

The best mice for 2021

A high-quality, modern computer mouse can prevent fatigue at work, improve your performance when gaming, and make your computer more comfortable to use. The computer mouse market has some interesting innovations, too, including customizable buttons, built-in LEDs, and adjustable dots per inch.

Our top picks for the best mice stand out in terms of comfort, performance, and quality. While we have something for everyone, our mouse experience leads us to suggest Microsoft IntelliMouse as an affordable top pick for nearly every purpose.

There are some other options, however, including the dirt-cheap Microsoft Surface Mouse. Read on to find the best mouse for you.

Best mouse at a glance

Microsoft IntelliMouse

Microsoft Pro Intellimouse review
Riley Young/Digital Trends

Why you should buy this: It’s the best overall mouse for getting work done.

Who it’s for: Anyone focused on no-frills and productivity over gaming.

Why we chose the Microsoft IntelliMouse: 

The Microsoft IntelliMouse has been a solid workhorse for years, focused more on productivity than gaming. It offers a simple design, with a super-compact body and feathery weight *(100g) along with only five buttons (two customizable thumb buttons and a middle click button and scroll wheel().

Arguably the Microsoft IntelliMouse’s biggest draw is Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology, which helps it glides smoothly across almost all surfaces, including glass, wood, and that hard plastic picnic table. It can even roll effortlessly on carpet. The mouse cursor moves pretty smoothly with no interruptions regardless of the surface it is on. Tracking is very precise, with a DPI range of up to 3200 for super-smooth cursor movements. Compared to gaming mice, which usually clock in at 4000 DPI or greater, a DPI of up to 3200 is excellent for a productivity mouse.

The Microsoft IntelliMouse offers a throwback to the heavy black and gray Microsoft mice of old, save for a modern white tail light that provides cover in the darkness.

Our only knock on the Microsoft IntelliMouse is that it is a wired mouse, which offers more restricted movement across your desktop. However, it does remove the fuss of retrieving batteries, a dongle, or waiting for Bluetooth to respond – more for people who move their workstations from place to place.

Read our in-depth Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse review

Logitech MX Master 3

Why you should buy this: It’s the best wireless mouse you can buy.

Who it’s for: Creatives who work heavily with photo- and video-editing apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro.

Why we chose the Logitech MX Master 3:

The Logitech MX Master 3 offers monster specs, starting with app-specific customizations that use presets to drive some of the more popular apps out there, including the Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro. For example, the scroll wheel can be configured to perform one action for Microsoft Excel and a separate action for Final Cut Pro. It is also very easy to restore defaults if things get out of whack. Kudos for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android support.

In terms of precision, the MX Master 3 is rock solid with a 4000 DPI rating, which is unaffected regardless of the surface its own, including wood and glass.

Battery life for the Logitech MX Master 3 is also on point, using a quick-charging USB Type-C port and lasting up to 70 days per full charge, which only takes two hours. It can also be connected to three devices at once, with a small underside switch that allows for easy cross-device controls.

Read our in-depth Logitech MX Master 3 review

Razer Pro Click

Why you should buy this: It’s a great alternative to the MX Master 3.

Who it’s for: People looking for an ultra-durable mouse with cushy ergonomics.

Why we chose the Razer Pro Click: 

A Razer mouse made for work instead of gaming? Yep, that’s the Razer Pro Click. While it’s styled a bit different from the gaming options, it’s no less feature-rich. It boasts a dynamic feature set that is focused on customization and wireless performance. It comes with a whopping eight programmable buttons, each of which works independently or has macros assigned to them through Razor’s Synapse 3 hardware configuration tool. There is even a button at the bottom of the mouse that allows users to toggle between different devices without pairing or unpairing.

In terms of battery life, the Razer Pro Click ranks very well offering up to 20 hours when connected through 2.4GHz wireless and up to 400 hours on a Bluetooth connection. A 16,000 DPI sensor offers super fine mouse cursor movement, making it every bit as good a gaming mouse as it is as a productivity one.

As a final touch, ergonomics with the Razer Pro Click are outright solid, with a mesh-like thumb grip and a higher than average right thumb hump, along with exaggerated curves along the top and sides for a comfortable feel.

Read our in-depth Razer Pro Click review

Microsoft Surface Mouse

Why you should buy this: It’s the best portable mouse you can buy.

Who it’s for: Value-conscious people who are looking for a lightweight and portable mouse that can switch between jobs.

Why we chose the Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse

The Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse offers one of the most intriguing designs we’ve come across, with a very flat profile and slim proportions (only 1 by 2.4 by 4.2 inches), true to mobile mouse form. BlueTrack technology. makes it work across almost all surfaces.

In terms of specs, the Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse offers a respectable 1800 DPI resolution. It’s on the lower end, compared to ultra- 4000+ DPI gaming mice with pointers that fly across the screen with the lightest tap. That said, it’s much better suited as a productivity mouse for web browsing, spreadsheets, and email, with a low cost that makes it affordable for everything.

Our only knock on the Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse is that there is no wired option and includes two alkaline AAA batteries (good for up to 12 months of battery life), an inferior option to a built-in rechargeable battery. Its minuscule proportions and ultra low profile design also offer limited palm support, but this is often the case with mobile mice.

Steelseries Rival 710

Why you should buy this: It’s the best gaming mouse you can buy.

Who it’s for:  Hardcore gamers who want a healthy number of customization options and a little flashiness with its on-body screen.

Why we chose the Steelseries Rival 710:

The Steelseries Rival 710 is an absolute monster, starting with a TrueMove3 optical sensor that supports 12,000 CPI, as well as a haptic feedback system that allows users to apply 10 vibration types based on what’s happening in-game. For example, one vibration can be set for every gunshot and a second vibration type could be set with every reloaded. Each vibration type is different in terms of length and power, so feedback is immediate. Up to five onboard profiles can be saved, so multiple gamers can use the same mouse and apply their own button scheme and visuals.

Even the Steelseries Rival 710’s body can be customized. Its modular design allows for easy swaps of the top and side panels, along with sensor and cable placement. One of the more intriguing swap options is the sensor, which can be upgraded for an even more powerful sensor for greater accuracy. Consider this a must for only the most die-hard of gamers, as 12,000 CPI is nothing to scoff at.

One of the Steelseries Rival 710’s most notable features is its left side black-and-white OLED display, which serves very little purpose other than to display an image of GIF uploaded to its software program, SteelSeries Engine 3. However, any image that is uploaded needs to meet rigid specs (128 by 36 pixels) which kind of loses its cool factor a bit. Still, consider it more a style cue than anything else. Rounding out the aesthetic is two RGB lights on the scroll wheel and base, which are subtle enough to look more cool than distracting.

Logitech MX Vertical

Who it’s for: It’s the best ergonomic mouse you can buy.

Why you should buy this: It is one of the more ergonomic mice we’ve ever tested.

Why we chose the Logitech MX Vertical: The Logitech MX Vertical offers the most unique design on our list. Shaped like a warped onion when viewing from above, it eschews a traditional low or curved profile in favor of a 57-degree vertical angled top that places hands in a natural handshake position. It is contoured like a human hand, so forearm twisting is much less compared to a standard mouse. Note, the lack of a thumb grip and a cupping handle for your hand gives the Logitech MX Vertical a steeper learning curve.

On the spec side, the Logitech MX Vertical is a pure productivity play. A 4,000 DPI sensor is very responsive, although gamers may want to upgrade to a 10,000 DPI or higher-rated mouse for better accuracy. With customization, it comes with four buttons, which can each be customized depending on the app you are using. An underside button also allows for easy flipping between three wireless connections. Other adjustments that could be made include DPI and syncing across multiple devices.

Read our Logitech MX Vertical review

Logitech G Pro Gaming Mouse Wireless

Logitech G Pro Wireless

Who it’s for: It’s a great alternative to the SteelSeries Rival 710.

Why you should buy this: Those who aim to play at the competitive level or at least want to give themselves an advantage.

Why we chose the Logitech G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse:

Logitech says this mouse is one of the best Esports mice ever made, and our tests show they’re right. Despite lacking a hardwired connection, it has an impressive 1-millisecond report rate and is both fast and accurate, thanks to its high-end Logitech Hero sensor. It also supports Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless charging using a compatible Qi mouse mat.

It’s lightweight, with a thin shell, and the mechanical button switches are both incredibly responsive and durable, rated for a 50-million click lifespan. If you want to map extra capabilities, there are four side buttons you can customize. If you prefer a more focused mouse just for aiming, you can remove those buttons so they don’t become a distraction.

If any mouse can prove that gaming doesn’t require a wired connection, Logitech’s G Pro Wireless is the one to do it.

Corsair Nightsword

Who it’s for: It’s another great gaming mouse with lots of customization.

Why you should buy this: It allows for unparalleled customization and excellent support for macros.

Why we chose the Corsair Nightsword:

If you’re a gamer that keeps thinking that your mouse just doesn’t feel right for your style of play, the Nightsword is here to give you a whole new level of customization. It’s not just tunable in the traditional sense: The mouse offers six slots for inserting mini-weight to help control the balance, feel, and overall weight to exactly what you prefer, and the onboard software will adjust to the new center of gravity as needed.

The Pixart 18,000-DPI sensor is also intensely customizable, allowing you to adjust the sensitivity by a single DPI until you get to the accuracy level that you need. There are a total of 10 programmable buttons ready for macros or key mapping on the mouse as well, ideal for more complex MMO or RTS gameplay where you need to complete certain actions fast to save time. The extra support and rubber grips help you avoid making a mistake during tense moments, too.

To make the most of the Corsair Nightsword you’ll want to take the time to customize it to your tastes, but it’s a mouse that allows you to tweak every detail until it’s exactly what you need.

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