If you’re a real gamer, a traditional trackpad simply isn’t going to cut it. The lack of precision and simple two button structure are woefully under-equipped to handle increasingly complex games. But even a traditional office mouse is going to have you playing with a handicap.
Gaming mice offer a whole slew of features targeted towards the pro and semi-pro community, and a top gaming mouse can become incredibly expensive incredibly quick. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune getting a quality gaming mouse. We’ve highlighted a diverse selection of mice for those on a budget. If you’re looking for the best gaming mouse under 50 dollars, we’re ready to present you with some quality options.
- The Best Gaming Mouse Under $50
- CORSAIR Harpoon RGB Wireless
- Logitech G MX518 Gaming Mouse
- PICTEK Wired Gaming Mouse
- Razer Basilisk Essential Gaming Mouse
- Logitech G403 Prodigy RGB Gaming Mouse
- Anker Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
- SteelSeries Rival 310 Gaming Mouse
- Razer DeathAdder Elite Gaming Mouse
- CORSAIR IRONCLAW RGB Gaming Mouse
- Logitech G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse
- Redragon M909 USB Wired Gaming Mouse
- Best Gaming Mouses Under 50 Buyer’s Guide
The Best Gaming Mouse Under $50
| Design | Gaming | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price |
CORSAIR Harpoon RGB Wireless
The Corsair Harpoon is an incredibly PC gaming mouse that promises a build quality and intuitive design that can rival significantly more expensive models. It’s a little simple in its design, but its value and performance can’t be argued. This wireless gaming mouse can also be connected directly to your computer using a USB cable, but you probably won’t need that. It offers a latency speed of under 1 millisecond.
All six buttons can be fully customized using the software interface, and the inclusion of Omron sensors rated for 50 million clicks means that this Bluetooth gaming mouse will last you a good long time. A dedicated button allows you to scroll through five different presets, a great inclusion that allows you to shift seamlessly between different game genres or shift to a de facto sniping mode in first person shooters. The max DPI is a respectable 10,000.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 6, fully programmable |
| DPI | max 10,000 |
| Weight | 3.52 oz. |
Pros
- Exceptionally low latency levels
- Great ergonomic design
- Can run for up to 60 hours in wireless mode
- Great interface for customizing buttons and lighting
Cons
Logitech G MX518 Gaming Mouse
The Logitech MX518 has been regarded as one of the top gaming mice since before gaming mice were a thing. Initially marketed as a more traditional office mouse, this wired mouse has managed to maintain its reputation in the gaming community despite a lack of major changes to its design. This newer G-series model folds in some smart features focused on gamers without ruining what made the MX518 such a solid gaming mouse under 50 bucks in the first place.
The design is largely the same as it’s been for the past 20 years with the sleek and understated form of an ergonomic gaming mouse and eight smartly placed and programmable buttons. The DPI settings here are especially smart: allowing you to scroll between multiple settings but quickly return to your default with a single button press. And despite the fairly bulky design of the MX518, it’s surprisingly light.
| Sensor | HERO Optical |
| Buttons | 8, fully programmable |
| DPI | 100 – 16,000 |
| Weight | 7.2 oz. |
Pros
- HERO 16K gaming sensor
- 32-bit ARM Processor
- An Improvement on a beloved legacy gaming mouse
- 8 Programmable Buttons
- Cleverly implemented DPI cycling positioned by the wheel
Cons
PICTEK Wired Gaming Mouse
This Pictek is an extremely low budget gaming mouse with a price tag of about $20, but it performs far better than you could hope for such a cheap gaming mouse. The real appeal here is the variety of control you have over polling rates and DPI settings. While multiple defaults are available for each, the included software allows you to change that to options that accurately suit your play styles, and the software is easy to use even if you aren’t technically inclined. Dig deeper, and you’ll also find the options to change your sensitivity, scrolling and click speeds, and lighting configurations. It also supports granular macro customization.
The build quality isn’t top flight, but it’s definitely far better than the price would suggest. The grip is firm despite a lack of textured design, but keep in mind that this is a mouse clearly designed for a claw grip.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 8, fully programmable |
| DPI | 500 – 7,200 |
| Weight | 6.4 oz. |
Pros
- Great FPS gaming mouse
- Dedicated rapid-fire button
- Exceptionally dense customization options
- Chroma RGB backlighting supports 16.8 million color options
- Rated for 20 million clicks and supported by an 18 month warranty
Cons
Razer Basilisk Essential Gaming Mouse
The Razer Basilisk is one of the most highly regarded gaming mice around, but it’s also relatively expensive. The Essential takes the fundamentals of what works about this mechanical mouse and carves a good $20 off the asking price. Best of all, it doesn’t sacrifice much in the process. This is an eminently comfortable gaming mouse under 50 dollars, with a spacious and comfortable thumb rest and smartly positioned buttons that reduce the risk of finger strain. Rubber grips and a tactile wheel provide a great grip that won’t slip.
It also sports a versatile and customizable design that works across a wide range of genres. A detachable paddle comes included, and FPS players will love the easy DPI adjustment settings. And as a Razer mouse, it comes with Synapse support. That allows you a lot of control over your mouse settings and lighting, and it can store multiple profiles.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 7, fully programmable |
| DPI | max 6,400 |
| Weight | 4.5 oz. |
Pros
- Onboard memory for saving multiple, complex presets
- Dedicated DPI buttons for changing sensitivity on the fly
- Mechanical switches are rated for up to 50 million clicks
- Highly ergonomic design and adjustable side button
Cons
Logitech G403 Prodigy RGB Gaming Mouse
Logitech’s MX518 essentially fell accidentally into its reputation as a great gaming mouse, but the G403 Prodigy is what you get when Logitech decides to build a gaming mouse from the ground up. Despite having something of a “me too” feel, this computer mouse is solid and reliable. It supports an appropriately high DPI for gaming and an ergonomic design that feels good even after hours of extended play.
The Logitech Gaming Software that the G403 uses is some of the best in the business, and all the standard configuration options you could expect from a gaming mouse are here. The mouse sensor here is respectable, and the battery promises roughly 20 hours on a single charge. All told, the G403 is workmanlike in design. It doesn’t do anything truly special, but it’s a great and affordable budget option for gamers getting their first bearings with a dedicated mouse.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 6, fully programmable |
| DPI | 200 – 12,000 |
| Weight | 6.9 oz. plus 10 g removable weight |
Pros
- Customizable lighting with a choice of 16.8 million colors
- 10 gram weight allow you to adjust how heavy the mouse is
- Onboard memory for saving multiple settings
- Rubber grips built into both sides
Cons
Anker Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
You’ll be hard pressed to find a good gaming mouse for the price the Anker is available for. And as long as you can temper your expectations, you’ll be surprised at how much value it offers for less than $15. While there aren’t DPI customization levels, the six presets should meet the needs of most gamers as long as you can live with a modest maximum rating of 6,400. And adjusting between levels is easy with the built-in button assigned just for that.
Otherwise, this is a pretty standard gaming mouse clearly designed with entry level users in mind. Decent RGB lighting allows you a degree of aesthetic customization, and the cushioned finish provides you with a level of comfort you won’t find in a more traditional office mouse. The keys are especially nice, utilizing Omron Micro switches that provide a nice tactile response without requiring much pressure at all.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 6, fully programmable |
| DPI | 800/1600/2400/3200/4800/6400 |
| Weight | 5 oz. |
Pros
- Very responsive buttons with a nice feel
- Optical sensor reports mouse position 1000 times a second
- One of the cheapest gaming mice you’ll find anywhere
- Backed by an 18 month warranty and attentive customer service
Cons
SteelSeries Rival 310 Gaming Mouse
If you’re looking for a professional level peripheral for gaming, SteelSeries is one of the first names to look to. And while the Rival 310 strips out some of the higher end features that the manufacturer is known for out of necessity, it’s a tight gaming mouse that’s reliable enough to meet the needs of even serious esports competitors. The sensor here is way better than any mouse at this price has the right to be with its max DPI of 12,000, 350 inches per second performance, and one to one tracking.
It sports an ergonomic design as well, ensuring that it will feel good in your grip even during the most heated gameplay sessions, and there’s both a dedicated DPI switcher and a couple of navigation buttons built into the side for easy access. Input lag is practically non-existent, and there are a number of options for lighting configurations.
| Sensor | TrueMove3 Optical |
| Buttons | 6, fully programmable |
| DPI | max 12,000 |
| Weight | 3.52 oz. |
Pros
- Two zone RGB lighting is highly customizable
- Main buttons have a durability level of 50 million clicks
- Slim frame and incredibly comfortable design
- Settings can be saved directly to the onboard memory
Cons
Razer DeathAdder Elite Gaming Mouse
As far as gaming mice under 50 bucks are concerned, the DeathAdder Elite is one of the most versatile. Whether you’re looking for a dedicated MMO gaming mouse or something that can suit tournament level play, this is a mouth that will suit your needs perfectly. It’s been a trusted name in the industry for over a decade, and if design updates have been rare in the intervening years, it’s just because the fundamentals here are so strong.
The Elite takes the great ergonomic design of its predecessor and bulks it up a bit with the inclusion of two more buttons and an enhanced scroll wheel. As with any Razer peripheral, one of the biggest selling points here is the truly exceptional Synapse 2.0 platform, still one of the best software suites for customizing a mouse. The highly responsive buttons make it ideal for any game that demands frenetic clicking.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 7, fully programmable |
| DPI | max 16,000 |
| Weight | 4.6 oz. |
Pros
- Incredibly durable and responsive buttons
- Rated for 50 million clicks and backed by a two year warranty
- Versatile coloring options with multiple presets baked in
- Dedicated DPI buttons can be reprogrammed
Cons
CORSAIR IRONCLAW RGB Gaming Mouse
The Corsair Ironclaw is an affordable gaming mouse that does just about everything right and is crafted with the needs of serious gamers in mind. It’s durable enough to withstand the high-click demands of both FPS and MOBA gamers, and it offers robust and meaningful customization settings that allow gamers to tailor it to their highly specific needs. It sports a very low input latency level and a great battery life that can comfortably weather marathon gaming sessions.
There’s no doubt that this is a big mouse, so if you find the typical gaming mouse a little too small for your liking, the Ironclaw has your needs filled. But despite that, it sports a lightweight design that makes moving it around a breeze. Rubber grips ensure that despite its size, it fits comfortably within your palm, and it sports a pleasingly high profile in addition to its generally larger shape.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 7, fully programmable |
| DPI | max 18,000 |
| Weight | 3.68 oz. |
Pros
- A nicely contoured mouse built for players with larger hands
- High native max DPI adjustable in steps of 1
- Two zone RGB lighting for complex light displays
- Omron switches rated for 50 million clicks
Cons
Logitech G602 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G206 is one of the cheapest mice on our list, but it also offers more buttons than any of its listed contemporaries. Like the Ironclaw, this is a mouse built for gamers with larger hands. Of course, the presence of 11 buttons wouldn’t matter much if you weren’t able to customize them to meet your needs. Fortunately, the configuration options are top notch, and the onboard memory ensures that you can save multiple profiles and access them on the fly regardless of where you decide to hook up your mouse.
The wireless connectivity is of the highest caliber too. It offers an incredibly low latency rate that will be barely discernible to most players. The battery on this mouse can last a full 250 hours. Just bear in mind that it uses traditional AA batteries rather than a rechargeable alternative.
| Sensor | Delta Zero Optical |
| Buttons | 7, fully programmable |
| DPI | 250 – 2500 |
| Weight | 7.2 oz. |
Pros
- A high endurance model with an incredible battery life
- Built for larger hands with a nice sense of weight
- Comes with a whopping 11 customizable buttons
- DPI switch controls with five separate settings
Cons
Redragon M909 USB Wired Gaming Mouse
The ambidextrous shape of the Redragon M909 makes it a rare model that can serve as both a right and left handed gaming mouse. This wired mouse makes use of a simple USB cord for the connection, so you don’t have to worry about input lag at all. While the DPI levels can’t be manually set, there are six different settings that bridge the distance from 500 to 12400.
This is marketed first and foremost as an MMO gaming mouse, so of course it comes with an expansive number of buttons. Of the eight buttons available, seven can be individually programmed, and the M909 offers onboard memory with five profiles, so you can seamlessly swap between different classes or builds. There are even programmable RGB lighting settings that can intuitively let you know which profile you’re shifting to.
| Sensor | Optical |
| Buttons | 8, 7 programmable |
| DPI | 500/1000/2000/3000/6200/12400 |
| Weight | 5.45 oz. |
Pros
- RGB lighting supports 16.8 million colors and multiple effects
- Button switches rated for 5 million clicks
- An ergonomic mouse design that’s also ambidextrous
- Scroll wheel is incredibly precise
Cons
Best Gaming Mouses Under 50 Buyer’s Guide
There’s no one size fits all mouse for gaming. A good mouse for competitive Call of Duty isn’t going to look the same as the ideal MMO gaming mouse. We’re here to help you understand some of the important features and specs to look for when shopping for a new mouse.
Build
“Ergonomic” is a word that’s thrown around a lot when talking about mouse design, but it can mean everything from a dedicated vertical mouse to simply one that includes a few sleek curves. When you’re shopping for a mouse you can use while gaming, you’re going to want to consider the type of grip you use.
The palm grip is the most common style, and it reduces the stress on your hand by spreading out the weight distribution of your hand and taking pressure off your wrist. Palm grip gamers will want to look for a mouse with a wider design and a higher arch.
If you’re an RTS gamer, you probably use a claw grip. By arching your fingers into a claw, you can click more rapidly and move the mouse more easily in quick jerks. Ideal claw grip mice have a lower arch and are shorter in length.
If you use a tip grip, your palm barely touches the mouse, and your fingers control almost all of the movement directly. The ideal mouse here has the flattest back and is very compact in size. A tip grip allows you to move quickly, making it great for quick and reflexive movements but not especially strong if you want an especially higher level of precision. Snipers need not apply.
You’ll also want to take into consideration any ergonomic flourishes that can help you during longer gameplay sessions. Rubberized grips on the side are a common and useful embellishment, and many mice come with a thumb rest along the side. Also consider the button placement to determine whether a mouse is suited to your needs.
DPI
DPI, or dots per inch, is a measurement of a mouse’s sensitivity. The higher the DPI, the more easily the cursor will move along the surface of the screen. The right DPI for any given gamer is going to vary according to both their reflexes and the game being played.
A high DPI is great when you want to get a quick scan of your surroundings or move rapidly across the environment. A low DPI is great for precise actions like sniping. Gamers operating on the pro level often switch between different DPIs over the course of a single game, and that’s why it’s crucial to have adjustment buttons built into the mouse. Ideally, you also want a mouse that lets you manually program the DPI settings.
The higher the max DPI, the more options you have for your settings, but depending on your preferred sensitivity, mice that offer a max of something like 2,500 DPI may suit you perfectly well. You should experiment with different sensitivity levels to determine how high end of a mouse you need for your gaming experience.
Programmability
Perhaps the biggest advantage that gaming mice offers is the ability to customize the settings for the buttons. A quality gaming mouse doesn’t just let you assign simple values. It supports complex macros that can be hyper-specific to an individual game. Serious gamers will want to look for mice that come with onboard memory so you can set up separate configurations to all of your mains.
Also worthy of consideration is the software that each mice uses to configure these settings. The software platform lets you adjust macros, but it also lets you define presets for your RGB lighting and sensitivity levels. Logitech’s Gaming Software and the Razer Synapse 2.0 platform are neck and neck as the best options available at the moment.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking on Amazon for a gaming mouse, it can be hard to know which budget options are good and which are just cheap. Luckily, you have this guide. Our reviews are all top quality products that perform well above the standard expectations of their price. Whether you’re willing to drop a full $50 on a model like the Ironclaw or find a dirt cheap model like the Pictek, the one unifying quality is the level of value on display.
If you liked our article on gaming mice under $50, please share and comment below what your favorite product is.
