Finding great gaming gear doesn’t have to empty your wallet! Especially when it comes to gaming mice, there are some seriously awesome options out there that deliver fantastic performance without that premium price tag. If you’re tired of sorting through endless choices or wondering if those super cheap mice are actually any good, you’ve come to the right place.
Getting the right mouse can make a surprising difference in your gaming, whether you’re clicking heads in an FPS or managing units in an RTS. A comfortable shape, a reliable sensor, and satisfying clicks matter, but you shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to get them. We’ve looked at some top contenders that balance features, build quality, and, most importantly, price.
This list rounds up five gaming mice that prove you can get excellent value and a great gaming experience. These are mice that perform well above their price point, offering features you might expect on much more expensive models. Let’s dive into some affordable peripherals that you can actually snag right now!
Here are five picks that offer incredible bang for your buck:
1. Glorious Model O- / Model D-
- Price: $34.99 (Model O-), $24.99 (Model D-) (Note: Prices fluctuate, check current listings)
- Main feature: Ultralight weight (O-: 58-59g, D-: 61-62g) with excellent performance.
- Why it stands out: Top-tier feel and features (great sensor, smooth skates, fantastic cable, vibrant RGB) at a budget-friendly price. This is often considered a benchmark for affordable, high-performance lightweight mice.
These mice are serious contenders and often feel like they should cost much more. They use the reliable PixArt 3360 sensor (12,000 DPI, 1000Hz polling), which is excellent for gaming. The build quality is very solid, and they look fantastic with honeycomb cutouts and extensive, vibrant RGB lighting on the side rails, scroll wheel, and inside the shell. The key difference is shape: the Model O- is ambidextrous and great for fingertip or claw grips, while the Model D- is ergonomic (right-handed) and better suited for palm grippers – both are primarily aimed at small-to-medium hands. The 100% PTFE skates are exceptionally smooth, offering a fast glide with minimal drag.
Like the Cooler Master, the cable is super lightweight and flexible, giving an almost wireless feel. The Omron switches feel great, offering a satisfying click with a good middle-ground weight perfect for FPS games. The scroll wheel is decent, though maybe a bit heavy for some. Considering the features, performance, and especially the incredibly light weight, getting these for under $30 is an absolute steal.
2. Cooler Master MM711
- Price: $37.99 (Note: Prices fluctuate, check current listings)
- Main feature: Extremely lightweight (60g) with a unique cutout design and premium feel.
- Why it stands out: Fantastic build quality, excellent sensor, super flexible cable, and striking looks that punch well above its price class.
The Cooler Master MM711 is another mouse that feels much more expensive than it is, and it’s one of the best budget gaming mice ever made. It features the high-end PixArt 3389 sensor (16,000 DPI, 1000Hz polling), known for its reliable, top-tier tracking. The build quality is fantastic; it uses a unique cutout design featuring the Cooler Master logo instead of standard honeycombs, which looks awesome and feels very well put together. Nobody would guess this is a budget mouse just by looking at it. It’s comfortable for all grip styles. The PTFE skates provide a very good glide, better than the SteelSeries and Logitech options on this list.
A huge plus is the ultra-lightweight, flexible cable – it genuinely makes the mouse feel wireless during use. The Omron switches feel great, neither too light nor too heavy, making them versatile. The scroll wheel is tactile and avoids feeling mushy. Weighing in at just 60 grams, it’s incredibly light, and the extensive, well-diffused RGB lighting adds to its premium appeal.
3. Logitech G305 Lightspeed
- Price: $29.99 (Note: Prices fluctuate, check current listings)
- Main feature: Budget-friendly, high-performance wireless gaming.
- Why it stands out: Offers Logitech’s excellent HERO sensor and reliable Lightspeed wireless technology at an incredibly accessible price point.
The Logitech G305 is the go-to budget wireless option. It uses Logitech’s highly-regarded HERO sensor (12,000 DPI, 1000Hz polling), which is fantastic for FPS and general gaming, offering efficiency and accuracy. The build quality is excellent – typical Logitech – feeling very solid with no creaks or wobbly parts, and it comes in several fun color options. It’s an ambidextrous shape (though side buttons are only on the left) best suited for small to average-sized hands.
Since it’s wireless, there’s no cable drag, but it relies on a single AA battery. This gives it an incredibly long battery life, but adds weight, coming in around 99g with a standard AA. You can significantly reduce this to about 86-87g by using a Lithium AA battery, striking a great balance. The switches are really nice – slightly on the lighter side and very clicky, which many people love for gaming. The scroll wheel is also nicely tactile. While the skates aren’t the smoothest (causing some drag), the wireless freedom and top-notch sensor/wireless tech make this unbeatable if you want to cut the cord on a budget.
4. SteelSeries Prime+
- Price: $18.95 (Note: Prices fluctuate, check current listings)
- Main feature: Upgraded sensor and cable compared to the Rival 3, plus an onboard OLED screen.
- Why it stands out: Offers premium features like optical-magnetic switches and onboard customization usually found on much pricier mice.
Stepping up slightly from the Rival 3, the Prime+ brings some significant upgrades for just a couple of dollars more. It moves to the TrueMove Pro+ sensor (a variant of the PixArt 3390, 18,000 DPI, 1000Hz polling), which is a better sensor overall. The build quality remains solid, with a comfortable right-handed ergonomic shape that works well for claw and palm grips. A standout feature at this price is the small OLED screen on the bottom, allowing you to adjust lift-off distance, CPI, polling rate, and even basic RGB settings without software.
The skates glide a bit smoother than the Rival 3’s. The cable is a major improvement – it’s braided, and angled upwards where it exits the mouse, effectively eliminating drag and giving it a near-wireless feel. It also introduces SteelSeries’ Prestige OM switches (optical magnetic), which are medium-weight and provide incredibly crisp, satisfying clicks. The scroll wheel has medium resistance and distinct steps. Weight is lower than the Rival 3 at 71g (without cable). RGB is minimal, limited to just the scroll wheel, but it’s bright and well-diffused.
5. SteelSeries Rival 3
- Price: $23.99 (Note: Prices fluctuate, check current listings)
- Main feature: Solid performance and build quality at an extremely low price point.
- Why it stands out: Incredible value, offering a reliable sensor and decent features for under $30.
Kicking off the list is the SteelSeries Rival 3, an incredibly affordable entry point into decent gaming mice. Even at this super low price, you get SteelSeries’ TrueMove Core sensor (their version of the reliable PixArt 3331, 8,500 DPI, 1000Hz polling). While this sensor is known for potentially higher lift-off distance (LOD), it’s generally very good and reliable for gaming. The build quality is surprisingly decent for the price; the body feels solid with a matte, subtly grippy texture, though some units might have a slight button rattle when shaken. It’s a medium-sized, ambidextrous mouse best suited for claw or fingertip grips.
The main compromise is the cable – it’s the only rubber-coated one on this list, which can cause some drag on the mousepad (though using a mouse bungee helps immensely). It uses SteelSeries Blue switches (made by Zippy), which are the heaviest clicks on this list but aren’t fatiguing and offer good precision. The scroll wheel is decent, recessed into the shell, with lighter resistance and clear steps. It weighs about 76 grams (without cable) and has surprisingly nice RGB, with a bright, diffused light band around the bottom edge and an illuminated logo.
So there you have it – five gaming mice that prove you don’t need to spend a lot to get a great piece of kit! From ultralight wired options with premium sensors to a fantastic budget wireless choice, there’s something here for almost every preference and budget under $30. Getting a mouse that feels good in your hand and tracks accurately can genuinely elevate your gaming sessions.
Which of these budget beasts catches your eye? Or maybe you have your own favorite affordable gaming mouse that didn’t make the list? Let us know down in the comments – always great to hear about other awesome value finds! Happy gaming!
