Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

The Best Wired Mouse - Winter 2024 Mice Reviews

Updated
Best Wired Mouse

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 315 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 the best wireless mice and the best wireless mice for gaming.


  1. Best Wired Mouse

    The best wired mouse 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 for quickly scanning websites or long documents and is 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 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 it isn't ideal if you only play fast-paced titles like FPS games, which require quick movements.

    See our review

  2. Best Mid-Range Wired Mouse

    The Razer Basilisk 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, the Basilisk V3 is 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 Basilisk V3 has a slightly more flexible cable and has mouse feet with better gliding performance. Also, while the Basilisk uses reliable, long-lasting optical switches, they make more noise than the very quiet clicks on the G502 X. Otherwise, the differences are purely cosmetic. The Basilisk V3 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 an underglow effect on your mousepad, making this mouse an easy choice if you're an RGB lighting fan.

    See our review

  3. Best Budget Wired Mouse

    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 other options on this list if you have gaming in mind.

    However, unlike the Logitech G502 X or the Razer Basilisk V3, which 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 well-balanced and more 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.

    See our review

  4. Best Cheap Wired Mouse

    If you're looking for something cheaper and simpler, we recommend the Logitech M100. It's inexpensive but not 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. The 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 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 sensor doesn't perform as well, its lower price tag can be helpful if you buy bulk to equip an entire office.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Logitech G502 HERO: The Logitech G502 HERO is an earlier generation model in the same lineup as the Logitech G502 X that's often on sale and considerably less expensive than the newer model. It shares virtually all the same features, including a free-scrolling mouse wheel, and has RGB lighting, which the other mouse lacks. However, it's significantly heavier, uses less reliable mechanical switches, and doesn't perform quite as well. See our review
  • ROCCAT Kone Pro: The ROCCAT Kone Pro is a lightweight gaming mouse with a right-handed shape. It performs similarly well to the SteelSeries Prime with low click and sensor latency but weighs even less. However, its price is volatile, and its availability is inconsistent, so we only recommend picking it up if it's on sale for $30 or less. See our review
  • Logitech G203 LIGHTSYNC: The Logitech G203 LIGHTSYNC is a gaming mouse with a symmetrical shape; it's available in various colors to match your setup. It's a great alternative to the Logitech M100 if you're looking for an option with significantly better gaming performance, better build quality, and RGB lighting. However, it is more expensive. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 12, 2024: We've reviewed this article and verified our picks to ensure availability and relevance.

  2. 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.'

  3. 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.

  4. Oct 11, 2023: We've audited this article and confirmed the availability and pricing of all our picks.

  5. Aug 09, 2023: We've added the Logitech G502 X as our new top pick as it's recently fallen in price. We've also moved the Basilisk V3 from its former spot at the top to be our new mid-range recommendation. Lastly, we've replaced our previous budget pick, the Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse, with the more affordable, widely available, and better-performing SteelSeries Prime.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wired mice for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mouse wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no mice that are difficult to find or almost out 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 no mouse is perfect for every use, most mice are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.