The Best Wired Mouse - Spring 2023 Mice Reviews

The best wired mouse we've tested is the Razer Basilisk V3, 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 for quickly scanning websites or long documents and is a feature more commonly found on premium work mice.

It has exceptionally low click latency, and its sensor performs as well or better than most mice in this price range. Its left- and right-click buttons also use 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 it isn't ideal if you only play fast-paced titles like FPS games which require quick movements.

If you're looking for a no-nonsense mid-range mouse that feels well-built and can handle workloads and even casual gaming, we recommend the Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse. This mouse is a modern update inspired by Microsoft's classic IntelliMouse 3.0 from 1996. Its design emphasizes comfort and features an ergonomic right-handed shape and textured rubber sides for added grip. It's fairly large, which makes it well-suited for medium, large, and even extra-large-sized hands, though it isn't a good fit for small hands using any grip type.

The braided cable is decently flexible, and its feet glide well on mousepads and desks. There are two well-placed side buttons on the left, and while the scroll wheel lacks the tilt inputs and free-scrolling features found on our first pick, the Razer Basilisk V3, it feels precise and has well-defined steps. Unfortunately, both the scroll wheel and click buttons are loud, especially compared to higher-end work mice, which increasingly feature muted clicks. The sensor on this mouse has also had a serious upgrade over the original, and it provides a respectable performance for casual gaming in most genres. That said, while its click latency is good, it's still higher than most of its click latency most dedicated gaming options, so we don't recommend this mouse for playing FPS or other competitive, fast-paced games.

If you're on a budget, we recommend checking out the Logitech G502 HERO. This versatile model is extremely similar to our top pick, the Razer Basilisk V3. It shares a nearly identical shape and delivers almost equal gaming performance. The scroll wheel also has tilt functions and notched or free-scrolling modes, and there are two additional buttons on the outside edge of the left-click button, which the Razer lacks.

That said, it does have some shortcomings. Its cable isn't very flexible, its feet don't glide nearly as smoothly, and the left- and right-click buttons use mechanical switches, which don't typically last as long as the optical switches used by the Razer. This mouse is also much heavier than the other recommendations on this list. You may appreciate the added heft, but using this mouse all day for work may tire out your hand and wrist muscles, and we don't recommend this mouse for reaction-based games because it's hard to move quickly and accurately. Despite these shortcomings, this is a great option that offers many of the core advantages of our top pick but at a reduced price.

If you're looking for something cheaper and simpler, we recommend the Logitech M100. It's very inexpensive but doesn't feel flimsy; however, the plastic doesn't feel very high-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 mouse isn't cut out for gaming in any genre, but its sensor performance is more than adequate for the everyday browsing and productivity tasks it's designed for.

Besides that, it's fairly small. Its shape is well-suited for using a palm grip if you have small or medium-sized hands. A fingertip grip works great for larger hands, but it may not be very comfortable if 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 aimed at a business clientele. If you want to purchase a large number of mice and want something even cheaper, check out the AmazonBasics 3-Button USB Wired Mouse. While the build quality is worse than the Logitech, and its sensor doesn't perform as well, its lower price tag can be helpful if you're buying in bulk to equip an entire office.