Reviews
The Best Gaming Mouse Under $50
What’s the best gaming mouse under $50?
If you’re new to PC games and you’re just about to build your first gaming rig, finding the perfect mouse isn’t always easy.
One of the many reasons is the overabundance of products to choose from.
To make things easier for you, we prepared the following compilation of five high-quality offerings of the best gaming mouse under 50 bucks.
The Best Gaming Mouse Under $50 Reviewed
Any of these products make for a more-than-decent option to match the system that will run your favorite games.
Pick one that suits your needs, as any of them can make the difference between winning or losing your tournaments.
1. Logitech G502 Hero Gaming Mouse
With Logitech, you can expect to have exceptional quality computer hardware.
Logitech is famous for innovations in computer peripherals, including computer mice, keyboards, headsets, speakers, and cameras.
Logitech G502 Review
The Logitech G502 Hero is at the top of our list for the best mouse under 50.
It is a high-performance wired gaming mouse with many features to help you be more efficient.
- Weight Control
The G502 Hero comes with an adjustable weight system that holds five 3.6-gram weights inside the mouse.
You can personalize how light or heavy you want your mouse to be by removing or adding the weights.
- Customizable Buttons
The G502 Hero has a total of 11 customizable buttons, and it allows you to save up to five profiles on its onboard memory.
You can assign custom easy-access commands for up to five games at a time.
- Hero 25K Sensor
The Hero 25K mouse sensor offers 1:1 tracking with low to high DPI sensitivity and 400 IPS.
For the best gaming experience, you can set the mouse to around 1000 to 1500 DPI.
However, if you use it for functions other than gaming, its DPI can go anywhere between 100 and 25,600.
- Programmable RGB Lighting
You can also enjoy LED light synchronization with the G502 Hero.
With up to 16.8 million colors to choose from, you can vary the overall look of the gaming mouse.
Pros:
- Crisp and clean click feel
- Comes with a one-year limited warranty
- Adjustable weight
- High-end sensor
- Five memory profiles for customized controls
Cons:
- No wireless connectivity
- On the high end of the 50-dollar price mark
2. Razer Basilisk V2 Gaming Mouse
Razer is one of the world’s leading lifestyle brands for gaming-focused computers.
It manufactures award-winning hardware, such as high-performance gaming peripherals and laptops.
Razer Basilisk V2 Review
The Basilisk V2 Gaming Mouse is one of Razer’s offerings that go under the 50-dollar price mark.
It features gaming-performance controls, and its optical switches are three times faster than traditional mechanical switches.
- Programmable Buttons
Similar to the G502 Hero, all 11 buttons of the Basilisk V2 are programmable.
You can reconfigure and reassign complex macro commands using the Razer Synapse 3 app.
- Focus Sensor
The Focus plus 20K DPI Optical Sensor on the Basilisk V2 offers quick-access sensitivity adjustments using the dedicated DPI buttons.
We like that the Razer Basilisk V2 has an exceptionally high 650 IPS rating.
However, since the DPI buttons are also customizable controls, sensitivity adjustments may not be accessible after button reprogramming.
- Customizable Chroma RGB
Like the Logitech G502 Hero, the Basilisk V2 allows customization of its built-in RGB lights.
You can also choose from among 16.8 million color combinations.
Pros:
- Ultra-high IPS rating
- Drag-free cable for wireless-like operation
- Customizable scroll wheel resistance
- Slide-free rubberized grip
Cons:
- Most expensive among the options
- Unadjustable weight
- Not wireless
3. PicTek Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
VictSing is a relatively new company focused on creating trusted desktop accessories and peripheral hardware.
It created the PicTek brand, a game-oriented subsidiary focusing on gaming sets like keyboards, computer mice, and other related products.
PicTek Ergonomic Review
The PicTek Ergonomic Gaming Mouse is the most affordable option among our top five choices.
It packs in multiple sensitivity options, as well as several programmable buttons for in-game macro controls.
- Programmable Buttons
While our first two options boast 11 programmable buttons, the PicTek Ergonomic Gaming Mouse only has seven.
Nevertheless, you will find that seven is enough for macro control assignments for most games.
The mouse comes with easy-to-program software to help you assign different commands to each of the seven buttons.
- Excellent Gaming Performance
The PicTek mouse lets you choose from five mouse sensitivities, including 1200, 2400, 3500, 5500, and 7200 DPI.
It also allows you to adjust its polling rate between 125, 250, 500, and 1000Hz.
With the DPI and polling rate adjustments, you can synchronize your mouse to smooth and high-speed movements for gaming accuracy.
- Switchable RGB Lights
The PicTek Gaming Mouse comes with a switchable LED backlight.
You can change the settings to match your style, or you can turn the lights off using the switch at the bottom of the mouse.
Pros:
- Cheapest among the options
- Adjustable polling rates
- With a lifespan of 30 million clicks
- Switchable LED lights
Cons:
- Weight is not adjustable
- Cord can drag onto the mousepad
- Wired
4. Redragon M801 Sniper Gaming Mouse
Like Razer, Redragon is a manufacturer of high-quality gaming products.
With extensive research and development, Redragon manufactures keyboards, mice, and mousepads.
Redragon M801 Sniper Review
The Redragon M801 Sniper can very well be the best gaming mouse for under 50 bucks.
It offers both wired and wireless connectivity, features RGB aesthetics to match your gaming rig, and emphasizes ergonomics with its standout design.
Even with fewer buttons than the G502 or the Basilisk V2, the wireless connectivity is a big sendoff.
- Professional Grade Mouse
The M801 Sniper offers ultra-fast and lag-free connections using both wired and wireless modes.
If you plan to use it wirelessly, the mouse offers a battery life that lasts up to 35 hours with the RGB LED on.
It can last as long as 70 hours if you keep the RGB LEDs off.
- Programmable Buttons
The M801 Sniper has nine programmable buttons, including the primary right-click, left-click, and scroll buttons.
By default, one of the side buttons works as a rapid-fire button for most first-person shooting games. The two central buttons are for adjusting DPI.
Like the G502, the M801 Sniper can hold five memory profiles with macro recording for different sets of controls.
- Programmable RGB Lighting
The RGB LEDs on the M801 Sniper boast eight lighting effects, 10 brightness levels, and different breathing modes.
Pros:
- Value-for-money gaming mouse
- Can switch between wired or wireless mode
- Comes with a built-in rechargeable battery
- Five custom memory profiles
- Extremely comfortable
Cons:
- Has fewer buttons than other options
- No adjustable weights
5. SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries is a company that has been specializing in professional gaming equipment since 2001.
It boasts multiple collaborations with many esports events, and it sponsors professional gaming teams across the globe.
SteelSeries Rival 3 Review
The SteelSeries Rival 3 offers a simplistic approach to gaming by adding only two side buttons and a DPI control switch.
It is not as bulky as many other gaming mice, and it offers superior comfort with its ergonomic design.
- Extreme Durability
The Rival 3 is one of the cheaper options on this shortlist.
Even so, you will find that it delivers exceptional durability with its engineered high-grade polymer.
Its mechanical switches allow a lifespan of 60 million clicks, and each click feels as crisp as the first one.
- TrueMove Core
The optical gaming sensor on the Rival 3 offers a true 1:1 tracking with up to 8500 DPI and a 300 IPS.
- Brilliant Prism Lighting
The RGB lighting on the Rival 3 comprises three zones of 16.8 million interchangeable colors.
Pros:
- Among the cheaper options
- Made of extremely durable polymer
- Offers up to 60 million clicks
- Comfortable ergonomic construction
Cons:
- Has the least amount of buttons
- Buttons are non-programmable
- No wireless option
Buyer’s Guide
Like most computer hardware, getting the best gaming mouse for under 50 dollars requires scrutinizing each feature offering.
The following is a list of things to look out for when purchasing your gaming mouse for the first time.
1. Buttons
More often than not, the left-click button, pressable scroll wheel, and right-click button are enough for day-to-day Windows operations.
However, having more buttons can be very beneficial for gaming.
Some of the best gaming mice under 50 can help you play your games efficiently with programmable buttons.
With these, you can assign quick-access game controls that otherwise equate to numerous key presses on your keyboard.
2. Sensor
While older computer mice with rubber balls require a user to dismantle and clean them regularly, newer models use optical and laser sensors for movement tracking.
The main difference between a laser mouse and an optical mouse is in its source of illumination.
An optical mouse uses an LED, whereas a laser mouse uses lasers.
Both can perform pretty well, as long as you use them on the correct surface.
An optical mouse works pretty well on a cloth surface, while a laser mouse works better on plastic surfaces.
With our selection of the best gaming mouses under 50, you can rest assured that most come equipped with the latest optical sensors.
3. Construction
Overall, it is not the illumination source making a mouse good or bad for gaming.
Instead, it is the construction quality of the hardware that counts.
If you are looking for the best mouse under 50 and you want to use it for gaming, be sure to look for fewer DPI and a high inches-per-second (IPS) polling rate.
DPI stands for “dots per inch,” which refers to the number of pixels per linear inch.
High DPI is a quality you should look for on a gaming screen because a larger number of pixels equates to exceptional color variation.
On a mouse, however, DPI works entirely on a different premise.
While gaming, you want your mouse to capture fewer pixels to scan less and return more images.
With a high IPS, a mouse tracks faster, making every rapid mouse movement more efficient.
4. Comfort
A computer mouse can come in so many designs and shapes.
Today, ergonomics is one essential criterion for the design of computer mice.
Like a keyboard, a mouse is a piece of computer hardware that requires highly rapid and repetitive wrist and finger movements.
As such, using a computer can be less tiring or stressful with the help of comfortable hardware.
When purchasing a computer mouse, check the dimensions and shape.
Will it fit your palm? Is it too large or too small? Is it too light or too heavy?
The best gaming mouses under 50 listed here may have unique designs, but each of them is highly ergonomic.
With a highly ergonomic computer mouse, you can avoid the risks of getting carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
5. Aesthetics
While the shape of a computer mouse has a lot more to do with comfort, it also has something to do with appearance and aesthetics.
After checking if you are comfortable with the shape of the mouse you just chose, decide whether you like how it looks.
Aside from the shape and general appearance, computer mouse aesthetics can also come in the form of decals, stickers, etchings, and RGB lights.
In some of the best gaming mice under 50, you can change the colors of the RGB lights.
However, other mice change RGB lighting colors based on currently used settings, such as sensitivity, button functionality, and synchronized lighting effects.
6. Wired or Wireless
Choosing between a wired or a wireless mouse boils down to deciding whether you are willing to sacrifice efficiency and spend more on batteries.
A wireless mouse can remove the clutter of an extra cable, and some can work even at a distance of 30 feet from your computer.
However, computer gaming is highly intuitive, which means you will want to sit right in front of your computer monitor.
For this reason, your mouse doesn’t have to be wireless.
Since a wireless mouse works using a wireless receiver and some batteries, operation quality will depend on receiver reliability and battery power.
Most of the best mice under 50 we presented operate as wired hardware, but you can go wireless with the Redragon M801 Sniper.
7. Price
Some high-end gaming mice can cost as high as 250 bucks, and most of them have pretty much the same features as the ones that cost much cheaper.
With all of the products here being the best mice under 50, you won’t have to worry about the price tag.
As long as it comes from a reputable manufacturer, you can expect a 50-dollar mouse to be on a higher tier of quality.
Conclusion
For us, the best gaming mouse under 50 bucks is the Redragon M801 Sniper.
You can program all of its nine buttons for different functions depending on the game you are playing.
It also comes with a highly ergonomic design and exceptional RGB backlighting for aesthetics.
Furthermore, you can choose whether to use it wirelessly or with the included USB Type-C cable.
If, however, you want to spend a bit less and can do away without wireless connectivity, the Logitech G502 Hero is an excellent option.
With 11 programmable buttons, you can assign more quick controls for your games.
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