The best gaming mice with programmable buttons

Over the past couple of years, we have tested quite a lot of gaming mice for a wide variety of tastes and budgets. And even after that, SteelSeries Rival 3 managed to impress. Perhaps this is one of the best gaming controllers in the under $50 category. Like other mice from the Danish manufacturer, it uses the proprietary TrueMove sensor. In this particular case, TrueMove Core with an impressive 8500 DPI sensitivity and a maximum acceleration of 35G. Purely in terms of numbers, this is one of the most serious sensors in the sub-$50 category, and in reality it does not let us down: during all the testing we were unable to cause the cursor to stall. It’s not for nothing that SteelSeries boasts of “true tracking” and even says that the sensor’s capabilities exceed the needs of most players.

Now about ergonomics. The slight convexity on the back provides good support, and the length of the mouse is suitable for almost any grip type. The mouse is not too heavy, but not too light, suitable for both left-handers and right-handers. True, left-handers will be left without a couple of additional buttons on the left side. 77 grams of weight are optimally distributed across the body and axles, creating a feeling of proper balance. I took it in my hand and it was as if it had always been there - my hand didn’t strain at all. Well, the most important thing is that, unlike previous versions of Rival, the third reincarnation does not have such slippery sides. And in general, the ergonomic impression is more pleasant than that of the SteelSeries Rival 110.

Other advantages of the SteelSeries Rival 3 include reinforced main switches with a resource of 60 million clicks, excellent build quality and a wheel, as well as proprietary software with a bunch of settings and a couple of unique features. In particular, it allows you to make the RGB lighting of the mouse not just a decoration, but a useful tool. For example, blink when receiving messages in Discord or signal that the character in the game has little health and my friend is about to die. Unlike the same SteelSeries Rival 110, the LEDs are hidden along the body, under the wheel and under the company logo, so visual signals are visible even when the hand completely covers the mouse along with the logo. Definitely, three independent backlight zones are better than one.

Razer has such a tradition that as soon as a mouse or keyboard hits the top sales list, the manufacturer immediately releases a pack of modifications, in fact launching the next series. But with the Cobra mice, the situation turned out to be somewhat different - Razer decided to make a simple, affordable and at the same time high-quality mouse, which would embody all the company’s developments in recent years (note: Razer Focus sensor, Speedflex cable, Chroma RGB backlight, etc. )

So, the Razer Cobra is a classic mouse for gamers with a wired connection, a symmetrical body, programmable buttons and RGB lighting. It turned out to be damn light (58 grams) and quite easy to use. In the latter case, it is worth noting the flexible cable, which does not cling to anything, and the well-gliding Teflon sole. A fairly accurate and high-quality Razer optical sensor with a maximum resolution of 8500 DPI, a speed of 300 IPS and a peak acceleration of 35G is installed inside the mouse. As befits a modern gaming device, the Razer Cobra has programmable side buttons and built-in memory for one profile, and Razer optical switches with a resource of 90 million clicks are used as switches.

Overall, Razer succeeded, if not a miracle, then something close to it. The mouse behaves excellently in combat, the buttons are sensitive to pressing and, judging by the declared resource, will survive more than one hundred rollers, the optical characteristics of the sensor cover the needs of 99% of players and cost less than $50, which is not at all in the spirit of the current Razer. If you suddenly think that all this is not enough (especially by Razer’s standards), then we advise you to pay attention to the Cobra Pro modification with multi-connection and a more serious Focus Pro sensor with a maximum resolution of 30K DPI.

Asus ROG Keris Wireless AimPoint is a high-precision modification of the ROG Keris sniper mouse with an upgraded ROG AimPoint optical sensor, a combined connection and programmable buttons with built-in memory. It is part of the ROG enthusiast line of products, belongs to the upper price segment and, according to the manufacturer, was created together with professional eSports athletes to ensure maximum accuracy while shooting.

A key feature of ROG Keris Wireless AimPoint is the new AimPoint optical sensor (36K DPI, 50G, 650 ips), which Asus began to actively implement in 2022. It's virtually impossible to disrupt or throw out, which is critical for any competitive online shooter where even a tiny mistake or momentary lapse of concentration can cost the entire team victory. Also worth noting is the well-balanced 75-gram body with replaceable Teflon legs and a fairly high hump, which is easy to control with both a finger and a claw grip. As is customary in the ROG series, the case is decorated with three-zone Asus Aura Sync lighting.

Otherwise, ROG Keris fully complies with the high level of quality set by Asus ROG mice in 2022 - 2023. The main buttons are made of durable, abrasion-resistant PBT plastic. In addition to programmable buttons, the user also has access to durable ROG mechanical microswitches with an increased click life of up to 70 million. Moreover, if necessary, the button switches can be replaced independently. Also worth noting is the flexible and convenient braided cable and the dedicated ROG SpeedNova radio with reduced input latency. When connected wirelessly, the built-in battery holds a charge for about 5 days.

Glorious Model O Wireless is a universal computer mouse with a combined connection, programmable side buttons, and built-in RGB backlighting. Its key feature is a lightweight perforated body, which, according to many players, increases the grip reliability, since the mouse slides less in the palm.

The body shape of the Glorious Model O Minus is symmetrical, making the manipulator equally convenient to operate with both right and left hands. True, both auxiliary buttons are located only on the left side, that is, under the thumb of the right hand. Switches - Omron for 20 million clicks. The lightweight 69-gram body is initially designed for RTS and MOBA games, but in our experience it is perfect for shooters and action RPGs with a third-person view. There is only one downside to a perforated case - an increased tendency for dust to get inside. And there is no protection against moisture, like SteelSeries.

Hidden inside the mouse is a BAMF optical sensor, created in collaboration with Pixart, with a resolution from 100 to 19000 DPI and a maximum acceleration of up to 50 G. Unfortunately, there are no spare replacement feet included, so it would be wiser to use the mouse paired with a soft cloth mat. To connect, use either a removable USB cable or a radio receiver with a 10-meter range. Add to all of the above a polling rate of 1000 Hz, as well as the ability to completely reconfigure all mouse parameters in proprietary software and you will get an excellent alternative to perforated mice from Xtrfy.

Xtrfy M4 RGB Wireless is a wireless mouse from a Swedish brand specializing in gaming, or more precisely, e-sports devices. The polling frequency of 1000 Hz and response time of 1 ms are not inferior to wired analogues. It has a built-in battery for approximately 75 hours of play (the exact time depends on the intensity of the RGB backlight), while weighing only 71 grams.

The battery also acts as a balancer: using the included screwdriver, it can be moved back and forth. Also included are replaceable Teflon feet, a soft USB Type-C EZcord Pro cable for charging while playing, and an adapter for bringing the 2.4 GHz radio adapter closer to the user.

There was also room in the box for a removable backrest - flat or hunchbacked, whichever fits more comfortably in your hand. If you wish, you can print the back of your own shape on a 3D printer; for this purpose, a drawing has been published on the official Xtrfy website. The mouse is suitable only for right-handed people, as it has an asymmetrical shape with two additional customizable keys for the thumb of the right hand.

The Xtrfy M4 RGB Wireless is based on a Pixart 3370 optical sensor with a resolution of 19 thousand DPI and Kailh GM 8.0 mechanical switches that can withstand up to 80 million clicks. You don’t even need to install software on your computer to set up RGB backlighting, sensor resolution, Hz and lift-off height. All this is done with separate buttons on the bottom of the mouse.