If you’re a gamer, a mouse with a high dots per inch (DPI) and polling rate are important, but if you’re simply trying to work, a high DPI isn’t going to matter. It might even be a detriment! Additionally, if you work on a computer or otherwise spend long hours at one, an ergonomic mouse is important to prevent wrist and arm strain and injuries.
There are also wired and wireless mice. For many people, wireless mice will work great without noticeable lag or connectivity issues. Wireless mice, however, come with the caveat that you’ll eventually need to charge or swap out the batteries. This is an understandable frustration, so you might want to opt for a good wired mouse (or for using a wireless mouse wired) instead.
Many of our mouse picks will be gaming-quality mice, as many features that gamers require in their mice also translate to great productivity and browsing experience.
With all of that said, here are our picks for the best mice currently available.
Best Mouse Overall: Razer Pro Click
If you need a mouse that can do it all, look no further than the Razer Click Pro. Razer is more well known as a gaming peripheral company, but for the Pro Click, Razer collaborated with Humansense to make a stylish and powerful mouse that will look good in any office.
✓ Great for productivity and gaming✓ Long battery life (up to 400 hours)✓ Ergonomic shape reduces muscle strain
✗ Requires proprietary cable to charge✗ No RGB, if you are looking for it
The Pro Click can connect to up to four devices at once via either a 2.4GHz wireless or a USB dongle or Bluetooth, and you can change between them quickly and easily. You also get eight programmable buttons, which can really help your productivity by assigning common actions to them. An ergonomic design can help with muscle strain as well.
But this isn’t just an office mouse. With a precise 16,000 DPI sensor and the Razer Synapse software allowing for customization, the Click Pro is also a competent gaming mouse. Unless you are a hardcore, nearing professional-level gamer, 16,000 DPI is sure to be enough for playing most games. Granted, if you’re big on RGB lighting, you won’t be finding any with the Razer Pro Click—the mouse is designed with an office setting in mind.
The Pro Click does, unfortunately, require a proprietary cable to charge, but you can use the Pro Click wired with the cable, too. Regardless, the Razer Pro Click is a great all-rounder mouse that most people will be happy with.
Best Budget Mouse: Logitech G203 Wired Lightsync
Even if you don’t have a bunch of money to drop on a new mouse, you can still get a quality mouse for under $50. The Logitech G203 Wired Lightsync Mouse has an MSRP of $40, but it’s on sale more often than not and has a great value even at full price.
✓ Multiple preformatted DPI settings ✓ A variety of color options✓ MSRP $40, but regularly on sale for less
✗ Low on features✗ Cable is non-braided
The G203 is a gaming-quality mouse, although the light RGB touch can easily be turned off and make the mouse look good in an office. The button below the scroll wheel lets you change between five DPI settings, so you can find what works best for whatever you’re doing.
For those looking for style, the G203 succeeds by having a nice design and offering a variety of colorways to choose from. The standard black and white colors are here, but eye-popping blue and purple colors also look great and stand out from the standard fare.
Of course, you do ultimately get what you pay for. While you can customize DPI a bit and program buttons in the G Hub app, there are only four customizable buttons to work with. In addition, the cable is non-braided, which means that it’s more susceptible to damage and more liable to get caught on things. It’s not the mouse for you if you have pets that chew on wires!
For the price, the Logitech G203 has great value and can get the job done, both as a productivity mouse and as a gaming mouse.
Best Gaming Mouse: Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed
If you are serious about being a better gamer, you need a better gaming mouse. And if you are trying to compete using some old office mouse, upgrading to the Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed will be a revelation. We can’t guarantee it will make you a headshot master or an RTS titan, but it will improve your gaming experience.
✓ Incredibly responsive 25000 DPI sensor✓ 13 customizable controls✓ Compatible with POWERPLAY ✓ Fast and stable connection
✗ Quite expensive✗ Battery life isn’t great
The G502 X Plus features an incredible sensor, which can be customized between 100 and 25,600 DPI. You might not think you’ll ever need something quite as sensitive, but it can make a massive difference if you play fast-paced FPSes. Combined with the 13 mappable controls, the result is a mouse that can suit any game type and every gaming style.
The Lightspeed in the name comes from Logitech’s proprietary connection technology, used instead of Bluetooth. This promises stable connectivity and a lightning-quick 1ms input delay. Compared to the average delay of a Bluetooth connection, which could be 20ms or more, it’s a noticeable improvement.
The battery life of around 60 hours from a full charge could be better, although it can be improved by turning off the LEDs. And at $150, this is not a cheap gaming mouse option. Both of these issues can be avoided by opting for the wired version of the G502 X. Or you could invest in a POWERPLAY mouse pad to charge your mouse while gaming—the G502 X Plus is fully compatible.
As our in-depth review found, this might not be the mouse for everyone, but there are very few gaming mice around today that come close to offering the precision and adaptability of this one.
Best Wireless Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3S
If you need a mouse that will remain comfortable in your hand for hours at a time, the Logitech MX Master 3S is difficult to ignore. Designed to save your wrists from undue aches and pains, this ergonomic mouse could be just what your daily workflow needs.
✓ Comfortable ergonomic design✓ Great battery life and quick charge✓ Customizable buttons and scroll wheels✓ Compatible with all major operating systems
✗ No left-handed version✗ Quite large and heavy
The cordless MX Master 3S can use a 2.4GHz wireless or low-power Bluetooth to connect to your computer, so you don’t need to worry about connection drops. The only time you need to use a cable is when charging. But with a promised 70 days of use from a full charge, this isn’t something you’ll be thinking about very often.
Having no trailing cable makes the mouse easier to move around, but it must be said that this is no lightweight device. Thankfully, the 8,000 DPI sensor and a plethora of customizable buttons mean you can get a lot done without sweeping the mouse all over your mouse mat. You can also create custom profiles for the buttons and two scroll wheels based on the application you are working within.
There are a couple of potential downsides to consider before you splash out over $120 on this mouse. If you have small hands, you could find the size of the mouse uncomfortable, and if you are a lefty you will have to look elsewhere—at least until Logitech decides to release a left-handed version. Those things aside, our full review found the MX Master 3S to be a supremely comfortable and capable mouse.
Best Wired Mouse: Razer Basilisk V3
Razer makes some of the most sought-after gaming gadgets on the market. From impressive build quality to unrivaled performance, the company knows how to craft a good gaming mouse. The things that make a good gaming mouse are also the things that make a good mouse in general—and that’s why the Razer Basilisk V3 takes the crown for Best Wired Mouse.
✓ Ergonomic design with built-in thumb rest✓ 11 programmable buttons✓ Reasonable price
✗ Scroll wheel can be finicky
Many of its components are there to serve the gaming community (such as RGB lights and a blisteringly fast 26K DPI optical sensor), but every user will benefit from 11 programmable buttons, a comfortable thumb rest, and the ability to switch between onboard profiles based on the task at hand. The Basilisk V3’s wired Speedflex cable is impressive too, as it’s lighter and softer than a traditional braided cable, creating less drag and resulting in better performance.
Razer also equipped the Basilisk V3 with its HyperScroll Tilt Wheel that offers both a tactile feedback option and a free-spin option that spins until you stop it manually. It’s a unique feature, although our review found it to be a bit touchy.
Considering all the tech packed into the mouse, Razer managed to put a competitive price tag on the Basilisk V3. You’ll typically find it listed for $70, although it’s often on sale for well below the asking price.
It’s a great option even when not discounted, but the constant deals and promotions make it even more worthy of a spot on your desk.
Best Ergonomic Mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
There are all sorts of ergonomic mice—take our top overall mouse and best wireless mouse picks, for instance—but if you’re looking for a vertical ergonomic mouse that will give your wrist and forearm the most relief while working, the Logitech MX Vertical is the mouse for you.
✓ Long battery life for wireless model✓ Connects to up to three devices seemlessly✓ 4,000 DPI sensor lowers hand movement needed
✗ Vertical position may take getting used to✗ Only for productivity or browsing
This ergonomic mouse is the only one on our list to put your arm in a handshake position, which is more natural than the position that horizontal mice contort our wrists into, ergonomic or not. The vertical position limits muscle use, preventing fatigue and working to limit tendonitis or painful strains.
The Logitech MX Vertical does its ergonomics best with a 4,000 DPI sensor. This is higher than the traditional 1,000 DPI on a productivity mouse, but it allows you to use your wrists less as you get where you need to go on your screen. Also, like the Logitech MX 3 Master, this is a wireless mouse that charges via USB-C, so you’ll have no issues with wires catching or going missing.
Vertical mice can take some getting used to, though, and the Logitech MX Vertical is by no means a gaming mouse. If you’re looking for something ergonomic but still more traditional, check out the Microsoft Sculpt Mouse or the Razer Viper Ultralight. For a gaming mouse, the Razer Pro Click is also ergonomic.
Best Mouse for Windows: Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Mouse
The Microsoft Sculpt Comfort is one of the few good mice that offer additional, built-in functionality for Windows.
✓ Customizable Windows button✓ Vertical and horizontal scrolling✓ BlueTrack technology for use on any surface
✗ Quirky design, no left-handed variant
On the thumb-side of the device, you’ll find a large blue button that can be customized to instantly access your Start Menu, Cortana, OneNote, or Task View. It’s a nifty feature and one that power users will undoubtedly come to love, as it lets them quickly shift between tasks or open new applications in a matter of seconds.
The Windows touch tab is the standout of an otherwise standard mouse. You’ll be treated to an ergonomic design with a subtle thumb rest, four-way scrolling to speed through projects in any direction, and Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology that allows the mouse to work on most surfaces without the need for a mousepad. Connections are made via Bluetooth, meaning you’ll never have to worry about losing a USB receiver or lugging around cords when you travel.
Microsoft may have given the mouse an ergonomic design, but its overall presentation is rather bland—the plain black finish with few to no accents leads to a flat or uninspired look.
It’s also designed specifically for right-handed use, with no left-handed options available. Those are minor complaints, however, and (right-handed) folks who love the added versatility of the Windows touch tab will easily be able to look beyond its shortcomings.
Best Mouse for Mac: Apple Magic Mouse 2
If you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem, chances are you want to remain fully entrenched. While most of our mouse picks will work with macOS, if you want the true Apple experience, you’ll want to get the Apple Magic Mouse 2.
✓ Multi-Touch allows you to use gestures with the mouse✓ Has a look that will match your Apple products✓ Easy to take on-the-go
✗ Not very ergonomic✗ Only charges via Lightning cable✗ Cannot charge and use at the same time
This mouse is certainly special, with a design that screams Apple and a price tag to match. The Magic Mouse 2 is more than looks, though—it has built-in Multi-Touch, which allows you to use simple gestures right from the mouse itself.
With this mouse, you’ll no longer think about going back to the trackpad of your MacBook as you swipe, scroll, and more with ease. If you still want the Magic Trackpad for your desktop Mac, I won’t blame you, though—gestures are too good!
Granted, the Apple Magic Mouse 2 is far from ergonomic, giving up wrist health for the sake of its great look. It’s not easy to use with different mouse grip styles, either. But if you’re not using it all day, every day, the specifics of its design won’t be too much of a pain.
The Magic Mouse 2 only charges via Lightning cables—which you probably have around if you’re an Apple aficionado—but still not the standard USB-C cable. Worse yet, the port is on the bottom of the mouse, so you can’t charge the mouse and use it at the same time. It’s a strange design choice!
If you’re looking for a more traditional mouse for your Mac, most of our picks here, including the Logitech G203 and MX Master 3, will work just fine with your device. A few other picks like the Razer Pro Click could require small workarounds for functionality, but they also work perfectly fine as mice.
