Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best wired mouse for 2023: the best mice for gaming, work, and more

Microsoft Pro Intellimouse
Microsoft Pro Intellimouse
Best midrange mouse
Jump to details
Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air
ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air
The lightest wired gaming mouse
Jump to details
SteelSeries Rival 3 - Gaming Mouse - 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor - 6 Programmable Buttons - Split Trigger Buttons
SteelSeries Rival 3
Best budget gaming mouse
Jump to details
Logitech M100
Logitech M100
Best cheap wired mouse
Jump to details
Razer Basilisk V3
Razer Basilisk V3
Best wired gaming mouse
Jump to details

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
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft Pro Intellimouse

Best midrange mouse

Pros
  • Understated design
  • Ergonomic shape
  • Accurate sensor
  • Customizable buttons
Cons
  • 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.

Microsoft Pro Intellimouse
Microsoft Pro Intellimouse
Best midrange mouse
The top of the Asus TUF mouse with its cut-out design.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air

The lightest wired gaming mouse

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Pre-installed PTFE feet
  • Unique triangular design
  • Durable paracord cable
  • IPX6 water-resistance
Cons
  • 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.

Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air
ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air
The lightest wired gaming mouse
SteelSeries Rival 3 wired gaming mouse.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

SteelSeries Rival 3

Best budget gaming mouse

Pros
  • Very affordable price
  • Great gaming sensor
  • Comfortable ergonomics
  • Tasteful RGB lighting
Cons
  • 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.

SteelSeries Rival 3 - Gaming Mouse - 8,500 CPI TrueMove Core Optical Sensor - 6 Programmable Buttons - Split Trigger Buttons
SteelSeries Rival 3
Best budget gaming mouse
Logitech M100 office mouse.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Logitech M100

Best cheap wired mouse

Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Comfortable design
  • Compact chassis for small hands
  • Understated looks
Cons
  • 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.

Logitech M100
Logitech M100
Best cheap wired mouse
Razer Basilisk V3.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Razer Basilisk V3

Best wired gaming mouse

Pros
  • High-end sensor
  • Amazing RGB LED lighting
  • Ergonomic design
  • 11 programmable buttons
  • Affordable price
Cons
  • 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.

Razer Basilisk V3
Razer Basilisk V3
Best wired gaming mouse

If you want a little more support from your mice, check out our guide to the best ergonomic mice.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to guides, best-of lists, and explainers to help everyone understand the hottest new hardware and software in desktops, laptops, and on the web.

Jon also writes for Forbes, Lifewire, and Microcenter, has authored two novels, and provided back story and dialogue for a handful of games.

 

10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed
An OLED demo running on the MSI MPG321URX.

There are a ton of options if you are on the hunt for one of the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays that offer great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.

We're focused specifically on gaming monitors here, which come with higher refresh rates and adaptive sync features like G-Sync and FreeSync. If you're looking for an all-around display, make sure to browse our list of the best monitors.

Read more
This curved gaming monitor is down to just $160 at Best Buy
The AOC G2 Series curved gaming monitor on a white background.

If you've spent most of your budget on gaming PC deals, you can still get a decent display for your setup with Best Buy's offer for the 24-inch AOC G2 Series curved gaming monitor. From an already affordable sticker price of $210, it's even cheaper at just $160 following a $50 discount. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this bargain though, so if you think this budget-friendly monitor is perfect for you, it's highly recommended that you complete the purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the 24-inch AOC G2 Series curved gaming monitor
You shouldn't expect the 24-inch AOC G2 Series curved gaming monitor to match the performance and features of the best gaming monitors for its price, but it's still definitely a nice screen for playing the best PC games. Its size is within the recommended range of 24 inches to 32 inches by our computer monitor buying guide, and its Full HD resolution will provide sharp details and vivid colors. The monitor also offers an up to 165Hz refresh rate for fast frame transitions, a 1ms response time for blur-free scenes, and support for AMD's FreeSync Premium to eliminate screen tearing.

Read more
Best Buy deals: Save on laptops, TVs, appliances, and more
best buy shuts down insignia line smart home products store 2 768x768

Best Buy is always a great retailer to turn to if you’re looking for some savings. There are almost always Best Buy deals taking place on TVs, appliances, and devices we use to navigate the digital world. In fact, right now at Best Buy you can find some of the best TV deals, best laptop deals, and best phone deals that can be shopped, and we haven’t even mentioned the deals on tablets and home audio equipment currently taking place at Best Buy. We’ve rounded up all of the best Best Buy deals you can shop right now and categorized them for your convenience below, so read onward for some great opportunities to save.
Best Buy TV deals

There may be no better place to purchase one of the best TVs than Best Buy. There is almost always some huge savings to find on TVs at Best Buy, and that’s certainly the case right now. You’ll find deals top TV brands like Sony, Samsung, and LG, and more budget-friendly brands like TCL and Hisense are in play, too.

Read more