The best wired mouse for you will be fast, accurate, and comfortable, making sure that whether you're gaming, working, or just browsing the web, you'll enjoy the wired mouse under your fingertips like no other. Wired mice don't have to worry about battery life, and they can be extremely light, making them some of the best for gaming, but they're also often much more affordable than the best wireless mice.
Whether you're looking for an ultralight mouse, or something with unique ergonomics for improved support, here are the best wired mice for 2023.
Microsoft Pro Intellimouse
Best midrange mouse
- Understated design
- Ergonomic shape
- Accurate sensor
- Customizable buttons
- Limited customization options
Why you should buy it: It's an understated mouse that is great for work or play.
Who is it for: Anyone who wants an affordable, midrange mouse.
What we thought of the Microsoft Pro Intellimouse:
The Microsoft Pro Intellimouse is an excellent midrange wired mouse with impressive features and looks that would be as at home in a gamer's hand as it would on an office desk. It has a fast and accurate Pixart sensor, making it good for accuracy-demanding photo editing and high-speed gaming. It has a pair of customizable buttons, but you won't find the detailed macro options of more gamer-focused mice.
It has PTFE feet for a smooth glide across your mouse mat, and it's relatively lightweight, so you won't get fatigued over long sessions. The cable is braided and designed to avoid tangles, and the overall design is durable, with the switches rated for up to 20 million clicks.
ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air
The lightest wired gaming mouse
- Affordable
- Extremely lightweight
- Pre-installed PTFE feet
- Unique triangular design
- Durable paracord cable
- IPX6 water-resistance
- Annoying firmware updates
- Switches are too light
Why you should buy it: It's the lightest gaming mouse in the world.
Who is it for: Competitive gamers looking for every edge.
What we thought of the Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air:
The Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air might have stiff competition from some of the best gaming mice, but when it comes to speed, there's nothing that can touch it. At just 47 grams, it is the lightest gaming mouse you can buy, making it perfectly suited to high-speed esports gaming. It has cutouts on the top to minimize weight like many other ultralight mice, but this one even has cutouts on the bottom. That does make it a little more susceptible to dust buildup, but its easy enough to clean and it has IPX6 water resistance, so it's well-protected against sweat and spillages.
The switches are incredibly sensitive, making them quick to actuate at the lightest pressure, and they're rated for 60 million clicks, so this mouse should last you a long time. It has an accurate Pixart sensor that can hit a DPI as high as 16,000 if you ever desired it, and it has a polling rate of 1,000Hz. That's fast, but not the fastest.
The price is excellent too, making this one of the more affordable gaming mice you can buy. It's a unique design that won't be for everyone, but if you feel like improving your speed rather than the polling rate of the mouse, this is the mouse for the job.
SteelSeries Rival 3
Best budget gaming mouse
- Very affordable price
- Great gaming sensor
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Tasteful RGB lighting
- All-plastic build
- Liftoff distance too great
Why you should buy it: It's the most affordable quality gaming mouse out there.
Who is it for: Gamers on a tight budget.
What we thought of the SteelSeries Rival 3
The SteelSeries Rival 3 is a capable gaming mouse with an excellent Pixart sensor that gives it a high 8,500 DPI and impressive accuracy. It has six programmable buttons and a comfortable, ambidextrous design. Unfortunately, it doesn't have buttons on both sides, so it's not as good for left-handed gamers, but it's still usable.
There's some tasteful RGB lighting at its base and logo, which you can customize in the SteelSeries software, and the durable switches are rated to last up to 60 million clicks, so you should get a lot for your money with this budget gaming mouse. It's relatively well-built, and is quite durable, but it has only a cheap plastic shell, so it doesn't have the added comfort or solid feel of more expensive gaming mice.
Logitech M100
Best cheap wired mouse
- Very affordable
- Comfortable design
- Compact chassis for small hands
- Understated looks
- Lacks features of more expensive mice
Why you should buy it: It's the cheapest wired mouse you can buy that isn't terrible.
Who is it for: Office workers looking for a cheap mouse of surprising quality.
What we thought of the Logitech M100
The Logitech M100 isn't an amazing mouse, but it sure is a good one at under $15 -- you aren't going to find anything anywhere near this good at this kind of price. It has a 1,000 DPI sensitivity, which is enough for casual use, and it has an impressive build quality for such an affordable wired mouse. It works across a range of operating systems, and sports a compact, ambidextrous design, so it fits left-handed and right-handed users, as well as those with smaller hands.
It doesn't have much in the way of gaming features, but for anyone who just wants a cheap wired mouse to replace the default mouse they got with their PC, or is seeking to upgrade from a laptop touchpad, it's a big improvement.
Razer Basilisk V3
Best wired gaming mouse
- High-end sensor
- Amazing RGB LED lighting
- Ergonomic design
- 11 programmable buttons
- Affordable price
- More than most gamers need
Why you should buy it: It's a high-end gaming mouse at an affordable price.
Who is it for: Gamers who want the best wired gaming has to offer.
What we thought of the Razer Basilisk V3:
The Razer Basilisk V3 may be the ultimate wired gaming mouse, and yet it's still priced fairly. With it, you get a high-end, accurate sensor that is perfect for fast-paced competitive games and slower-paced, immersive simulators. It has heaps of programmable buttons and some of the best-looking RGB lighting you'll find on any peripheral — and you can sync it with other Razer Chroma devices, too.
It has a hyperscroll tilt scroll wheel, which you won't find on many mice, let alone many gaming mice, and it has incredibly fast switches. They actuate in just 0.2 milliseconds, helping you to be a faster and more competitive player. They're also rated for 70 million clicks, so this is a gaming mouse that will last you for years and years.
If you want a little more support from your mice, check out our guide to the best ergonomic mice.
Editors' Recommendations
- Best Alienware deals: Gaming PCs, laptops, and monitors
- Best HP Memorial Day deals: laptops, gaming PCs, monitors, more
- Best Buy deals: Save on laptops, TVs, appliances, and more
- Best gaming laptop deals: Alienware, Razer, Asus and more
- Best gaming chair deals: Save on Corsair, Razer, and more
