Buying Guide
The Best Programmable Mice
Five gaming mice ranked on button count and battery life, where the Naga V2 HyperSpeed has the longest battery life; the Redragon wired MMO is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
More buttons mean more macros under your fingers. Every pick has eight or more buttons, ordered by button count.
We ranked these gaming mice on programmable buttons, max DPI and battery life using manufacturer specifications; where a maker leaves out battery life, we say so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Redragon Wired MMO Gaming Mouse
Undercutting the Redragon wireless MMO on price when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for Redragon Wired MMO Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Longest Battery Life
Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse
The longest battery life here (250 hours).
Best for: Buyers who put battery life first.
Our take Check price for Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Redragon Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse
16 macro-programmable buttons.
Best for: Buyers who want 16 macro-programmable buttons.
Our take Check price for Redragon Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Corsair Darkstar Wireless MMO Mouse
A six-button thumb cluster.
Best for: Buyers who want six-button thumb cluster.
Our take Check price for Corsair Darkstar Wireless MMO Mouse (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Wireless
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 13 programmable controls.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Wireless (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Redragon Wired MMO Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's wired MMO mouse has 19 programmable buttons and a 12400 DPI sensor.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It never needs charging. Its 19 buttons can be remapped with macros and saved to five memory profiles. DPI adjusts from 100 to 12,400 and polling from 125Hz to 1,000Hz, and weights let you tune the balance.
It matches the Naga V2 HyperSpeed on button count (19). It also offers no battery to charge. Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Redragon wireless MMO was closest. If you want a confirmed battery life, look to the Naga V2 HyperSpeed instead: it runs for 250 hours, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 19
- Max DPI: 12,400
- Connection: Wired
Pros
- 19 programmable buttons
- No battery to charge
- 12400 DPI sensor
- Undercutting the Redragon wireless MMO on price when we checked
Longest Battery Life2 of 5
Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Naga V2 HyperSpeed has the most buttons and the longest battery here, with dongle and Bluetooth modes, which makes it the easiest recommendation.
Best for
- Buyers who put battery life first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Redragon wired MMO cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its 19 programmable buttons suit MMO hotbars, and it connects over HyperSpeed 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. The side plate layout keeps abilities under your thumb. Razer Synapse tunes the sensor, and turning off Windows pointer precision improves accuracy.
It matches the Redragon wired MMO on button count (19). On battery life it leads this guide at 250 hours, ahead of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K (140 hours). It also comes with a HyperScroll wheel with free-spin and tactile modes and Gen-2 mechanical switches rated for up to 60 million clicks.
Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. When we checked, only the Redragon wireless MMO and cheaper picks cost less, and the Darkstar cost more. If you want a confirmed polling rate, look to the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K instead: it offers 8,000Hz, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 19
- Max DPI: 30,000
- Battery life: 250 hours
- Connection: HyperSpeed 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Pros
- 19 programmable buttons
- Up to 250 hours per charge
- Dongle plus Bluetooth
- Up to 400 hours on Bluetooth
Cons
- Costs more than the Redragon wired MMO at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 5
Redragon Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's wireless MMO mouse has 16 programmable buttons and offers up to 70 hours per charge.
Best for
- Buyers who want 16 macro-programmable buttons.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when shorter 70-hour batter is a problem.
Why we like it
The shape is right-handed. DPI adjusts from 100 to 16,000 and polling from 125Hz to 1,000Hz, and its 12 side buttons take macros. Four lighting modes can be switched on the fly.
Sixteen buttons can be remapped with macros, and five memory profiles store setups. A 1000mAh battery lasts over 70 hours with RGB off, and DPI adjusts from 100 to 16,000. Its 16 button count ranks third of 5 here, behind the Redragon wired MMO (19) and ahead of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K (13).
Its 70 hours battery life is the shortest in this group; the Naga V2 HyperSpeed leads at 250 hours. Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. When we checked, only the Redragon wired MMO cost less, and the Naga V2 HyperSpeed cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 16
- Max DPI: 16,000
- Battery life: 70 hours
- Connection: 2.4GHz, wired
Pros
- 16 programmable buttons
- Up to 70 hours per charge
- Ergonomic right-handed shape
Cons
- Shorter 70-hour battery
- Battery life trails the Naga V2 HyperSpeed (250 hours)
- Costs more than the Redragon wired MMO at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
Corsair Darkstar Wireless MMO Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Darkstar is Corsair's wireless MMO mouse, with a six-button thumb cluster, 2,000Hz polling and Bluetooth.
Best for
- Buyers who want six-button thumb cluster.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: shorter 80-hour battery.
Why we like it
Its 80-hour battery is the shortest here. Its 15 programmable buttons include scroll-wheel tilt, and the MARKSMAN sensor reaches 26,000 DPI. iCUE saves up to five onboard profiles. Its 15 button count ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Redragon wired MMO (19) and ahead of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K (13).
Its 80 hours battery life ranks third of 4 here, behind the Naga V2 HyperSpeed (250 hours) and ahead of the Redragon wireless MMO (70 hours). Keep the Darkstar on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop. Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. It was priced above the Naga V2 HyperSpeed and below the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 15
- Max DPI: 26,000
- Battery life: 80 hours
- Polling rate: 2,000Hz
- Connection: Slipstream 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Pros
- 15 programmable buttons
- Dongle plus Bluetooth
- Six-button thumb cluster
- Battery life of 80 hours, ahead of the Redragon wireless MMO
Cons
- Shorter 80-hour battery
- Costs more than the Redragon wired MMO at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Razer's Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is a 13-control thumb-rest mouse with 8000Hz wireless polling.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if button count matters most to you; the Redragon wired MMO offers 19.
Why we like it
It connects over HyperSpeed, Bluetooth or a cable. Its 13 controls include a multi-function trigger, and 13-zone Chroma lighting includes an underglow. The HyperScroll wheel switches modes automatically.
Its 13 button count is the fewest in this group; the Redragon wired MMO leads at 19. Its 140 hours battery life ranks second of 4 here, behind the Naga V2 HyperSpeed (250 hours) and ahead of the Redragon wireless MMO (70 hours). Keep the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop.
Polling above 1,000Hz shortens battery life and needs a CPU with headroom. Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Darkstar the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Programmable buttons: 13
- Max DPI: 35,000
- Battery life: 140 hours
- Polling rate: 8,000Hz
- Connection: HyperSpeed 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired
- Shape: Right-handed ergonomic with thumb rest
Pros
- 13 programmable buttons
- Up to 140 hours per charge
- 8,000Hz polling
- Dongle plus Bluetooth
Cons
- Button count trails the Redragon wired MMO (19)
- Costs more than the Redragon wired MMO at the time of writing
How We Chose These Programmable Mice
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five mice on button count, max DPI, battery life and polling rate, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Redragon wired MMO to the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, state button count, max DPI and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Redragon wired MMO gives no battery life; the Redragon wired MMO, the Naga V2 HyperSpeed and the Redragon wireless MMO give no polling rate.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Redragon wired MMO (under $50) to the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Programmable Mouse
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much button count you need
Here button count runs from 13 on the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K to 19 on the Redragon wired MMO. Start with the Redragon wired MMO if button count decides it.
Battery life
Here battery life runs from 70 hours on the Redragon wireless MMO to 250 hours on the Naga V2 HyperSpeed. The Naga V2 HyperSpeed is the pick for battery life. No figure for the Redragon wired MMO.
Polling rate across these picks
Here polling rate runs from 2,000Hz on the Darkstar to 8,000Hz on the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. Start with the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K if polling rate decides it. No figure for the Redragon wired MMO, the Naga V2 HyperSpeed and the Redragon wireless MMO.
Setup checks
Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. Keep the Naga V2 HyperSpeed on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop.
Extras that separate them
The Redragon wireless MMO: up to 70 hours per charge. The Darkstar: a six-button thumb cluster. The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: a HyperScroll tilt wheel.
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.
How to Choose a Programmable Mouse
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | Redragon wired MMO | Undercutting the Redragon wireless MMO on price when we checked |
| Buyers who put battery life first | Naga V2 HyperSpeed | The longest battery life here (250 hours) |
| Buyers who want 16 macro-programmable buttons | Redragon wireless MMO | 16 macro-programmable buttons |
| Buyers who want six-button thumb cluster | Darkstar | A six-button thumb cluster |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Basilisk V3 Pro 35K | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 13 programmable controls |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Redragon wired MMO leads on button count at 19, ahead of the Naga V2 HyperSpeed at 19. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Mice | Programmable buttons | Max DPI | Battery life | Polling rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redragon wired MMO | 19 | 12,400 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Naga V2 HyperSpeed | 19 | 30,000 | 250 hours | Not listed |
| Redragon wireless MMO | 16 | 16,000 | 70 hours | Not listed |
| Darkstar | 15 | 26,000 | 80 hours | 2,000Hz |
| Basilisk V3 Pro 35K | 13 | 35,000 | 140 hours | 8,000Hz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Redragon wired MMO was the lowest-priced pick and the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Mice |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Redragon wired MMO, Redragon wireless MMO |
| About $50 to $100 | Naga V2 HyperSpeed, Darkstar |
| About $100 to $150 | Basilisk V3 Pro 35K |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K compare with the Naga V2 HyperSpeed on battery life?
The Naga V2 HyperSpeed leads at 250 hours, with the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K at 140 hours. The Redragon wireless MMO is at the other end of this group with 70 hours. The Redragon wired MMO doesn't state a figure, so it sits outside this comparison.
Which has the fastest polling rate: the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K or the Darkstar?
The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K leads at 8,000Hz, with the Darkstar at 2,000Hz. The Redragon wired MMO, the Naga V2 HyperSpeed and the Redragon wireless MMO don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
What does the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K add over the Redragon wired MMO?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the Redragon wired MMO still leads on button count (19). The Redragon wired MMO was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
Why is the Naga V2 HyperSpeed our Longest Battery Life pick?
It earns the label for the longest battery life here (250 hours). It suits anyone who put battery life first.
Will the Naga V2 HyperSpeed work with my setup?
Keep the Naga V2 HyperSpeed on its dongle for games; Bluetooth is for a laptop. Side-button mapping is done in the maker's software, which runs on Windows. In this guide it ranks second of 5, as our Longest Battery Life pick.
What extras do the Redragon wired MMO and the Naga V2 HyperSpeed include?
The Redragon wired MMO: 19 macro-programmable buttons. The Naga V2 HyperSpeed: up to 400 hours on Bluetooth. The Redragon wireless MMO: 16 macro-programmable buttons.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Redragon wired MMO, chosen for undercutting the Redragon wireless MMO on price when we checked. Look at the Naga V2 HyperSpeed for the longest battery life here (250 hours), the Redragon wireless MMO for 16 macro-programmable buttons and the Darkstar for a six-button thumb cluster if those matter more to you.
Store profiles on the mouse to use them without software.