Best Wired Mouse

When deciding whether to buy a wired or wireless mouse, consider what you’ll do with your computer as well as your personal preferences. If you’re a gamer, for example, you may prefer a wired gaming mouse with dedicated gaming features. If you want speed and accuracy, you may prefer a wired mouse.

You’re going to want the best wired mouse in your PC setup, even if you’re not doing competitive gaming. Trust us when we say that when you’ve got the best mouse in your arsenal, you’ll never look back.

Those cheap $10 mice you get at bargain shops may be enough for your basic pointing and clicking needs, but an excellent mouse will change your computing experience for the better.

That’s because, contrary to what many believe, a mouse is more than just a pointing device. The best wired mouse is simply light years ahead when it comes to ergonomics, reliability and responsiveness.

It will actually improve your workflow and your game, and it will be kinder to your wrist and shoulder.

Why Choose A Wired Mouse

Wireless devices are, by default, slower than wired devices since these devices transmit information wirelessly. This lag is especially important for gamers.

A gamer might choose a wired gaming mouse over a cordless mouse because wired devices don’t present as many delays as wireless ones. That’s important when precision is key.

Plus, nearby interference can make wireless mouse movements choppy or disable the mouse until it’s corrected. However, interference with wireless mice isn’t a problem for most people as long as there aren’t obstructions between the mouse and its receiver.

How We Test The Wired Mouse

To test gaming mice, we run them through at least four games across a variety of genres: usually FPS, RTS, RPG and MMO.

We make sure we get a few hours of game time whenever possible. We also use mice for productivity for at least two days, in order to gauge the shape, comfort and overall design.

Wired Vs Wireless: Which Is Better For Gaming?

Ultimately, choosing whether to go for a wired or wireless gaming mouse comes down to your specific needs – and how much you prioritize raw gaming performance. Nine times out of ten, the wired gaming mouse is going to provide better gaming performance at the end of the day – albeit only marginally. They come equipped with lower input lag, usually offer a lighter build design, and will probably save you a few quid at the checkout too.

Having said that, if you prioritize desk tidiness, versatility, and user experience instead, then absolutely go for a wireless gaming mouse. As you can see from the comparison between the best wired vs best wireless gaming mouse, there really isn’t a great deal separating the two types of mice. The only main factor nowadays is the price difference between the two, with wireless being much more expensive.

So, if you prioritize desk tidiness and versatility but still want a great gaming experience, there is literally no better time to buy a wireless gaming mouse. Just be ready to fork out for it.

Who This is For

If you play games on a PC, you should consider a gaming mouse. Such models have faster response times than regular wired or wireless mice, more precise sensors, ergonomically placed buttons that you can customize with software, comfortable shapes, and scroll wheels with decisive ratchets.

Most gaming mice let you switch between different sensitivity levels with the push of a button, so you can lower the sensitivity for a first-person shooter, say, and then turn it up for browsing the web. They can light up with pretty colors, too.

Our Top Picks:

Most gamers will prefer a wired mouse for minimal latency, although some cables can be stiff and drag when moving the mouse. Therefore, when shopping for a wired mouse, you shouldn’t only consider comfort, performance, and ergonomics, but also how good the cable is. We’ve tested over 165 mice, of which more than 100 are wired-only. Below are our top picks for the best wired mouse.

1. Razer DeathAdder V2

The best wired mouse for gaming we’ve tested so far is the Razer DeathAdder V2. The newest version of the legendary DeathAdder design is an excellent gaming mouse with a very straightforward design.

It features two side buttons, a customizable CPI, and full RGB lighting. It’s also pretty lightweight at only 83g, which is impressive for a mouse that isn’t designed to be an ultra-light gaming mouse like other options on this list.

This mouse features the newest Razer sensor, which offers outstanding performance. Movement with this mouse feels fluid and accurate, and the feet glide very well.

It also has the newest Razer cable, which is noticeably lighter and more flexible than previous models. The mouse feels very well-built and is great for pretty much any grip and hand size.

However, people with small hands might find it a bit big, unless they’re using a palm grip, and the Razer Synapse 3 software can be finicky to use at times.

On the bright side, the software gives you a ton of customization options, including the ability to reprogram every button. Overall, this is one of the best mice for gaming out there and should please most players.

2. Logitech G502 Lightspeed

The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is our top recommended wireless gaming mouse, with Logitech including absolutely everything you’d want or need from such a premium peripheral. The Hero sensor is supremely speedy, with a 16,000 DPI, while there are lots of programmable buttons dotted around the mouse for flexible customisation.

The Logitech G502 uses Lightspeed wireless connectivity instead of Bluetooth to reduce latency as much as possible. As it’s a wireless mouse, Logitech has also made sure to maximise the battery life to an impressive 48hrs with lighting activated.

On that subject, the G Hub gives you total control of the colours and lighting effects radiating from the mouse.

This mouse is also customisable in terms of performance, not only allowing you to quickly shift between DPI settings on the fly, but also bundling weights in the box so you can ensure the G502 Lightspeed has the perfect weight ratio for your preferred game style.

Sure, this gaming mouse isn’t cheap, but it’s the best wireless mouse you can get, for both casual gamers and pros.

3. Razer Basilisk V2

The original Razer Basilisk did something incredibly clever for FPS mice. Rather than have a third “sniper” button to lower DPI while lining up shots, it had a clutch. This small strip of metal is much easier to find, and much more convenient to click down, than a sniper button.

The Razer Basilisk V2 improves on the Basilisk’s great design, adding a better sensor, an adjustable scroll wheel and better gliding feet.

It’s especially helpful for FPS players who need to aim precisely, but it’s also a perfectly good all-purpose gaming mouse; you can simply remove the clutch and plug the hole with a rubber stopper, if needed.

My only real issue with the Basilisk V2 is that adjusting the scroll wheel isn’t as foolproof a process as it could be.

However, once you find a comfortable position for the scroll wheel, you’ll probably never need to adjust it again, making it almost a moot point. The Razer Synapse software is robust, although it may take a few days to learn all of the options at your disposal.

4. Finalmouse Ultralight 2

The best wired mouse for ultra-light gaming we’ve reviewed so far is the Finalmouse Ultralight 2 – Cape Town. This mouse performs great, and at only 49 grams with the wire bungeed, it’s the lightest mouse we’ve tested so far.

Despite its honeycomb pattern that helps keep its weight to a minimum, the mouse still feels solid and robust. It has a sleek design and comes in a unique sand color with an orange scroll wheel and cord.

This mouse also has a very light and flexible cable, which easily moves around your desk without any drag or kinks. The mouse has a very low click latency, and the buttons are clicky and responsive. Unfortunately, there are only two side buttons, and there’s no dedicated software available to reprogram them, so you’ll have to rely on third-party options.

The mouse has a straightforward ambidextrous design that’s well-suited for people with small or medium hands and comes with unique sticky latex grips that can be applied to modify its shape and size, although this makes it slightly heavier.

Unfortunately, Finalmouse only releases its mice through one-time drop sales, so at this point you can only purchase it through third-party resellers, meaning you’ll likely be paying a bit of a premium. The performance also isn’t quite as excellent as some other options, and the max CPI of 6000 is quite low compared to other high-end gaming mice.

Overall, it’s a great ultra-light wired mouse and is one of the best gaming mice we’ve tested to date.

5. Razer Naga Trinity

The Razer Naga Trinity is arguably the best gaming mouse for MMOs. But thanks to its unique design, it can also be the best gaming mouse for MOBAs, or even action/adventure games. It all depends upon your configuration.

Rather than being stuck with a single style of thumb buttons, the Naga Trinity offers three swappable panels: one with two buttons, one with seven buttons in a “hex” pattern (really, “hept,” but let’s not split hairs) and one with a whopping 12 buttons.

The 12-button configuration is incredibly useful for World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV and other MMO favorites, but the other two side panels ensure that you can use the Naga Trinity with just about any genre and still excel.

It’s a large, heavy mouse, which is good for players with large hands, and the side panels are effortless to swap in and out.

6. Glorious Model O Wired Mouse

The best wired mouse for ultra-light gaming that we’ve tested is the Glorious Model O. The mouse’s design is ambidextrous and allows for multiple grip types. It’s one of the lightest mice we’ve tested thanks to its honeycomb design, though it still feels very well-built and durable. While designed with gamers in mind, it also makes for a good office mouse due to its comfortable, ambidextrous shape.

Thanks to a wide customizable CPI range and low click latency, it has excellent performance. If you’re looking to customize the performance, its companion software grants a lot of customization options, including CPI and polling rate adjustments. This mouse comes equipped with six buttons, all of which can be customized in the companion software to tailor it to your liking.

Unfortunately, it’s a fairly large mouse, and those with smaller hands may struggle to comfortably reach all the buttons, regardless of grip type. A solution to this would be to check out the Glorious Model O Minus, a smaller version of this mouse that we haven’t tested, but expect to perform very similarly.

Overall, while this may not be the best mouse for traveling due to its size and wired-only design, it’s a great one for gaming from the comfort of your home.

7. Steelseries Sensei 310

The updated version of this Steelseries mainstay, the Sensei 310, subtly reinvented a classic mouse. It needed it. Almost everything is new except the Sensei’s ambidextrous shape, and that’s exactly how it should be.

Thanks to a new plastic shell, the Sensei is grippier and can shrug off a sweaty palm. Steelseries is also using its own custom version of one of the best gaming sensors around, ensuring the Sensei 310 won’t suffer from any tracking issues.

The Sensei 310 fits in your hand just like the old Sensei, and is a great shape for either left- or right-handed gamers looking for a midsized ambidextrous mouse. That means it has a pair of identical thumb buttons on the left and the right, a common issue for ambidextrous mice—it can be far too easy to accidentally click the wrong side’s buttons as you grip with your pinky. In my hours of testing the Sensei 310, that hasn’t happened once.

The size and shape of the thumb buttons have been tweaked, making it easy to rock your thumb upwards to press them but keeping them out of the way of accidental pinky clicks. Anyone looking for a small, light, or ambidextrous mouse: this should be your first stop.

8. Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse

While it seems like all of our peripherals are either being fitted with unnecessary lighting or morphed into odd shapes, there are still some mice out there that you can take seriously from looks alone.

The Microsoft Classic Intellimouse, for example, touts a classic design and appealing white lighting, and it is a breath of fresh air. It also beefs up the sensor, allowing users to ramp up the DPI to 3,200.

It’s not wireless, and it’s hardly made for gaming, but if you’re in the market for a mouse that’ll help you get all your work done, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse may be the best mouse for you.

9. Logitech MX Master 3 wired mouse

It can last for up to 70 days on a single charge and is ergonomically sound enough to provide solid wrist support and comfort during use. It even supports sensitivities up to 4,000 DPI — more than enough for the average PC user.

One of its greatest strengths is the ability to pair with up to three separate systems at once, so if you find yourself switching from desktop to laptop regularly, this mouse is perfect.

The Logitech MX Master 3 is not the most exciting mouse to look at, but its fancy scroll wheel can scroll up to 1,000 lines in just a second. That can be useful for navigating Excel, and webpages. Logitech also redesigned the thumb area and made the back and forward buttons bigger.

There’s even nifty customization via the Logitech Options software, which lets you create custom profiles and tweak the buttons on the mouse to control software as you need.

10. Razer Viper Mini

The Razer Viper Mini is the best wired mouse in the budget category we’ve tested. It shares the same shape and sleek, all-black design as the Razer Viper, but it’s slightly smaller in size.

It feels well-built yet is extremely lightweight and is one of the lightest mice we’ve tested even though it doesn’t have a honeycomb design like most ultra-light mice. Due to its compact design, it’s ideal for a fingertip grip for any hand size, although smaller hands should also be able to use it with a claw or palm grip.

The Razer is compatible with the Razer Synapse 3 software to customize the eight programmable inputs and the mouse’s RGB lighting. Its click latency is outstanding, and even competitive gamers shouldn’t notice any delay. It also has a profile switching button so you can easily change your button configuration without needing to open the Razer Synapse 3 software every time.

Unfortunately, its max CPI isn’t as high as other Viper mice, and it can’t be adjusted as precisely. Also, due to its smaller size, this mouse might not be the best option if you have larger hands and want to use it with a claw or palm grip. Nevertheless, this is a great wired mouse option in the budget category and is among the best cheap gaming mice we’ve tested.