Great Gaming Mice That Won’t Break the Bank | 2021 Edition

Buying gaming peripherals in this day and age can get quite challenging, especially if you’re on a budget. Plus, with so many options to choose from, you might feel like you need an engineering degree to understand what’s good and what isn’t! To make matters even worse, everyone’s trying to paint their product as the next best thing since sliced bread, making it even harder to discern whether something’s worth your hard-earned money. 

Fortunately, we’ve come to the point where nearly all options on the market (at least from reputable brands) offer great bang for your buck! So, let’s go over a bunch of great gaming mice you can buy right now without spending a small fortune.

Most gaming mice on this list share many traits, which is good — that’ll make your life a lot easier! Things will therefore mostly boil down to personal preference, with certain parameters like mouse shape, weight, design, and connectivity options eventually swaying you in one direction or another. Unless you’re a hardcore esports pro, you won’t notice a difference when it comes to the performance of these mice, so you might as well base your decision on a more superficial set of criteria.

Finally, before we delve any deeper into our list, just have in mind that — no matter the price — all mice listed below are exceptional in one way or another and will definitely empower your gameplay! They won’t necessarily make you a better player, but they’ll certainly result in a more enjoyable gaming experience, not to mention a more precise level of control! 

So, with that out of the way, let’s begin! 

Logitech G305 ($59.99)

If you’re looking for an exceptional well-rounded package — that’s also wireless — then look no further than the G305. It has fantastic build quality, runs on just a single AA battery (providing you with around 250 hours of use), all the while sporting a 1 ms report rate along with Logitech’s phenomenal HERO sensor (for up to 12,000 DPI). And, on the off chance you need a bit more juice, you can always set it to Endurance mode and get up to nine months of typical use. 

It’s not exactly the lightest mouse on this list (a couple of grams shy of 100, depending on the type of battery you go for), but it’s definitely a fantastic option, especially if you’re a fan of Logitech’s overall aesthetic. Plus, it’s available in both Lilac and Blue, just in case you want a mouse with a bit more flair! 

Razer Viper Mini ($39.99)

At just $39.99, Razer’s Viper Mini is every inch a premium product, despite selling for a fraction of the cost. It’s also one of the lightest mice on this list at just 61g — the perfect weight if you’re super into competitive first-person shooters! It has a bit of RGB as well along with Razer’s phenomenal optical switches (rated for a very respectable 50 million clicks).

They’re not of the mechanical variety, but instead utilize an infrared light beam to register every click, ensuring an “industry-leading response time of 0.2 milliseconds.” Not too shabby! The only downside is that it’s wired, but that might not be a dealbreaker depending on your personal preference. 

SteelSeries Rival 3 & Rival 3 Wireless ($29.99–$49.99)

The Rival 3 from SteelSeries is all about user preference; it comes in both wired and wireless variants and is a fantastic, well-rounded choice. The wired one won’t leave much of a mark on your wallet at just $29.99, but you can also opt for the wireless model ($49.99). 

That’s a very acceptable price tag given that it comes with built-in Bluetooth support! That, along with the fact that it boasts up to 400 hours of battery life makes it one of the best and most versatile options on this list! 

Cooler Master MM710 ($49.99)

If you’re looking for the lightest possible mouse (from a reputable brand) that won’t break the bank, then look no further than the Cooler Master MM710. At $49.99, it’s not the cheapest of the bunch (nor is it wireless), but its honeycomb shell and ultralight construction (and spectacular Pixart 3389 optical sensor) will do wonders for your aim. It’s just 53g thanks to its perforated housing; lightweight mice might be a gimmick to a certain degree, but at this level, you’ll truly feel the difference. 

It is worth pointing out, however, that this honeycomb design isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and neither is the feel of the mouse — it just can’t compete in that department with most (if not all) other mice on this list. But that’s the price you often have to pay to get as light a mouse as possible. For the most hardcore FPS players, it’s definitely a worthwhile trade-off.

Razer Orochi V2 ($69.99)

The Orochi V2 from Razer is a brand-new addition to this list, and it’s definitely worth your time and attention. Now, it’s by no means cheap, but it’s still well-worth the asking price, in no small part because of its monstrous battery life (up to 950 hours if you’re only using Bluetooth); this is undeniably its biggest selling point and, frankly, no other gaming mouse comes even close to it in terms of sheer endurance.

Whether that’s enough for you to justify spending seventy dollars on it depends solely on your own personal preference, but it’s definitely a viable option, especially if your budget can cover it. It is undoubtedly one of the best gaming mice in 2021 (for both gaming and productivity work) and it’s not obscenely priced either. Impressive, to say the least!

Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed Wireless ($59.99)

Finally, there’s the Basilisk X HyperSpeed Wireless from Razer. At $59.99, you’re definitely paying a bit of that well-known “Razer tax” but it’s an exceptional gaming mouse regardless. It has an ergonomic design, 16,000 DPI optical sensor, stellar battery life (around 450 hours), and packs Bluetooth connectivity as well — just in case you want to free up a USB A port on your computer/laptop. It’s also stunning by design, but that’s pretty much always the case whenever it’s Razer we’re talking about. 

Regardless of the model you eventually choose to purchase, you’re all but guaranteed to end up with a phenomenal gaming mouse that’s bound to deliver in all the right ways!