There's a whole host of mice out there, all with different colours, sensors, and functionality, and often designed for different purposes. There are a few key questions you should ask yourself before making any mouse purchase:
- Will I be using the mouse with my right or left hand?
- Do I want a wired or wireless mouse?
- Do I want a portable mouse to use on the go?
- How much money do I want to spend?
- Will the mouse work on my operating system?
These questions will help you to quickly figure out what you’re looking for in a mouse, and we've tried to cover most of the bases in our round-up below.
For each mouse we've broken down the quality of its sensor, the grip-style it's best suited for, and which operating systems it will work on.
Mice aren't just for PCs though - you might also want to consider using them with a laptop.
Logitech MX Master 3
- $99.99
- Sensor: Laser, Darkfield with 4,000 DPI
- Grip style: Palm or finger-tip – right-handed mouse
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
The Logitech MX Master 3 is the successor to one of our favourite mice for PC - the MX Master 2S. While the 2S was great, the 3 brings a handful of key changes to further enhance the product.
Like the 2S, the design of the MX Master 3 is gorgeous - and when can you ever say that about a computer mouse? It's comfortable to use and the curves fit perfectly against your hand. The included Darkfield laser sensor offers fantastic tracking capabilities, which will work on almost any surface, including high-gloss and glass surfaces, without the need for a mousemat.
The key improvement over the 2S is the machined steel scroll wheel; it now features an electromagnetic mechanism that all but removes resistance from the scroll while not making a peep. It's actually fast enough to scroll through 1000 lines of code in a second, making it ideal for analysts and web developers alike.
The MX Master 3 can be used both through a wireless 2.4GHz (via USB dongle), Bluetooth or wired connection via USB-C. The wide array of connectivity options make the mouse fantastic for use with various platforms and types of PCs.
Like its predecessor, the MX Master 3 features Logitech Flow, allowing you to seamlessly move your mouse between displays - even when they're different computers running different operating systems. It makes copying and pasting files and working across a multi-computer setup a breeze.
Through the software, you can also set up app-specific controls using a combination of pressing the gesture button where your thumb rests and swiping with the mouse in a particular direction. It can control anything from media playback to switching tabs in Google Chrome, and anything else you can think of. You've also got two customisable buttons that sit beside the side scroll wheel.
Battery life is an important feature to consider when buying a wireless mouse, but the 3 has that covered. A single minute of charge will get you three hours of use, and when fully charged, it lasts around 70 days.
No matter what you need a computer mouse for, it's likely that the Logitech MX Master 3 will do the job - and then some.
Razer Pro Click
- $99.99
- Sensor: Optical sensor with 16,000 DPI
- Grip style: Palm, right-handed mouse
- Operating system: Windows and basic Mac functionality
Razer may be best known for its range of gaming peripherals and laptops, but the company also has a line of less gamer-specific gadgets for creatives and power users.
The Razer Pro Click is one such accessory, tailored towards power users that use macros on a day-to-day basis. That could be to speed up your video editing workflow or quickly access a tool in Photoshop - macros aren't just for gamers, after all. There are 8 reprogrammable buttons in total, more than any other entry in our chart.
Razer being Razer, it hasn't skimped on the DPI either; sporting an impressive optical sensor with a whopping 16,000 DPI, you'll get a fast, smooth experience ideal for those working across larger displays, or those with a multi-display setup. Like Logitech's MX Master 3, the Pro Click offers multi-host connectivity with up to 4 devices, allowing you to quickly move from a desktop to a laptop without a fiddly reconnection process.
The wireless mouse connects primarily via Bluetooth, making it compatible with both Windows and Mac, but without dedicated Razer software available for macOS, it'll be limited to basic mouse functionality on Mac.
And, of course, the white and grey colour combination looks great - but what did you really expect from a company like Razer?
Microsoft Surface Precision
- $99
- Grip style: Palm, right-handed mouse
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
The Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse has an understated grey design that might look a little boring, but this is a serious contender for the best mouse out there.
It's heavier than a lot of rivals at 135g but the weight actually makes it a joy to use. It glides like an experienced ice skater across a mouse mat with ease and grace.
Build quality is exceptional with solid construction. The top part offers a smooth surface while the sides are grippy, although perhaps not as much as some.
The scroll wheel can be toggled between smooth or magnetic detent scrolling quickly using the button just behind it. You can also customise vertical or horizontal scrolling.
The Surface Precision uses Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy and can connect to up to three devices simultaneously with the option to use a USB wired connection if needed.
A total of six buttons gives you a lot of control and four of them are customisable so you can make the mouse do what's most useful for you. However, this, along with Smart Switching, are not available on Windows 10 S or Mac.
Inside are rechargeable batteries and the Surface Precision can last up to three months.
Anker Ergonomic
$35.99
Sensor: Optical with 1,600 DPI
Grip style: Vertical palm – right-handed mouse
Operating system: Windows and limited functionalities with Mac
The Anker Ergonomic wireless mouse is aimed at those who want a different grip on their mice, whether due to a health condition or mere preference. The Anker is a vertical-shaped mouse, which is held completely differently to conventional mice.
The Anker connects wirelessly through a 2.4G connection which works alongside a USB dongle. It also has two buttons on the left hand-side, which can be used to quickly go backward and forward on web pages. There’s also a button at the top of the mouse allowing you to quickly adjust the DPI level up to 1600.
This mouse isn’t recommended for those wanting to game, but is suggested for those wanting a different ergonomic grip.
Logitech M330 Silent Plus
- $12.99
- Sensor: Optical with 1,000 DPI
- Grip style: Palm, right-handed mouse
- Operating system: Windows and Mac
If you're looking for an inexpensive wireless mouse that doesn't make a lot of noise, look no further than Logitech's entry-level M330 Silent Plus.
As the name suggests, the mouse is near-silent in operation, making it a handy tool if you want to do a bit of work without disturbing those nearby - especially on trains and planes, where the clicky noise of most mice can get irksome.
The ergonomic asymmetric shape of the mouse fits into the palm of your hand comfortably, and that's further improved by texturised rubber grips to maintain total control over the mouse at all times.
It's also devilishly compact, fitting comfortably into a pocket, and at just 91g, it's lightweight too. Throw in up to 24 months of use from a single set of batteries and you've got a great workhorse that won't make much noise.
If you're likely to use your mouse for a lot of gaming, you might also want to look at our guide to the best gaming mice - many of them feature sensors, buttons, and software designed specifically with gamers in mind.
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