Gaming lovers know, that with gaming technology advancing at an exponential rate, a simple two-button office mouse will not suffice. Speed, precision and accuracy are essential features required by the pro and semi-pro community, and these are the best affordable gaming mouses on the market.
However, finding an adequate gaming mouse that isn't going to break the bank can provide quite the challenge. The best types of gaming mouses don't always have to cost a small fortune and can often be purchased for under $100.
We've provided a diverse range of gaming mouses that won't force you to compromise quality for a low price, these professional mouses are innovative in their design, reliable in their quality and effective in their function.
Best Gaming Mouse Under $100
1. Razer DeathAdder Elite
Designed to be ahead of the game, literally, the Razer Death Adder Elite mouse is a winner on all counts. This is a wired gaming mouse featuring advanced technology and superior ergonomically comfortable design.
With an advanced 16,000 DPI optical sensor it delivers optimal accuracy and speed, enabling the user to dominate the game. It also can track and accelerate up to 450 IPS/50g for instantaneous response times when you really need them.
The overall Resolution Accuracy of the mouse is an amazing 99.4%.
Razer Mechanical Mouse Switches inside the product are engineered for rapid response and durability (with a life-span of 50 million clicks).
Seven individually programmable Hype-Response buttons allow you to quickly modify the sensitivity levels to match your preferences even in the midst of a game.
The mouse is a right-handed design with a textured rubber grip on each side for secure non-slip holding over extended periods. Its scroll wheel is tactile and highly responsive. Cool customisable lighting (16.8 million different colour options and effects) enhance the visual experience of your game.
Customisation of the unit requires downloading of Razer’s proprietary software Synapse 3, compatible with iOS and Windows only. The mouse is battery powered, taking 1 x AAA battery.
2. PICTEK Gaming Mouse
From PICTEK comes this wired customisable* gaming mouse featuring programmable buttons, adjustable DPI, ergonomic grip and much more. The customisation/programmable features of the mouse are not compatible with Apple computers but the mouse can still be used normally with Apple computers or Mac OS.
Using the proprietary PICTEK software the mouse has eight programmable buttons and a Rapid-Fire button which is also customisable.
The high-precision polling rate can be adjusted to run at four levels between 125Hz to 1000Hz, with each transition and level being extremely smooth and quick. And the DPI can also be adjusted or programmed to operate at speeds between 1200 and 7200 DPI, allowing your mouse speed to be in tune with the game you’re playing.
The mouse is backlit and features Chroma RGB illumination (16.8 million colours and effects to choose from) customisable with a separate button on the bottom of the mouse. It also has a sensor for auto switching of colours and themes between games.
Cleverly designed for comfortable use over extended periods the unit is both balanced and contoured with a claw-grip, soft-touch texture and good weight.
The estimated lifespan is 20 million clicks. This is an excellent choice at a very low price point.
3. Razer DeathAdder Essential
The Death Adder Essential wired gaming mouse from Razer features an impressive 6400 DPI optical sensor for fast and accurate swipes throughout the game.
It has a comfortable ergonomic right-handed design with a textured surface and gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel allowing you to enjoy hours of gaming without too much fatigue.
The thumb button on the side is particularly relaxing. It’s also a good size for those with larger hands. Overall, its refined and engineered design is a winner.
There are five Hype-Response buttons for extended life (up to 10 million clicks). These are all individually programmable for exceptional control, giving you the edge over your opponent in the game.
It can poll up to 1000Hz and accelerate up to 220IPS/30G. Mechanically, the mouse is engineered to be highly reliable and durable and last up to 10 million clicks due to its award-winning Razer Mechanical Switches.
The mouse also features green backlighting to add some visual effects to your gaming experience. The mouse is Razer Synapse 3 (Beta) enabled (not Synapse 2). Please note that this software is not compatible with Apple PC’s but the mouse can still be used normally with Apple computers or Mac OS.
4. Redragon Gaming Mouse M908
The Redragon M908 wired programmable gaming mouse looks absolutely full of promise with its swathe of lit-up green buttons on the inner side under the thumb. And the price tag is exciting as well!
This is designed as a professional gaming mouse with 18 programmable buttons and switches* for the ultimate control, speed and responsiveness through any game. The programmable modes are only Windows OS compatible (2000/ME/XP/03/VISTA/7/8/10).
The mouse will operate normally with iOS. With the downloadable software redragonzone.com you can customise/programme the various buttons and switches individually. Assign different actions to them to achieve optimal productivity and efficiency to your own preferences.
For example, you can set the click times and set delays. You can record up to 59 actions which can be set off with one click. The DPI can be adjusted in two modes. Mode 1 via the mouse buttons is 500/1000/2000/3000/6200. Mode 2 via the software is in 100DPI increments between 100 and 12,400.
The polling rate is switchable between 125Hz to 1000Hz with acceleration of 30G. The tracking system is via laser. The sensor is a high-precision Pixart PMW3327.
In addition, the mouse features some really cool RGB LED Chroma lighting effects, also customisable, and including modes such as Rainbow, Flash, Wave, Breathing. Simply download Redragon Chroma Lighting and get access to 16.8 million colour options.
In terms of comfort the Redragon features smooth Teflon feet pads for smoothness and control. It has an ergonomic design to suit any gamer’s hand over long periods of play.
5. Redragon M711 Cobra
Compact and uncomplicated to look at the M711 Cobra gaming mouse from Redragon is a wired mouse which actually does have many of the features of more complicated options, including RGB lighting, programmable buttons and adjustable DPI.
The Cobra has a high-quality Pixart 3325 10,000 DPI optical sensor for precision and speed.
The sensor produces advanced tracking and state-of-the-art motion detection for optimum control and responsiveness. The DPI can be adjusted between 500/1000/2000/3000/5000 through the buttons without the software (refer below).
Or you can access 7 programmable buttons and switches with customisable actions via Redragon proprietary software* and you will enjoy an even mightier level of control, speed and accuracy in all your games. Take the lead over your opponents.
This software is only compatible with Windows OS (2000/ME/03/VISTA/7/8/10). The mouse will still work normally with iOS but without any programmability options.
With the programming enabled you can attribute specific actions to particular buttons, set click and delay times, record up to 59 actions which can then be activated with a single click.
You can also adjust the DPI even more freely between 100 and 10,000 in 100-point increments. The polling rate defaults to 500Hz but can be switched between 125Hz and 1000Hz.
The mouse also has seven RGA lighting options with 16.8 million colour options via Redragon RGB Lighting software.
What does DPI mean?
DPI stands for dots per inch and relates to the sensitivity of one's mouse. When you move the mouse, DPI tracks and detects how much you've moved and matches your cursor.
The higher the DPI, the most the mouse shifts with less movement by your hands. You often need a higher DPI when you want to move faster, such as shooting your competitor in an online game.
When working with larger monitors, or even multiple monitors you probably want a higher DPI as it makes it easier to move the mouse between screens. Gone are the days of hurting your wrists from simply moving your mouse.
Most standard mice work on 800-900 DPI and can't be customised. Gaming mice are special as they allow the user to pre-select their DPI from 100 all the way up to 10,000 DPI.
Usually you can change the DPI with a flick of a button allowing for different use cases at different times without messing around with your computer settings.
Factors To Consider Buying A Gaming Mouse?
There are many factors to consider, but the most common is the DPI, acceleration, comfort, LED lightning, number of programmable buttons and whether it's wired or wireless.
Starting with the most important...
Wired vs Wireless Gaming Mouse
Many years ago you wouldn't have seen any pro gamer opt for a wireless gaming mouse. Everyone knows that wireless has a slight delay, which can be the difference between winning and losing.
Fast forward to 2020 and wireless is nearly as good as wired mice. However the saying is still true, wired is definitely the best option for serious hardcore gamers.
There's nothing worse than losing your battery life in the middle of a game, something you won't have to deal with when using a wired mouse.
Polling Rate Response Times
Gamers need higher polling rates which are measured in Hertz (Hz). Standard computer mice usually come in 100-125Hz which is inferior for gamers.
You'll likely need a rate of 250Hz at a bare minimum with more gamers opting for 500 or even 1,000Hz.
Polling rate is how often the mouse is looking for an input, such as a movement. The higher the polling rate the more responsive the mouse is.
Like a delay with wireless, even the slightest delay with a lower poll rate can cause major headaches for most hardcore gaming fanatics.
Programmable Buttons
Most gaming mice come with programmable buttons which allows you to add your own specific functions or macros to each one. Once in place, a quick press of the button will initiate this.
Most major manufacturers count the left, right and scroll wheel as programmable buttons so if a mouse says it's got 9 buttons, you've really only got 6 to use.
You can add whatever you'd like to each button with most gamers opting to use hot keys or complex keystrokes to theirs for faster in game results.
LED Lighting
Nearly all gaming mice now come with fancy LED lightning which makes playing games in the dark much easier as you can see the buttons. Others come with lighting for show.
While you can't always customise these lights, some brands actually include software which you can enable to toggle between colours or create your own sequences.
Some gamers don't care for this functionality while others buy gaming mice specifically for this.
Comfortable Design
Lastly and probably equally as important as our first point is the comfort. If you're playing games for hours at a time, comfort and ergonomic design should be very important to you.
Getting a mouse that fits well is difficult but sticking with the similar style of mouse that you've previously had is a good idea.
If you're not sure then head down to your local computer shop and test a few different brands or shapes out before committing to buy. After all, if you're going to use it for thousands of hours, you probably should get the best fit for your hands.
You can also now buy left handed gaming mice vs right handed gaming mice. If it's an option make sure you choose the right one!
Verdict
When it comes to choosing the best gaming mouse, you really are spoilt for choice. But when looking for something under $100, you can often struggle to find something that combines features and functionality.
We'd recommend purchasing the Razer DeathAdder Elite which offers lots of features used by amateur and intermediate gamers at a rock bottom price.
Razer is a well known brand in the gaming industry and this model has many raving reviews from like minded gamers.
Related: Best Office Gaming Chairs
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Last Updated: December 2, 2021 by Rhys