Gone are the days when the wireless peripheral technology was so bad that it had to suffer through lag, battery issues, and whatnot. Modern day technology has improved to a point that most people have finally started giving up on wired peripherals in favor of wireless offerings. I’ll be honest, for the longest time, I was skeptical too because I had no idea about how good wireless technology has become.
This all changed when I got my hands on the Razer Basilisk Ultimate and I never looked back. It has been over 2 years and I am still using this mouse and it is perhaps the most definitive gaming mouse in the market that delivers top of the line performance and that too, without any complications. However, the Basilisk Ultimate is an expensive mouse and not everyone is going to want to spend that much money on just a mouse.
Therefore, this brought us the idea that we should review the best budget wireless mouse. This is for everyone who is looking to try out wireless technology before they can go ahead and fully invest in it. Now, the mice that are featured in this round up are from various companies, both well renowned and not so well-renowned. The reason behind that is simple, I just wanted to see if I can give some unknown brands a try and see if they will be able to perform on the same level.
Reviewing the Best Budget Wireless Mouse
| Awards | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Editor’s Pick | Buy on Amazon | |
| Runner Up | Buy on Amazon | |
| Best RGB Wireless Mouse | Buy on Amazon | |
| Best Budget Corsair Mouse | Buy on Amazon | |
| Best Entry Level Wireless Mouse | Buy on Amazon |
For anyone who is wondering, finding the best budget wireless mouse is not at all something that is going to be complicated. If you really are looking for something that just works, this is the one that you should be looking into as you would not be regretting the choices that you eventually make.
The point here is that we are going to look at how we can save you the trouble of spending countless hours trying to find the mouse that fits your needs. We have ambidextrous offerings as well as strictly right-handed ones, too.
Still, let’s not waste time and have a look at all the offerings that we have for you.
Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed
Specifications:
- Connection: Wireless
- Mouse Shape: Right-handed
- Programmable Buttons: 6
- Sensor: 5G Optical Sensor.
- Weight: 106 grams.
The first mouse that we are looking at is from Razer and I fully understand what most people must be thinking. How are ‘Razer’ and ‘budget’ in the same line, and well, the good news is that Razer has started focusing on building peripherals for everyone so even if you are not willing to spend a lot of money, they still have something for you that just works and delivers great performance overall.
With that said, the Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed is on the table, the youngest brother of the Razer Basilisk Ultimate, so for those wondering, yes, both mice do look a lot similar. However, the performance is of course different but is it different enough that your experience is going to be marred? Well, let’s find out.
I am going to start this straight with my views on the performance of this mouse as that is definitely the most important aspect and to be honest, it is not at all something that you would be disappointed with. The sensor that Razer has used is a lot similar to the one that was used in Razer’s famous Deathadder Elite, so if you are looking for exceptional performance, this is it. Razer has claimed that you can get 99.4 percent sensor accuracy and the DPI can go as high as 16,000, which might not seem a lot but I can assure you that the chances of you using a super-high setting is not something that is as common.
The Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed also comes with a respectably long battery life and the wireless technology that Razer is using ensures that there is almost no latency in the overall usage of the mouse. You are also getting a mouse that is comfortable to hold even for longer periods, so if you are like me who is going to spend most of the day in front of a screen working, this is a great offering to go with. Another great thing is that the mouse itself is one of the more affordable offerings in the market so if you are not in the mood to spend a lot of money, this is a great way to go forward.
As far as the downsides are concerned, I really did not run into any issues aside from the fact that the mouse has no customizable lighting and cannot be used in wired mode.
Overall, I am very confident with how good the Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed is, as a mouse. The performance it delivers is on par with some of the more expensive offerings and it does not hold back either.
- The performance is excellent.
- Great, comfortable shape.
- Easy to use.
- Long, long battery life.
- Great build quality.
- No wired mode.
- No customizable lighting.
Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED
Specifications:
- Connection: Wireless
- Mouse Shape: Right-handed
- Programmable Buttons: 6
- Sensor: Hero.
- Weight: 99 grams.
It is safe to say that Logitech as a company has come a long, long way from its humble beginnings. I still remember searching for Logitech peripherals because I had only heard about how good they are and never really got the chance to use them. It was not up until I got my hands on the famous G502 when I had the pleasure to review that mouse and I honestly fell in love with everything about that mouse. Sure, it is still the most popular mouse that Logitech makes but the company is also really good with budget offerings.
Well, this is where the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED comes to save the day as one of the best budget mice that we have had the chance to use. If you have been searching for something that delivers good performance and at the same time, does not cost a lot of money, either. Then getting your hands on this mouse is definitely the right thing to do.
After using the Razer Basilisk Ultimate for the longest time as my daily driver, I was a bit concerned over the performance of the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED but after setting it up and actually using it, I quickly realized just how good the mouse overall is and the performance it delivers because that is exceptional in all the cases.
For starters, for anyone who is thinking about ditching the wires and going for the wireless route, you can definitely invest in this mouse knowing that you are not going to be paying a lot of money, either. The performance here is surprisingly stellar and the mouse works really, really well in all the cases. If you are someone who wants to go ahead and start with gaming, then you would be more than happy to know that the gaming performance is stellar, too.
The Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED uses Logitech’s proprietary Hero sensor and while I did think in the start that it is nothing more than a gimmick, I was thoroughly surprised when I actually started using it, to be honest. The sensor is exceptionally well done and performs accurately. This might as well be one of the most accurate sensors that I have used in an affordable mouse. So, no complaints on the performance whatsoever.
Another great thing that I do love about this mouse is that Logitech’s Lightspeed technology does wonders. You would be surprised to know that I did not run into any performance issues whatsoever, and if you genuinely want something that delivers good performance, this is a great mouse to go with. The mouse has only 1ms response time, which serves as a brilliant way to have a near lag-free experience.
What else is there? Well, the long-battery life is just another thing that you are going to admire, so if you are someone who is always using their mouse for one thing or another, the battery is going to last you a long, long time without any issues.
While the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED is an excellent mouse, it does have some flaws. For starters, the fact that the mouse batteries cannot be recharged is a downer, and it does not ship with any Bluetooth connection, either.
Overall, the Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED ends up being one of the best, if not the best wireless budget mouse that you can buy in the market right now. The biggest selling point is of course, the affordability, but it never really makes you feel like it should have been more than that as it more than justifies itself as a truly amazing mouse.
- One of the most affordable wireless mice.
- Low response time.
- Almost no latency.
- Long battery life.
- The batteries cannot be recharged.
- No Bluetooth offering.
Black Shark Mako M1
Specifications:
- Connection: Wireless and wireless.
- Mouse Shape: Ambidextrous
- Programmable Buttons: 6
- Sensor: PMW3325.
- Weight: 105g (wireless) or 90g (wired)
We are all aware of the fact that there is no shortage of excellent gaming peripherals in the market. Some of them are expensive while we have also seen some affordable offerings. As you can see from the titles, this list is all about the affordable wireless mouse and we have seen some excellent mice so far. So, when I got my hands on the Black Shark Mako M1, I was a bit concerned. For those who do not know, Black Shark is a gaming subsidiary that is headed by the minds over at Xiaomi (yes, one of the largest smartphone manufacturers) so naturally, I was excited to see what this mouse is all about and honestly, I am not disappointed.
Right out of the box, the Black Shark Mako M1 screams quality and looks and while I did think this was just a cheap mouse that will break after a while but I was wrong in so many ways because that is not the case at all. For starters, a lot of people do not know that this mouse actually comes with a PMW3325 sensor and for those who are not aware of it, these sensors are actually among the best, they are actually almost error-free, so if you are looking for a great performance. Thankfully, the performance overall is great and you will not going to be running into any issues that will ruin your experience.
Another great thing about this mouse is that you are going to get access to one of the best looking designs in a mouse that you can find. The design is ambidextrous, meaning that it is made for both left and right handed people, talking about having the best convenience possible.
Another great thing about the Black Shark Mako M1 is the fact that you are getting a rather versatile LED lighting implementation that actually looks good. The fact that you can use the mouse with both radio and cable is another good option, this adds a great value to your mouse, especially in situations where you run out of battery in the middle of gaming or working sessions.
Another thing that I would like to point attention towards is the fact that the click feeling on this mouse is excellent, and that just goes to show the overall build quality is excellent. The sensor also does not suffer from any jittering or angle snapping, so if those things are concerning to you, this mouse is safe to get.
As far as the difficulties are concerned, my only concern here is that the side buttons can be difficult for left handers to reach. Now, I am not ambidextrous so I cannot be 100% sure about it but in my experience, pressing those buttons was not as easy.
Overall, I would say that the Black Shark Mako M1 surprised me more than I expected it to. Sure, it is from a respectable company but to expect this level of performance from a mouse that barely costs a lot. It’s an excellent overall experience and the mouse is a treat to use.
- The ambidextrous design is great.
- Tastefully done RGB lighting.
- Can be used wired or wirelessly.
- The overall build quality is excellent.
- Uses a well renowned sensor.
- Great battery life.
- Side buttons could be difficult for lefthanders.
Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Specifications:
- Connection: Wireless and wireless.
- Mouse Shape: Right
- Programmable Buttons: 6
- Sensor: PMW3325.
- Weight: 99g
For me, Corsair was the company that managed to start it all, my first proper gaming mouse was from Corsair, and same goes for the keyboard and the minute I experienced Corsair was the minute everything changed for me. Over the past couple of years, I have managed to shift away from Corsair onto different brands and honestly, I have realized that there are some excellent offerings in the market but even now if I have to test something from Corsair, the experience is just as good.
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is a reimagining of Corsair’s original Harpoon, a wired mouse that was known to be one of the finest in terms of the price to performance ratio. So, obviously, Corsair decided to overhaul that mouse and we have the new wireless variant. I did think that you are going to run into some issues in terms of an increased price, but hey, you still are getting an excellent offer.
With that out of the way, the thing that took me by surprise is the fact that the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is using a PMW 3325 sensor, the same one that is found in several legendary gaming mice and is one of the best sensors, too. So, of course, I took the mouse for a spin just so I can test out how good it is and in all honesty, the performance on this mouse was exceptional, to say the least. The mouse did not run into any major issues and the overall experience was also really good, so it definitely is something that I would recommend to everyone.
The comfortable grip on this mouse is another thing that I can vouch for. After using countless mice in the past and reviewing them, too. I have come to realize that a comfortable mouse can make so much more difference than one might imagine and this does not change here, either. The mouse is an absolute treat to use through and through and the performance also remains promising, to say the least.
Another thing Corsair has done here is introduced this mouse at one of the most competitive price tags that one could imagine. I had a hard time figuring out if there was something wrong with this mouse because honestly, you are getting a lot of performance for a price that is not that high, either. The overall battery life also works really, really well and the mouse is not going to be dying on you any time soon.
Last but not the least, Corsair’s proprietary Slipstream technology is a blessing as it allows you to use the wireless mouse without having to worry about running into performance issues such as latency or other issues.
My only concern here with this mouse is the fact that although excellent, the mouse itself is small, or at least for my hands. So, if you are someone with larger hands, I would highly suggest that you are buying something accordingly.
Overall, I would say that the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is an excellent gaming mouse that is both affordable and excellent in terms of the performance. For anyone who wants to get their hands on something affordable and that too, without cutting any corners, getting this mouse is the way to go.
- Excellent performance.
- Class-leading battery life.
- Good build quality.
- Comfortable to hold.
- Almost no latency.
- Might be too small for people with larger hands.
Redragon M686 VAMPIRE ELITE
Specifications:
- Connection: Wireless and wireless.
- Mouse Shape: Right
- Programmable Buttons: 9
- Sensor:PMW3335.
- Weight: 124.
When you are talking about entry-level gaming peripherals, the one company that is always there is going to be Redragon. The company has been making highly affordable gaming peripherals for as long as one can remember and appears to have a fan following of its own. It actually is great for anyone who is on a budget and just wants to get into the feel of having good peripherals. Everything ranging from mechanical keyboards to wireless and wired gaming mice, as well as headsets and mousepads, the company has done it all.
So, when the Redragon M686 VAMPIRE ELITE showed up, my curiosity was on the top and while I went in with no expectations, the mouse thoroughly surprised me. However, before I reveal more about the mouse, I should warn you that not all of the things about it are good as you will also experience some issues.
First things first, you are getting a mouse that is available for an exceptional price. I know it sounds strange but hey, this is how it works and I was honestly surprised to see that happening here. I took my time with this mouse because I did not want to miss out on any important points and yes, for a cheap mouse, it does deliver surprisingly good pricing.
However, the performance is something that is hit and miss. In most situations where I was not playing competitively, the mouse did work just fine. I did play Far Cry 6 with this mouse for an extended time and it worked just fine. Plus, the sensor is also good as it uses a PMW 3335, which is one of the more respectable sensors.
Moving further, the thing that surprised me the most here is the fact that this inexpensive mouse actually has customizable lighting and on top of that, a companion software with it as well. So, for those who are willing, you can go ahead and customize your mouse in terms of lighting and functionality. The software itself is easy to use and has enough functionality, as well.
While my experience with the Redragon M686 VAMPIRE ELITE was good, it does not mean that I did not run into any issues with the mouse. For starters, the DPI settings are not as customizable as one would want and there simply is not enough customization available but given the price of this mouse, it is more than understandable. The mouse is also heavier for a lot of people, and that does not equate in good quality.
Overall, I would say that for anyone who wants to buy an affordable gaming mouse and does not want to spend all their savings on one, getting the Redragon M686 VAMPIRE ELITE makes a lot of sense since it does not cost a lot of money and simply gets the job done without a hitch.
- Surprisingly good performance.
- Customizable RGB lighting.
- Super-fast polling rate.
- Excellent price to performance ratio.
- The mouse is on the heavier side.
- Could have used more customization.
Conclusion
It is safe to say that being on a budget and trying to find a good peripheral is always on the difficult side. However, the one trend that I have seen over the past couple of years is that more and more companies are introducing affordable offerings that everyone can go for. This trend is not something that is limited to smaller companies but bigger companies like Razer, Corsair, and Logitech are also taking part in this, as you can see in this round up.
The purpose of this roundup was rather simple, to help people find the best budget wireless mouse so they can try and see how going wireless is truly the future. I do understand that there might be a few odd choices here in the list but we only made this round up after conducting some thorough tests, and yes, you do have an excellent list of offerings.
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I have been gaming for almost 24 years with extensive knowledge of all platforms and the gaming industry, in general. With interests in literature, art, gaming, and PC hardware.