A good mouse in a gaming setting is one of the best things you can have for your gameplay. MMORPG mice add more hotkeys to help you keep your abilities in check, while high DPI mice are great for FPSes and other competitive games that require fast reflexes. Unfortunately, good gaming mice also have a reputation for being pricier than some people would prefer.
If you’re trying to find a mouse that won’t break your bank, we’re here to offer our assistance. We’ve gathered together some of the best gaming mice that you can add to your setup on a budget. Set your budget, think of what’s important to you, and read on to find your new favorite peripheral.
Redragon M910-KS Wireless Gaming Mouse
Everything you need at a low cost
Redragon is a reputable name in budget peripherals, and the M910-KS is a strong entry into their arsenal. This mouse comes with an 8000 DPI sensor, RGB backlighting, and a “rapid fire” button.
Redragon has a reputation in the budget peripherals world for making some of the best quality products at the lowest price. Their mice are no exception, and the M910wireless gaming mousemight be the best product they offer.
This is a wireless mouse, making cable management a non-existent hassle. The 8000 DPI sensor and rapid-fire buttons help you get the most out of it during high-octane games. And if you’re the sort of gamer who needs RGB in their life, this mouse won’t let you down on that front, either.
Redragon M612 Predator RGB Gaming Mouse
Programmable, quick, and flashy
Redragon’s M612 Predator RGB gaming mouse is a great choice for MMORPG players. That’s mostly due to the 11 programmable buttons, but the 8000 DPI sensor is also a good benefit.
Redragon’s M612 Predator is among their most phenomenal products. We’ve chosen it as our favorite mouse from a customizability standpoint due to its 11 programmable buttons. While its price is slightly higher than some other Redragon products, it’s far from an expensive mouse and fits perfectly into a sub-$60 budget.
Aside from the 11 programmable buttons, there’s not much that sets this apart from other gaming mice. As such, we recommend this for games that require a high amount of hotkeys. World of Warcraft players that are struggling to fit all their Brewmaster hotkeys on their current mouse, for example.
Logitech G502 HERO High Performance Wired Gaming Mouse
Retails for more than $60, but rarely retails full-price
Logitech’s G502 HERO is one of the most popular mice for any purpose in the last few years. We recommend this as a gaming mouse for its staggeringly-high DPI, adjustable weights, and 11 customizable buttons.
This is arguably the highest-quality mouse on this list - but it comes with a caveat. You may notice that this mouse isnotsub-$60 at the full retail price. So what gives? Is the person writing this list simply stupid? I am, yes, but that isn’t related.
If you’ve kept your eye on this famed product over the years, you’ve likely seen that it’s almostalwayson sale. You’ll rarely see this mouse for full price, even outside the ordinary shopping holidays. It generally goes for about $50, which is a phenomenal steal for this product. With adjustable weights and 11 customizable buttons - as well as adjustable DPI - this is one of the best mice on the market foranyuse. Just keep an eye on its constant sales to make sure you’re snagging it at its best price.
Razer DeathAdder Essential Gaming Mouse
Top of the line at budget prices
Razer’s DeathAdder is one of its most popular products, partially due to its affordable, nearly-unbeatable price. This budget mouse also comes with five programmable buttons, along with a 6.4k DPI sensor.
Razer’s products have a reputation for costing more than most people want to pay. Many of their peripherals have historically been more expensive than some other name brands, but the DeathAdder is the black sheep of the company’s products.
With five programmable buttons, this is great for low-hotkey games like MOBAs or survival games. The 6.4K DPI sensor isn’tphenomenalfor titles that require flick aiming and trickshots, but you wouldn’t miss that extra DPI in strategy games or RPGs. Most of all, it’s one of the cheapest mice you can find on the market, especially considering its stellar performance.
Anker Ergonomic Optical Wired Mouse
For advanced ergonomic support
The Anker Ergonomic Mouse is great for gamers with a focus on ergonomic benefits rather than streamlined gaming prowess. While this isn’t ideal for some games like MMORPGs, it’s great for casual gaming sessions.
We don’t always think ofergonomic micewhen looking at gaming products, and that’s a legitimate shame. Ergonomic products are phenomenal for avoiding things like cramped wrists, sore backs, and stiff necks, as well as stopping long-term issues from these symptoms. As such, we strongly recommend considering an ergonomic gaming mouse while shopping.
Our ergonomic mouse of choice is Anker’s handshake-style gaming mouse. There are several programmable buttons to help you hotkey your macros and abilities, and the thumb rest is nice and cozy. Its performance in gaming won’t exceed some of its competition, but you’ll be happy you used this mouse when everyone else is wincing from carpal tunnel.
SteelSeries Rival 5 Gaming Mouse
Made for any gaming genre
The SteelSeries Rival 5 Gaming Mouse comesrightup to that $60 budget, but it’s worth every penny. We recommend this mouse for games of all sorts, from the most casual farming sims to your most competitive ranked matches.
Many of us shop for a mouse depending on what genre we play, but what if you don’t have a specific genre you prefer? In that case, the SteelSeries Rival 5 is going to be the best mouse on the market for you when sticking to a sub-$60 budget. Its staggering 18,000 DPI makes it wonderful for games that need quick reflexes, while the multitude of programmable buttons makes it perfect for RPGs and MMORPGs.
The only flaw in this mouse is that it’srightup against that $60 budget. If you’re working on a strict budget where $60 is still a bit spicier than you want to take, you may want to look somewhere else. Consider bookmarking this product for a sale, if you find it necessary. But at its full price, it’s a reliable and versatile product that would rival a mouse that comes at triple its cost.
FAQ
Are Gaming Mice Worse When They’re Cheap?
That goes on a case-by-case basis. You’ll absolutely find a few mice for under $20 that, to be blunt, are just the worst products you’ll ever use. Sticky buttons, no features, cheap wires, and more. It’s much easier for bad manufacturers to rip people off for $15 than for $150, so make sure you do your research on any product. The mice we’ve included here are all reliable andhigh-quality productsthat come from long-standing names in the gaming peripheral scene.
Where Can I Buy Gaming Mice?
Gaming mice have become widespread in the peripheral world, so you can find them in most places that sell peripherals. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart are our chosen retailers in most things due to their affordability and ease of access. You should also consider markets like Newegg. If you’re on astrictbudget, give sites like eBay a browse to see if anyone is selling one of their gaming products for cheap.
As with most things, this comes down to personal taste. Office mice are often less expensive and tend to focus more on ergonomic features, since they’re made to be used in a 9-to-5. However, there are some objective improvements that some gaming mice will have. I can say from personal experience that replacing my office mouse with an MMORPG gaming mouse quantifiable improved my performance in any game with hotkeys. Consider what sort of featuresyouwant for gaming and pick a mouse that fits your needs rather than snagging something with features you might not want. If you’re on a budget, an office mouse might be best - but the products we’ve listed here are as affordable as any office mouse.
