You need to be careful when buying a gaming mouse for your Mac. The problem? You can’t tell whether most of them are fully compatible with macOS just by looking at the box. In fact, sometimes simply plugging them in doesn’t tell the whole story, either: Many gaming mice will work fine on an Apple computer, but the mouse software may be incompatible with Macs. It’s only when you dig down into their deeper features that you’ll test the boundaries of their compatibility, and that’s especially important when you’re wrapped up in high-level play.
So, to make sure you get the most functionality for your money, keep reading and check out our breakdown of the best models we have tested for both general and specific usage cases. After that, look for a detailed buying guide on what to seek out in a gaming mouse for the Mac. (You’ll also find a detailed spec breakout of our favorite picks at the bottom of the page.)
HyperX Pulsefire Haste Gaming Mouse
Best Overall Wired Gaming Mouse for Mac
Bottom Line:
Lightweight, comfortable, and reasonably priced, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste is the best esports mouse to come along in some time.
PROS
- Extremely light
- Terrific sensor for the price
- Onboard memory
- Stylish honeycomb chassis
CONS
- Chassis shape could use a bit more support
- Little RGB lighting
Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D
A Solid Alternative to the HyperX Pulsefire Haste
Bottom Line:
The Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D streamlines the esports mouse as well as anything from more famous mouse makers.
PROS
- Light and comfortable.
- Inexpensive.
- Honeycomb design.
CONS
- Low-profile shape could be more supportive.
- No onboard memory.
Razer Viper Ultimate Gaming Mouse
Best Overall Wireless Gaming Mouse for Mac
Bottom Line:
Razer’s Viper Ultimate untethers and upgrades one of the best gaming mice a competitive esports player could ask for. It’s a winner, but get the version with the charging dock.
PROS
- Comfortable ambidextrous design.
- No-compromise RF wireless connection.
- Wireless charging is convenient and looks sharp.
CONS
- A bit expensive for the full package.
Corsair Katar Elite Wireless
A Solid Alternative to Razer Viper Ultimate Gaming Mouse
Bottom Line:
It has only niche appeal, but Corsair’s Katar Elite Wireless gaming mouse perfects the design for claw and fingertip players.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Powerful sensor
- Lots of premium upgrades over the previous model
- Shaped specifically for claw- and fingertip-style grips
CONS
- Small, tapered shape isn’t comfortable for standard palm grip
- Only stores one onboard profile
Logitech G203 Lightsync
Best Overall Budget Gaming Mouse for Mac
Bottom Line:
It’s a modest update, but Logitech’s G203 Lightsync is a good budget-conscious choice for fans of small-shell mice.
PROS
- Improved lighting options
- Solid sensor specs for the price
- Very affordable
CONS
- Basically identical to the G203 Prodigy
- Small for a palm-style grip
Roccat Kone XP
Best Overall Gaming Mouse for MMOs on Mac
Bottom Line:
Roccat nearly perfects its AIMO line with the Kone XP, a gaming mouse with a cornucopia of top-shelf components and features.
PROS
- Generous complement of 15 buttons
- Nvidia Reflex support
- Gorgeous RGB lighting
- Premium switches
- Good price for the features
CONS
- Not for left-handed users
- Slightly bulky shell
- Swarm app could use a bit of modernizing
Cooler Master MM720 Gaming Mouse
Best Gaming Mouse for Claw-Grip Play on Mac
Bottom Line:
The Cooler Master MM720 is an excellent entry-level gaming mouse that should please fans of fast-paced shooters, as well as the esports crowd.
PROS
- Aggressively priced
- Ultra-lightweight
- Onboard storage
- Includes PTFE feet
CONS
- Only two additional buttons
- Might be too small for some hands
- Inconsistent app
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
Best Gaming Mouse With Wireless Charging for Mac
Bottom Line:
With an upgraded sensor and remodeled side buttons, Corsair’s Dark Core RGB Pro SE updates a great mouse to keep it in the front rank.
PROS
- Remodeled side macro buttons
- Very good price
- Qi wireless charging
- Highly customizable lighting
- Built-in dongle storage
CONS
- Textured grip is a bit slippery
- Fewer buttons than the first Dark Core
- No really big changes
SteelSeries Prime Wireless
Best Low-Latency Wireless Gaming Mouse for Mac
Bottom Line:
The SteelSeries Prime Wireless is an excellent wireless esports mouse, light and fast with a comfortable shape.
PROS
- Hand-pleasing shape
- Long battery life
- Optical mouse switches
- Grippy matte coating
- Satisfying key clicks
CONS
- Very expensive
- Wireless dongle is USB-C–only, and large
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming Mice for Macs in 2023
Your basic needs from a gaming mouse don’t change whether you’re playing on Windows or macOS. A good mouse should feel light and well-balanced in your hand, with easily accessible buttons and a comfortable chassis that encourages an ergonomic grip. Other perks include RGB lighting and the ability to customize a mouse to work with specific games as needed.
There really aren’t any gaming mice made to work exclusively with Macs—at least not that we’re aware of—so assessing these features is functionally the same across both platforms. If a mouse has a great shape, it has a great shape.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
At the minimum, gaming mice adhere to the core five-button mouse layout: left click, right click, a clickable scroll wheel, and two side buttons. Sometimes they have more buttons and options, but those are always there and usually in the same spots. Most games (and a lot of other apps) call for all these buttons. Apple’s Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 are great productivity tools with unique advantages, but gesture controls won’t help you win teamfights in League of Legends.
As for compatibility, every mouse I’ve reviewed in the last three years has been able to at least connect with a Mac, either wirelessly or using USB, and scroll or click without any extra hassle. (Sometimes macOS will ask to calibrate it, but you can usually skip that.)
What Makes a Gaming Mouse Mac-Friendly?
Being able to plug in a mouse and open a folder on the desktop doesn’t mean it’s fully compatible. Almost all gaming mice worth their premium price tags come with matching configuration apps that allow players to select what each button does and tweak other settings.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
Even if you aren’t a frequent customizer, these apps are crucial to accessing many of a gaming mouse’s features. Why pay for a mouse dripping in RGB lighting if you can’t set it to shine in your favorite colors or to sync up a pattern with your gaming keyboard?
Only a handful of companies have made their configuration apps compatible with macOS, and their mice are the only ones that work to their fullest potential on a Mac. We’ve compiled a list of the best keyboards for Macs for the same reason. It’s about the software as much as the hardware.
Which Mouse Brands Are Best for Macs?
Of the major manufacturers that PCMag regularly covers, there are three with macOS-compatible configuration software: Corsair, Logitech (specifically the G series), and SteelSeries. There are also a handful of smaller manufacturers who make their software available on Macs. Oftentimes, you’ll have to customize your profile on a Windows computer or settle for default settings when gaming on a Mac. That’s just one of the (many) reasons why hardcore gamers shy away from gaming on a Mac.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
Though it may feel restrictive to be limited to a handful of brands, you still have a fair number of mice to choose from, and you won’t need to compromise on quality. If you look across our mouse-related recommendations lists, including the best gaming mice, best wireless gaming mice, and best esports mice, you’ll find that mice from all three companies routinely make the cut.
Recommended by Our Editors
It’s worth pointing out that players with Apple’s M1 Macs will likely need to run these apps using the Rosetta 2 emulator for the foreseeable future. (This is subject to change, so check with your mouse manufacturer from time to time.) As far as we’ve seen, peripheral configuration apps run smoothly in Rosetta 2, so that shouldn’t be a deterrent from a buying perspective. That said, I could see how emulation might introduce some hiccups, so keep an eye out for manufacturers producing native Mac apps down the road.
What Features to Look for in a Mac Gaming Mouse?
While all the inputs and features on most gaming mice work across Macs and PCs, some gaming mice are, perhaps coincidentally, better suited to working with Macs. The latest Mac laptops come with limited access to physical ports; often, you get a couple of USB-C ports and that’s it. Most gaming mice rely on USB-A to plug in directly or use a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that allows for a low-latency wireless connection. If you get one of those, you’ll need a USB Type-A-to-C adapter, which can be awkward to use. However, a handful of new wireless mice (including at least one Mac-compatible model) have USB-C dongles. Getting one of those will simplify your life considerably.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
In a pinch, many wireless gaming mice also support Bluetooth, though that connection may be less stable or laggier.
So, Which Gaming Mouse Should I Get for My Mac?
Armed with what you now know about gaming mice for Macs, it’s time to pick the one that’s right for you. Our favorites, above and below, will help you get started. If you’re looking for a full set of gaming gear, don’t forget to look at the best gaming keyboards and the best wireless gaming headsets. And if these gaming-centric mice don’t quite do it for you, our more general list of the best mice for Macs might have the one that’s just right.
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