Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Mice Under $20
From the M612 to the Redragon large: three gaming mice ranked on max DPI and connection, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Under $20 a gaming mouse is a wired model with a sensor and a few buttons. Every mouse cost 20 or less when we checked and lists its sensor and connection.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: max DPI, connection and shape come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse
The cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31.
Best for: Getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money.
Our take Check price for Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
E-YOOSO X-31 Large Wireless Mouse
A large body with forward and back buttons.
Best for: Buyers who want large body with forward and back buttons.
Our take Check price for E-YOOSO X-31 Large Wireless Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Redragon Large Wireless Gaming Mouse
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with finger rests on both sides.
Best for: Buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs.
Our take Check price for Redragon Large Wireless Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31. | Getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money. | Check price for Redragon M612 Wired RGB Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab) |
| A large body with forward and back buttons. | Buyers who want large body with forward and back buttons. | Check price for E-YOOSO X-31 Large Wireless Mouse (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with finger rests on both sides. | Buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs. | Check price for Redragon Large Wireless Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
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
- Getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money.
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. The default DPI levels are 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000, and software sets anything from 500 to 8,000.
A rubber texture on the left side adds friction. It also offers RGB backlighting. Worth noting: no battery to charge. It undercut the E-YOOSO X-31 and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
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
Also Consider2 of 3
E-YOOSO X-31 Large Wireless Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
E-YOOSO's X-31 is a large 2.4GHz mouse with forward and back buttons.
Best for
- Buyers who want large body with forward and back buttons.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the M612 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is shaped for large hands, with an anti-sweat, non-slip finish. Five DPI steps run up to 4,800, and the receiver stores inside the mouse. It works with Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS, though the side buttons do not work on Mac.
The receiver reaches about 33 feet. The large contoured shell uses an anti-slip, anti-sweat material suited to big hands. It also comes with a selectable 125Hz or 250Hz polling rate and the lowest price among the large mice here.
Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the M612 at the time of writing. Its price falls between the M612 and the Redragon large, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 6
- Max DPI: 4,800
- Connection: 2.4GHz
- Shape: Right-handed, large
Pros
- Large body with forward and back buttons
- Selectable 125Hz or 250Hz polling rate
- The lowest price among the large mice here
Cons
- Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Redragon Large Wireless Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's large wireless mouse has finger rests on both sides and a 1000mAh battery.
Best for
- Buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the M612 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It pairs with three Bluetooth devices. It is sized for medium to large hands and connects over Bluetooth, a USB receiver or a USB-C cable. Programmable buttons can be remapped in the software.
Its 1,000mAh battery and low-power chip give long runtimes at a 1,000Hz polling rate, and DPI runs up to 12,800. RGB lighting can be adjusted. Keep the Redragon large on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop. Only the E-YOOSO X-31 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max DPI: 12,800
- Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired
- Shape: Right-handed, for big hands
Pros
- Dongle plus Bluetooth
- Finger rests on both sides
- Bluetooth pairing with 3 devices
- 1000mAh battery
Cons
- Costs more than the M612 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Gaming Mice Under $20
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three mice on max DPI, connection and shape, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results, and every compared field is stated for all 3 picks.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the M612 to the Redragon large, state max DPI, connection and shape.
- Who each pick suits
- The M612 for the cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31; the E-YOOSO X-31 for a large body with forward and back buttons; the Redragon large for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with finger rests on both sides.
- Price range
- From the M612 to the Redragon large, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Gaming Mouse Under $20
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Features beyond the spec table
The M612: RGB backlighting. The E-YOOSO X-31: a selectable 125Hz or 250Hz polling rate. The Redragon large: Bluetooth pairing with 3 devices.
Budget
Price does little to separate these 3: the M612 through the Redragon large all landed in the under $50 tier, which leaves features to decide it.
Match the pick to your priority
Getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money: the M612. Buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs: the Redragon large.
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.
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 a Gaming Mouse Under $20
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money | M612 | The cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31 |
| Buyers who want large body with forward and back buttons | E-YOOSO X-31 | A large body with forward and back buttons |
| Buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs | Redragon large | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with finger rests on both sides |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The M612, the E-YOOSO X-31 and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Mice | Max DPI | Connection | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| M612 | 8,000 | Wired | Right-handed ergonomic |
| E-YOOSO X-31 | 4,800 | 2.4GHz | Right-handed, large |
| Redragon large | 12,800 | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired | Right-handed, for big hands |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the M612 the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31. It suits getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money.
What should I check before buying the Redragon large?
Keep the Redragon large on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Premium Pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the M612 and the E-YOOSO X-31 apart?
The M612: remappable buttons through Redragon software. The E-YOOSO X-31: a large body with forward and back buttons. The Redragon large: finger rests on both sides.
Should I pick the M612 or the Redragon large?
The M612 suits getting remappable buttons through Redragon software for the least money; the Redragon large suits buyers who want finger rests on both sides and can spend more than the E-YOOSO X-31 costs.
Is a wireless mouse slower?
Not over a 2.4GHz dongle. Bluetooth adds latency and suits office work.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the M612, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the E-YOOSO X-31. Look at the E-YOOSO X-31 for a large body with forward and back buttons and the Redragon large for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with finger rests on both sides if those matter more to you.
Look at the stated weight and shape; an ambidextrous design suits both hands.