The Best Gaming Mouse Reviews

Choosing the Best Gaming Mouse

So you’re looking into getting a new mouse. Maybe you want the edge over your friends, need a mouse replacement, or are just looking for an upgrade. No matter what the reason, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best gaming mouse.

1. Speed and Accuracy

The thing that really sets a gaming mouse apart from a normal mouse is the DPI. This stands for Dots Per Inch and is a reflection of the amount of recordings a mouse will take if moved one inch. Your standard mouse runs about 800 to 1000 DPI. High-end gaming mice such as the Razer Mamba and the Logitech G700 run at 5600 and 5700 respectively. This high DPI allows the mouse to be extremely sensitive to movement and translates to increased speed in gaming.

2. Programmable Buttons

Another of the big features that separates gaming mice from standard mice is the programmable buttons. Almost all gaming mice have extra buttons that can be set to switch your sensitivity or do custom macros. Before you buy a mouse, make sure it has enough buttons – but not so many that they will get in the way. Some mice, such as the Razer Naga, also have custom interfaces you can download for specific games. These make it easy to clear up some room on screen by mapping your skills or macros to physical buttons.

3. Wired vs. Wireless

Once upon a time, wireless mice were quite a ways behind their wired counterparts. These days, wireless mouse performance is almost on par with that of a wired mouse. This really comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer wired mouse because they don’t lose connectivity or need to be recharged while other like the freedom of a wireless mouse. If you do indeed go wireless, make sure you check to see if any other features are lacking. Also check to see if it uses a rechargeable battery or disposable batteries.

4. Response Time

This is an overlooked yet important aspect of gaming mice. You probably want to find a mouse that has a 1ms response time. This is pretty standard in most gaming mice, but some mice – especially dual wired/wireless mice like the Razer Orochi - take a hit in the response time category when playing wireless.

5. Customization

Probably one of the coolest features of many gaming mice today is the amount of customization you can do. You can change every button, right down to the left and right click to do anything you want. Some mice go even further than that. A few let you change the color of the mouse backlight; some even allow up to 16 million color combinations. Even better, some allow you to change the physical feel of the mouse. The Logitech G9X allows you to change the amount of weight inside the mouse and even the side grip can be switched out. The Cyborg R.A.T. 7 also has a high level of customization.

6. Onboard Memory

Many of the best gaming mice out right now have built-in onboard memory. This allows you to make different mouse profiles for different games or situations and store them on the mouse. This is not only convenient because you can switch between them, but also because it allows you to have all your settings when you plug in to another computer.

7. Extra Features

In the mice currently on the market, there are lots of extra features that can give you an edge. Some of them may seem like overkill, (such as a braided cord and gold-plated usb connectore) but others can give you the edge. Some things to check are the material of the feet, if any software comes with the mouse, and the movement of the scroll wheel. New features will continue ot evolve in gaming mice. It is up to you to discern if the added features will make a difference in the way you play.

Razer Naga Epic MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse Review

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The Naga Epic, like its sibling the Razer Naga, is made for only one purpose: massively multiplayer online gaming. One look at this mouse will tell you that its not your standard gaming mouse. It has all of Razer’s features like 5600 DPI tracking, but the thing that sets this mouse apart is the sheer number of buttons Razer crammed in. It’s not unusual for a high-end mouse to have programmable buttons, but the Epic Naga has 17. That’s not a typo. The thing has 17 buttons. Excluding your standard left, right, and middle button, this mouse has 14 buttons to fully program. Sound familiar? The standard Naga boasts these buttons as well, but the Naga Epic has some tricks up its sleeve to set it even further apart from the competition. This mouse is really the choice for the mmog player that wants full control and customization. I’ll break it down further in the following sections. If you are already interested in purchasing the Naga Epic, click here to see it on amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

The Naga Epic is one of the most complex and expensive gaming mice on the market because of the number of things you can program its buttons to do. Still, this mouse is no slouch in the speed and accuracy department. Just like Razer’s other top of the line mice, this one has a 5600 DPI laser engine. This means it is accurate enough for any play style, and can obviously be changed to be as sensitive as you want. 5600 DPI is fast enough that you will probably never even touch its most sensitive mode. The Naga Epic also has Razer’s 1ms response time to ensure that every move you make will be carried out without delay. This is all expected from an awesome gaming mouse, but the next few sections dig into why this might be the best gaming mouse on the market.

Customization

While the original Naga was short in the customization department, the Naga Epic adds a feature from other gaming mice out today: interchangeable side panels. The Naga Epic has three of them to choose from, and they’re designed with all play styles in mind. Razer claims that the grips were made by the Razer ergonomics team to best fit your hand. Another feature I like, but may not be considered customization, is that this mouse can switch instantly between wired and wireless mode. This feature was absent in the original naga, and I like the fact that you can choose to be wired if you are playing an important game or if you just want to charge your mouse. Also included is the 16 million color backlight illumination which lets you tweak the color of the LEDs in the mouse.

Extra Features

Simply put, the Naga Epic has a ton of features. A detail I like is that the wireless receiver also acts as a charging dock. I usually prefer when wireless gaming mice have two batteries so that you can switch them as needed, but I like the dual wired/wireless even better. Now for the biggest feature – buttons. The Naga Epic has 12 buttons just on the left side. It has another two customizable buttons on the left side of the left mouse click. These are great, but you have to be careful not to accidentally hit one if you want to just do a normal mouse click. The 12 buttons can be configured to do everything from changing sensitivity to doing in-game macros. The Naga Epic allows unlimited character profiles so that you can switch between your custom settings for each game. Even cooler, you can download game specific addons for many of the biggest games our right now (I’m looking at you, WoW heads).

Conclusion

The Razer Epic Naga is a beast. It has everything you need in a gaming mouse. That being said, If you are looking for a simple mouse replacement or a slick little mouse for first person shooters, it may have too many features. I would recommend this for the serious MMOG player that wants control over every detail of their gaming. Also to note, it is one of the most expensive mice on the market which will probably deter the casual gamer.

Where to Buy?

The Razer Epic Naga is sold primarily online. One of the most reliable (and also cheapest) places to look is on Amazon. Click here to see the product page for the Epic Naga.

Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse Review

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The Cyborg R.A.T. 9, like its sibling the R.A.T. 7, is a very different kind of gaming mouse. This mouse manages to do everything the 7 does, but all wirelessly. Straight out of the box, this mouse is competitive with nearly every gaming mouse on the market. Like Cyborg’s other gaming mice, this mouse is all about customization. Almost every tiny feature of the mouse can be changed. And while the amount of customizable features is staggering, this mouse still doesn’t stint in other important areas like speed and accuracy. If you are interested in purchasing the Cyborg R.A.T. 9, click here to see it on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

The R.A.T. 9 is a top contender in the areas of speed and accuracy. The mouse has a 5600 DPI laser making it among the most sensitive mice along with others such as the Razer Mamba and the Logitech G700. Adjustable sensitivity – as expected – comes standard. This is useful as it allows you to quickly cycle between slow and steady or quick and twitchy. As I noted in the review of the 7, one of my favorite features of the mouse is its “precision aim mode.” Along the left side of the mouse is a red button. While pressed, the mouse instantaneously drops the speed of the mouse so that you can aim with the highest level of accuracy. This is the kind of feature that really gives you a concrete advantage in competition.

Customization

The R.A.T. 9 has plenty going for it in the speed and accuracy department, but this is just scratching the surface. The customization is really what stands out. The body of the mouse is made of solid aluminum, and it can be adjusted to fit any hand. Do you like to palm your mouse? This piece of hardware is perfect. Prefer a claw grip? That works too. You can make the mouse longer or wider by turning some knobs. The R.A.T. 9 also comes with six swappable grips, three for your pinky, three for your palm. It also comes with an adjustable weight system that many high-end mice are beginning to include. Six weights are included for a total of 30 grams of extra weight that can be added or taken out.

Extra Features

The R.A.T. 9 also has some other features that make it great. There are 5 programmable buttons that can be programmed to do different tasks. While this is pretty normal for a gaming mouse to have, the cyborg also has three different modes you can switch between that cause the buttons to do different things. One thing to note is that this mouse is wireless. Two lithium-ion batteries are included so that one can be charging while one is being used. This is a useful feature that should come standard in all wireless mice.

Conclusion

If you like the idea of a fully customizable mouse, the R.A.T. 9 is for you. Every base is covered with all of the features this mouse includes. Cyborg really has something new and different with these mice, and it shows. Having said that, if you prefer a wired mouse like I do, you might check out the R.A.T. 7 instead.

Where to Buy?

The R.A.T. 9 is available in some computer stores that include gaming peripherals and online. One of the best bets for this kind of purchase is Amazon. Click here to the see the R.A.T. 9 on Amazon.

Razer Spectre Gaming Mouse Review

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The Spectre is a new gaming mouse from Razer made for a specific purpose – Starcraft II domination. This mouse combines the standard elements of a gaming mouse with some specific modifdications that will give you the edge in Starcract. While the mouse is just as sensitive and customizable as your average gaming mouse, it adds a crucial element that some gamers will find especially interesting – an APM lighting system. For those of you that haven’t yet been introduced, APM stands for actions per minute and is the best measure of how many commands you are issuing in the game. The beginning player makes around 40-60 actions per minute. Experienced players can go up into the high hundreds. Pros routinely get in the 250s with the rare exception getting over 300. But back to APM in a second, first let’s cover the basics. If you’re already interested in buying, click here to see the Spectre on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

In this category, the spectre is pretty standard for a gaming mouse. It features a 5600 DPI laser which is more than enough for all of your gaming needs. It also has the 1ms response that gamers have become accustomed to in higher-end gaming equipment. Of course, the sensitivity is adjustable on the fly and can be changed with the extra buttons you get.

Customization

Now the Spectre gets interesting. The left click pressure can be adjusted according to your taste. If you want an extremely sensitive click, go ahead. If you prefer a solid clock that takes some force, you can do that too. Although this is a cool new feature, the real star of the show is the APM lighting system covered earlier. You can set the Spectre to change color based on the number of actions you’re performing. You could set it to be a shade of blue when you’re slow, green when you’re starting to play and red when you’re playing like crazy. Even cooler is the downloadable app from Razer that allows actions based on in-game events. Your mouse could turn red when you get attacked.

Extra Features

Here the biggest extra is the APM system and the in-game event triggers. Another extra feature to note is the two extra buttons on the left side. These can be set to do your regular macros or change the mouse sensitivity. Pretty standard. The design of the mouse is slightly different. As you can see from the picture above, it’s slightly boxy. Some gamers prefer this to the usual Copperhead style of Razer mice.

Conclusion

If you are serious about Starcraft II and monitoring your APM, this mouse is definitely the way to go. If you play SC2 casually or once in a while along with other games this could still be a viable option, but a hardcore Stracraft II contender will see the most benefits. If Starcraft is your game, go this route. If you want a general and well-rounded mouse, I would go a different direction.

Where to Buy?

The easiest (and usually cheapest) way to get the Razer Spectre is online. Amazon is a good reseller of Razer mice. Click here to see the Razer Spectre on Amazon.

Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse Review

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The R.A.T. 7 gaming mouse is a whole new breed of mouse. Just a quick glance will tell you that this piece of hardware is vastly different from any other mouse you’ve ever seen. I haven’t had as much experience with Cyborg as I have with the other brands I’ve covered, and this gaming mouse proved to be quite the sleeper. Cyborg’s R.A.T. series focuses on customization, bringing it to an unparalleled level. Along with having the standard amenities like 5600 DPI, this gaming mouse can be changed more than any other I have ever seen. If you are already thinking about purchasing the R.A.T. 7, click here to see it on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

Just like the other gaming mice around this price point, the R.A.T. 7 delivers on speed and accuracy. The mouse boasts a 5600 DPI engine, similar to the Logitech G700 and the Razer Mamba. It also has the usual adjustable sensitivity so you can change it to your liking. This allows you to make your movements quick and sensitivity or slow and precise, depending on what the situation requires. Even more than this, the R.A.T. 7 features a “Precision Aim Button” that allows you to set a desired sensitivity and then change the mouse while the button is pressed. This can be used to hold steady while doing actions such as sniping. This is really one of my favorite innovations of Cyborg’s and I hope to see it in more mice. This gives you concrete advantage that your friends may consider cheating.

Customization

Although the R.A.T. 7 is more than capable in the speed and accuracy department, Cyborg really shines when it comes to customization. This thing is insane. Cyborg provides three switchable thumb grips along with three pinky grips. With these, you can change the size and make the mouse more suited for your style. Just like the Logitech G9x, the R.A.T. 7 allows you to add weight, making the mouse up to 30 grams heavier. Even cooler, you can adjust the thumb length, thumb width, the position of the thumb rest, and the length of the entire mouse. The Cyborg R.A.T. 7 does indeed look like a cyborg.

Extra Features

Aside from the vast amount of customization available on the R.A.T. 7, there are a few other key features. One of them is the 5 programmable buttons on the mouse. Like other mice, you can program them to do anything from changing sensitivity and settings to doing in-game actions. Another neat thing is that you can switch between three of what they call “Cyborg Modes.” These are similar to the profiles on other gaming mice and allow you to change the sensitivity or what your programmable buttons do.

Conclusion

The R.A.T. 7 gaming mouse is slowly creeping towards my number one spot. For me, it’s all about customization and the R.A.T. 7 is based almost completely around this idea. For the amount of customization, the price is also extremely low. This is cheaper than the most expensive mice from Logitech or Razer, and contains almost all of the features with a higher level of customization. The only drawbacks are that the mouse may have a slight learning curve and the Mac OS X support is underwhelming.

Where to buy?

The R.A.T. 7 gaming mouse is sold in some smaller gaming stores and in various places online. One of the most affordable gaming mouse vendors is Amazon. Click here to check out the R.A.T. 7 on Amazon.

Razer Mamba Wireless Gaming Laser Mouse Review

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The Mamba is Razer’s high-end gaming mouse offering. This mouse is the most expensive of any Razer mouse and has the performance to back it up. The mouse arrives seated on a pedastal that doubles as the charging dock – probably the coolest package any mouse comes in. This mouse is similar to the Orochi in that it is able to switch from wired to wireless, but has a longer, seven-foot braided cord. If you are serious about your gaming and want a wireless mouse with the performance of a wired mouse, this is a mouse to consider. If you are already going to purchase the Mamba, click here to see it on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

The Mamba’s speed and accuracy rivals any other high-end gaming mouse with 5600 DPI. The DPI is also adjustable so you can change the mouse’s sensitivity as is needed. As I mentioned earlier, this mouse is similar to the Orochi in that the mouse is wireless but can be quickly plugged in to charge and save battery. Unlike the Orochi, there is no drop in performance for using this mouse wireless. The DPI is a constant 5600, and the mouse boasts a 1ms response rate whether or not it is plugged in. The feet, like other Razer products, are zero-acoustic slick teflon to allow the mouse to move quickly and easily.

Extra Features

Besides being a high-performance wireless mouse, the Mamba packs in some other features. There are 7 buttons you can program - your standard three and four on the side. Two of the buttons are quite close to the left click button for quick pressing, but some gamers may find them too close. The side of the mouse features a battery indicator so you’ll always know if when it’s time to charge. Like some other Razer mice, the Mamba also has onboard memory to keep all of you settings. This means you can access your button or profile settings from anywhere.  The real draw to this mouse  is the amount of speed you can get from a wireless mouse. While some other gaming mice have up to an 8ms delay, the Mamba has a 1ms delay even when it isn’t plugged in. Razer claims the battery lasts for up to 14 hours of continuous play, so this is a perfect wireless mouse for marathon gaming.

Where to Buy?

You can buy the Razer Mamba wireless gaming mouse from a variety of places online. Amazon is usually one of the most affordable places to get electronics like this. Click here to see the Razer Mamba on Amazon.

What’s included?

• Razer Mamba Gaming Mouse
• Charging Dock
• Rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer Battery
• Battery Door
• USB Cable
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Quick Start Guide
• Master Guide

Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse Review

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The Naga is Razer’s massively multiplayer online gaming answer. This mouse, apart from having all the usual Razer features and 5600 DPI, has some other crazy add-ons that will give you a huge edge in your gaming. While most high-end gaming mice have custom programmable buttons, the Naga has a full 17. Excluding the standard left, middle, and right click, that leaves us with 14 buttons. No other mouse I’ve seen has this many buttons. If you’re a serious MMO player, this mouse could simplify a lot of the in-game actions you perform regularly. If you already want to purchase the Naga, click here to see it on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

The Naga’s sensitivity is just as good as the other high-end gaming mice at 5600 DPI. The Razer Naga also has adjustable speed which can be programmed into any of the various buttons found all over the mouse. This mouse also boasts a 1ms response time which is consistent with Razer’s other wired mice. Although the DPI is just as high as all the other gaming mice, the real focus here is on the amount of buttons.

Extra Features

The thing that really sets this mouse apart from the rest is the programmable buttons. It has 12 numbered buttons on the left side of the mouse along with two other unnumbered buttons. These can be programmed to do anything from changing the sensitivity to doing in game actions. Even better, there are custom interfaces for game addons such as World of Warcraft™,Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning™, and others. This can keep your screen less cluttered by mapping skills or macros to each button. The Naga also contains the usual razer amenities such as a gold-plated usb, a braided cord, teflon quiet ultra-slick feet, and a 24 position scroll wheel.

Where to buy?

The Razer Naga can be found at various places online. Amazon is usually one of the most affordable and is a trusted website. Click here to go to Amazon.

What’s included?

• Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Quick Start Guide
• Master Guide
• Thumb Grid Trainer Stickers
• Cult of Razer Sticker

Razer Orochi Bluetooth Notebook Gaming Mouse Review

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The Orochi is Razer’s notebook gaming mouse. It has a moderate price point and can switch from 2000 DPI while wireless to 4000 DPI while plugged in. The mouse only comes with a three foot cord though, so a notebook is probably the best thing to use it with. The Orochi is not powered by a rechargeable pack, but instead by two AA batteries. This may be nice for some gamers, although you can quickly burn through batteries. This mouse is similar to the Deathadder, but has a higher DPI while plugged in and two extra programmable buttons. If you are already interested in purchasing the Orochi, you can click here to find it on Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

While plugged in, the Orochi has DPI that is almost as high as other high-end gaming mice. When unplugged, however, the DPI dips to 2000. This is still much higher than a standard mouse, and actually beats the Logitech MX 518, but is pretty low for a gaming mouse. The added convenience of being able to play at a high DPI comes at the cost of being plugged in. The Orochi utilizes bluetooth 2.0 for its wireless connection. This mouse also features on-the-fly sensitivity changing. One thing to note is that the Orochi has an 8ms response time while going wireless, but this switches to 1ms when plugged in.

Extra Features

Apart from being a dual wireless/wired gaming mouse, the Orochi has some other cool features. One that sets it above the Deathadder is the addition of two more programmable buttons. This puts the total number of buttons on the Orochi to seven – the standard left, middle, right, and four additional. The mouse features a number of small features inherent in most Razer mice like a gold plated usb connector and braided cord. This mouse also has onboard memory to save settings and an ambidextrous design.

Where to Buy?

The Orochi can be found on various websites online. Amazon usually has the cheapest price. Click here to find it on Amazon.

What’s included?

• Razer Orochi Bluetooth Notebook Gaming Mouse
• Custom Carrying Case
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Quick Start Guide
• Master Guide
• USB Cable
• Battery Door, 2 AA Batteries

Razer Deathadder Infrared Gaming Mouse Review

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The Deathadder is the budget gaming mouse from Razer. This mouse uses an infrared engine which is less powerful than other Razer mice which are powered by a laser engine, but at 3500 DPI, this mouse blows away the average user’s sensitivity. It also houses 5 programmable buttons (your standard left, middle, and right – along with two on the left side). The mouse also has a solid and pretty comfortable construction. This mouse is much better than your standard mouse, and for the price, I would recommend the Deathadder to anyone. If you are already going to purchase the Razer Deathadder, click here to go to Amazon.

Speed and Accuracy

The Deathadder has a 3500 DPI infrared engine, which is much higher than the standard 800 you would find in a normal mouse. This is also almost twice as sensitive as the Logitech MX 518. Just like most other gaming mice, you can change the sensitivity on the fly. The Deathadder also claims to have a 1ms response time compared to the standard gaming mouse’s 8ms. For a cheaper mouse, the DPI on this guy are very high.

Extra Features

The Deathadder also has many minor features, some of which are notable. As mentioned before, there are 5 programmable buttons, but realistically you will only program the two on the left side of the mouse. The feet are made of teflon, which promotes easy movement and low noise. The scroll wheel moves click-by-click and has 24 unique positions. This translates into accurate scrolling for things such as weapons switching. Some of the other features of the mouse include a braided cable and a gold plated-usb. It’s hard to know how much these actually help, but any advantage can make the difference in competitive gaming. The design is ergonomic and kind of different, but it’s similar to most razer products and once you get used to it you probably won’t go back.

Where to Buy?

The Razer Deathadder is available in a variety of places online. Compared to most places, Amazon usually has the cheapest. To see the Deathadder on Amazon click here.

What’s included?

• Razer DeathAdder 3500 dpi Gaming Mouse
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Quick Start Guide
• Master Guide