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Wireless connection technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Most office mice have gone wireless, and more gaming mice are cutting the cable daily. This article includes a mix of both straightforward office mice and more gaming-focused models. If you're looking for the best wired mouse for gaming, they're increasingly designed to be versatile enough for everyday browsing and work tasks, and we've kept this in mind when choosing our picks. When shopping for a wired model, you'll want to make sure you find one that's comfortable for your hand size and how you prefer to hold your mouse. It's also a good idea to pay close attention to the quality of the cable, as it will have a big impact on the overall experience of using your wired mouse.
We've tested over 320 mice, of which over 150 are wired. Below are our top picks. If you're looking for more comfort-oriented recommendations, check out our picks for the best ergonomic mice, or if you're looking for a wireless design, look at our choices for thebest wireless miceand the best wireless mice for gaming.
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Best Wired Mouse
Logitech G502 X 4
Work
7.6
Video Games (FPS)
8.7
Video Games (MMO)
8.7
Raw Performance
9.3
Ambidextrous
NoDefault Weight 83.7 g
See all our test results
Thebest wiredmouse we've tested is the Logitech G502 X, a versatile pick that combines comfort, high-end gaming performance, and productivity features. It has an ergonomic right-handed shape, comfortable enough for long gaming sessions or full work days. It also has plenty of programmable buttons that you can change along with other settings using the customization software. The scroll wheel has a precise notched scrolling mode and a faster free-scrolling mode you can activate by flicking the wheel quickly. This free-scrolling mode is a helpful feature forquicklyscanning websites or long documents andis more commonly foundon premium work mice.
It has exceptionally low click latency, and its sensor performsaswell or better than most mice in this price range. Its left- and right-click buttons also use extremely quiet optical switches, which are typically more reliable and long-lasting than standard mechanical switches.With all these features, this mouse is fairly heavy compared to most gaming options, so itisn't idealif you only play fast-paced titles like FPS games, which require quick movements.
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Best Mid-Range Wired Mouse
Razer Basilisk V3 7
Work
7.0
Video Games (FPS)
8.6
Video Games (MMO)
8.7
Raw Performance
9.5
Ambidextrous
NoDefault Weight
99.9 gSee all our test results
The RazerBasilisk V3 is typically available for less than the Logitech above, but both mice tend to go on sale fairly often and sometimes are fairly close in price. In many ways, this mouseis very similar to the Logitech G502 X. It has virtually the same ergonomic shape, a scroll wheel with both a notched scrolling and faster scrolling mode, and high-end raw performance for gaming in any genre.
The major differences are that the Logitech has two extra programmable buttons on the outside edge of the left click button and feels sturdier overall. On the other hand, the Razer model has a slightly more flexible cable and has mouse feet with better gliding performance. Also, while the Razeruses reliable, long-lasting optical switches, they make more noise than the very quiet clicks on the Logitech. Their differences are otherwise purely cosmetic. The Razer looks less angular and has programmable RGB lighting, which the Logitech lacks. There are a total of three lighting zones: one in the scroll wheel, one in the Razer logo on the palm rest, and one that wraps around the bottom edge of the mouse, casting anundergloweffect on your mousepad, making this mouse an easy choice if you're an RGB lighting fan.
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Best Budget Wired Mouse
SteelSeries Prime 1
Office/Multimedia
7.2
Video Games (FPS)
8.8
Video Games (MMO)
8.1
Ambidextrous
NoDefault Weight
68.6 gSee all our test results
If you're on a budget, we recommend the SteelSeries Prime. It's a straightforward option with two side buttons and a generous right-handed shape. The mouse wheel has a subtle RGB lighting zone, but you can turn this off using the configuration software. This mouse is best suited for medium- or larger-sized hands, but a mini version called the SteelSeries Prime Mini is well-suited for smaller hands. Glancing under the hood, this mouse offers similar, high-end raw performance to our other options if you have gaming in mind.
However, unlike the Logitech G502 X or the Razer Basilisk V3, which both use optical switches, this mouse has unusual hybrid optical-mechanical switches. These switches produce a crisper, more pronounced click feeling but are also noticeably louder and may bother those around you in a noise-sensitive environment. Altogether, it's a more well-balanced and affordable pick over the more feature-rich options. It's a great option if you aren't interested in extra programmable buttons, multiple RGB lighting zones, or productivity features like free scrolling.
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Best Cheap Wired Mouse
Logitech M100 0
Office/Multimedia
5.7
Video Games (FPS)
6.4
Video Games (MMO)
4.4
Ambidextrous
YesDefault Weight
58.8 gSee all our test results
If you're looking for something cheaper and simpler, we recommend the Logitech M100.It's inexpensive but not flimsy; however, the plasticdoesn't feel veryhigh-quality.There are two primary click buttons and a simple scroll wheel. Unfortunately, it has a stiff rubber cable and tiny mouse feet that don't glide as smoothly as other picks on this list. This mouseisn't cut outfor gaming in any genre, but its sensor performance is more than adequate for the everyday browsing and productivity tasksit's designedfor.
Besides that, it's fairly small. Its shape is well-suited for using a palm grip if you have small or medium-sized hands.The fingertip grip works great for larger hands, but it maynotbevery comfortableif you want to use this mouse for a full eight-hour work shift.When shopping for this mouse, you might also see the similar-looking Logitech B100, which is the same as the M100 but comes in black instead of gray and has different packaging for a business clientele. If you want to purchase a large number of mice or something even cheaper, check out the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse.While the build quality is worse than the Logitech, and its sensordoesn'tperformas well, its lower price tag can be helpful if you buy bulk to equip an entire office.
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Recent Updates
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May 10, 2024: We've reviewed this article but aren't making any changes with this update, as all recommendations remain the best picks for their respective categories.
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Mar 12, 2024: We've reviewed this article and verified our picks to ensure availability and relevance.
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Feb 09, 2024: We've verified the availability and pricing of all our picks but haven't changed our lineup. We've also updated the name of the mid-range category to 'Best Mid-Range Wired Mouse.'
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Dec 14, 2023: We've reviewed our picks and confirmed their availability and pricing. We've also added the ROCCAT Kone Pro to our list of Notable Mentions because it offers excellent value when it's on sale.
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Oct 11, 2023: We've audited this article and confirmed the availability and pricing of all our picks.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best wiredmice for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mousewins over apricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no micethat are difficult to findor almostout of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of mice. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While nomouse is perfect for every use, most miceare great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
