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Looking for a mouse with a tail? We researched over 40 of the top wired mice on the market and purchased 11 standout models to put to the test. We evaluated each of the mice in our review based on their programmability, precision, scroll wheel, and button actuation, and how they track on various work surfaces where modern mice may roam. We know it can be daunting to sift through vainglorious manufacturer claims and convoluted hardware specs in this crowded segment, so if you're seeking the tried and true reliability of a wired mouse, we've done the leg work for you. Whether you're looking for the best bang for your buck, ultra-precise handling, or a versatile tethered mouse that can track its way around desk and couch alike, we are here to guide you.
At GearLab, we've covered it all when it comes to the vast and varied world of computer mice. If you want a tether-free scrolling experience, check out our best wireless mouse and top Bluetooth mouse reviews. Seeking a competitive gaming edge? We've gone down the mouse hole with our exhaustive gaming mouse review coverage. Already have a trusty mouse and looking for the perfect control surface to complement it? Have a look at our mouse pad comparisons or gaming mouse pad favorites.
Top-tier sensor and switches, 4D scroll wheel with advanced adjustability, nice thumb rest, high programmability
Low resistance 4D scroll wheel with infinite scroll capability, great tracking on many surfaces, fair price
Highly functionable scroll wheel, lots of button reassignment options
Simplistic ambidextrous design, lightweight, very budget friendly
Adjustable sensitivity button on top, nice button programmability options
Good on many surfaces, excellent tracking, highly programmable
Minimal ambidextrous design, above-average tracking, very low price
Excellent sensor, nice macro assignability
Virtually silent primary click buttons, good tracking, RGB lighting, ambidextrous
Lightweight, ambidextrous, simple design
High precision, high surface compatibility, ergonomic design
Cons
A bit heavy, potentially overwhelming number of buttons for some, frequent software updates
The scroll wheel is a bit loud
Loud scroll wheel, slightly less intuitive programming software
No browser buttons, shorter cable than others, possible quality control issues with the scroll wheel
Inferior tracking to competition, rubberized coating looks dirty after limited use
Has more trouble on uneven surfaces than others, triggers malware alert
No browser buttons, possible quality control issues with primary click buttons
Loud clicking sounds, expensive
No button programmability, no forward/back browser buttons
Stiff cord, very limited programmability
Stiff cord, CPI not as accurate as stated, loud scroll wheel click
Bottom Line
This top-tier and feature-packed mouse set the bar amongst some fierce competition with its high programmability and ultra-responsive handling
A highly effective and fairly priced mouse with a laudable feature set and above-average tracking
Highly customizable high-end mouse that can cross over into gaming endeavors
An ultra-basic ambidextrous mouse with a smooth scroll wheel and a rock-bottom price
This mouse features decent button programmability and should be a step up from the most basic mice, but it falls short of their tracking performance at a much higher price
This slick RGB illuminated mouse has excellent tracking, great programmability, and it works on most surface types
A minimalistic bargain mouse that punches well above its price in performance
This is a nicely designed mouse with solid features and a great sensor, just shy of gaming-tier precision, but it's on the expensive end of its class
This mouse features whisper-quiet clicks, good tracking, and stylish RGB accents, but is an otherwise basic design
This mouse provides reliable performance at an affordable price, making it a solid choice for basic use
This mouse is an absolute bargain thanks to its high precision and ergonomic design for a very low price
The respectable performance and feature set, combined with the reasonable price, make the Logitech M500s our top recommendation to suit the needs of most users. The M500s has a high-precision sensor with up to 4000 counts per inch (CPI), which performed well across our in-depth tracking and precision tests. It also has an excellent low-resistance 4D scroll wheel featuring a selectable infinite scroll mode. When it comes to acceptable surface types, the M500s is one of the easiest mice to please, happily and accurately tracking its way across almost everything we dropped it on. If you're the type that prefers a mouse to a laptop's trackpad, even for couch scrolling sessions, this could be the one you want by your side. The M500s has seven programmable buttons and a comfortable full-sized shell design. The buttons are assigned from the robust and intuitive Logitech Options software, where you can even set button functions based on which application is open and in focus.
While there is a lot to like about the M500s, especially at its price point, we did note a loud scroll wheel, which could be annoying to some. And, while seven programmable buttons are more than enough for most people, we've seen more programmability in some of the M500s's competition. Minor gripes aside, we appreciate the M500s for being more than proficient at almost everything the average user will likely throw at it on their daily grind. If you know you'll want more programmability, the logical step up from this mouse is the excellent Logitech G502 X. Although its sale is at a heftier price, it may be worth the investment.
The excellent Logitech M500s will be the sweet spot for many.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 wired mouse impressed us with its high precision & accuracy and its generous button programmability. The Rival 3's TrueMove Core Sensor performed exceptionally throughout our CPI precision and accuracy tests, which were scientifically conducted with a linear slide machine and CPI analyzer software. Tracking and precision prowess on this mouse should be more than enough for basic office work and browsing and even exact enough for some CAD work and 3D modeling programs. The Rival 3 also has five programmable buttons in addition to the scroll wheel, with included software allowing you to set up bindings to launch applications, configurations, OS shortcuts, record macros, and essentially anything else you want a mouse button to do. For fans of RGB lights, this product has you covered with three customizable lighting zones with different effects and presets configurable for each one.
The downsides of the SteelSeries Rival 3 are few, but we did experience what was a somewhat disconcerting and presumably false positive malware detection alert from this mouse's software, and we've read reports of others receiving similar notifications when installing SteelSeries software products. Our second gripe is with this mouse's poor performance on uneven surfaces. While the Rival 3 performed in the above-average range of compatibility with the multitude of surfaces we tested it on, it had more trouble with uneven surfaces and gaps than any other mouse in the review. This mouse may frustrate you if you frequently work from makeshift desks and couches. If you want something that excels across even more terrain, check out the Razer Basilisk V3.
The SteelSeries Rival 3 was a strong performer throughout most of our testing, earning its place on the podium.
For the money, the TeckNet USB Wired is tough to beat due to its impressive tracking precision in a sub-twenty-dollar peripheral and its compatibility with a wide variety of surface types. It tracked exceptionally well through our tracking and precision testing, netting scores that rival mice that cost much more money. We appreciated its ergonomic design with dedicated forward and back browser buttons and the CPI switch button on top to change sensitivity on the fly. That might be useful if you require higher sensitivity in some parts of your daily work routine than others. As we mentioned, the TeckNet worked reasonably well on nearly all the test surfaces we tried. The only surprise was that it was sluggish moving across lined paper, where many mice weren't.
Our complaints about the TeckNet USB Wired were relatively trivial: We found its cord stiff, which could sometimes spring back and cause false inputs. Its scroll wheel was also a bit rattley, and clicking down on it was louder than some others. While we have lauded the TeckNet's precision, when put to the test on our linear slide rig, its tracking accuracy falls a bit short of the CPI claimed by the manufacturer. However, for its meager price and solid capability, this mouse's ownership cost remains an excellent value. If you're searching the low end of the market for decent mice, another one worth mentioning is the Kkuod Silent Wired, which is cheap and has whisper-quiet primary clicks.
The TeckNet USB punches above its price point in our precision and accuracy tests.
If what you seek is the wired mouse for the barest budget, you seek the Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse. At less than what you'll pay for the fleeting company of a fancy cup of Joe, you could enjoy the Amazon Basics mouse for years to come. That is if you enjoy a truly basic, no-frills, wired mouse. It's a light and ambidextrous design that tracks well enough for most tasks thanks to an optical sensor rated up to 1000 counts per inch (CPI). The scroll wheel is surprisingly good, punching way above its price point, with low resistance and near-silent scrolling. The Amazon mouse's ability to track across various surfaces was lower than some but still admirable, with only highly polished and translucent surfaces stalling it out.
We appreciate this mouse for what it is, but a product at this price point will come with some compromises. While our test unit was flawless, we read about some spotty quality control issues with premature scroll wheel failures. Apart from that, there are no real surprises, though. The Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse has no programmability and neither features nor requires software. It's a basic 3-button mouse, as the name says. There are the left and right click buttons and the depressible scroll wheel button, and they do whatever your OS thinks they should do, and that's all. The Basics mouse isn't the mouse you buy for extreme precision, programmability, or nice-to-have features, but it takes the cake if all you need is a reliable and intuitive pointer on the leading edge of cheap. If you're not sold on the Amazon branding, you can pick up a mouse a lot like this one for a couple more bucks in the name brand Logitech B100.
The Amazon Basics 3-Button Mouse gets the job done for less.
The Razer Basilisk V3 is a carry-over from our gaming mouse segment, but you don't have to be a competitive gamer to benefit from its next-level performance. The Basilisk is such a celebrated product that it's on its third iteration, and we couldn't exclude it from our general wired mouse review just for being more exotic than the rest of the class. It comes packed with top-notch hardware like a flawless sensor, capable of up to 26,000 dots per inch (DPI), and speed of light optical switches. It has an excellent 4D scroll wheel and demonstrates some of the best scrolling and button actuation we've ever tested on a mouse. It tracks well on nearly every surface we put it on and comes with several other advanced features, like switch-activated onboard memory and Hypershift button modifier technology, allowing up to 24 button assignments from the ten other physical buttons. It does all this while looking pretty slick, too, thanks to its customizable RGB lighting themes. The Basilisk V3's cutting-edge hardware and software features make it an extremely versatile tool for advanced productivity in much the same way it dominates competitive gaming.
However, choosing this powerhouse as your primary productivity pointer could present a few issues, depending on your needs and ingenuity. You'll need to be creative and somewhat motivated to dig into the software to configure the Basilisk V3 properly for advanced productivity. While most gamers will appreciate its eleven physical buttons, that might feel overwhelming in the office, and the Basilisk is also on the heavier end of the spectrum at 101 grams. Likewise, while its price point is more than reasonable in the gaming category, it's conspicuously expensive in a lineup of productivity mice. The bottom line is that the Razer Basilisk V3 is our overall highest-scoring mouse in both the wired and gaming mouse categories, but mouse par excellence may be as overkill for some as it is a godsend to others. If you want a premium mouse with a premium sensor without all the glitz of this Razer, check out the Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse.
The Razer Basilisk V3 impresses in both style and substance.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Compare Products
We selected the top wired mice, from the humblest value to the cutting-edge performer, and put them through extensive testing in our quest for the best.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
We've been reviewing mice for a long time at GearLab. We've had our hands on dozens of them, spanning every sub-category, from wired to wireless to gaming to ergonomic mice. We pride ourselves on the thoughtfulness of the metrics we've created and the thoroughness of the testing we've developed to score them. When we set off in search of the best wired mice, we scoured the market for its most worthy offerings, then dug deep into the buttons, tracking, scrolling, and surface compatibility of the mice selected for our review. As always, we independently researched and purchased every piece of gear in this roundup, so you could rely on us as an expert and unbiased source to inform your next wired mouse purchase.
Each mouse in our review was thoroughly tested in these four metrics to determine its overall score:
Tracking and Precision (40% of overall score weighting)
Scroll Wheel (30% weighting)
Programmable Buttons (20% weighting)
Surface Types (10% weighting)
The review team for this segment was Austin Palmer and Adam Stout. If you've been perusing our reviews, you'll have likely come across Austin's contributions. He's a Senior Research Analyst here at GearLab and a driving force behind our world-class, data-driven approach to consumer product testing and reviews. He's a details guy and is especially well qualified in this segment as an experienced PC gamer, with a nuanced understanding of mouse specifications and how they present on the mousepad and screen. Adam's background in English Rhetoric and Writing has equipped him with sharp attention to detail and the skill to effectively convey complex technical data straightforwardly on the page.
Every wired mouse undergoes the same testing regardless of price and proficiency.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Analysis and Test Results
We developed the metrics in this wired mouse category to score mice based on the number of buttons and the quality of their programmability, the tracking precision and responsiveness, the scroll wheel actuation and noise level, and their tracking compatibility across common surface types. The results were as wide-ranging as expected from this diverse field, comprised of mice of all walks, from the bargain buy to the premium performer.
What's the Best Value?
Every mouse in this review is a value versus performance proposition. On one end of the spectrum is the super-low-priced Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse. This no-frills, super basic mouse will be enough to get the job done for many people at less than the price of a sandwich. It's an embodiment of feature minimalism. There are no programmable buttons or aesthetic light schemes; it's just pointing, clicking, and scrolling. On the other end is a mouse like the Razer Basilisk V3 that dominates competitive gaming and can be harnessed for advanced productivity. You could buy the Amazon Basics mouse ten times over for the price of a Basilisk V3, and we still think the Basilisk is reasonably priced for what it does in the gaming category. In the standard wired mouse category, however, you may see diminishing returns, depending on your specific needs and willingness to program your mouse for advanced functionality. The same goes for all of the higher-end mice.
Suitable cable length and flexibility make a difference in providing a pleasant user experience with a wired mouse.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Tracking and Precision
The testing procedure for mouse tracking and precision involves assessing how well a mouse translates physical movements into on-screen cursor movements. Tracking evaluates larger mouse movements, while precision focuses on smaller, more exact movements.
Our linear slide test measures mouse sensitivity and accuracy.
Credit: Austin Palmer
We conducted our tests on a standard cloth mouse pad to alleviate any variables. Indicators of poor tracking included a disparity between the mouse's movement and the cursor's movement on-screen, resulting in a sluggish or jerky cursor. Testing tracking also involved various drawing exercises in a paint program to gauge the mouse's ability to keep up with different shapes and movements, from spirals to straight lines and even the alphabet.
Precision testing employs a specialized linear slide testing rig to make precise, machine-controlled movements with the mouse. These movements are recorded on the CPI/DPI Analyzer website. The CPI (Counts Per Inch) test evaluates the mouse's sensor accuracy in translating physical movement into on-screen cursor movement. The CPI determines how many pixels the cursor moves on-screen with one inch of physical mouse movement. A higher CPI indicates greater sensitivity, but accuracy isn't solely determined by the CPI range. Scores are based on Speed-Related Accuracy Variation (SRAV), measuring deviation error between the highest and lowest speeds for each CPI setting tested.
Our adjustable rig can be configured to any mouse, creating a standardized testing procedure to track every mouse in our selection.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
While many gaming mice offer high CPI settings, such as 20,000 or more, most users prefer settings between 400 and 3000 for regular use. Extremely high CPI settings don't guarantee accuracy and may not be suitable for everyday tasks.
Overall, the testing regimen aims to assess both tracking and precision aspects of mice performance, ensuring predictability and accuracy in on-screen cursor movements on a mousepad. Unsurprisingly, the higher-end mice with the super sensors, like the Basilisk V3 and the G502 X, outperform the lower-tier mice.
We've logged the data to show how accurate and precise each mouse tracks across a set distance to give a comparison of how each product performs.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Our baseline in these tests was the Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse, which performs well enough for most everyday tasks but has a slight lag if you're paying close attention. We could easily perceive the difference when comparing it back-to-back with the Razer Basilisk V3, which has a gaming-grade sensor. But, again, for a lot of people, the basic mice are good enough in this regard to keep up with daily productivity. If you want or need something with a smoother screen response, look to the higher-scoring mice in this metric. If you're not interested in a mouse with a ton of buttons or a flashy design but still want ultra-high precision tracking, check out the Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse. It has an advanced sensor with up to 16,0000 counts per inch (CPI) and comes in a more subdued shell design than the flashier gaming-oriented mice.
Wired mice like this one track flawlessly at up to 26,000 CPI, though hardly anyone would set their sensitivity that high.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Scroll Wheel
When testing for the scroll wheel metric, we consider the resistance and noise level rolling and pressing down on the scroll wheel. Mice with 4D and infinite scroll capabilities are awarded more points in this metric. A 4D scroll wheel allows you to tilt the wheel left and right and can be useful as a lateral navigation control in browsers or spreadsheets. Infinite scroll refers to a mouse's ability to be toggled into a mode where the wheel spins freely with inertia, absent the notched steps felt in normal mode. Mice without those features can only score up to an eight in this metric, while they may still perform very well with regard to noise and resistance.
The bargain Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse is an example of a pretty sublime scroll wheel experience, held back from the highest marks for its lack of 4D or infinite scroll features. It is quiet, with low resistance in scrolling and down presses. Other standout scrollers were the Logitech M500S and the Razer Basilisk V3, both of which featured 4D and infinite scroll capabilities. The M500s scores well despite being a bit loud when spinning because its low resistance and a dedicated toggle button for infinite scroll redeem it, making for a pleasant experience overall.
As ever, Razer Basilisk V3 impresses with its low resistance and an option to turn on “Scroll Wheel Acceleration” to increase scroll speed the faster you spin the wheel. It features an additional option that allows infinite mode to activate when scrolling past a certain speed threshold.
High-end mice often feature togglable infinite scroll modes.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Programmable Buttons
The Programmable Buttons metric rates each mouse in the review for the number and usefulness of their buttons and the features and intuitiveness of the software used to assign them.
We ran the gamut here from mice like the Amazon Basics 3-Button mouse and the Logitech B100, which feature no programmable buttons or software, all the way to the territory of premium contenders like the Razer Basilisk V3 and the Logitech G502 X, both of which feature numerous buttons and the robust software to program them.
The latter two mice pack in just under a dozen physical buttons each, offering up to 24 assignable functions (with their shift features) and the ability to create macros and event triggers. The Basilisk V3's Synapse software and the G502 X's G Hub are straightforward and rich with customization options.
The Logitech M500s, though not nearly as customizable as the Basilisk or G502 X, fills in the middle ground with seven programmable buttons configured from the extremely user-friendly Logitech Options software, which offers up custom button profiles per application.
While they aren't mandatory, additional programmable buttons can be amazing productivity boosters for those needing or wanting to trick out their mouse with advanced customization. As features like default forward/back browser buttons on mice have grown more ubiquitous, some users even find their absence frustrating and detrimental to their workflow.
Mice with copious buttons can be great for productivity, as well as gaming.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Surface Types
As modern work environments grow more varied, so too do the surfaces where mice tread. In this metric, we test each mouse out on a variety of surface types found in homes, shops, and offices.
When it came to common surfaces like cloth mouse pads, desk-cluttering cardboard & paper, and slightly textured or uneven tabletops, most of the mice performed well. However, the Dell MS3220 and the SteelSeries Rival 3 had issues with gapped surfaces like table leaf gaps, and the TekNet USB Wired really struggled on lined paper.
In our comprehensive testing, we include a wide range of surface types to test so that we assess everyone's preference when it comes to what they're pushing their mouse around on.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Things got dicier when we moved our testing to highly polished or translucent surfaces. This is where some lower and mid-scoring mice would jitter. The Logitech G502X and M500s could track their way across all polished surfaces and even got some compromised but passable footing on glass, which no other mice could muster. So, if you're worried about tracking on a polished or translucent surface, stick with either of those two Logitech mice or the Razer Basilisk V3. If you have ambitions of scrolling from the comfiness of the couch, you'll want to skip the Dell MS3220, but everything else should accommodate.
Wired mice come in all over the price and performance spectrum, from cheap and simple to premium and spendy.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
With so many products competing for your dollar bills, we know it can be challenging to separate the wheat from the chaff. We are confident that, through careful selection and rigorous testing, we've brought you the best wired mouse advice available anywhere. We provided options for all budgets and made recommendations for average and advanced users alike, and we hope we've helped you on your quest for the best wired mouse to fit your needs and budget.
Remember to check out our gaming mouse review if you want even more options on the cutting-edge of computer mice. If you're not sold on a wired mouse, be sure to peruse our bluetooth mouse review and wireless mouse review for a suitable tether-free option.
