Some tablet and laptop manufacturers may say that the best mouse is a finger tap, but we just don’t agree. There’s nothing quite like using a mouse to navigate your PC. No matter whether you’re a PC or Mac user, a trackpad or touchscreen just isn’t the same. This is because the best mice, unlike trackpads, aren’t limited to the space between your keyboard and the edge of your laptop – they can be as precise or as unruly as you prefer.
However, even if you already have a mouse, we guarantee that our picks here will blow everything else out of the water. Before you choose which to purchase though, you need to consider what you actually need. Is your current mouse constantly buggy? Are you thinking about upgrading to a wireless mouse? Or, are you looking for one of the best gaming mice?
Whatever you need from a pointing device, the best mouse will give you a comfortable and accurate desktop experience. Not only will the mice on this list be more reliable than those you may have used in the past, but every single clicker here has unique qualities that can only be found in peripherals. Plus, we’ve personally used and reviewed all of the mice on this list, so you can trust that you’ll really find the best mouse on the market.
1. Logitech MX Master 2S
Productivity embodied
DPI: 4,000 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 7 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Scrolling wheel, Customizable buttons, Thumb wheel, ergonomic build
We know, we know, you took one look at the price of this mouse and scoffed – but bear with us. The Logitech MX Master 2S is one of the best mice you can buy today, especially if you need to get some work done. While most mice in this price range appeal to gamers with ridiculous button setups and obnoxious lighting, the Logitech MX Master 2S is created for one thing, and one thing only: productivity. Trust us, you might not think you need a high-end wireless mouse for your day-to-day office work, but once you use this mouse, with its ergonomic grip and buttons and dials you can program for anything – you’ll never want to go back.
Read the full review: Logitech MX Master 2S
2. Logitech MX Anywhere 2
Versatile and feature-packed without going overboard
DPI: 1,600 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless (pairs with up to three devices) | Buttons: 6 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Scrolling wheel, Logitech Darkfield Laser Tracking, Unifying receiver, Easy-Switch tech, gesture function
Smaller than Logitech’s flagship, the MX Master, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is the ideal travel mouse. It can connect with up to three distinct devices with 2.4GHZ wireless technology or with Bluetooth, making it obvious why this mouse is renowned for having quick setup and surprisingly long battery life. Capable of extremely quick charging, in just 4 minutes the MX Anywhere 2 charges enough for an entire day.
- After finding a great mouse, get the best keyboard
3. Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse
The legend returns
DPI: 3200 | Interface: Wired | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Classic design, Programmable buttons, Subdued white lighting
In a time where all of our peripherals are either being shoved full of extraneous lighting or morphed into odd shapes, the Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse is here to remind us of simpler days. Inspired by its namesake, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse modernizes the classic design with an aesthetic white lighting effect. It also beefs up the sensor, allowing users to ramp up the DPI to 3,200. It’s not wireless, and it’s hardly made for gaming, but if you need the best mouse to help you get some work done, you can’t do much better than this.
Read the full review: Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse
4. Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse
It looks weird, but it feels pretty good
DPI: 1000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Vertical | Features: No
Yeah, this mouse looks weird and its name kind of looks like some annoying tongue twister, but the Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical mouse is only off putting until you get your hands on it. From the moment you start using this mouse, you’ll know it’s the one of the best mice around. While it’s built a little more cheaply than other ergonomic mice, it’s an affordable way to prevent RSI.
5. Apple Magic Mouse 2
As ever, Apple thinks different
DPI: 1300 | Interface: Bluetooth | Buttons: 0 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Features: Multi-touch
When it wasn’t busy building luxury smartphones you can unlock with your face, Apple was hard at work creating one of the weirdest mice we’ve ever used If you were doing a double take looking at the specs, you saw right – the Magic Mouse 2 doesn’t have any buttons at all, but it makes up for this with endless fashion appeal. This mouse is completely controlled by gestures, giving it all the benefits of a trackpad as well as a mouse.
6. Logitech Triathlon M720
A mouse designed for multi-taskers
DPI: 1000 | Interface: Bluetooth (pairs with up to three devices) | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: 24-month battery life on one-AA battery, Sculpted design, Free spinning scroll wheel, Easy-switch tech, Logitech Options Software
Like the MX Master, the Triathlon M720 can pair with up to three devices using Bluetooth. What’s more, it uses the same free-spinning scroll wheel featured on the MX Master, letting you zip through documents or webpages. Logitech promises up to 24 months of use before the on one AA battery. The only drawback? Bluetooth makes for lower latency than a wired mouse.
7. Logitech MX Ergo Wireless
Making 2018 feel like the new 1991
DPI: 512 – 2048 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Trackball, USB dongle, Logitech ‘Flow’ software compatibility for use with up to three PCs simultaneously, micro USB charging, precision mode
The third trackball mouse Logitech has put out since 2008, the MX Ergo Wireless is an anomaly in an industry that is otherwise crowded with optical laser mice. As such, it’s certain to charm those who haven’t quite moved on to the gesture-based desktop trackpads of the present. With the option to lay it flat or use it at a 20-degree angle, this mouse is uniquely satisfying.
Read the full review: Logitech MX Ergo Wireless
8. Logitech M330 Silent Plus
It's as quiet as a....
DPI: 1,000 | Interface: 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 3 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: Quiet buttons, 10-meter wireless connectivity, 2 x AA batteries (claimed 24-month battery life)
The seventh best mouse on our list is seen but not heard. Because it’s unusually compact as well as silent, it’s the kind of mouse that’s ideally used atop an airplane tray next to a snoozing neighbor. Just slip it in your laptop bag when the flight touches down and, weighing less than a quarter of a pound, you won’t have to worry about any additional strain on your back.
9. Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600
It's cheap! It's cheerful! It lasts forever!
DPI: 1000 | Interface: Bluetooth | Buttons: 2 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Features: No
Sure, the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse that came out late last year is tempting, but sometimes you just need a cheap, reliable mouse that you can throw in your laptop bag without a care in the world. That’s where the Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 comes in. This may be the best mouse for anyone looking for an inexpensive pointing device that won’t let them down – it’s one of the most reliable wireless mice you can buy today, and it’s from a brand you can trust.
10. Razer DeathAdder Chroma
When plain old death isn't enough
DPI: 10,000 | Interface: USB | Buttons: 5 | Ergonomic: Right-handed | Features: lighting effects
Razer products aren’t for everyone. Specifically, they appeal to an audience that enjoys the svelte industrial design of an Apple gadget, but with a gamer-centric slant. That’s especially the case with the DeathAdder Chroma, a mouse that comes with 16.8 million LED-backlit color options out of the box, along with a hyper-accurate 10,000 DPI sensor.
Read the full review: Razer DeathAdder Chroma
Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article