Buying Guide

The Best Economical Gaming Mice

Six mice under $25 at the time of writing, four wired and two wireless.

By The PC Journal editorial team

12 min read6 products evaluated

Economical mice skip premium sensors but still offer RGB, DPI buttons and remapping. These six stay under $25 at the time of writing.

We compared weight, connection and durability features from each listing.

Quick Picks

Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.

  1. Lightest Mouse

    ASUS TUF Gaming M3 Gen II Wired Mouse

    The lightest weight here (59g).

    Best for: Fast flick aiming.

    Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming M3 Gen II Wired Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  2. Best Rechargeable

    Redragon M810 PRO Wireless Gaming Mouse

    A rechargeable 2.4GHz mouse.

    Best for: Cable-free desks.

    Our take Check price for Redragon M810 PRO Wireless Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  3. Best Dual-Mode

    Acer Dual-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse

    2.4GHz and Bluetooth with a rechargeable battery.

    Best for: Laptop and PC.

    Our take Check price for Acer Dual-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  4. Best Brand Pick

    Logitech G102 2nd Gen Lightsync Gaming Mouse

    The six-button G shape with Lightsync.

    Best for: First gaming mice.

    Our take Check price for Logitech G102 2nd Gen Lightsync Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  5. Best ChromeOS Support

    Lenovo M210 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse

    Listed Windows and ChromeOS support.

    Best for: Chromebooks.

    Our take Check price for Lenovo M210 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  6. Lowest Price

    Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse

    Remappable buttons near $17.

    Best for: The smallest budgets.

    Our take Check price for Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

ASUS TUF Gaming M3 Gen II Wired Mouse

Lightest Mouse1 of 6

ASUS TUF Gaming M3 Gen II Wired Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

ASUS's TUF M3 Gen II is a 59g wired mouse with IP56 water and dust resistance.

Best for

Fast flick aiming.

Skip if

If budget leads, the M612 was cheaper at our last price check.

Why we like it

The shell carries an antibacterial coating. It weighs 59g, and its IP56 rating resists dust and water. An 8,000 DPI sensor and ASUS's antibacterial coating round it out.

You also get a DPI button with four sensitivity levels. Another plus is light 59g body. Worth noting too: no battery to charge.

The nearest alternative on weight is the Lenovo M210 at 75g, against 59g here. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the M612 at the time of writing. It was priced above the Acer dual-mode and below the G102 at the time of writing. There is no published battery life figure, whereas the M810 PRO runs for 45 hours.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Weight: 59g
  • Max DPI: 8,000
  • Connection: Wired
  • Shape: Right-handed ergonomic

Pros

  • Light 59g body
  • No battery to charge
  • IP56 water and dust resistance
  • Antibacterial coating on the shell and buttons

Cons

  • Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Redragon M810 PRO Wireless Gaming Mouse

Best Rechargeable2 of 6

Redragon M810 PRO Wireless Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Redragon's M810 PRO is a rechargeable 2.4GHz mouse with remappable buttons and RGB.

Best for

Cable-free desks.

Skip if

Worth skipping when shorter 45-hour batter is a problem.

Why we like it

It sits near $24 at the time of writing. Its 2.4GHz receiver removes cable drag, and five DPI levels run up to 10,000. All eight buttons are programmable.

It also comes with RGB lighting. Worth noting too: rechargeable battery. It also brings longest battery life of the picks (45 hours).

Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the M612 at the time of writing. At our last price check it topped the group, with the G102 the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed weight, look to the TUF M3 Gen II instead: it weighs 59g, while this one gives no figure.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Max DPI: 10,000
  • Battery life: 45 hours
  • Polling rate: 1,000Hz
  • Connection: 2.4GHz, wired

Pros

  • Remappable buttons through software
  • RGB lighting
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Longest battery life of the picks (45 hours)

Cons

  • Shorter 45-hour battery
  • Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Acer Dual-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse

Best Dual-Mode3 of 6

Acer Dual-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Acer's dual-mode mouse is a rechargeable 2.4GHz and Bluetooth mouse at a budget price.

Best for

Laptop and PC.

Skip if

Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: shorter 40-hour battery.

Why we like it

It has a 24,000 DPI sensor. Its 24,000 DPI sensor runs at 1,000Hz, and eight buttons take full macros. It switches between a USB receiver and Bluetooth.

It also comes with dual wireless modes. Keep the Acer dual-mode on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop. The nearest alternative on battery life is the M810 PRO at 45 hours, against 40 hours here.

On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper Lenovo M210 and the pricier TUF M3 Gen II, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its weight; if that figure matters, the TUF M3 Gen II weighs 59g.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Max DPI: 24,000
  • Battery life: 40 hours
  • Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth

Pros

  • Dongle plus Bluetooth
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Dual wireless modes
  • Budget price

Cons

  • Shorter 40-hour battery
  • Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Logitech G102 2nd Gen Lightsync Gaming Mouse

Best Brand Pick4 of 6

Logitech G102 2nd Gen Lightsync Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Logitech's G102 uses the same six-button shape as the G203 with Lightsync RGB.

Best for

First gaming mice.

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the M612, which cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

It is sold in regions where the G203 name is not used. Its 8,000 DPI sensor cycles through five DPI steps, and LIGHTSYNC RGB shows colour-wave effects. The classic six-button shape suits most hands.

Its classic six-button shape is a time-tested design. It also offers metal spring tensioning on the primary buttons. Another plus is no battery to charge.

Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the M612 at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its weight; if that figure matters, the TUF M3 Gen II weighs 59g.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Programmable buttons: 6
  • Max DPI: 8,000
  • Connection: Wired

Pros

  • No battery to charge
  • The classic six-button G shape
  • Metal spring tensioning on the primary buttons
  • Lightsync RGB lighting

Cons

  • Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Lenovo M210 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse

Best ChromeOS Support5 of 6

Lenovo M210 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Lenovo's M210 is a 75g wired mouse with RGB and a DPI button.

Best for

Chromebooks.

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the M612, which cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

The maker specifies Windows and ChromeOS support. It polls at 1,000Hz with 300 IPS tracking, and its medium-large symmetrical shape suits a palm grip. Seven buttons are programmable.

It also comes with RGB lighting and a DPI button for quick sensitivity changes. Worth noting too: no battery to charge. The nearest alternative on weight is the TUF M3 Gen II at 59g, against 75g here.

On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper M612 and the pricier Acer dual-mode, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the M810 PRO runs for 45 hours.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Weight: 75g
  • Max DPI: 8,000
  • Connection: Wired

Pros

  • No battery to charge
  • RGB lighting
  • Support for Windows and ChromeOS
  • DPI button for quick sensitivity changes

Cons

  • Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse

Lowest Price6 of 6

Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Redragon's M612 is a right-handed wired mouse with remappable buttons and RGB lighting.

Best for

The smallest budgets.

Skip if

Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.

Why we like it

It is among the cheapest mice here. All 11 buttons can be reassigned, including a rapid-fire key, and five DPI levels run up to 4,000. The frosted coating helps grip.

Its frosted coating resists sweat, and the streamlined shape suits a claw grip. Five RGB modes can be turned off. It also offers RGB backlighting.

It also brings no battery to charge. It makes the most sense for the smallest budgets, since it offers remappable buttons near $17. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Lenovo M210 was the next step up. Buyers who need a confirmed weight should compare it with the TUF M3 Gen II, which weighs 59g.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Max DPI: 8,000
  • Connection: Wired
  • Shape: Right-handed ergonomic

Pros

  • No battery to charge
  • Remappable buttons through Redragon software
  • RGB backlighting
  • Low price even among budget wired mice

How We Chose These Economical Gaming Mice

Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.

Weight and shape
We recorded listed weights and whether the shape is right-handed or ambidextrous.
Connection and battery
We checked dongle, Bluetooth and wired modes and the rated battery life.
Buttons
We counted programmable buttons where the listing states them.
Sensor figures
We noted maximum DPI and polling rate, while treating them as secondary.

What to Look for in an Economical Gaming Mouse

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. Wireless is no longer a handicap

    A 2.4GHz dongle matches a cable for games. Check battery life with lighting on and whether the mouse charges while in use.

  2. Weight changes how aim feels

    Mice around 60g are easy to flick and lift. Heavier mice feel steadier for tracking. A difference of 10g is noticeable over a long session.

  3. Shape and grip come first

    Palm grips suit longer, higher-backed mice; claw and fingertip grips suit shorter, lighter shells. Ambidextrous shapes fit either hand but often have fewer side buttons.

  4. High polling rates cost battery

    4,000Hz and 8,000Hz modes cut reporting delay slightly but drain wireless batteries faster and use more CPU time.

  5. Count the buttons you will use

    MMO mice put 12 or more buttons under the thumb for hotbars. Shooters rarely need more than two side buttons.

  6. DPI figures past 20,000 do not matter much

    Most players use 400 to 3,200 DPI. Very high maximums are marketing; sensor consistency matters more.

How to Choose an Economical Gaming Mouse

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Fast flick aimingTUF M3 Gen IIThe lightest weight here (59g)
Cable-free desksM810 PROA rechargeable 2.4GHz mouse
Laptop and PCAcer dual-mode2.4GHz and Bluetooth with a rechargeable battery
First gaming miceG102The six-button G shape with Lightsync
ChromebooksLenovo M210Listed Windows and ChromeOS support
The smallest budgetsM612Remappable buttons near $17

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

Figures as each maker states them.

MiceWeightMax DPIBattery lifeConnection
TUF M3 Gen II59g8,000Not listedWired
M810 PRONot listed10,00045 hours2.4GHz, wired
Acer dual-modeNot listed24,00040 hours2.4GHz, Bluetooth
G102Not listed8,000Not listedWired
Lenovo M21075g8,000Not listedWired
M612Not listed8,000Not listedWired

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a wireless mouse slower?

Not over a 2.4GHz dongle. Bluetooth adds latency and suits office work.

Do I need 8,000Hz polling?

No. It is a small gain on top of 1,000Hz, and it costs battery life and CPU time.

What DPI should I use?

Start at 800 or 1,600 DPI and set in-game sensitivity from there. Higher DPI does not improve aim by itself.

Is a lighter mouse always better?

For flick aiming it helps; for slow tracking some players prefer more weight. Grip and shape matter more.

Can an MMO mouse work for shooters?

It can, but the extra side buttons add weight and make it easy to press the wrong key.

Do gaming mice need software?

They work without it, but button mapping, DPI steps and lighting usually need the maker's app.

Bottom Line

ASUS's TUF M3 Gen II is the pick for IP56 resistance at 59g. Redragon's M810 PRO is the rechargeable wireless choice, and the M612 is the cheapest.