Introduction
It’s no secret that gaming mice have been creeping up in price. A couple of years ago, $100 was pretty much the maximum price you had to pay for a truly top tier gaming mouse. Many mice went for around $60-$70, which would be considered pretty cheap by today’s standards. Since we know that not everyone can (or wants to) cough up the money required for a flagship mouse, we’ve listed some of the best budget gaming mouse options in this article. Note that budget does not equal ‘subpar’ in this article. The mice in this article are all extremely capable gaming mice that can be used (and are being used, in some cases) at the highest levels of gaming.
Note: we list mice from brands that are commonly available across most of the world. There are tons of affordable Chinese mice being produced these days that perform amazingly well and could’ve made the list, but availability for these can be spotty. Furthermore, there can be issues with warranty and customer support.
If you want to compare mice yourself, check out our gaming mouse spec list. We have over 250 analyzed gaming mice in there.
NZXT Lift 2
If you’re looking for value, it’s hard to ignore NZXT’s recent Lift 2 line of mice. Yes, they’re wired, but they come with optical switches and the latest and greatest 3395 sensor that’s capable of 8000Hz polling rates. All of this can be found in a shell that weighs around 60 grams, making it a mouse that has flagship specs at a fraction of the price.
The build quality is good, the optical switches and buttons are tuned nicely, and the sensor implementation is as it should be as well.
The Lift 2 is available in two colors (black and white) and two shapes (symmetrical and ergonomic) so there should something for everyone out there. Its list price is $49.99, which is extremely respectable given the specs that you’re getting.
NZXT Lift 2 Ergo
Staff’s Choice
Budget Choice
If it’s value you’re looking for, the NZXT Lift 2 Ergo is difficult to beat. It’s got all of today’s bells and whistles (such as a 3395 sensor and optical switches) packed inside a well-built 61 gram package.
Read review (06/2024)
Pros
- Pro-level specs for a budget price
- Good build quality
- Nicely implemented (optical) switches
Cons
- Large shape might not suit everyone
- Exterior parts of the shell can grind on softer mousepads or when applying a lot of pressure on the mouse
Specs
| Sensor | PMW 3395 |
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| Polling Rate | 125 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 4000 / 8000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | Optical Switches |
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| Connection | Wired |
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| Shape | Ergonomic |
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| Length | 12.84cm |
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| Height | 4.14cm |
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| Weight | 61g |
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| Width | 6.51cm |
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Logitech G305
The Logitech G305 is, in gaming mouse years, absolutely ancient. However, it’s still one of the most recommended budget mice out there. That speaks volumes about how far ahead of the game Logitech was when they released this mouse.
What you’re getting here is a budget wireless mouse with flawless ingame performances and a completely lag-free wireless connection. In terms of pure gaming performances, this can still compete with some of the better options on the market nowadays.
Obviously, the mouse does show its age in some aspects. By today’s standards, it’s incredibly heavy. It also requires an external battery for power. That does mean that it has a very long battery life, but replacing a physical battery isn’t exactly user-friendly.
The G305 has been around and well-loved for such a long time that there are tons of mods and mod kits available for it though, so if you want to get the weight down or tinker with it in any other way, you definitely can.
The list price for the Logitech G305 is $49.99, but it can often be found at discounted prices due to its age.
Logitech G305
Used by 8 players ()
The G305, if you like (or don’t mind) the shape, is an absolute beast of a mouse, and it should definitely be considered if you’re in the market for a new piece of kit. Playing wireless is an amazing feeling and Logitech’s wireless functionality works as advertised.
Read review (09/2018)
Pros
- Flawless wireless performance on a budget
- Sturdy build quality
- Extremely long battery life
Cons
- A little heavy
- Requires an AA battery
- ‘Egg shaped’ shell design isn’t the safest out there
Specs
| Sensor | HERO |
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| Polling Rate | 125 / 250 / 500 / 1000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | Omron |
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| Connection | Wireless |
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| Shape | Ambidextrous |
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| Length | 11.5cm |
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| Height | 4cm |
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| Weight | 96g |
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| Width | 6.2cm |
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Corsair Sabre V2 Pro
First off: we know that, at an MSRP of $99,99, the Corsair Sabre V2 Pro can’t exactly be called a true budget mouse. But what’s interesting here is that you’re getting truly flagship specs at a price that’s (in this day and age) pretty friendly on the wallet.
With this mouse, you’re getting a ton of specs that are at the bleeding edge of technology. It lacks optical switches, but aside from that there’s not much you can fault this one for. It comes with a sensor that’s capable of polling rates up to 8000Hz, for example. And it comes in a mouse that weighs a ridiculously low 36 grams.
Aside from all of that, it comes with grip tape and extra mouse feet, and it uses a web-based driver instead of a downloadable program for customization. There’s a lot to love here, and if your budget is a bit higher and you want to get a top-specced mouse from a mainstream brand, this is a good one to consider.
Corsair Sabre v2 Pro
Used by 3 players ()
It’s got a few small flaws here and there, but the overall package is an attractive one, and if you’ve been looking for an ultra lightweight mouse to try out and you want to stick to bigger brands, then this is a great one to consider.
Read review (09/2025)
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Includes grip tape and additional mouse feet
- Affordable for a flagship mouse from a big brand
- Uses a web-based driver program
Cons
- The switches are mechanical, but don’t feel amazing
- Side buttons aren’t great
- Pre-applied feet are a bit too scratchy
Specs
| Sensor | Marksman S 33K |
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| Polling Rate | 1000 / 2000 / 4000 / 8000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | Corsair Mechanical Switches |
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| Connection | Wireless |
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| Shape | Ambidextrous |
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| Length | 11.9cm |
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| Height | 3.8cm |
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| Weight | 36g |
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| Width | 6.2cm |
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Razer Cobra
When the Razer Viper Mini originally released after months of requests from the community, it was criticized for being a takedown version of the original mouse. A budget mouse was not what the many fans who requested it wanted, but to Razer’s credit it was a pretty great budget mouse.
The Razer Cobra is the spiritual successor to the Viper Mini. This is a budget mouse with RGB lighting (something that you rarely see on flagship gaming mice these days), optical switches, and a flawless sensor. It comes in at around 58 grams, which is decent.
It cannot reach higher polling rates, but at an MSRP of $39.99 it’s one of the better budget gaming mice you can get right now. Do note that it’s on the smaller side though, which can be difficult to deal with if you have larger hands.
Razer Cobra
The Razer Cobra is the spiritual successor to the Razer Viper Mini. It is a budget-oriented wired mouse from Razer.
Pros
- Great price
- Good gaming performance
Cons
- Cable isn’t the best
- Build quality could be better
Specs
| Sensor | Razer 8500 Optical Sensor |
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| Polling Rate | 125 / 500 / 1000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | Razer Optical |
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| Connection | Wired |
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| Shape | Ambidextrous |
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| Length | 12.0cm |
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| Height | 3.8cm |
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| Weight | 58g |
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| Width | 6.3cm |
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HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is a mouse that often flies under the radar, but there’s really no reason for that. Just like its predecessor, this is a well-made gaming mouse with specs that are up to today’s standards at a very fair price.
It has a max polling rate of 8000Hz, is nicely built, and quite simply performs great in all gaming scenarios. It does come with a wire, but that’s a sacrifice you’ll often have to make if you’re gaming on a budget and you don’t want to be stuck on downgraded specs.
For $59.99, the Pulsefire Haste 2 can be yours, though it can often be found on sale. There’s also a wireless version available, but that (obviously) costs more.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is the successor to the original Haste. It packs a new sensor and comes with a solid shell rather than a honeycomb shell.
Pros
- 8000Hz polling rate
- Great gaming performance
Specs
| Sensor | HyperX 26K |
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| Polling Rate | 125 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 4000 / 8000 Hz |
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| Button Switches | HyperX Mouse Switches |
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| Connection | Wired |
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| Shape | Ambidextrous |
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| Length | 12.4cm |
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| Height | 3.8cm |
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| Weight | 53g |
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| Width | 6.5cm |
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Conclusion
There’s absolutely no shortage of fantastic budget gaming mice in this day and age. We could’ve put five completely different mice in this list and it would still be a great list. However, as we said in the intro, we try to focus on established brands that are available in most regions. If you have any suggestions for other great budget gaming mice, feel free to reach out!
