Finding the best mouse possible isn’t always an easy process; a quick search will usually produce thousands of results, and sifting through all the different models might leave you with more questions than answers, even when you do have specific features in mind. Perhaps you’d want a wireless connection instead of dealing with a connected cable. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might want something small enough to be able to tuck into a laptop bag. Alternatively, you may require a mouse with the right performance to keep up with PC gaming. Or maybe a combination of all these!
Plus, you should ensure that your new mouse doesn’t fall apart within a few weeks. On the flip-side, you definitely don’t want something that will potentially cause wrist and forearm strain. All of us here at XDA use a mouse day in and day out, and we have a clear idea of what’s worth your money and what’s not. We’ve put together this collection of the best mice on the market today for a variety of uses to help you find the perfect pointer.
Our favorite mice in 2024
Editor’s choice
Logitech MX Master 3S
Best general purpose mouse
$84 $100 Save $16
The MX Master 3S is a top choice for professionals with heavy workloads as well as casuals who simply want a premium mouse for everyday computing. It’s comfortable, it’s precise, and it works across platforms. The only real downside is that is doesn’t come in a left-handed version.
- Solid battery life
- Up to 8,000 DPI
- Tons of programmable buttons
- Relatively expensive
- Not made for lefties
Logitech’s MX Master 3S is the latest evolution of what is widely considered the best mouse around if you’re looking for something that can handle everyday computing as well as specialized work. It’s made to be as silent as possible while still having a satisfying click, and in total there are seven buttons (most of which you can customize to your liking). The mouse is made for right-handers, with an ergonomic design that is comfortable to use all day. XDA’s Brady Snyder went hands-on with Logitech MX Master 3S two years after its release, noting that “it’s still the king of mice” even as we await an MX Master 4.
The mouse connects wirelessly via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz dongle, and it can be paired with up to three devices for quick switching. It’ll even work across operating systems. You can expect more than two months of battery life on a charge, and it’s easy to juice up thanks to the USB-C port. Scrolling is incredibly smooth and accurate thanks to the electromagnetic wheel, and the 8,000 DPI sensor will work on practically any surface, including glass. Check out more of the best silent PC mice if you like the idea but aren’t quite sold on the product.
Best value
Microsoft Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse
Comfortable but affordable
Microsoft’s Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse is a great alternative to our top pick if you’re looking to spend quite a bit less. It’s comfortable, it has great battery life, and its wireless Bluetooth connection can be paired with up to three devices at once for easy switching.
- Lightweight ergonomic design
- Up to 15 months battery life
- Available in four colors
- Not rechargeable (requires two AAA batteries)
- Not made for lefties
Microsoft’s Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse is a far more affordable alternative to our overall pick, and it’ll be a great choice for casual computing in the home or office. It doesn’t have nearly as many extra buttons as the MX Master 3S, but it does have a couple of thumb buttons to go along with the usual left and right click. The mouse is made for right hands, with an ergonomic design that prevents wrist and forearm stress.
The mouse is wireless and connects via Bluetooth, with up to 30 feet of range if you’re in an open area. You can pair the mouse with up to three separate devices for quick switching. It’s unfortunately not rechargeable, instead running on two AAA batteries that Microsoft claims can go for up to 15 months before needing replacement. To better suit your style, the mouse is available in Matte Black, Glacier, Pastel Blue, and Peach color options.
Best productivity
Razer Pro Click
In collaboration with Humanscale
Razer’s Pro Click ergonomic mouse is a great alternative to our top pick for those who need a more precise optical sensor. The wireless mouse is comfortable to use, has long battery life, and provides a bunch of programmable buttons to suit your specific workflow.
- Can be paired with up to four devices
- Plenty of programmable buttons
- 16,000 DPI optical sensor
- Relatively expensive
- Not made for lefties
Razer’s collaboration with Humanscale gave us the Pro Click wireless mouse, designed to be as comfortable and precise as possible for professionals who spend long days at a desk. It helps keep stress out of your wrists and forearms with its tilted design, and it’s wireless to reduce weight. It can connect via Bluetooth or with a 2.4GHz dongle, and Razer says the rechargeable battery will last for up to 400 hours if you’re using Bluetooth. It plugs into micro-USB when it comes time to charge.
Razer’s 5G optical sensor is on board with up to 16,000DPI tracking for precise pointing, and there are a total of eight programmable inputs that you can customize to your liking. The mouse can even be paired with up to four separate devices for quick switching. This would be a great alternative to our top pick if you need that extra sensor precision and a similar ergonomic design.
Best compact wireless
Logitech MX Anywhere 3S
Pocket-sized and versatile
Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3S bridges the gap between portable and ergonomic. It has a precise 8,000 DPI sensor and a bunch of programmable buttons, and it’ll work on any surface. Connect with Bluetooth or the Logi Bolt dongle, which is unfortunately sold separately.
- Accurate 8,000 DPI sensor works on any surface
- Ambidextrous and ergonomic
- Quiet clicking
- Needs extra software to change DPI
- Logi Bolt dongle sold separately
Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3S sort of bridges the gap between a desktop ergonomic mouse and something made for travel. It can easily slip into your laptop bag and should offer more than two months of battery life on a charge; its USB-C port is convenient and offers quick charging when it does run down.
The 8,000 DPI sensor is plenty precise and will work on any surface, plus the clicks are quiet so that you don’t annoy the people around you. The ambidextrous design works for lefties and righties, although the extra thumb buttons remain on the left side of the mouse.
Related
Logitech MX Anywhere 3S review: A small mouse that’s big on productivity
The Logitech MX Anywhere 3S is a minor upgrade compared to its predecessor, but it’s now quieter than ever and has a better sensor.
In our Logitech MX Anywhere 3S mouse review, PC Expert Arif Bacchus remarked that it’s a “mouse that’ll let you be productive anywhere thanks to its new 8K sensor, magnetic scroll wheel, and quiet click mechanism.” It can be paired with up to three devices at once for quick switching, and it works across platforms. Bluetooth is the standard, but it can also work with the Logi Bolt USB dongle. Unfortunately, this doesn’t come included with the mouse.
Best for travel
Microsoft Arc Mouse
Snaps flat for easier storage
Microsoft’s Arc Mouse is a great option for travelers who like to pack light. The mouse is comfortable to hold thanks to its rounded design, and it can snap flat for easier storage. It connects wirelessly with Bluetooth and offers long battery life from two AAAs.
- Snaps flat for easy storage while traveling
- Comfortable arc design
- Long battery life
- Not as full of features as other options
The Arc mouse from Microsoft is an ideal travel companion thanks to its ingenious design. When you want to store it away, snap it flat, and it will remain thin enough to slip into a laptop sleeve pocket. When you want to use it, just pop it back into its curved format for a comfortable grip. It automatically powers up when it’s curved, and it cuts the battery when it’s flat to save your charge. The mouse isn’t rechargeable, but its two AAA batteries can last for up to six months according to Microsoft.
The mouse connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and its BlueTrack sensor works on pretty much any surface except glass and other mirrored surfaces. The sensor has 1,000 DPI sensitivity, which is good enough for work on the road. There’s no physical scroll wheel, but it does have a touch scroll function.
Best gaming
VAXEE XE-S
A no-nonsense companion for esports gamers
The VAXEE XE-S gaming mouse is one of the best gaming mice out there, and its approach to gamers is one of practicality. There are no crazy high DPI settings and there’s no over-the-top driver software. It’s simply a fantastic mouse that does everything exceptionally well.
- Premium lightweight design
- Ultra-responsive thanks to 4K polling rate
- 110-hour battery life
- No programmable buttons
- Expensive
When you think about the best brands for gaming accessories, Razer and Logitech are probably the first names that pop into your mind. We’d previously given the DeathAdder V3 Pro the top spot among the hundreds of wireless gaming mice, but the VAXEE XE-S easily blindsided us with its lightweight chassis, terrific build quality, and long battery life. Powered by a responsive PAW3950 optical sensor, the VAXEE XE-S is bound to give you an advantage over the competition.
Related
VAXEE XE-S review: The best gaming mouse I’ve ever used
If you’re looking for a gaming mouse without any frills that can do it all, then the VAXEE XE-S is the one to beat.
At 61g, it’s fairly lightweight and also lacks any RGB to keep your desk looking clean. Considering many high-end mice go as high as 30,000 DPI, the 3200 DPI on the VAXEE XE-S may seem a weird choice. However, that’s more-or-less what you’ll end up using in most FPS titles. The 1,000Hz polling rate that’s included should be good enough for most people, though you can turn it up to 4K at the cost of increased battery drain.
Speaking of battery, the mouse can last up to 110 hours at 1,000 Hz and recharges with USB-C. It’s available in White, Black, Yellow, Pink, Blue, and Red colors, so you can customize your gaming desk to your liking by pairing this solid mouse with a great mouse pad.
Coolest design
GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro
It’s still a pretty solid pointer
The GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro is a high-end, premium gaming mouse with a unique design. It’s not the lightest gaming mouse out there, but it packs pretty good internals, and delivers a reliable gaming experience overall.
- Looks great, and feels just as nice
- 26,000 DPI sensor and 4,000Hz polling rate
- Extra buttons that can support custom mappings
Unlike most of the pointers on this list, the GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro has an odd design. The Gunmetal Gray body, combined with its futuristic aesthetics, make the Mercury M1 Pro look out of this world, so to speak. But don’t let its eccentric appearance fool you: this is an all-rounder mouse that’s great for most tasks, be it scrolling through numerous spreadsheets or bagging an impossible kill in CS:GO. Inside the alien-looking mouse, you’ll find the PAW3395 sensor, which supports up to 26,000 DPI for the accurate tracking that gamers need. In addition to its 4,000 Hz polling rate, you also get to choose between wireless and wired connectivity modes.
Related
GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro gaming mouse review: Form over functionality?
The Mercury M1 Pro is guaranteed to attract some attention, but is it worth picking up?
There is a bit of RGB lighting, but unlike most gaming mice, it’s implemented in a tasteful manner and fits the overall image of the Mercury M1 Pro. The battery life is just as good, as you get up to 200 hours after a full charge. If you’re in the market for a weird yet highly functional mouse, this is the one you should get.
Best ergonomics
Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse
Give your wrist a break
Logitech’s MX Ergo wireless trackball mouse was the solution to my wrist and forearm pain. It’s super comfortable to use all day, and you don’t lose any precision despite the thumb-controlled trackball. Connect with Bluetooth or 2.4GHz dongle and enjoy months of battery life on a charge.
- Extremely comfortable design
- Trackball pointing doesn’t lose any precision
- Long battery life, pair with two separate devices
Logitech’s MX Ergo trackball mouse is a personal all-time favorite, to the point that I’ve now purchased a second one after wearing out the first. That’s not to say the mouse isn’t durable; I just loved it so much that I used it for everything, including gaming, which far surpassed the click limit. It held up for four years of heavy daily use, which is why I was confident about buying a second one.
I used to deal with some painful wrist and forearm stress, but this mouse was the solution. I don’t use it quite as much these days, but anytime I’m feeling a twinge of pain I’ll get it out and use it again for a few weeks. It’s designed to keep your hand at a more natural angle, and the trackball means you don’t have to make those harmful micro-movements with your wrist. I was skeptical at first that I’d be able to have as much precision with my thumb, but it only took a couple of days to get used to the design. A small button next to the trackball lets you quickly swap between sensitivities for precise pointing.
The mouse can be paired up with two separate devices, it has extra customizable buttons next to the left click, and the trackball is easy to clean. It’s also rechargeable, with up to four months of life on a charge. Connect via Bluetooth or with the included 2.4GHz dongle. This is a great mouse for those with large hands, but it’ll pretty much work for anyone.
Getting the perfect mouse for your needs
Buying the right mouse to suit your needs will come down to your available budget, dominant hand, and general usage needs. You want something that’s comfortable for all-day use, and you want something that can keep up with your pointing, clicking, and tapping. You may prioritize longer battery life for extended workdays or a more precise sensor for competitive gaming. Gaming mice can even be a great option for general use.
If we’re picking one mouse that will suit the most people, Logitech’s MX Master 3S is an easy recommendation. It’s super comfortable thanks to an angled ergonomic design (though it’s really only made for righties), it has a bunch of customizable buttons and thumb scroll wheels, and it works across platforms with up to three devices paired at once. The wireless connectivity via either Bluetooth or 2.4GHz dongle keeps your desk looking clean, and the battery can last for up to two months on a charge. An 8,000 DPI sensor is plenty precise for most workloads, and it’ll work on just about any surface. Unless you’re a gamer who needs something specialized, this would be your natural choice.
Alternatively, you can check out the VAXEE XE-S if you want a solid gaming mouse that can hold its own in your favorite FPS titles. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro, a highly capable mouse with an alien appearance.
Editor’s choice
Logitech MX Master 3S
$84 $100 Save $16
The MX Master 3S from Logitech is the best all-around mouse for productivity and specialized work. It’s comfortable, it’s accurate, it has long battery life, and it has a bunch of customizable buttons to suit your workflow.
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source: https://www.xda-developers.com/best-mouse/
