The Best Gaming Mice of 2019: Our Top 5
A look at some of the most advanced gaming mice on the market today
Gaming Jump - September 2019
You are here: Gaming Jump »
Have you ever been playing a game and messed up at a critical moment because you couldn’t aim properly?
Maybe you missed when your opponent was one shot away from dying, or couldn’t make a jump because you weren’t positioned properly?
If so, you’ll likely agree that precision is an important thing to have while gaming. Having a mouse made specifically with gaming in mind can help give you that precision, as well as other advantages.
A gaming mouse won’t magically make you better gaming, of course. But the many features they have can give you an edge and make it easier to pull off tricky maneuvers that require exact inputs.
Those that stood out from the rest
Our Top Picks
Editor's Choice
Razer Mamba
9/10
What Makes A Mouse A Gaming Mouse?
As with many gaming peripherals, one of the most obvious differences is in the appearance. Gaming mice are pretty much always black and have some sort of lighting. Often this lighting is just for looks, but it can also be for indicating different modes the mouse goes into. Gaming mice also tend have a more ergonomic design than your average mouse, making it easy and comfortable to grip, as well as just looking good.
There’s much more to gaming mice than looks, however. In order for a mouse to truly be considered a gaming mouse it needs to have a high quality optical sensor of some sort and adjustable DPI. DPI stands for dots per inch, and measures how sensitive the mouse is to movement on a hardware level. Having a high DPI allows for greater accuracy, but having it really high can make it too sensitive and cause the cursor to fly around the screen at the slightest nudge. That’s why having adjustable DPI is important, so that you can set it to whatever setting works best for you.
As for optical sensors, virtually every mouse has one nowadays rather than the old rubber ball and mechanical rollers of yesteryear. Optical mice work by having an LED light within the mouse that shines on a surface and a sensor that’s basically a camera detect changes in the surface to determine movement direction and speed. There are also laser mice which work almost exactly the same, but use a laser for surface illumination which offers higher DPI and some differences in how it detects surfaces. As mentioned before, there’s needs to be a good level of DPI in order for the sensor to work well for gaming, but the difference between regular optical mice and laser mice won’t really matter in most situations.
Polling rate is another factor to look out for in a gaming mouse. The polling rate is how often the mouse tells the computer it’s connected to what its position is. This is measured in hertz, which is how many times per second. Higher polling rate means movement is detected more quickly, reducing the delay between moving the mouse and it being detected on screen.
Some Things To Consider
We’ve overviewed some of the features that make up a gaming mouse, but in order to find the best gaming mouse for you, knowing what features are best for which situations is important. Going back to optical and laser mice, which surface you use them on can have a big impact. With optical mice using LEDs, you need a matte, or non-shiny surface for them to work properly. Laser mice, on the other hand can work on pretty much any surface. However, one thing to keep mind with laser mice is that because of the higher sensitivity and the way the sensor works, it may detect the minute imperfections in some surfaces, which can cause slow movements of the mouse to make cursor movement jittery.
Polling Rate
If you’re going to be playing game where you need fast reflexes and even the slightest delay can be the difference between winning and losing, having a mouse with a high polling rate is important. The higher the polling rate, the more frequently the mouse reports its position, reducing the input latency. This way you have minimal delay in games where you need to make twitch movements and split-second decisions. High polling is only useful up to a certain point, though. Anything over 1000Hz won’t make a noticeable difference and will just be additional work for your CPU.
Ergonomics
Another important factor is the size and shape of the mouse. You’ll want one that’s not so small that it hurts your hand to use, but also not so big that it’s difficult to pick up and move. Having one with an ergonomic design that comfortably fits your hand will help to avoid strain during long gaming sessions.
This might not be something you’ve ever really thought about before, but what shape and size would work best for you will also depend on how you grip your mouse. The most common is the palm grip, resting your palm and fingers on the mouse. This is the most natural and comfortable way to have your hand and good for accurate, fluid movements. But it also can be slower than the other two grips, claw and fingertip. With the claw grip you grab the mouse while making a claw shape with your hand and minimal contact with your palm and fingertips, allowing faster movement. The fingertip grip is the most extreme, with only your fingertips touching the mouse, allowing the most speed and dexterity of any of the grips, but is also the most fatiguing.
So if like most people you use the palm grip, you’ll want an ergonomic mouse that’s a little bit smaller than your hand for the best comfort. If you already use, or are planning to start using the claw or fingertip grip, shorter and higher profile mice would likely be the best choice. Having a mouse that’s light is also important for both claw and fingertip grip users for minimizing fatigue.
Lift Off Distance
Other things to consider are lift off distance and the buttons the mouse has. Lift off distance is how far off the surface the mouse still detects movement when picked up. You’ll want a mouse with as low as possible lift off distance for gaming so that when you reposition it you don’t get accidental input that messes up your aiming.
For most gamers all you’ll really need on your mouse is the right and left buttons and a scroll wheel with middle click. That being said, having two side buttons and buttons for changing sensitivity can also be important. Macro buttons can also be useful for several things, like making it easy to do repetitive tasks or quickly pull off a combo. They can also be used to easily do complex key shortcuts or for quickly opening programs.
Choosing the best Gaming Mouse
Before we dive into the product review section of this guide, we will first look at the testing that goes into our extensive review process. We put a lot of time into testing and evaluating these products so that you are able to make the absolute best buying decision that you can.
For the following gaming mice we performed 3 basic tests. All keyboards were ranked on a scale of 1 - 10 and then we selected only the best to be featured in this ultimate guide to the best gaming mouse of 2018.
Our Testing Process
First, we assess the general build quality of the mouse. We look at the materials that are used during construction as well as the overall craftsmanship of the assembly to determine the durability of the piece.
Next, we consider how personalizable the mouse is. How many macro keys does it have? Can it save multiple player profiles? Are the back-lights programmable, and does it include easy-to-use software?
Finally, we take the mouse through several rounds of popular games to get a feel for how it performs when it counts. We consider the overall user experience as well as key performance metrics before completing our testing.
# 1
Razer Mamba
High-End Gaming Mouse
[amazon link = “B013LDTYI6” title = “Buy on Amazon”]
Overview
Razer is a company that’s well known for their high end and flashy gaming hardware. The Razer Mamba is certainly no exception, with it’s sleek design and eye catching RGB lighting. Razer sets expectations high by claiming their Mamba mouse is the best wireless mouse for gaming and houses the world’s most precise gaming mouse sensor, as well as just overall being the world’s most advanced gaming mouse. I’m always a bit skeptical of anything claiming to be the “world’s most” anything, but The Razer Mamba certainly looks to have top of the line features, like it’s adjustable click force mechanism, which allows you to set the resistance of the mouse buttons to what feels best.
- 6,000 DPI sensor
- Click force technology
- Wireless and wired connection
- 1000Hz polling
- Programmable RGB lighting
- Color synchronization
- Razer Synapse enabled
- 1 ms response rate
- Ergonomic form factor
- Sensitivity adjustment buttons
- Charging dock has RGB lighting
- Approx. 20 hour battery life
Build Quality
9/10
Customization
8/10
Performance
10/10
Overall
RATING
9/10
Quality Test Review
The Razer Mamba has a very premium feel to it with the smooth finish and rubberized grips. It also seems sturdy and well built. The buttons feel and sound great.
Customization Test Review
The Chroma RGB lighting is very customizable, with several modes like breathing, wave and reactive. You can set the button resistance to personal preference with the adjustable click force.
Performance Test Review
Works great in both wireless and wired mode, no noticeable difference in responsiveness and accuracy while wireless. However, the wireless range is pretty short. Issues with tracking can pop up just a few feet away from the receiver.
Our Impressions
Overall the Razer Mamba is a very solid device with a lot of great features. It’s a very comfortable and very responsive responsive gaming mouse, both in wired and wireless mode. The short range of the wireless is a bit disappointing, though and means the Razer Mamba won’t work for a living room setup or any other long distance scenario. As always, the Chroma RGB lighting is impressive and the wide range of customization options should be more than enough for anyone who wants a personal touch to their mouse. It’s hard to say if the Razer Mamba is really the world’s best, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best gaming mouses you can buy.
What we liked the most
What we didn't like
# 2
Havit hv-ms735
Moderately priced mid-level
[amazon link = “B01DW2VQ5A” title = “Buy on Amazon”]
Overview
Havit isn’t the most recognizable name, but they make quite a few highly rated gaming peripherals. The HV-MS735 is one such device, a mid range gaming mouse with quite a feature set. It’s also an MMO gaming mouse, with 12 programmable macro buttons built in for executing various key combinations. Cramming 12 macro buttons on one mouse may seem a bit excessive, but it should be good for those who want as many shortcuts and controls as possible. Havit’s HV-MS735 also has an ergonomic design and RGB lighting like many of the high end gaming mice, but at a lower price point.
- 19 Programmable buttons
- Software included
- Built-in memory function
- Up to 12,000 DPI
- Dedicated colors for DPI levels
- DPI adjustment buttons
- Pixart PMW3360 gaming sensor
- 500Hz polling rate
- 50G max acceleration
- USB 2.0 interface
- Multi-computer compatibility
- 1.8 m cable length
Build Quality
8/10
Customization
9/10
Performance
9/10
Overall
RATING
8/10
Quality Test Review
The HV-MS735 is a sturdy and nice feeling gaming mouse. It has an all around black matte finish that actually feels a bit slippery. The buttons and scroll wheel feel good, good amount of resistance.
Custimization Test Review
Very customizable with the programmable macro keys and RGB lighting. Also has several DPI settings and many other options that can be set with the included software.
Performance Test Review
The buttons are very responsive and the cursor movement is quick and accurate. You can move the mouse as fast as you want without losing tracking. The DPI settings work as advertised.
Our Impressions
Havit’s HV-MS735 is a very impressive device, especially for the price. It has many features that high end gaming mice have and pulls them off almost as well as them. It’s very responsive and accurate and the ergonomic design is very comfortable. Having 12 small macro keys on one side of the mouse makes it a bit difficult to press the one you mean to, which can be bad in the middle of a game. The RGB lighting looks good, but it doesn’t have as many options as other gaming mice with RGB. The light for the macro keys also isn’t programmable, it’s just always blue. Havit also advertises that the HV-MS735 is compatible with Mac and Linux, but none of the programmable features work with those systems.
What we liked the most
What we didn't like
# 3
Logitech G502
Professional esports series
[amazon link = “B07571F6JD” title = “Buy on Amazon”]
Overview
Logitech is well known for the many PC peripherals and accessories they makes, mice and keyboards being some of the most common ones. The G502 Proteus Spectrum is one of Logitech’s gaming mice, and one of the most popular ones at that. It has a very sleek and high-tech look to it. The adjustable weights are a unique feature that should really allow you to customize it to what personally feels best. As always, programmable RGB lighting is a nice touch that gives further personalization options and along with the technical, ergonomic design truly makes the G502 Proteus Spectrum look like a device from the future.
- PMW3366 gaming sensor
- Adjustable weight and balance
- Customizable RGB lighting
- Gaming Software included
- Textured grips
- 11 programmable buttons
- Dual-mode scroll wheel
- Up to 12,000 DPI
- Switch DPI modes on the fly
- Tune sensor in software f
- 1 millisecond report rate
- Rated to 20 million clicks
Build Quality
9/10
Customization
9/10
Performance
10/10
Overall
RATING
9/10
Quality Test Review
Very solid and sturdy feeling mouse. The black matte plastic and ergonomic grip feels comfortable and high quality. The buttons feel great and are responsive.
Customization Test Review
The G502 has the unique customization option of adjustable weighting for getting the right feel and heaviness. The RGB illumination has a variety of modes, speeds and of course colors.
Performance Test Review
Very quick and responsive cursor movement and button presses. Accurate movement with sensor that works well on mouse pads and wooden desktop surfaces thanks to tunability.
Our Impressions
As said before, the appearance of Logitech’s G502 Proteus Spectrum really just makes it seem like a device from the future. The adjustable weights are nice for determining whether you want a light or heavy feel to your mouse. The ergonomics also feel great and the buttons are in easy to reach spots for your fingers. It has very responsive and accurate movement, especially after using the sensor tuning for the surface you use it on. All of the buttons are programmable to different functions and even macros. This can come in handy for doing things like making the back button do ctrl + c and the forward button do ctrl + v for easy copying and pasting.
What we liked the most
What we didn't like
# 4
Das Keyboard M50
Mid-level pro gaming mouse
[amazon link = “B01ABW86SE” title = “Buy on Amazon”]
Overview
While Metadot’s Das Keyboard brand is, unsurprisingly, known for their keyboards, they’ve also done a very good job at making a top notch gaming mouse. The M50 doesn’t have any dedicated macro buttons or programmable RGB lighting, but that’s likely part of the minimalism that Das Keyboard is also known for. And it’s actually still fairly flashy with all the red LED lighting. While there may be no dedicated macro buttons, all 9 of the buttons are programmable, so you can easily set one of them to a macro. The symmetrical, ambidextrous design is a unique thing about it that makes it work well with any grip style and also makes the M50 a great option for all the lefty gamers out there.
- 1,000Hz polling rate
- 9 programmable buttons
- Hydrophobic coating
- 128 KB of internal memory
- 4G Laser Sensor
- Up to 6,400 DPI
- DPI adjustment button
- 4 DPI settings
- Ambidextrous ergonomics
- Metal 4D tilt wheel
- 20-million click life cycle
- Up to 300 clicks per minute
Build Quality
9/10
Customization
9/10
Performance
9/10
Overall
RATING
9/10
Quality Test Review
The different materials gives the M50 a very sturdy and durable build. Perhaps even a bit hefty with the aluminium plate underneath. The hydrophobic coating helps it not stick to the palm of your hand and helps keep from getting dirty, and the rubberized side grips have good grip.
Customization Test Review
The M50 doesn’t have as much in the way of customization as the other gaming mice, but all the buttons are programmable. The M50 can also store up to 6 gaming profiles for macros and/or settings in its internal memory.
Performance Test Review
As expected, Das Keyboard’s M50 performs very well. The 4G laser sensor is very accurate and responsive, but doesn’t have quite as high maximum DPI as the other mice. The grips work well and the M50 slides very easily thanks to its Teflon mouse feet.
Our Impressions
While not as flashy as the other mice, the M50 still looks very much like a gaming mouse and has the features to prove it. While not as high DPI as some of the other gaming mice, the laser sensor still performs very well and you won’t need anything higher than 6,400 DPI in most situations. The buttons feel good and are very responsive. As mentioned before, the ambidextrous design both looks good and is great for the left handed gamers. The hydrophobic coating, aluminum bottom plate and Teflon feet are all unique features that give the M50 a different but premium feel.
What we liked the most
What we didn't like
# 5
Razer DeathAdder Elite
High-end gaming mouse
[amazon link = “B01LXC1QL0” title = “Buy on Amazon”]
Overview
It’s not surprising to have another Razer product on this list. Their name hasn’t become synonymous with premium gaming hardware for nothing. Their DeathAdder Elite gaming mouse also boasts having the most precise sensor in the world. Unsurprisingly, it also comes with Razer’s famous Chroma customizable RGB lighting. In some ways the DeathAdder Elite is a bit plain compared to other gaming mice and Razer’s other products, but a sleek and minimalistic design certainly has its appeal as well. It also seems to be a more mid ranged option than the Razer Mamba, but still packed with features and very high quality.
- Advanced optical sensor
- Up to 16,000 DPI
- DPI adjustment buttons
- 450 IPS / 50 g acceleration
- Razer mechanical switches
- Textured rubber side grips
- Customizable RGB lighting
- 1,000Hz polling
- Razer Synapse enabled
- 7 ft long, braided fiber cable
- Gold-plated USB connector
- Weighs about 96 g / 0.21 lbs
Build Quality
9/10
Customization
9/10
Performance
10/10
Overall
RATING
9/10
Quality Test Review
Has the usual black matte plastic, but it feels smooth and durable. The buttons feel good and should last a while thanks to Razer’s gaming-optimized mechanical mouse switches which are rated to endure up to 50 million clicks.
Customization Test Review
Very customizable with the Chroma RGB lighting which apparently has 16.8 different color options, as well as the different pattern modes. No macro buttons, but all the buttons are programmable.
Performance Test Review
The Razer DeathAdder Elite performs very well. It’s very accurate and responsive, never having any noticeable lag. Moves very smoothly and the buttons have the expected satisfying click to them.
Our Impressions
In some ways the DeathAdder Elite is very similar to the Mamba, but a more middle of the road version. The buttons are well placed and the minimalistic but ergonomic design is very comfortable. The DeathAdder Elite grips very well, so there shouldn’t be any worrying about losing control even with fast movements. The mouse also moves around very smoothly, which is great for having long gaming sessions with minimal strain on your hand. There have been reports of the rubber grip siding coming off easily, so that’s something to be wary of. Despite any flaws, it works well for many games and is one of the best gaming mice you can get.
What we liked the most
What we didn't like
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve gotten some information about gaming mice and seen our top picks you should have a good idea of what kind of gaming mouse you want to get. We’ll go ahead and go over all the mice and what they’re best for to help make it clearer.
For a truly top of the line experience with both wireless and wired precision and performance, adjustable switches for the best button feel and a colorful light show to boot, you’ll likely want to get the Razer Mamba.
If you want a gaming mouse that looks great, has all the macro buttons you could possibly need and at all at a great price, Havit’s HV-MS735 might be just what you’re looking for.
For a device that has adjustable weights for personalized feel, easy to use customization through software and looks like it came straight from the future, Logitech’s G502 Proteus Spectrum should probably be your first choice.
A gaming mouse with symmetrical ergonomic design for comfortable use with either hand, hydrophobic coating, Teflon feet and other unique features. If that sounds like a keyboard you’d love, then you should check out the M50 by Das Keyboard.
If you want a mouse that’s reasonably priced, highly accurate and responsive, comfortable and has all the features you really need, then the Razer DeathAdder Elite is probably your best bet.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this guide and will have good luck in getting the best gaming mouse for you and all your other gaming endeavors.
Read product reviews and shop on Amazon
Top Amazon Picks
