The Best Cheap Gaming Mouse - Fall 2021 Mice Reviews

The best cheap gaming mouse we've tested is the SteelSeries Rival 100. This wired model feels very well-built, with no flex or rattle, and it's available in a wide range of different color schemes. While the price can vary between colors, it's currently available for as cheap as $15 at some retailers.

While its maximum CPI isn't as high as on some more expensive models, and you can't adjust the CPI as precisely, the minimum CPI and the lift-off distance are still low. Also, the click latency is good, although some gamers may prefer a lower option. You can customize the RGB backlighting and program all of its buttons through the SteelSeries GG software.

Unfortunately, it's heavy, so it's not the ideal choice for fans of light mice. Also, its rubber cable is quite stiff and retains kinks from the packaging. That said, if you're looking for a cheap gaming option with good performance, its low price is worth considering.

The best cheap gaming mouse for MMOs that we've tested is the UtechSmart VENUS. It's a wired model with plenty of programmable buttons, including 12 on its left, two CPI switching ones below its scroll wheel, and a button next to its left-click button. You can customize these in the dedicated software, as well as save your settings to the onboard memory.

This bulky but short mouse is best suited for medium and large hands using a palm or claw grip. It feels well-built, and while the side buttons feel a bit mushy, the body doesn't flex or wobble. The CPI range is wide, and you can adjust it in increments of 50. Its minimum lift-off distance is also very low. It comes with eight 2.5g weights to let you customize how heavy it feels, although it's still heavy even without any weights installed.

Unfortunately, the click latency is relatively high for a gaming mouse, so some gamers may prefer a lower option. Also, its braided cable is stiff and retains kinks from the packaging. Also, since it isn't very flexible, it creates a lot of drag, which may be annoying. Overall, this is still an excellent option if you're looking for an inexpensive MMO gaming mouse.

The Logitech G203 LIGHTSYNC is the best budget gaming mouse we've tested. It's a wired model with excellently low latency, making it a great choice for FPS gaming. Also, it has very low lift-off distance, so the sensor shouldn't track your movements when you reposition your mouse, and you can adjust its CPI precisely in increments of 50.

It feels very well-built, made of a solid-feeling plastic and very little rattle. The ambidextrous, egg-shaped design is suitable for left- and right-handed users using a fingertip grip, but people with larger hands may struggle to use it comfortably with a palm or claw grip. It has two buttons on its left side and a button below its scroll wheel, and you can program all of its buttons in the Logitech G HUB software. You can also set a G-Shift button to give you a second layer of controls.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have onboard memory, which may be disappointing if it was a feature you enjoyed on its predecessor, the Logitech G203 Prodigy. Also, its rubber cable is thin and not very flexible, and it also retains packaging kinks that may create some drag. Nonetheless, this is still an impressive gaming mouse if you want a budget-friendly option that performs well.

If you’re looking for a wireless model, the best budget gaming mouse we’ve tested is the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED. It features an egg-shaped, ambidextrous design that should be suitable for all hand sizes using a fingertip grip. It’s wireless-only, and it connects using a USB receiver. Also, it uses a single AA battery for power, so you won’t have to worry about bringing cables around.

In terms of performance, the mouse has a very low lift-off distance, low click latency, and a wide CPI range within which you can precisely set the CPI. Additionally, there are two side buttons on the left, a default CPI button below the scroll wheel, and you can assign a G-Shift button that enables a second layer of commands while you press it. You can program all buttons and settings through the Logitech G HUB software, which is compatible with Windows and macOS.

Unfortunately, this mouse is rather small, so it’s not suitable for larger hands using a palm or claw grip. It also doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, and it can’t be used wired; however, the CPI indicator light behind the default CPI button on the top of the mouse alerts you when the battery is low. That said, if you’re on a budget, this is a good wireless gaming mouse that feels solidly built and performs well.

In the ultra-light category, the best budget gaming mouse we’ve tested is the Razer Viper Mini. Instead of a honeycomb design for the body, it’s built out of solid plastic, but it’s still incredibly light. The overall design is similar to the Razer Viper, but it’s much smaller and better suited for a fingertip grip with all hand sizes. It also has virgin-grade PTFE feet that provide a smooth gliding experience and a paracord-like cable that doesn’t drag across desks or mousepads.

Performance-wise, it has a high polling rate, a sufficiently wide CPI range, and you can set the CPI by steps of 100. There are two buttons on the left side that you can reprogram using Razer’s Synapse 3 software, and you can also reprogram the up/down scroll wheel inputs and RGB lighting. Though the companion software isn’t available for macOS, you can customize your settings on a PC and save them to the mouse’s onboard memory to use across devices.

Unfortunately, its sensor is a bit inconsistent when moving the mouse slowly, and its minimum lift-off distance is a bit higher than some other options. However, it’s a great ultra-light choice if you’re looking for a budget gaming mouse.