade gaming mice. The latter, ramps up the V3’s default 1,000Hz polling rate to a lightning-quick 4,000Hz, although you will need to shell out an extra $29.99 for a HyperPolling dongle for the privilege.
And therein lies the biggest drawback with the V3 Pro — its cost. It’s currently wearing a $150 USD price tag which makes it quite an investment. Still, if you’re looking for the very best performance you can get, it’s totally worth it.
Who should buy the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
When I’m talking the absolute best of the best esports mice that money can buy, there’s only a few mice that come to mind, and the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is one of them. Yes, it’s expensive but if you’re a pro gamer or just seriously into your competitive FPS games, you won’t regret buying this mouse.
Buying a pro grade mouse is like buying a Ferrari, you really want one that looks and feels perfect for you specifically. So, be sure to read up on these other excellent options that come highly recommended by us: the Logitech G Pro X 2 Superlight, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition.
Read our full Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review
Roccat Burst Pro Air – Best RGB lighting
Pros
Owl-Eye sensor is very precise and quick You won’t find a mouse with more stunning RGB lighting Dual wireless as well as wired connectivity
Cons
81-gram weight can feel heavy if you’re used to a lighter mouse Mouse wheel lacks left and right lateral clicks Pricey compared to some rivals Price When Reviewed:79.99Best Prices Today:$45.97 at Amazon$47.99 at Best Buy$48.85 at Walmart
Why I like the Roccat Burst Pro Air
While some gaming mice only have limited RGB lighting around their buttons or periphery, the Roccat Burst Pro goes all out with four dedicated programmable RGB lighting zones that light up the whole mouse like a firecracker. Suffice to say, with 16.8 million color options in Roccat’s Swarm software app to play with, you can get some dazzling lighting effects on this mouse.
But while the Pro Air is genuinely stunning to look at, it’s equally as proficient in games, thanks to its comfortable eight-button configuration, powerful 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye optical sensor, and low-latency switches, which have a 100-million-click durability rating.
The Pro Air is also an extremely versatile mouse, thanks to its multiple connectivity options, which include a low-latency 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB-A to USB-C cable for wired connectivity.
Who should buy the Roccat Burst Pro Air
This is a great choice for gamers who like to really make a visual impact in their gaming dens. What you see in my photo is just one example of the dazzling affects you can get with this mouse, the sky’s the limit really!
Read our full ROCCAT Burst Pro Air review
Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse – Most versatile esports mouse
Pros
4KHz wireless polling rate The buttons are soft and have a quick debounce The Alienware styling looks awesome One of the most precise mouse wheels I’ve used Weighs just over 2 ounces
Cons
The back could do with more height There’s no RGB lighting It’s quite large so won’t suit everyone Price When Reviewed:149.99Best Prices Today:$119.99 at Best Buy$149.99 at Amazon$149.99 at Dell
Why I like the Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
Gaming mice manufacturers are gradually releasing their premium-grade esports mice to include 4KHz polling rates, a reporting rate so quick that previously only tethered mice had it. The Alienware Pro Wireless isn’t the first to have this functionality, but it is one of the first to make it a feature right out of the box, without you needing to pay for an additional hyper-polling dongle.
That functionality alone means you’re going to get the quickest wireless reporting rate for aiming and tracking players in FPS games that you can in a wireless mouse. But it’s not the only thing that makes the Pro Wireless such an excellent performer for esports. It also has a very precise 26,000 DPI sensor, very soft buttons with a very quick debounce, and a comfortable symmetrical grip that is perfectly molded to your hand. If you need more speed and precision in your game, one of these speed demons is just what the doctor ordered.
Who should buy the Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
Pro gamers who want the quickest wireless polling rate that you can currently get in a mouse. It’s also a red-hot performance dynamo so if you want to perform at your best, this mouse can get you there. If you’re a fan of Alienware laptops, as I am, you’ll also get a big kick out of having an Alienware mouse; it’s one-of-a-kind among pro gaming mice.
If you’re in the search for an ultralight esports mouse you might also want to consider the Cherry Xtrfy M8 Wireless. This featherweight mouse feels barely there in your palm, weighing just 1.94 ounces (55 grams). It also lets you set a debounce rate of 2,4,8 or 12 milliseconds so that you can reduce double clicks or hone your clicks per second.
Read our full Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse review
MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless – Easiest to recharge
Pros
Charging dock included Long battery life Current high-end sensor from Pixart Omron switches Three connection modes (2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired) Good price-performance ratio
Cons
A bit heavy for “Lightweight” Software is a little convoluted Price When Reviewed:$99.00Best Prices Today:$84.99 at Amazon$84.99 at B&H$84.99 at Walmart
Why I like the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless
The MSI Clutch GM51 is flanked by unique RGB Diamond Lightgrips that bestow a drool-worthy gamer-centric look. These grips also provide your hand with excellent grip and precision control of movement. For hardware, this mouse boasts quick Omron Switches in its buttons and a 26,000 DPI Pixart PAW-3395 sensor supporting three-pronged connectivity — 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wired connection.
In our playtesting we found the sensor to be very fast and precise. It was also extremely smooth thanks to an MSI technology called “Motion Sync” that kept our mouse movements precisely in sync with our game.
By far one of the best features of the GM51 is its excellent rechargeability. Not only does it come with a convenient charging dock, but it’s also one of the fastest USB charging mice you can buy, with 15 minutes charging time being all that’s needed for 27 hours of wireless play.
Who should buy the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless
Gamers who want a lightning-fast FPS gaming mouse, but also don’t want to compromise on how their gaming mouse looks — you simply don’t see many FPS gaming mice with stunning RGB accents like this one. It also suits gamers who like the convenience of having a charging dock to charge between games.
Read our full MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless review
SteelSeries Rival 650 – Best for lifters
Pros
Gets 10 hours of charge in only 15 minutes Comfortable and attractive design Removable weight system provides plenty of options
Cons
Heavier than some might like Expensive Third thumb button is small and awkwardly placed Price When Reviewed:$114Best Prices Today:$59.99 at Amazon$79.99 at SteelSeries
Why I like the SteelSeries Rival 650
On the surface, the SteelSeries Rival 650 could be any other wireless gaming mouse, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find it has two big advantages over rivals — its dual-sensor hardware configuration and its fast-charging capability.
To improve your accuracy, the Rival 650 pairs a primary sensor, the PWM3360 TrueMove 3, with a dedicated depth sensor whose job is solely to cease input when your mouse leaves your mousepad. If you mainly keep your mouse flat on your mouse pad or table top, chances are you won’t notice much difference in your gaming accuracy. However, if you do lift your mouse a lot, this feature should make aiming a tad easier.
SteelSeries claims 15 minutes fast charging is all the Rival 650 needs to run for 10 hours straight. We put this claim to the test and found it to be mostly true; 15 minutes or sometimes just a few minutes more was enough to power it through more than a day of gaming, which made us very fond of this mouse.
Who should buy the SteelSeries Rival 650
If you’re prone to lifting, then this mouse is just the ticket. It helps eliminate the kind of jumping and jittering that lifting can cause in your mouse’s movement, which ultimately is going to have payoffs to your gaming performance.
Read our full SteelSeries Rival 650 review
Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed – Best replaceable battery option
Pros
Quick and accurate sensor High sensor positioning Very long battery life Hyperpolling support
Cons
No RGB lighting 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity only Weighs less than 3 ounces Price When Reviewed:69.99Best Prices Today:$55.99 at Amazon$69.99 at Best Buy$69.99 at Razer
Why I like the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed
It may sport modest looks, but the six-button Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed is a real performance juggernaut. With its extremely quick and accurate 30K Razer Focus Optical Sensor, 1,000Hz polling rate, and a chassis that weighs less than 3 ounces, this mouse is built for speed right out of the box. But what really made it cook with fire in my playtesting was the mouse’s high sensor positioning, which registered my hand’s movements at its origin point, so a little quicker than I’ve experienced with some other six-button FPS mice.
The Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed is also unique in its class in that it houses a single AA battery instead of a rechargeable one. That means you get a little extra battery life than some FPS mice in Razer’s lineup; Razer says it gives you up to 280 hours with the default 1,000Hz polling rate, or 75 hours at the maximum 4,000Hz HyperPolling rate. That outdoes the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro by 190 hours at 1,000Hz and by 51 hours at 4,000Hz. A downside is that if you want 4,000Hz HyperPolling functionality, you’ll need to buy an additional part from Razer’s website. This mouse also lacks Bluetooth connectivity.
Who should buy the Razer V3 Hyperspeed
If you travel a lot for work or take your gaming mouse with you when you’re on the road, then the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed is the perfect companion. With an insanely long battery life of 280 hours at 1,000Hz polling mode and 75 hours at 4,000Hz HyperPolling mode, it’s a great fit for players who want a low maintenance mouse with premium specs.
Read our full Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed review
How we test wireless gaming mice
To make sure our wireless gaming mice picks are the best of the best, the PCWorld team puts them through a legion of tests. We look at everything from how well they’ve been designed and perform in games, to the suite of software that helps you personalize them. Here’s a list of the main categories our tests fall under:
Design and ergonomics: Here we factor in the mouse’s physical characteristics, including its shape, styling, buttons, and RGB lighting (if any). We also consider how comfortable it is, what size hands it fits and, importantly, what grip type it will ideally suit (palm, fingertip, or claw). Last of all, we consider how tough it is, including how likely it is to survive the rigors of gaming life.Wireless performance: This is the fun part of our testing where we get to try out our mouse in a bunch of games, while at the same time evaluating factors like its tracking accuracy, sensitivity, and how fast it reacts to our movements. We’re testing the mouse’s sensor in a big way here, but also our mouse’s wireless, and or Bluetooth connectivity.Software support: What you can actually achieve with your wireless gaming mouse sometimes comes down to what its supporting software allows. When testing our mouse’s software app we consider how easy it is to navigate, change settings, program buttons, set up profiles for games, and make changes to RGB lighting (if any).
For more details about our evaluation process, see our article on how we test gaming mice at PCWorld.
FAQ
1.
Does having a gaming mouse really matter?
If you plan on doing any gaming, it absolutely is better to opt for a gaming mouse over a regular office mouse. That’s simply because gaming mice boast hardware and design benefits over regular office mice that make them eminently faster, more comfortable, and more accurate. The sensor and the buttons are the two most obvious features that have been enhanced in gaming mice.
For example, while the average office mouse is lucky to have just a measly 8,000 DPI resolution sensor, we’re now seeing gaming mice with sensors that have resolutions of more than 26, 000 DPI, which makes them a lot faster and more accurate.
In mice like the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro the buttons feature 3rd-generation Razer Optical Switches, which actuate in less than 0.2 milliseconds—much less than the typical 1 millisecond average in office mice. What’s more, gaming mice are usually more customizable, allowing you to program specific commands to your buttons so that you can just fire them off at will in games.
2.
Connectivity: Wireless or Bluetooth or both?
Some wireless gaming mice have Bluetooth as well as 2.4GHz wireless connectivity and let you switch between the two. Having Bluetooth is considered a luxury that gives you the versatility of being able to use your mouse with more devices, like your tablet or gaming console. It also offers you the advantage of a dongle-less connection on the go, which can be very handy for school or work.
Still, there are at least two good reasons why you might still opt for a mouse with only Wi-Fi connectivity. Number one is Bluetooth-capable gaming mice tend to be slightly heavier than mice with just Wi-Fi connectivity alone. Also, a Wi-Fi connection is ultimately a lot faster and more stable, so if you do a lot of competitive gaming, Bluetooth won’t be the best option for that.
3.
Do esports players use wireless mice?
At one time it would have been unheard of for an esports players to use wireless mice because of the slight millisecond or so lag that they used to have compared to conventional wired options. Nowadays, however, thanks to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, any such latency difference has all but been eradicated. That said, it’s now not uncommon for most professional esports teams to have at least one player using a wireless mouse.
One example is team Natus Vincere that includes Ukrainian professional CounterStrike: Global Offensive player Oleksandr Kostyliev, aka S1mple, who has achieved spectacular results with his wireless Logitech G Pro X Superlight.
4.
Are there any disadvantages to using a wireless mouse?
While the difference in latency between top-level and wireless mice is almost imperceptible these days, there can still be disadvantages to choosing wireless gaming mice over wired ones. One is that the lightest wireless gaming mice tend to be slightly heavier than the lightest wired gaming mice. This weight difference is usually only a few grams. Still, for esports professionals even a few grams can make a difference to their overall performance.
The other obvious thing worth noting, is you’ll need to ensure you don’t lose the mouse’s wireless dongle. Wireless dongles can be small and easy to misplace. Losing your dongle could render your gaming mouse essentially useless—something that you needn’t worry about in wired gaming mice.
5.
Is my mouse’s sensor really important?
A gaming mouse’s sensor is the number one hardware component that determines how well a mouse performs in games. The sensor decides the mouse’s tracking speed and accuracy, two factors we scrutinize in our tests. The main spec to look for in any sensor is dpi (dots per inch), which tells you how well the mouse’s sensor reports movement per inch of physical movement. The newest wireless gaming mice have dpi ranging from 12,000 to 30,000, with higher numbers indicating mice with greater sensitivity.
While a lot of fuss is made about dpi in manufacturer brochures, there’s really no perfect dpi for gaming, it being largely a personal choice. While it can’t hurt to have the best, unless you’re a professional esports gamer you probably won’t need a 30,000 dpi sensor. In reality, even 12,000 dpi provides decent performance in games.
6.
Orientation: right, left, or ambidextrous?
Are you left or right-handed, or ambidextrous? For practicality’s sake the answer to this question should inform your choice when buying a wireless gaming mouse. That way you’ll get a better fit for your hand shape and the buttons will be within reach of your fingers. While most of our wireless gaming mice reviews are of right-handed mice, simply because that’s what most people use, we’ll endeavor to bring you left-handed and ambidextrous mice reviews when possible.
7.
What grip type do I use?
How you grip your mouse is not something you’ve probably given much thought to—just like you don’t give much thought to how you hold your fork when you eat. Still, it can be important since you’ll want to get a mouse that fits your specific grip type. The three main grip types are:
Palm grip: This is the most common type of mouse grip among gamers. It’s also the most comfortable for long gaming sessions since it puts more of your hand in contact with your mouse and prevents tension in your wrist. For palm grippers, long, flat mice tend to be a better fit and more comfortable.
Claw grip: If you use a claw grip, you’re arching your palm over the mouse to make a claw shape. This grip is popular in the e-sports community, especially among FPS players, since it allows you to make quick wrist movements—useful for sweeping attacks on targets. It does however clench the wrist and cause some tension there. Narrower and smaller mice suit a claw grip.
Fingertip grip: This grip provides you the least amount of control but the most dexterity for aiming. Gamers who use this grip mainly use just their fingertips on the left and right clicks, putting a lot of strain on their wrists. Because of the added strain, lighter mice are often preferred by fingertip grippers.
8.
Should I buy a light or heavy mouse?
A mouse’s weight can have a big impact on how accurately you can target and position its curser or crosshairs. Gamers these days tend to go for the lightest mice available since they require less effort to move and are also naturally faster.
Lighter mice also lend themselves to longer gaming sessions, since gamer hands (and arms) aren’t as easily fatigued by them. Wireless gaming mice are among the lightest available because they are unencumbered by wires.
One thing to note about a mouse’s weight is that whether it’s considered light is relative to how many buttons it has. For example, the 18-button SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless might seem like a heavyweight at 89 grams compared to the six-button / 61-gram HyperX Pulsefire Haste, yet for an 18-button mouse it’s considered exceptionally lightweight.
9.
How many buttons do I need?
The type of games you play should help you decide how many buttons you need. If you’re mainly into FPS (first-person shooters) a wireless gaming mouse with six buttons—which tends to be the minimum number we see in wireless gaming mice these days—should be more than enough.
On the other hand, if you play games where you need to quickly deploy lots of commands—like MOBA and MMO games—a mouse with between 6 and 18 buttons will provide you with more versatility.
10.
Why is software so important?
If your mouse is your weapon in games, then the mouse’s support software is its armory. The best software apps for wireless gaming mice allow you to change and customize settings like your mouse’s sensitivity and acceleration and deceleration. They also let you set commands and macros and save your preferences in profiles that you can easily switch to when you want to play specific games.
Author: Dominic Bayley, PCWorld Australia Editor
Based in Australia, Dominic Bayley is a hardcore tech enthusiast. His PCWorld focus is on PC gaming hardware: laptops, mice, headsets and keyboards.
Recent stories by Dominic Bayley:
Best gaming headsets 2024: Reviews and buying adviceRoccat Kone XP review: A dazzling RGB, function-rich gaming mouseHyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless review: An esports-worthy wireless mouse
