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AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3
Review updated Oct 04, 2022 at 11:05 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 20, 2022 at 11:30 am
AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse Picture
5.5
Office/Multimedia
7.1
Video Games (FPS)
4.4
Video Games (MMO)
5.1
Travel

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse is a straightforward, wired office mouse. It has a symmetrical shape, making it a good choice for right- and left-handed users. However, the design is also very low-profile, and the mouse's overall size is small, so it isn't well-suited for larger hands.

Our Verdict

5.5 Office/Multimedia

The AmazonBasics Mouse is a sub-par mouse for office use. It feels decently sturdy, and its click buttons are very quiet, so they're unlikely to bother anyone working around you. Unfortunately, it's made from cheap-feeling materials. It also has no wireless connection options, and you can't reprogram any of its buttons as there isn't any software for customization. Also, the scroll wheel lacks L/R tilt buttons and doesn't unlock for free-scrolling.

Pros
  • Feels sturdy despite its inexpensive price point.
  • Ambidextrous design well-suited for medium and smaller hand sizes.
Cons
  • Cheap-feeling materials.
  • No wireless connectivity.
  • No customization software.
  • Poor quality mouse feet don't glide very smoothly on mousepads or desks.
7.1 Video Games (FPS)

The AmazonBasics Mouse is a satisfactory option for FPS gaming, though it isn't designed for this use. It offers good overall comfort for smaller hand sizes and is extremely lightweight, weighing slightly less than even most premium lightweight gaming mice. However, it mainly achieves this due to its small size and cheap construction materials. It also has a very stiff cable, very high and inconsistent click latency, and there's no way to adjust the extremely low polling rate or CPI settings.

Pros
  • Feels sturdy despite its inexpensive price point.
  • Ambidextrous design well-suited for medium and smaller hand sizes.
Cons
  • Cheap-feeling materials.
  • Stiff, poor quality cable.
  • Poor click latency and an extremely low, fixed polling rate.
  • Poor quality mouse feet don't glide very smoothly on mousepads or desks.
4.4 Video Games (MMO)

The AmazonBasics Mouse isn't designed for MMO gaming and performs poorly for this use. It only has three buttons, and you can't reprogram any of them as there isn't any companion software. It also has very high and inconsistent click latency, no CPI adjustment options, and a very low, fixed polling rate.

Pros
  • Feels sturdy despite its inexpensive price point.
  • Ambidextrous design well-suited for medium and smaller hand sizes.
Cons
  • Cheap-feeling materials.
  • Poor click latency and an extremely low, fixed polling rate.
  • No customization software.
  • Poor quality mouse feet don't glide very smoothly on mousepads or desks.
5.1 Travel

The AmazonBasics Mouse is inadequate for travel, but it isn't designed for this usage. While it's extremely lightweight and feels sturdy, it lacks wireless connectivity and has a stiff, poor-quality cable. Also, it has thin, cheap-feeling feet that don't glide very smoothly.

Pros
  • Feels sturdy despite its inexpensive price point.
  • Ambidextrous design well-suited for medium and smaller hand sizes.
Cons
  • Cheap-feeling materials.
  • No wireless connectivity.
  • Poor quality mouse feet don't glide very smoothly on mousepads or desks.
  • 5.5 Office/Multimedia
  • 7.1 Video Games (FPS)
  • 4.4 Video Games (MMO)
  • 5.1 Travel
  1. Updated Oct 20, 2022: Added a comparison to the recently reviewed Logitech M317.
  2. Updated Oct 04, 2022: Review published.
  3. Updated Sep 26, 2022: Early access published.
  4. Updated Sep 20, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Aug 25, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Aug 19, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse comes in a black colorway, without any other variants available. You can see the label for our unit here.

Compared To Other Mice

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse is one of the cheapest mice currently available at the time of writing and is aimed at individuals and businesses that need a basic and inexpensive option without extra features. That said, some small but noticeable quality differences exist between similarly straightforward office models, like the Logitech M100, which feels better built and made with higher quality materials.

For more recommendations, see our picks for the best wired mouse, the best mouse for work, and the best ergonomic mouse.

Razer Viper Mini

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse is a very basic, wired office mouse. On the other hand, the Razer Viper Mini is a gaming mouse with much lower click latency and significantly better sensor performance.

Logitech M100

The Logitech M100 and the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse are very straightforward wired office mice. The Logitech is heavier but is better built, and the materials it's made of are of higher quality. It also has a higher quality cable and better overall sensor performance.

Logitech M525

The Logitech M525 and the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse are straightforward office mice with satisfactory build quality. However, the materials both mice are made of feel fairly cheap. The Logitech is a wireless model with customization software and a scroll wheel with left and right inputs. On the other hand, the AmazonBasics is a wired-only model without customization software or scroll wheel tilt inputs.

Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED

AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse is a very basic, wired office mouse. On the other hand, the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED is a wireless gaming mouse with significantly lower click latency and better sensor performance.

Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse

The Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse and the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse are wired mice intended primarily for office use. The Microsoft has a larger, right-handed shape and has two side buttons on the left. It's significantly better built and is made from higher quality materials. It also has customization software and much better sensor performance and click latency. On the other hand, the AmazonBasics mouse has a symmetrical shape and lacks side buttons and customization software.

Logitech M510

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse and the Logitech M510 are both straightforward office mice. The Logitech is a wireless model that feels significantly better built. It also has customization software compatible with Windows and macOS. On the other hand, the AmazonBasics Mouse is a significantly lighter, wired-only model that lacks customization software.

Logitech M535

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse and the Logitech M535 are both straightforward office mice with decent build quality, but the materials they're made of feel cheap. The Logitech is a wireless mouse with customization software compatible with Windows and macOS. It also has a pair of side buttons on the left and a scroll wheel with left and right inputs. On the other hand, the AmazonBasics is a wired-only model which lacks companion software and has neither side buttons nor a scroll wheel with left and right inputs.

Logitech M317

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse and the Logitech M317 are both straightforward mice with three buttons. The main difference is that the AmazonBasics mouse is wired only, while the Logitech is wireless and connects using a USB receiver. The AmazonBasics mouse is also slightly larger and more accommodating of medium-sized hands.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color No Lighting

This mouse has a very simple look and is made of matte black plastic. The left- and right-click buttons and the palm rest have a smooth soft-touch coating, and the rest of the mouse has a slightly textured black plastic finish. There's also an "AmazonBasics" logo on the palm rest, just below the left- and right-click buttons.

Design
Shape
Length 4.3" (109 mm)
Height 1.3" (34 mm)
Width 2.4" (61 mm)
Grip Width
57 mm
6.0
Design
Portability
Volume
13.79 in³ (226 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No

If you're interested in a wireless three button mouse that's more portable, check out the Logitech M317.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

Overall the build quality of this mouse is decent. The plastic body is very sturdy and doesn't creak or flex. However, the materials all feel very cheap, and there's a faint rattling sound if you shake the mouse. The left- and right-click buttons and the palm rest have a smooth, soft-touch coating, while the rest of the mouse has a slightly textured black plastic finish. The soft-touch material may wear off over time, as with other products with similar coatings, especially at a budget price point.

9.4
Design
Weight
Lowest Weight
51.5 g
Default Weight
51.5 g
Weight Distribution
Front-heavy
Extra Weights
No
7.5
Design
Comfort Of Use
Left-Handed Friendly
Yes
Ambidextrous
True Ambidextrous
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No

The AmazonBasics Mouse is fairly compact and best suited for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes but most comfortable for those with smaller hands.

Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
No
Large Hand
No
X.Large Hand
No

Due to its small size and shape, only those with small hands can use this mouse comfortably with a palm grip.

Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
No
X.Large Hand
No

If you have large or extra-large hands, you'll likely find this mouse is too small to use comfortably, as you'll need to bend your fingers at a very sharp angle to use it with a claw grip.

Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
No

If you have extra-large hands, you'll find this mouse is too small to comfortably use with a fingertip grip.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Maximum Of Paired Devices
Wired
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No

It's a wired-only mouse without any wireless connectivity options.

6.0
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length
4.8 ft (1.5 m)
Cable Type
Rubber
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
No Port
Port Type: PC End
USB

This mouse has a mediocre rubber cable with poor flexibility that retains permanent kinks from its packaging.

6.0
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Bad
Material
Plastic
Extra Included
No

The AmazonBasics Mouse has passable feet, but they don't glide smoothly and have a noticeable scratchiness moving directly on desks or mousepads.

Design
In The Box

  • AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse
  • User documentation

Control
1.7
Control
Additional Buttons
Total Number Of Buttons
3
Number Of Side Buttons
0
Number Of Programmable Inputs
0
Profile Switching Button
No
Gesture Support
No

This mouse has conventional left- and right-click buttons and a scroll wheel with a middle-click button. There are no additional buttons.

5.3
Control
Click Latency
Expected Connection
24.3 ms
Wired
24.3 ms
Receiver
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A

The AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse has poor click latency, and while it isn't suitable for gaming, it's appropriate for productivity tasks or everyday browsing. This mouse exhibits somewhat unusual click latency behavior, but this result is confirmed to be consistent across repeated test attempts.

7.4
Control
CPI
SRAV @ 1600 CPI
N/A
SRAV @ 800 CPI
N/A
SRAV @ 400 CPI
N/A
SRAV @ Fixed CPI
-3.30%
Precision Error Between Speeds
1.77%
Precision Error Between CPI
N/A
Worst Tracking Error
-8.80%
Minimum CPI
1,000 CPI
Maximum CPI
1,000 CPI
CPI Adjustment Steps
N/A
7.9
Control
Sensor Latency
Delay To Start Of Movement
18.9 ms
Delay At Half Movement
7.2 ms
Delay To End Of Movement
8.7 ms
Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
Not Specified
Works On Glass
No
Minimum Lift Off Distance
1.2 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
125 Hz

This mouse has a fixed polling rate of 125Hz, and the CPI is locked to 1000. The sensor position isn't quite centered and is placed further towards the front.

Control
Mouse Wheel
Scroll Wheel
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
No
Thumb Wheel
No
Thumb Wheel Steps
No Thumb Wheel

The scroll wheel on the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse is fairly quiet, and scrolling feels precise. However, the steps aren't very well-defined.

Control
Noise
Click Noise
Very Quiet
Operating System And Software
0
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name No software
Software Windows Compatibility
No
Software macOS Compatibility
No
Account Needed
No Software
On-Board Memory
No
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
No
Polling Rate Adjustment
No
Profile Configuration
No
RGB On/Off
No

This mouse has no software option available.

10
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Fully