The Best Lightweight Mouse - Summer 2021 Mice Reviews

Weighing only 45 grams, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is the lightest mouse we've tested. It has a honeycomb body with an embossed filigree design and two side buttons on the left. It feels exceptionally well-built and has a low-profile, ambidextrous shape well-suited for smaller hands using any grip type. The top shell is made of magnesium alloy and is very sturdy. However, the underside is made of plastic to allow the wireless signal to escape.

You can connect it wired or wirelessly with its receiver, and it has a rechargeable battery. Its CPI range isn't as wide as most other high-end gaming mice, but it will likely be sufficient for most gamers. It also has a polling rate of 1000Hz, a very low lift-off distance, and good click latency. Its mouse feet glide very smoothly on mousepads or directly on desks, and its paracord-like charging cable is lightweight and flexible.

Unfortunately, it's a very small mouse that isn't well-suited for larger hand sizes. Also, there isn't any software for customization, there are only four default CPI settings, and the charging cable uses an older Micro-USB connection rather than the newer USB-C. Furthermore, because Finalmouse only releases its mice in drops, at this moment, you can only purchase this mouse through third-party resellers, and it can be very expensive. Nevertheless, this is an exceptional gaming mouse and the lightest mouse we've tested.

The Glorious Model O is the best lightweight mouse for gaming that we've tested. At 67g without its cable, it falls roughly in the middle among the lightest mice we've tested, but it's the sum of its parts that makes it our best pick. It has a plastic honeycomb body that feels very sturdy and a comfortable ambidextrous shape that's well-suited for all grip types and most hand sizes.

It also has a very lightweight and flexible cable and PTFE mouse feet that glide very smoothly despite their sharp edges. Performance-wise, it has great click latency, a very low lift-off distance, a wide CPI range, and a very consistent sensor. It also has customization software that allows you to adjust the RGB lighting, change sensor settings, and remap all buttons, including the scroll wheel and DPI switching button.

Unfortunately, the software is only compatible with Windows, you can only adjust the CPI by increments of 100, and its relatively large body makes it unsuitable for small hands. However, there's a smaller version with similar performance, the Glorious Model O-, which is ideal for small hands using any grip type. Altogether, the Glorious Model O has well-balanced features and is one of the best gaming mice we've tested, making it a great choice for any gamer who prefers a lightweight mouse.

The best ergonomic lightweight mouse we've tested is the Cooler Master MM720. It's extremely lightweight, weighing only 54g without its cable. Overall, it feels fairly well-built and very comfortable, with a wide, right-handed shape that features a groove on the right to rest your ring or pinky finger.

Its shape is best for palm and claw grips, but larger hands may have a hard time reaching the side buttons. It also includes adhesive strips that you can apply to the sides for added grip. It has an extremely low click latency, a wide CPI range, and a very low lift-off distance that's customizable using the companion software, along with a host of sensor, lighting, and button programmability options.

Unfortunately, you can only adjust the CPI by steps of 100, and the sensor undershoots the set CPI more during quick cursor movements. Also, the build quality is only decent, and the body squeaks and feels as if it may crack if you press hard enough, though this shouldn't be an issue for everyday use. That said, it's a very comfortable, lightweight gaming option and is one of the best ergonomic mice we've tested.

The best lightweight mouse for travel that we've tested is the Microsoft Arc Mouse. At 82g, it's quite light, and you can collapse it flat from its arc shape so that it fits more easily into laptop bags. The ambidextrous shape is ideal for a palm or claw grip, although it's likely too small for extra-large hands to use comfortably using a palm grip.

Instead of using a traditional on/off switch, you turn it on or off by snapping it into its arced or flat position. It uses two AAA batteries, and you can pair it to your device via Bluetooth. You can remap a few buttons, like swapping the left and right click for left-handed users, and you can set the three-finger click gesture to perform a wide range of actions through the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.

Unfortunately, while it's partially compatible with macOS, you can't remap any buttons, and the three-finger click isn't supported. Also, its plastic mouse feet don't provide the best gliding experience. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a lightweight mouse that doesn't take up much space in your laptop bag, this is a good choice.

The best budget lightweight mouse we've tested is the Razer Viper Mini. It has the same ambidextrous shape and solid plastic body as the original Razer Viper, but it's smaller and a bit lighter, weighing 61g compared to the original's weight of 69g. It has a sleek gamer look with an RGB logo behind the crest and a second RGB strip that wraps around the bottom at the back.

It feels very sturdy, and it's well-suited for a fingertip grip, regardless of hand size. That said, you can only use a palm grip comfortably if you have small hands, but a claw grip should be comfortable for small and medium-sized hands. It has exceptional PTFE mouse feet with rounded edges that glide very smoothly on mousepads and desks, and the paracord-like cable is lightweight and very flexible. It also has extremely low click latency, a wide CPI range, and user-friendly software for customization that's compatible with Windows and macOS.

Unfortunately, unlike other mice in the Viper lineup that have two side buttons on either side, this mouse only has two side buttons on the left. It also has a somewhat high CPI variation, so the sensor tends to overshoot, especially when you're moving your mouse slowly. That said, this is one of the best gaming mice we've tested, and it's a budget pick with features and performance that rival some more premium gaming mice.