What makes esports mice different from other mice? Broadly speaking, the typical esports mouse is actually just a simple five- or six-button gaming mouse. Professional players look for minimalist gaming mice for a couple of reasons: First, they don’t use scads of buttons. Depending on the game (and the prevailing rules), many leagues and events bar the use of custom macros that automate any combination of buttons and keys. Plus, serious players steer clear of any buttons that change configuration profiles or sensitivity presets on the mouse face, because a misclick at a key moment could change their settings and spell defeat.
Second, to maximize their personal performance, pros opt for the lightest mouse possible. Again, speaking generally, many of them tend to play with their sensor tracking (dots per inch, or DPI) down at a very low number, which means they are constantly swinging their mice across a large mousepad to move their cursor or aiming reticle across the screen. Having a light mouse makes this easier, especially if you play with a claw- or fingertip-style grip where you use your fingers to push the mouse around, rather than your full arm.
We test lots of mice, including esports mice. Read on for a detailed rundown of the best models we have tested for both general and specific use situations, and after that, look for a detailed buying guide on what to seek out in an esports mouse. At the very bottom of our article, you’ll also see a detailed spec breakout of our top tested picks.
Roccat Kone XP
Best Overall Wired Esports Mouse
Bottom Line:
Lightweight, comfortable, and reasonably priced, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste is the best esports mouse to come along in some time.
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
Razer Viper Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse
Best Overall Wireless Esports Mouse
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.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste Gaming Mouse
Best Overall Budget Esports Mouse
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
Razer Viper V2 Pro
Best Super-Light Wireless Esports Mouse
Bottom Line:
Tons of small changes morph the Razer Viper V2 Pro gaming mouse into a perfect match for esports players looking for the lightest and fastest controller.
PROS
- Clean, minimalist design
- Excellent sensor
- Durable optical switches
- Lightweight
CONS
- Expensive
- No RGB lighting
- Fewer buttons
Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse
A Solid Alternative to Razer Viper V2 Pro
Bottom Line:
Logitech’s Pro X Superlight is the lightest wireless esports mouse yet, but that crown comes with a few caveats.
PROS
- Extremely light, especially for a wireless mouse
- Powerful Hero 25K sensor
- Dongle storage
- Comes with an extra PTFE panel for super-smooth mousing
CONS
- Expensive
- Shape could be more supportive
- Wireless Charging requires Powerplay mousepad
Read Our Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse Review
Razer Naga V2 Pro
Best Esports Mouse for MOBAs and MMOs
Bottom Line:
Razer takes its classic Naga MMO mouse and polishes it to a sheen, with a host of additions that elevate it to the top of its class.
PROS
- True 4,000Hz polling rate (with optional Hyperpolling dongle)
- Includes three swappable side button panels
- Tons of customization options
- Supports wireless charging
- 30K DPI sensor
CONS
- Heavier than expected
- Premium price
- Hyperpolling dongle not included
Razer Viper 8K Gaming Mouse
Best Esports Mouse for Defeating Input Lag
Bottom Line:
The Razer Viper 8K promises the fastest data transfers you’ll see in an esports mouse—if your PC contains powerful enough components.
PROS
- A strong, ambidextrous design
- Extraordinary polling rate
- Very lightweight
CONS
- Expensive for an esports mouse
- Hyperpolling works better with higher-end PCs, so performance may vary
Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Champion Series Gaming Mouse
Best Esports Mouse for Hand Comfort
Bottom Line:
The Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Champion Series looks like your average mouse, but its prime fundamentals and creative features are fit for esports pros.
PROS
- Strong hand support
- Surprisingly lightweight design
- Onboard DPI tuning offers useful, on-the-fly tweaks
- Comes with the useful, revamped iCue configuration software
CONS
- 8000Hz hyperpolling feature has minimum CPU specs
- iCue software doesn’t display hyperpolling minimum specs
Read Our Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Champion Series Gaming Mouse Review
Mad Catz B.A.T. 6+
Best Esports Mouse for Lefties and Righties Alike
Bottom Line:
The Mad Catz B.A.T. 6+ is a modular gaming mouse that’s easy to use and easy on the eyes. Despite a high price, it should please most users looking for customization options.
PROS
- Ambidextrous, stylish design
- Comfortable to use
- Easy to attach and remove parts
CONS
- RGB lights are covered by wings
- Expensive for a wired mouse
- Customization software is limited
Cooler Master MM720 Gaming Mouse
Best Esports Mouse for Claw-Grip Gaming
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
Mad Catz R.A.T. DWS Wireless Gaming Mouse
Best Esports Mouse for Extreme Customization
Bottom Line:
With the DWS, Mad Catz takes its modular R.A.T. design and cuts the cord. The wireless gaming mouse has many useful, customizable elements, but a few design issues prevent it from being the big cheese.
PROS
- Modular side panels
- Adjustable base
- Lots of buttons and two scroll wheels
- 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wireless options
- Spring-loaded dongle storage
CONS
- Comes with lots of extra parts that are easy to lose
- Grip isn’t always comfortable
- Thumb side panel can be unscrewed, even though it isn’t removable or adjustable
- Lacks hex key storage
- No RGB lighting
Buying Guide: The Best Mice for Esports in 2023
What makes for a perfect esports mouse? Of course, it depends. But look at the concerns of esports players that we mentioned in our introduction, and for most, the ideal esports mouse is a six-button mouse with two primary click buttons, a clickable scroll wheel, and two side buttons.
In lieu of a sixth button in the center column below the scroll wheel, dedicated esports mice may put a DPI cycle button (which swaps among DPI presets) on the underside of the mouse. This lets you change DPI when you want without fussing with the mouse’s configuration software, while minimizing the risk of changing it by accident.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
It’s worth pointing out that the “hidden DPI button” is not a standard feature—plenty of companies still use the typical all-on-top six-button gaming mouse layout—and shouldn’t necessarily be a deal-breaker for picking a mouse unless you have a habit of switching your DPI by mistake. Still, the feature is common enough, having emanated from competitive gaming. At the very least, if you see it, it’s a sign that the mouse is optimized for match play.
Esports Mouse Design: Keep It Simple, Keep It Light
So the ideal esports mouse is a simple gaming mouse—one that’s light and fast, with a good sensor that tracks accurately at high speed. And in the last two years, the race to make lighter, esports-specific mice has greatly intensified.
You can see that even among our top picks. Some of the oldie-but-goodie mice weigh in at 3 to 3.5 ounces, while newer models fall to around 2.5 ounces or even less. The difference between one or two tenths of an ounce may not be noticeable, but you will feel the difference between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. It may not feel exactly like you’re “pushing” it, but a heavier mouse will create a little resistance as your arm moves around to guide your cursor.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
At the same time, you shouldn’t simply pick the mouse that weighs the least. The most important element of every mouse, regardless of its purpose, is its shape. A comfortable mouse feels like an extension of your arm. It’s comfortable to hold for a long time, and you can easily hit every button quickly.
In the race to create the lightest mouse with the most impressive specs, every manufacturer is looking for ways to slim down. There’s been a minor wave of mice with “honeycomb” chassis, punched full of hexagonal holes to reduce the weight of the shells. Many designers opt for an ambidextrous mouse shape, too, which tends to have a slightly lower mass. Some companies are even making faux-ambidextrous mice that have a shell with a hand-neutral shape but provide side buttons only for right-handed players.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
Here’s the thing: If a mouse doesn’t fit your hand, none of the other specs really matters. You will perform better if moving the mouse feels comfortable and allows you to react on instinct.
In my experience, the compromises needed to take a mouse to its absolute lightest are not worth it. If you’re a right-handed, palm-grip player, you should buy a right-handed mouse—sometimes, confusingly, called an “ergo” mouse in esports circles. Unfortunately, left-handed palm players don’t have a lot of options, but there are comfortable ambidextrous mice.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
If you play claw- or fingertip-style, where the palm of your hand does not rest on the mouse, the equation changes a little bit. Weight becomes more important, as you need to push the mouse with just your fingers. No matter what, for these grip types, you should go for a mouse with an ambidextrous shape, as the molded shell of a right-handed mouse can make it harder for you to reach the side buttons.
How to Choose an Esports Mouse Sensor
Since speed is king with an esports mouse, it makes sense to look closely at its optical sensor, the component that actually tracks your movement. An optical sensor uses a small beam of infrared light—often imperceptible to the naked eye—and a camera to track the mouse’s position relative to the surface it’s moving over. (Technically, there are other kinds of mouse sensors, but the vast majority of modern mice use optical sensors, and I wouldn’t recommend an esports mouse with anything else without trying it first.)
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
Aside from practical testing, the primary spec that most people care about when looking at a gaming mouse’s sensor is its maximum tracking rate, as measured in dots per inch (DPI). As we discussed, most pros actually set their DPI very low, so having a sky-high maximum is more of a symbolic goal. As long as the sensor can track at up to 5,000dpi, which most can, you’re golden.
To really scrutinize a sensor ahead of testing, you should also look at its top “speed,” which is generally measured in inches per second, or IPS. If you’re setting your mouse’s DPI to a low number, chances are you’re going to whip the mouse from one end of your mousepad to the other rapidly and repeatedly. The IPS value lets you know how quickly you can move the mouse before its tracking is compromised.
At this writing, there isn’t a huge range in the top speed department: A cheaper—$50 and under—mouse will top out between 250 and 350 IPS; a more expensive one should be able to handle at least 400 IPS, though some can go much higher.
Recommended by Our Editors
Is a Wireless Esports Mouse Worth It?
Historically, most gamers would scoff at the idea of using a wireless mouse for competitive play. Really, until a few years ago, most people would laugh at the idea of using a wireless gaming mouse at all.
Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s no longer a crazy idea. In fact, there are even a handful of good wireless esports mice.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
Fears of sluggishness and lag are outdated; in the last two years, most of the top manufacturers have introduced gaming mice that deliver a stable connection and an imperceptible amount of lag using a 2.4GHz wireless connection. If the mouse connects at 2.4GHz via a USB dongle, you can consider it reliable, even in competitive situations.
Using a wireless mouse does introduce potential issues around battery life, but most gaming mice last at least 10 hours on a charge and often get much more. As long as you keep your mouse charged, it shouldn’t fade out mid-match.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)
That said, not all wireless mice make good esports mice. In fact, many of them don’t. Adding an internal battery adds weight, so most don’t compete well on the lightness front with wired mice made for esports. There are a couple of wireless esports mice, however, and I’m sure we’ll see more sooner rather than later. Don’t keep a mouse out of contention just because it doesn’t have a tail. Just know that most of the best ones do.
So, Which Esports Mouse Should I Buy?
Okay, we’ve gone over all the deciding factors that make or break an esports mouse. So, onward to our top picks, derived from our deep-dive reviews. And if you want to know more about picking mice, also check out our guides to the best overall computer mice, the best mice for MMO games, and the best overall gaming mice, all with detailed discussions around the wider world of mouse design.
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