Your mouse is the most important tool in the majority of PC video games. Certainly, it’s the most important tool in all FPS games. While you do need to be quick on the keyboard, your mouse movements need to be as precise as possible, even if you’re a recreational player but especially if you’re a professional player.
And mouse technology (doesn’t that sound funny?) has really grown into two main features that make all the difference: the design/weight of the mouse and its optical sensor. Not only do you want a model with high DPI resolution to provide an extremely accurate sensor, but you also want it to feel so natural in your hand that you forget you’re holding it. The problem, however, is that all of this great technology comes at a price.
Naturally, computer mice won’t cost as much as the latest motherboard or the most cutting edge graphics card, but some of them are pretty darn expensive. For that reason, we’re going to look at the low to mid-market models for those of us on a budget.
What Constitutes a “Low Budget” Mouse
I did want to take a moment to talk about the price. Everyone’s budget is different, so what seems cheap to one person may not seem cheap to another.
However, the aggregated mice in this list need to be good enough to use for gaming without falling apart while not breaking the bank at the same time. For that reason, we’re going to be looking a low to mid-market gaming mice that are relatively cheap when compared to the high end of the market.
It may sound crazy to people who aren’t gamers, but some people spend upwards of $150 or $200 for a high-quality mouse. At the very low end of the peripherals market, I’ve seen mice for as little as $5 or $10…but they were utter garbage. So, to help you find a low priced yet relatively high-quality mouse for gaming, we’re going to be looking at models in the $30-$60 range, with one outrageously cheap exception.
Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury FPS Gaming Mouse
Logitech has been making quality computer peripherals for years. Just about every gamer has used one of their products at one time or another, and I do trust their brand (as long as you stay away from the really low-end products). This mouse, however, lies somewhere in the middle of the market.
If you buy this mouse brand new, it will cost about $60, which is near the high end of our budget. However, if you buy it off Amazon and decide to get a used model, you can knock off a third of the price and get it for $40.
This model is, of course, a wired USB design, with a USB report rate of 1GHz and a 32-bit microprocessor. It also has the Fusion Engine hybrid sensor and 8 programmable buttons.
The Logitech G402 was designed to have extremely low latency for the most unadulterated input so that the only thing that matters is your reflexes. As you can tell by the name, Logitech is clearly trying to target players of FPS games. However, I do like the fact that it has eight programmable buttons, which gives it some moderate functionality in RTS and MMORPG games.
Corsair Gaming M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse
Next up is the Corsair Gaming M65 Pro RGB FPS Gaming Mouse, which has all the features you’d expect in a high-performance gaming mouse. And it comes with a ton of customization features.
The going rate for this product on Amazon is about $47, which isn’t too bad given our budget. The list price is $59.99, but in reality, you can get it much cheaper, especially if you buy it used (used price approximately $39.99).
The movement sensor has 12,000 DPI, which is extremely high accuracy for measuring the most sensitive of movements. This feature means that the mouse can track motion more precisely than regular mice, but my favorite feature of this mouse is customization. It comes with a weight tuning system so you can confirm the weight distribution to your own personal preferences.
And naturally, you can custom program macros out the wazoo, since it comes with a double macro feature. Like the previous model, this gaming mouse also has eight different buttons too. It was really designed for FPS gameplay, but is still a great tool for RPG and RTS titles as well.
Redragon Perdition 16400 DPI High-Precision Programmable Laser Gaming Mouse
Who names these things? This Redragon model was designed as a high-performance gaming mouse. And as a laser mouse, it’s even more precise, accurate, and sensitive than the previous model that only had a 12,000 DPI sensor.
This model has a sensor with a 16,400 rating, and it won’t break the bank either. You can snag one of these high-performance tools for only $37.00, and that’s if you buy it brand new.
But unlike the previous two models, this mouse is an RPT or RTS player’s dream. Seriously, this mouse has more computational power than the first computers! It has 18 programmable buttons distributed over the design, 12 of which are conveniently placed over thumb position. The keys were designed with tilted planes so you can easily map out the buttons in your mind simply by touching them.
Plus, it comes with five different memory profiles that you can color code to map your macros to different games and different characters. Of course, it does come with a way to customize weight distribution with an eight-piece weight set too. Other notable operational metrics include a 1GHz polling rate, 30G acceleration, and 12,000 FPS.
Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G602 is pretty well-rounded, though the most hardcore FPS players may not want to use it since its wireless. Many professional gamers prefer wired mice, but this is a good “one size fits all” mouse for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it’s cheap and will fit most people’s budget. You can pick it up on Amazon for only $34.99. The second reason it’s so well-rounded is because it has 11 programmable buttons
The previous model had 16, so the Logitech might not be your first choice for MMORPG and RTS play. Also, these models come with Logitech’s Delta Zero sensor technology, which helps drastically improve sensitivity and accuracy. Also, even though it’s a wireless mouse, don’t discredit it just yet. It has been rated to sustain up to 250 hours of battery life and up to 20 million clicks.
With up to 2500 DPI accuracy, it isn’t the greatest mouse on the market, but it isn’t the poorest either. I think this model offers a nice blend of functionality and affordable pricing. So naturally, I had to include as one of the best budget gaming mice. But it isn’t the cheapest alternative, as you’ll see with the next model.
Redragon M601 Centrophorus
The last of the best budget mice for gaming has a price that won’t agitate even the most conservative budgets. If you’re looking for the cheapest mouse that’s still appropriate for gaming, then this is the model you’re looking for. You can purchase it new off Amazon for a mere $12.99, which is a pittance to pay for a mouse. To put things in perspective, this mouse only costs a fraction of a tank of gas for your car.
It does have an admittedly ergonomic design and up to 3200 DPI, 3600 FPS, and a 15G ACC game engine. Part of the reason this model is so modestly priced is that it lacks many of the bells and whistles of the previous models. It does, however, have five programmable buttons and up to five memory profiles. I was actually pretty surprised to see that it comes with an 8 piece set to tune the weight as well. Not too shabby if you’re looking for a dirt-cheap mouse to save money for other peripherals.
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure I would personally buy the Redragon M601. I only included it as one of the best mice at such a low price point, since there is certainly a segment of the market who wants nothing more. However, just think how many hours that mouse is going to be in your hand. You’re going to use it for everything from gaming to browsing the web, and you’d better make darn sure you like the stinkin’ thing.
While I don’t personally see too much value in buying a mouse that costs a whopping $200 or more (I’m not a professional gamer), I do want a mouse of above-average quality that I can customize and personalize to fit my preferences.
