Best Budget Gaming Mouse

When it comes to gaming, especially PC gaming, we all know it can get expensive. From the all-important monitor to accessories like headsets, keyboards, and especially mice, the equipment alone can set you back hundreds of dollars. But, that doesn’t always have to be the case.

There are a plethora of cheap gaming mice out there, all with different qualities and build; some are even as good as the more high-end products like the Razer mouse or the Steelseries mouse. Some budget gaming mice may even surpass their more expensive counterparts. 

Whether you are searching for the best budget wireless gaming mouse or the cheapest mmo mouse or simply the cheapest gaming mouse as a whole, I have compiled this list of the best budget gaming mice I could find, with the simple goal of having something for everyone.

As someone who spent most of his life unable to afford high-end gaming mice, I used to wish for a list such as this. Now, maybe I can help someone else find their perfect budget gaming mouse.

Best Budget Gaming Mouse At A Glance

1. Best Budget All-rounder – Logitech G305 Lightspeed Mouse 
2. Best Budget Mouse for MMO Gaming – Logitech G600
3. Best Budget Mouse for FPS Gaming – Razer Basilisk V2
4. Best Budget Compact Mouse – Razer Viper Mini 
5. Best Budget Mouse For Larger Hands – Corsair Ironclaw RGB
6. Best Budget Wireless Mouse  – Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
7. Best Budget Ambidextrous Mouse  – Steelseries Sensei 310
8. Best Budget Mouse  Overall – SteelSeries Rival 3
9. Cheapest – PICTEK gaming mouse
10. Best Budget Specs – HyperX Pulsefire Surge

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1. Logitech G305 Lightspeed Mouse – Best Budget All-rounder

When you think of a gaming mouse, what comes to mind? I would guess you probably imagine a heavy device filled with tons of customization options and side buttons. What about an office mouse? Most likely a standard black mouse with nothing special about it. Now, try to imagine both a gaming mouse and an office mouse in one device. That’s what the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Mouse is – a combination of the best features from both worlds, at an affordable price.

This wireless mouse has a ton of value. While most similar devices typically go for double that and sometimes even triple, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Mouse provides the same quality hardware while still staying affordable. 

Weighing in at just 99 grams, this lightweight mouse is made possible thanks to its unique mechanical design and battery usage. The gaming device features a total of 6 programmable buttons, the three main ones, which are the left click, right click, and a scroll wheel, as well as three additional ones. All are rated for 10 million clicks and have mechanical button tension, which helps reduce the force needed for a press. The result is a crisp and smooth click that won’t fail you even in the toughest of gaming moments.

As for the battery itself, if I told you it can last up to 250 hours, would you believe me? No? Well what if I told you – and I know how this may sound insane – that the battery can actually be extended upto 9 months when you select endurance mode from the Logitech G HUB, which is Logitech’s own personal software. It’s true, I tested it myself and I can tell you that the endurance of this mouse is incredible. Most of that is actually due to Logitech’s Lightspeed and Hero technology. 

The Lightspeed is Logitech’s answer to all the complaints that wireless mouses aren’t as proficient as wired ones. Well, the company heard those complaints, and I like to imagine that they went full stubborn nerd mode and built the Lightspeed. 

The 1ms connectivity achieves all the advantages that a wired mouse has, with none of the cable drag. No longer will you worry about latency, stability, and connectivity. That is because each and every element of the wireless mouse, from sensor to firmware and even antenna design, has been optimized and custom built specifically for the Lightspeed. As a result, I believe it’s one of the best wireless technologies on the market. 

Apart from the wireless technology, Logitech also has their Hero optical sensor, which can deliver 10 times the efficacy of their previous generation of mice. That means consistent performance with zero smoothing, filtering, or acceleration and a DPI range from 200 to 12,000. All of this, as well as the long battery life, is due to Hero utilizing a smart power management system. It adjusts frame-rate processing based on the speed of the gaming mouse, and as a result it also lowers the power usage – hence the long battery life.

But it’s not all fun and games; while this budget mouse is truly one of a kind, it does have some disadvantages. For example, the mouse is not really fit for big hands and worst of all, it is non-rechargeable, so whenever the Logitech G305 Lightspeed decides to die on you, you are going to have to go out and buy new batteries. 

Other than that, I would definitely recommend this budget mouse, especially when you consider how much a typical wireless mouse costs. You will definitely get your money’s worth with this one.

2. Logitech G600 – Best Budget Mouse for MMO Gaming

Keeping up with the Logitech family we have the Logitech G600, one of the best logitech gaming mice. Unlike its jack of all trades brother, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed, this wired gaming mouse chooses to focus all its energy on a single field: MMO gaming. 

This 20 button mouse – yes, you read that right, 20 button mouse – is a one of a kind device capable of carrying you through the toughest of raids. Whether you are going back in time to fight the Lich King or are gunning for the end game in Elder Scrolls Online, you are going to need all the help you can get, and this gaming mouse has everything you need and more.

All of the 20 buttons on this wired mouse are perfectly tuned for optimal MMO experience. The Logitech G600 features, apart from the 3 main buttons, 12 thumb studs, a pressable scroll wheel that also tilts to the side, and a G-switch to double down and cast firebolt on the goblins. Best part is, all those buttons are completely remappable with Logitech’s proprietary software, the  Logitech G HUB.

But wait, there’s more – the unique dual-dish design on the thumb pad buttons was developed with input from professional MMO players, as well as leading MMO developers. The buttons are placed in a 4 by 3 grid, each single one of the studs being carefully positioned for optimal usage with a reduced learning curve.

While the G-Shift button, which is placed on the roof of the gaming mouse, just behind the scroll wheel, is used for even more customization features. In its default function, holding down the G-Shift button will unlock a second function to each button, or if you would prefer, you can use it to change the DPI for better precision.

Using the top buttons, you can toggle between two different DPI settings: the pixel-precise setting at 250 DPI or the mad man, crazy setting at 8,200 DPI. Using the G HUB will let you cycle through even more DPI settings, up to 5 while in-game. 

DPI customization is great and all, but is a gaming mouse truly a gaming mouse if it does not have flashing lights? Luckily for users, the Logitech G600 does not disappoint. Using the LIGHTSYNC technology, you can customize the thumb panel to your liking. With up to 3 active profiles and 3 different sub modes, the thumb buttons will pulse on and off, or cycle continuously. Using the Logitech G HUB will allow you to choose from over 16 million colors and assign a unique color to each profile and profile mode in game.

Of course, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for this wired mouse’s on-board memory, which will allow you to save your custom settings on up to 3 profiles. So no matter where you go, your chosen buttons, lights, and DPI will stay with you.

Wow! Now that’s what I call a gaming mouse. With so many awesome customization features, one would think it would be difficult to find something wrong with this wired device. Well, one would be wrong. You see, like any mouse, this one also has its disadvantages.

With so many buttons, the gaming mouse is big by necessity, and sadly it’s not suitable for smaller hands or fingertip grips. Oh, but palm grips and claw grips are still fine. Not to mention that the cable is a bit stiff and has some drag to it, which can really be an obstacle, especially if you are in the middle of a battle. 

All in all, for the price it’s going for, I would say that this device is definitely worth it. Especially for those who are really into MMO’s; or actually, I would say mainly for the Leeroy Jenkinses of the world, as you would find it hard to play an FPS game on this MMO mouse.

3. Razer Basilisk V2 – Best Budget Mouse for FPS Gaming

Like its wired gaming mouse cousin the Logitech G600, the Razer Basilisk V2 combines all the high-end features of other FPS gaming mice with a reasonable price. Going for around 69.99, this is one of our more expensive entries on this list. But for good reason.

With 11 customizable buttons, this wired mouse is the perfect partner in crime to anyone who seeks to climb the ladder. The Razer Basilisk V2 offers the player a great deal of weapons to add to their arsenal, as in reality you get more like 22 customizable buttons. Each button has a secondary function, and with a single press, you can switch between them in game. You are able to do this thanks to the Razer Hypershift, which is an advanced feature in the Razer Synapse 3, their proprietary software, which is found in some of the best Razer mice.

The Razer Synapse 3 also comes with some recommended button configurations for games such as Apex Legends, CS: GO, and Fortnight. But you don’t have to use them; I certainly didn’t when I tried the gaming mouse for myself.

The Razer Basilisk V2 also comes with a single dial under the mouse itself, which will allow you to adjust the resistance of your scroll wheel to be as smooth or as tactical as you want. Thanks to this, you would be able to more accurately perform bunny hops and weapons switches, among other high-grade maneuvers.

Razer’s Optical Mouse Switch will allow you to be more precise with your clicks, because it utilizes an infrared beam to register every click and every flick of the finger for much greater precision. With a response time of 0.2 milliseconds, this piece of gaming technology will get rid of the need for debounce delay and will never trigger unintended clicks, giving you a more flawless performance. 

As for Razer’s optical sensor proper, well, it is also top of the line. The Razer Focus+ as they call it has an industry-leading 20,000 DPI with 99.6% resolution accuracy, so that even the slightest movement of this wired mouse is tracked with precision. But do you want to know what the best part is? This gaming sensor is equipped with artificial intelligence, which means the longer you play with this FPS mouse, the smarter and more accurate the sensor will get, allowing you to achieve award winning headshots.

Also, with this mouse you won’t have to worry about buying a gaming pad, as its 100% PTFE mouse feet can slide smoothly across most surfaces. Yes, even on gravel! Well, maybe not quite, but it works just as well on wood or glass as it does on a professional gaming pad.

Now let me ask you this, what gaming mouse would this be without an on board memory storage? A bad one; it would be a bad one. Luckily for us, the Razer Basilisk V2 can save up to 5 configuration profiles at a time, so you will never have to worry about playing on an airplane ever again. Wait. Do people actually do that?

Whether they do or they don’t, there is no denying that a perfect mouse does not exist, and the Razer Basilisk V2 may be too big for the small tables on airplanes. It’s also too big for people with small hands, and sadly it’s not ideal for the fingertip grip style. Not to mention it’s a bit pricier than our other entries. So in the end, would I recommend it? Only for those FPS fanatics who are willing to splurge a bit on a new mouse.

4. Razer Viper Mini – Best Budget Compact Mouse

Like the Logitech family, the Razer familia is big and wide spread. So widespread in fact, that you can find any type of mouse your heart desires; yes, even a small, lightweight mouse which you can take with you anywhere you go. That’s what the Razer Viper Mini is all about, ultra light and ultra fast. 

Weighing in at about 61 grams, this wired mouse with its ambidextrous design is one of a kind. Specifically made for swifter movements and flicks, the Razer Viper Mini still manages to keep the incredible durability of its brothers.

The ambidextrous gaming mouse features up to 6 programmable buttons, the three main ones and three additional ones. The ergonomic design is suitable for only claw and fingertip grip styles, which sucks for me, because I prefer the palm grip style. 

The buttons themselves feature Razer’s Optical Mouse Switch for increased response time and flawless executions. Like the Razer Basilisk V2 before it, this Razer mouse also has secondary functions on all of its buttons, which are available with the Razer Synapse 3 software.

And of course, like any other gaming mouse, the Razer Viper Mini has on board memory, where you can change the DPI settings, button configs, and more once you have them saved with Razer’s proprietary software. 

Since this mouse is marketed as a device that you can take with you no matter where you go, one would expect this budget mouse to be more than durable. It would need to be able to traverse all surfaces, or at least most. After all, you don’t want to be carrying your professional mouse pad with you. 

Let me tell you, in this the Razer Viper Mini does not disappoint. Thanks to its 100% PTFE mouse feet which are made of the purest grade PTFE (the same material that is used to coat non-stick pans), the Viper Mini can move smoothly across most surfaces. And, its 8,500 DPI optical sensor will effortlessly track your movement no matter where you are playing, with zero spin outs and almost pixel perfect accuracy. 

Let’s not forget about the cable; this is a wired mouse, after all. The Viper Mini uses Razer’s own brand of braided cables called Speedflex, designed to be extremely flexible with minimal drag so that you can perform faster and larger movements.

With so much going on, it would be a shame if you didn’t take this mouse on your travels. It’s such a cute little device that it would be a shame to talk about its downsides. Unfortunately, we have to do it anyway. This mouse is not suitable for big hands, and as we established before, it doesn’t suit my style of grip, the palm grip. Not to mention that the optical sensor is not that great; in fact, at best it’s just average. And the design itself is not truly ambidextrous, despite what Razer claims.

So would I recommend this mouse to anyone? Well yeah, I would. Despite its flaws, it’s still a good gaming mouse and office mouse, especially for those who are traveling a lot. If that is you and you often find yourself on the road, then this is the perfect budget mouse for you. If not, then maybe you can find something else on this list.

5. Corsair Ironclaw RGB – Best Budget Mouse For Larger Hands

Here is a mouse that can be considered the exact opposite of the Razer Viper Mini. While the latter was built for smaller hands and compact use, the Corsair Ironclaw RGB is a behemoth of a mouse designed for people with big hands. 

This gaming mouse has an amazingly large body with an extended thumb rest area on the left side of the mouse. Rubber grips run on the edges of the mouse, and the thumb rest area is covered in 90% rubber. However, the right side feels a bit empty and only has a rubber grip running on the bottom of the device. This mouse was not designed with ambidextrous use in mind, so if you are a lefty, I’m sorry to say that maybe you should skip this one. Well, on second thought don’t skip it – I’m sure you know someone who is right handed and would love a gift such as this. 

In addition to the three main mouse buttons, the Corsair Ironclaw RGB has four more, two on the left side and two on top. Each and every button is fully customizable. 

But this wired mouse meant for large hands is way more than its bulky face. The Corsair Ironclaw RGB is extremely tough; you could even say that durability is its second name. With the Omron switches, this gaming mouse will last you more than 50 million clicks, and with its 18,000 DPI precision optical sensor you would find yourself spending hour after hour building up your skill. 

The optical sensor itself is a Pixart PMW3391, and with a 1 DPI resolution step, this mouse will deliver surgical precision to anyone – doesn’t matter if you are a grenade launching maniac or a technical sniper. You want to know what’s even more amazing? You can actually calibrate the Corsair Ironclaw RGB to your mouse pad in order to maximise precision and accuracy.

So is this mouse for me? Well, I have small hands, so it might be a bit big for me, but is it for you? I can tell you that when it comes to performance, this is the gaming mouse you have been looking for. My brother has been using it for a while, and from what he tells me, it’s pretty damn good. But it does have its problems. 

For starters, as I have mentioned numerous times, this mouse is a big boy. So big, in fact, that people with small hands won’t be able to use it. And while those with big hands will likely fare perfectly fine, the button placement might feel awkward at times even for them. In the end, if you have big hands and don’t mind the button placement, you should definitely give this one a go.

6. Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless – Best Budget Wireless Mouse

Part of the Corsair family, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless starts at just $49.99. But the extremely low price on this wireless mouse does not mean it’s not high quality; on the contrary, it is one of the best – if not the best – budget wireless gaming mouse out there. In fact, it’s one of the best wireless mice, no matter your budget.

Weighing about 99 grams, this lightweight device has a contoured shape and rubber sides, so you can play more comfortably for much longer. This budget mouse has 6 programmable buttons, the three main ones and three additional ones: two on the side and one on the roof just behind the scroll wheel. All of them are, of course, fully programmable.

The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless also features a glowing Corsair logo on what I like to call the butt of the mouse. You can choose from over a dozen lighting patterns and effects or simply create your own with Corsair’s proprietary software.

While this mouse technically does not need a cable, if wireless gaming is not your thing or you simply don’t have the time to recharge it, then not to worry. The mouse also comes with the ability of a wired connection.

Despite the fact that you have the option of a wired connection, where this mouse truly shines is in its wireless technology. Using what Corsair calls the Slipstream. With up to 33 ft of range and an Intelligent Frequency Shift (IFS), you can rest assured that your gaming mouse will stay in the fast lane. With latency as low as 1ms, the Slipstream is the answer to Razer and Logitech’s own wireless technologies.

You can either connect the mouse with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth, which is perfect for those who don’t want to carry the USB dongle everywhere they go. You can also plug the mouse in with a micro USB  and use it while it’s still charging. The battery itself is a rechargeable Lithium-Polymer and can last up to 60 days.

If you are still not satisfied with the value of this mouse, let me tell you about the optical sensor. With a max DPI of 10,000, the PMW3325 may not be the best there is, but it’s pretty darn good for a budget mouse.

As for the quality of the build itself, the mouse is made from high-end matte plastic. The wireless mouse is decently comfortable with a finger rest on the left side. The device leans more towards right handed people, but not to worry, it’s perfectly fine for lefties to use as well.

This compact mouse is, quite frankly speaking, a claw grip mouse, as any hand size would be able to use it perfectly fine with this grip style. Sadly, it’s not as comfortable for palm grip or fingertip grip style; people with larger hands would find it a bit uncomfortable to hold. 

This is a great compact mouse, especially if you are constantly traveling and need a good wireless device on the go. But like any other, it has its downsides. The battery, for instance, will more likely last you 30 hours instead of the advertised 60. That is because the battery life will be extended only when you connect it with Bluetooth and turn off all the lighting effects. 

So is this the one for you? Well, like the Viper Mini it might be a good choice if you are traveling a lot, but otherwise, maybe you can find something else on this list that will be more to your liking. 

7. Steelseries Sensei 310 – Best Budget Ambidextrous Mouse

Going back to a heavy mouse meant for big hands, the Steelseries Sensei 310 has an ambidextrous design that provides great value for those who use the fingertip grip and the claw grip styles.

This budget mouse is a bit more on the expensive side when it comes to a budget mouse, but for good reason .The Steelseries Sensei 310 has a core of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP), the same material that is used in advanced engineering structures such as aircrafts and even spaceships and rockets. So yes, I would say it’s a little more durable than your average plastic mouse.

The durable mouse is topped with fingerprint resistant semi-rough matte, which will keep your device clean and sturdy. Honestly, with so much going on, you can see why this budget mouse is a bit more expensive than our other entries.

Yet, there is more to the Steelseries Sensei 310 than its durability; this wired mouse is also quite comfortable. Part of that is due to the pure silicon grips on both sides, which will make you wish every mouse had them. 

What makes this truly an amazing ambidextrous mouse, however, is the fact that it has buttons on both sides. So no matter which hand you use, you can always have extra buttons in reach. With all of that being said, this gaming mouse has a total of 8 buttons, the three main ones one behind the mouse wheel and two on either side. Each one is of course fully customizable.

At this point you might be thinking that it’s all well and good to have so many buttons – but won’t they wear down over time? Well, as a matter of fact, this budget mouse is extremely tough; with over 50 million mechanical clicks as well as a fast and consistent feel, it will last you for years before you start to notice wear and tear.

What’s more, the gaming mouse has top-of-the-line 1 to 1 sensor tracking, which will give you ultra-low latency and pinpoint accuracy – as well as a 1 ms (1000 Hz) pulling rate and zero, yes zero hardware acceleration.

All of this is supported by a powerful 32-bit ARM processor which also allows you to save CPI settings, button remapping, and lighting effects without any additional software.

The Steelseries Sensei 310 was designed with professional players in mind, and it shows. So would I recommend this budget mouse? Well it does have its downsides: for starters, the weight. When you have so much going on, you can’t expect a lightweight mouse like the Viper Mini and the Steelseries Sensei 310 is nothing like Razer’s Viper Mini.  Not to mention that unless you have big hands, you will find it quite difficult to handle. 

So if you ask me if this budget mouse is for you, I would have to say that it depends on who you are. If you are a person who has large hands and enjoys a more sturdy mouse than a fast paced, lightweight device, then yes, this is perfect, although the price is a bit steep for a budget mouse.

8. SteelSeries Rival 3 – Best Budget Mouse Overall

Now this is a mouse that provides high quality hardware for a fraction of the price. Part of the SteelSeries, the Rival 3 is a great budget mouse that has enormous value.

This budget mouse provides all of the functionality and precision of its fancy and expensive competitors.

While at first glance the ergonomic mouse might look like a typical office mouse, in reality it was designed with comfort in mind. It has a lightweight design which reduces the strain from your shoulders and helps you relax. The design is simple and yet somehow aesthetically pleasing. As for the ergonomic design, it allows for both claw grip and fingertip grip styles, but sadly no palm grips – and I am a sucker for palm grip mice.

Despite it’s simple ergonomic design, this is still a gaming mouse, and it has RGB lighting both on the top and on the bottom of the device. You can even match your favorite colors with your favorite keyboard, as long as that keyboard is from the SteelSeries, of course.

This optical mouse has a total of 6 buttons; apart from the three main ones, it also has two on the side and one on the top. All of them are completely customizable, and you can save your chosen customization to the onboard memory, along with the polling rate and up to 5 instances of CPI (counts per inch). 

When you look up durability in the dictionary, they should have a picture of this gaming mouse. Can I get a “affordable high grade durability is amazing!”? No? Well, with this mouse I can. It can register over 60 million clicks, and the body itself is made with high-grade polymer. You can rest assured that this FPS mouse was built to last. In fact, it is more durable than some of the other, more expensive options out there.

Durability is great, but performance is even better, and the SteelSeries Rival 3 does not disappoint. With its TrueMove Core Sensor, it has a 1 to 1 tracking guarantee. No matter which games you are playing – Call of Duty, Overwatch, Minecraft, you name it – with that sensor and a range of 200 to 8,500 CPI constant accuracy, speed and consistency is guaranteed.

High performance and high durability for a low price. What more would you need? Well as amazing as it is, I will have to ruin the perfect image you have of this gaming mouse by nitpicking. 

The side buttons, while perfectly comfortable to reach, are a bit hard to press; although, I don’t think this will be a problem for everyone. Additionally, the scroll wheel is a bit further down in the mouse than I would have liked, thus making it a little uncomfortable to use. But I’m sure that and the buttons are something you can get used to, and so can I.

So would I recommend it? Well yes, especially for those people who are spending a lot of hours gaming and are searching for something cheap to last them a long, long time.

9. PICTEK gaming mouse – Cheapest

Unlike our other entries on this list, the PICTEK gaming mouse is not developed by a well known or established brand. So you can think of this as the dark horse of video game mice, and what a dark horse it is. I personally used this FPS mouse for a long time before switching to my new one, The Glorious Model O, and I can tell you that the PICTEK provides all the high end features you could think of, at a fraction of the price. 

This wired mouse is actually quite nice to look at. Simple RGB lines run on the edge of the device to converge on the back of the mouse, forming a roof-like triangle under which the Pictek logo glows with vibrant colors. 

All of the RGB lights, including the logo, are fully customizable with over 16 million colors and 8 backlight modes to choose from. If flashing gaming lights are not your thing, don’t worry – it’s not for everyone. (Although are you truly a gamer if your gaming mouse is not glowing?) Either way, you can turn off the RGB lights, or if you prefer you can adjust them with the press of a button. 

As for the mouse itself, well, let me tell you, it has one of the most luxurious looks I have ever seen in a budget mouse. The device is ambidextrous and the slick, palm-shaped design is lightweight and ergonomic. For an easier grip, soft rubbers run on both sides, and the materials feel comfortable. Although it is made out of plastic, it’s not the worst in the world, but not the best either.

The wired mouse itself has 7 programmable buttons: the three main ones, two on the side, and two on the top. On top of that (see what I did there) you can customize the speed of scrolling, mouse sensitivity, light mode, and even the double click via software. As for the buttons themselves, they are registered at 5 million clicks; not the best, but considering the price it’s pretty damn good.

The performance of this gaming mouse is nothing to scoff at either.  With a 7200 DPI and a polling rate of 4 it will get you where you need to go, and it will do it in style. Every single detail is customizable, including the DPI and polling rate, which can reach up to 1000Hz. When you download the proprietary software, you can mess with some sliders to adjust the DPI and polling rate to whatever you would like it to be.

Now, with such a great mouse for such a cheap price, there had to be some sacrifices; with the PICTEK gaming mouse, it’s the cable. The long strand that attaches to your computer feels and looks cheap. While some of the wired mice on this list have gone above and beyond to make a cable that you won’t feel when playing, that’s certainly not the case with this one. You will definitely notice some drag when playing. 

So would I recommend this gaming mouse? Well yeah, it’s a great piece of technology for an affordable price. If you are someone who is not willing to pay the price for more “established” gaming mice, then this is the one for you. Or if you are someone who is just getting into this hobby, the PICTEK ergonomic gaming mouse is a great entry point. 

10. HyperX Pulsefire Surge – Best Budget Specs

If you are searching for a top quality mouse on a budget, then look no further. And if you are not, what are you doing here on the Best Budget Gaming Mouse list? Anyways, the HyperX Pulsefire Surge has everything you need in a high-end gaming mouse for an affordable price.

This wired mouse has a plastic build and feels really lightweight when you hold it, but it truly shines in its RGB lighting effects. The lightweight mouse has a ring of luminous fire, shall we say. The RGB light circles on the edge of the entire device, and it’s fully customizable. It does come with some impressive effects, however; you can “trigger,” where a line of light circles the entire mouse whenever you click a button, or “wave” which is pretty self explanatory. HyperX also has presets for most popular games including Fortnite, Overwatch and Rocket League, so every time you start a different game a new lighting effect will play.

Right out of the box, when you plug the mouse in, it starts with the aforementioned wave effect to show you what the mouse is capable of. Once you download the proprietary software called NGenuity, you can transform your gaming mouse to a disco ball or even make your own lighting effects.

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge features 3 extra buttons in addition to the 3 main ones. With two on the side and one on the top, all of them are completely remappable and rated for 50 million clicks, and the Omron switches provide crisp and clean response. 

Thanks to the gaming mouse’s on board memory, you can save up to 3 profiles of custom settings so they are ready to go. 

As for the performance of the HyperX Pulsefire Surge itself, it runs on a Pixart 3389 Sensor with a max DPI of 16,000 and a max polling rate of 1 ms or 1000 Hz. When I tested this mouse myself, I found that the performance is more than adequate; switching between weapons feels smooth and natural, and the sensitivity is just perfect. And if you don’t think so, you can always adjust it to your liking. 

So is this gaming mouse worth– Yes, I don’t even need to finish that sentence. You would be hard pressed to find anything wrong with this FPS mouse. It has a great quality build, beautiful features, and top-of-the-line performance for an affordable price (I know I say that a lot, but it’s true.) I have this strange, sinking feeling that this mouse should be more expensive than it is, but I know I can’t keep singing its praises. It’s my job to find the good and bad in a device, so let’s nitpick.

While HyperX claims that the mouse is symmetrical and ambidextrous, that’s not fully the case. With buttons only on one side of the device, lefties would not find it as comfortable as other gaming mice. Then there is the potential problem with the software. Some people have reported problems installing the NGenuity, and although I have had no such setback, it cannot be overlooked. But as I said, all of these things are just nitpicks – I would definitely recommend this mouse for FPS gamers on a budget. 

Honorable Mentions

No matter how hard I try, finding the best budget gaming mouse is a difficult task. That’s because each and every person has different thoughts on what makes a good budget gaming mouse, not to mention the best. Still, whether you are looking for a cheap wireless gaming mouse or the cheapest mmo mouse, I hope that I at least managed to point you in the right direction. If not, don’t worry, we still have our honorable mentions.

Cooler Master CM310

This cheap gaming mouse is a beauty to behold. Its ergonomic design simply looks amazing, and its 10,000 DPI sensor offers peak performance for the most intense battles. And, you can adjust the DPI very easily even mid-game. Its balanced weight and rubber grips will help you win 60% of the time, every time. 

Glorious Model O Minus

If you have read our “Best FPS Gaming Mouse” list, then you know how much I love the Glorious Model O – and this is its little brother. This is not the cheapest gaming mouse, but neither is it the most expensive. Weighing only 58 grams, this is one of the world’s lightest gaming mice. Its honeycomb design provides strength and comfort for those who are playing long hours, and its 20 million registered clicks mean it will last you for a long time to come.

UtechSmart Venus mouse

This may be the cheapest MMO mouse out there. A competitor to the Logitech G600, the UtechSmart Venus has a smooth and surprisingly comfortable design. Its laser sensor is accurate enough to keep up with the more high end competitors. As for the buttons of this laser mouse, well, you have plenty of them, and they are all completely customizable.

Methodology

When it comes to gaming, especially PC gaming, I know how hard it can be to find good hardware for a cheap price. When I was growing up in Romania, we couldn’t afford these high-end gaming mice. Hell, even some of the budget mice were out of our price range. So, I had to settle for a cheap office mouse.

Luckily, I am now in a much better position than I was before, and I get to write about my favorite hobby – truly a dream come true. So you can bet that I tested every single one of these budget mice. Some I borrowed from gaming mice maniacs that I know, others I rented just for this review, and the few that I liked the most I bought and kept for myself. 

Writing the best budget gaming mouse has been an utter pleasure. For one, I could test different games with the various mice without feeling guilty about playing; after all, I was technically working. But, I also got to experience new FPS and MMO mice that I didn’t know existed.  

In the end, after I tested every single mouse, which took surprisingly longer than expected, I wrote down my thoughts in a little green notebook that I have. Then I went on the internet to see if other people had the same opinions of the mice as I did, and while some didn’t, it was fun to see what my colleagues thought and what experiences they had. 

Oh, I also got into a heated argument in a forum, but that’s beside the point. I wrote everything that other people were saying about the mice on this list and compared that to my own thoughts and experiences. Finally I wrote the pros and cons of each device and started working on the article, trying to convey my feelings into words as best as I could.

Buyers Guide

The cheapest gaming mice and gaming mice in general have a lot of things going on that your average mouse does not. A good budget gaming mouse will have maybe not the best, but still damn good features (including durability and a proper optical sensor) while still delivering an affordable price. 

Pricing

Most high-end gaming mice are priced in the 70 – 80 dollar range and most wireless gaming mice in the 150 – 160 dollar range. Those are the ones that have the best features and performance the market has to offer right now. However, just because a mouse is cheaper does not mean it has less value. When looking for a budget mouse, generally, the best ones are priced around 30-50 bucks. Below that, you may find some high-end features, but they almost always come at the expense of something else.

A Good Sensor

Currently, there are two sensors on the market for gaming mice: an optical sensor and a laser one. With the optical sensor generally considered to be the better of the two. 

In the simplest of terms, a mouse sensor is optical when a light is transmitted from the bottom. The optical mouse works by utilizing a optoelectronic sensor, basically a tiny camera which is used to take successive images of the surface on which the mouse operates. In contrast, the laser mice use an infrared laser dot to illuminate the surface beneath their sensor. 

If you would like to find out more about this, you can check out our complete buyers guide on a gaming mouse.

Conclusion

There are so many details to go over when considering a gaming mouse that I can’t possibly cover them all in one single section. That’s why I have created an article specifically dedicated to the buyer’s guide for a gaming mouse. 

Think of this as an introduction to that article if you want to learn more about what makes a good gaming mouse.

Final Verdict

When it comes to the best budget gaming mouse, there are a lot of things to consider. Even more so than when making a list for the best FPS gaming mouse.

For a budget mouse, you need to look at the value as a whole. Is the price considered a budget price in the gaming mouse world? Is something from the mouse sacrificed in exchange for the low price? And if so, what is it? All in all, “best budget” does not necessarily mean the cheapest. Rather, it specifies which mouse provides the best value for a low price. 

I am sure different people will have varying opinions on this topic and I would love to hear them. But, my personal opinion is that I love the Razer Viper Mini and SteelSeries Rival 3.

I appreciate the Razer Viper Mini for its compact design; even though it is a wired mouse, you can take it anywhere you want. As someone who travels a lot or at least used to, I consider this a great feature to have.

On the other hand, I love the SteelSeries Rival 3 because it provides the most value out of all the best budget mice on this list. It is extremely durable and comfortable; it feels like a high-end gaming mouse and it functions as one. The gripes I have with it are only minor nitpicks, and one can easily get used to them.

But that’s just my opinion; the rest is up to you. 

FAQ

Q: Does a cheap price mean a mouse is bad quality?

A: No. On the contrary, a cheap mouse may be even better than some of the other more expensive versions. That is because the gaming mouse market is a highly competitive place, and companies are always seeking ways to up each other. 

Q: I want to get into gaming and gaming mice, but I am not willing to spend 70 bucks on a device. Are budget mice good for beginners?

A: Almost definitely. In fact, some of the best budget mice, like the PICTEK gaming mouse for example are specifically made to be entry points for new and upcoming gamers.

 Q: I am searching for my first gaming mouse, but I am not sure if I should buy an MMO one or an FPS one.

A: This is a tough question. But in my humble opinion, I think you should get an FPS gaming mouse first, even if you primarily play MMO games. That is because MMO mice have a lot more going on, and if you are not used to the nooks and crannies of gaming mice, it might be a little too overwhelming.

Top Rated Budget Gaming Mouse

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API