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The first step to choosing thebest gaming mouseis understanding what differentiates them from regular alternatives.

These mice are often larger and heavier than ordinary gaming mice and tend to cost more.

Peron using an RGB gaming mouse and keyboard at a desk

Identifying your preferred grip goes a long way to determining which gaming mouse fits you best.

Every player has a unique hand size and preference, so you should get what suits you best.

Palm grip players often prefer longer, flatter mice to fit their whole hand.

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K gaming mouse against a blue background.

Claw and fingertip players prefer shorter, more contoured mice to get the best grip.

Picking the best shape can also come down to which hand you prefer.

Symmetrical mice likeCorsairs M75 Wirelessare ambidextrous and ideal for left or right-handed players.

Ergonomic mouse and normal computer mouse. Black vertical optical computer mouse with ergonomic design, designed to reduce injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis.

The button placement is another consideration to think about.

Gaming mice usually have at least two side buttons accompanying the scroll wheel and left and right clicks.

This configuration is ideal for most game types.

A heavily-used Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless gaming mouse sitting on a desk.

It ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you enjoy using the most.

Standard mice have a 1,000Hz polling rate, meaning they report their position 1,000 times per second.

Gaming mouse buttons are actuated via mechanical or optical switches.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless on a gaming setup

This system is effective but has slower response times and higher wear and rear due to the moving parts.

Each press interrupts the beam, signaling the PC that the button is pressed.

Both switch types are responsive and work well for most games.

Corsair iCUE Gaming PC

Choosing the best depends on which one feels more comfortable for you.

Whichever gaming mouse you choose should have user-friendly customization software that can unlock its full potential.

Its drawbacks are that it can distract some players and drains the battery on wireless mice pretty quickly.

A Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed mouse against a yellow background.

Gaming mice offer varying amounts of RGB, and some dont include it at all.

The Pulsar X2A and Logitech G Pro wireless gaming mice include swappable side buttons to improve functionality.

TheRazer Naga Pro Wirelessalso offers three side panels for users to change the button configuration for various game genres.

A screenshot of the Razer Synapse software hub

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Corsair M75 gaming mouse in action