The best computer mouse of 2024

The humble computer mouse has come a long way since its invention in the mid-sixties, and now they sit alongside our budget PCs, laptops, and essential home office tech, making life easier than ever. But, many of us stick with the computer mouse that came bundled with the system we bought. Others find that the quality mouse they bought a few years ago is now woefully behind the times and slowing them down. So, is yours still up to the task?

The simple three-button mouse of the old has now been overshadowed by superior tech, such as new optical sensors, more buttons, comfortable ergonomic shapes, and wireless connectivity, to name but a few. Some are even miniature computers in their own right, running onboard software that supports programmable buttons and other customisations. The market is full of impressive-looking computer mouse options – which one is right for you?

Best computer mouse of 2024 at a glance

• Best overall computer mouse: Logitech MX Master 3S - View at Amazon
• Best budget computer mouse: Logitech M330 SILENT PLUS Wireless Mouse   View at Amazon
• Best computer mouse for accuracy: Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless Tunable FPS Gaming Mouse - View at Amazon
• Best ergonomic computer mouse:  Logitech MX ERGO Advanced Wireless Graphite - View at Amazon

We’ve rounded up a selection of top computer mouse choices for you, looking at everything from a range of wireless mouse models to simple wired mice and excellent budget mouse options too. But that’s just the tip of the computer mouse iceberg where features are concerned. Looking for an ultra-high DPI mouse for professional-level accuracy? How about an ergonomic mouse to ease that wrist strain? We’ve found everything, from left-handed models to fully programmable computer mice for techy types.

But it is a bit of a minefield of brands and features, so we’ve also put together a comprehensive buyer’s guide and some FAQs at the end of the article. Also, you’ll see a lot of our recommendations are labelled as a ‘gaming mouse’ - but they’re great for non-gamers too. So, get ready to click and drag that jittery old mouse into the recycle bin, the best computer mouse for you is just a short scroll-wheel away.

Best computer mouse of 2024

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Best computer mouse of 2024: Buyer’s guide

A mouse is one of the smallest yet most important pieces of computer kit you will ever buy. Getting your decision right can be the difference between accuracy and frustration, or comfort and a painful wrist. And this all comes down to making sure you look after function and ergonomics at the same time.

Choose the most important features first

In general, a helpful way to narrow down the vast range of computer mouse options is to decide on your most important feature first. There will be plenty of overlap, so don’t worry that choosing one main feature over another might mean losing others. Also, most computer mice come as wireless models these days, so wired versus wireless is really a basic feature that is down to your preference. That aside, here’s a breakdown of the main types of computer mouse and the kind of users they suit best:

Basic computer mouse

Many of us don’t need features like extra buttons or super-high DPI. For general office work, a standard budget mouse with the usual left, right and scroll wheel controls will absolutely do the job. Providing you’re looking after your comfort and usability, a simple computer mouse is a great functional choice. The only real options you might want to look at are whether it’s a wired or wireless model. If you’re all about keeping things simple and uncluttered, a wireless mouse is a great option. They’re fast and easy to setup and you can banish tangled wires from your desktop. They also make great portable options.

Ergonomic computer mouse

Anyone who has spent any amount of time using a cheap mouse, or even a mouse that just doesn’t suit them, will need to put comfort first. Long hours at work, or surfing the web or gaming, can lead to some pretty painful wrist conditions. Even a mouse pad with a cushioned wrist rest won’t save you from a mouse that is the wrong size and shape for your hand.

Ergonomic keyboards have been around for a long while, and the humble mouse has followed suit. There’s a huge range of options available now - including computer mice that use a vertical hand position (the same way you’d use a joystick); and ergonomically-contoured mice for better hand and thumb support. Some of these are actually trackball-based. They’re ideal for anyone who has issues with wrist movement, as they work by moving your thumb over a ball instead - the mouse itself doesn’t move at all.

Programmable computer mouse

This kind of computer mouse is ideal for those who need extra control over their mouse for use in special applications or games. The software that comes with these mice enables you to reprogram their functions - and this is much more than just changing the speed of the scroll wheel or the click function of the left or right buttons.

Many computer mice have extra buttons, clickable scroll wheels and RGB lighting - all of which can be adjusted in the software. And that can mean programming keyboard macros - a series of key presses that help you to quickly trigger commands. For instance, if you’re a creative professional you could set one of your mouse’s side buttons to run a series of key presses. That could trigger a series of operations like adding a new layer and pasting content in Photoshop. And if you’re always switching between a lot of open windows, you could program a mouse key to minimise them all or tab between them. Gamers love this feature too. They can automate a series of key presses mid-game using just one mouse button. That's a feature on many of the best Logitech gaming mice and others. The possibilities here are almost endless.

Highly accurate computer mouse

For designers, IT professionals, programmers and gamers, accuracy is king. If you need pixel-perfect computer mouse accuracy, you should prioritise your mouse’s DPI (Dots Per Inch). We’ve explained DPI in our FAQs below. But, in general, the more dots per inch the finer the level of control you’ll have when using your mouse.

Choosing advanced features

Much like the Logitech MX Master 3S, some computer mouse users like a few extra functional features. That includes things like even more extra buttons than most. The MX Master 3S has two programmable switches under the thumbrest, for instance. Plus an extra thumb scroll wheel on the side.

And then there are extras like being able to toggle between various DPI settings. That's ideal for busy professionals working across a dual screen monitor setup. It allows them to alter their mouse accuracy from one application to another. And then there's onboard memory - macros and settings are stored onboard instead of needing the software on the host computer. That’s perfect for anyone working across multiple machines and laptops for instance. Whether you game or not, you’ll find that many gaming mice are the best of all worlds in terms of advanced features.

How many devices do you need to work on?

On the subject of working across more than one computer, some wireless computer mouse options include multi-device support. That means that the mouse can connect to several devices at once and seamlessly switch between them at the touch of a button. Logitech’s FLOW technology takes that one step further by allowing you to work across systems without having to manually switch between them

Accessorise your desk

Even the best high-DPI mouse will perform badly on the wrong surface. While plenty of desktops and mouse mats claim to be mouse-friendly, that can vary a lot. Textured surfaces might work well for some optical mice with advanced sensors. For other models, the higher the DPI the more those textures will register; And that makes for jittery cursor movement.

We recommend looking at high-quality mousemats from top brands - such as the Corsair MM350 PRO mouse pad. It’s made from premium material that supports a high DPU computer mouse and is also wipeable. The rubber backing will also keep it nicely grounded on your desktop. You don’t have to be a gamer to benefit from any of the best gaming mousemats either. They often come with the most premium features that all mouse users will benefit from.

Best computer mouse of 2024: FAQs

Who makes the best computer mouse?

As you’d expect, there’s no clear winner here. But that’s not to say that there aren’t some leading brands that are popular with users worldwide. At What’s The Best we’ve seen and used a lot of computer mice; Some of the best have come from the likes of Logitech, Razer and Corsair. These brands have a well-earned reputation for high-tech features and solid, reliable build quality. Many also take a very scientific approach to usability and ergonomics, using labs to ensure they come up to scratch.

What is DPI?

This stands for Dots Per Inch - or the increments of movement that the mouse sensor can detect. The finer the number of dots per inch the more sensitive your mouse will be.

While you can think of this as your mouse's sensitivity,  don’t confuse DPI with cursor speed. In Windows and Mac operating systems you can adjust mouse sensitivity to suit you. In other words, it's the relationship between how far you need to move your mouse and the distance the cursor actually travels. This is adjustable no matter what DPI your mouse has.

DPI is really all about fine detail. If you need to be able to select tiny menu options or target in-game enemies with pixel-level accuracy, the more dots per inch the better. It means that the sensor can deliver a finer level of accuracy than most standard computer mice. Move the mouse a fraction in any direction and your cursor will be able to do the same. A lower DPI mouse would skip over more pixels instead.

Why is my computer mouse lagging?

Mouse lag can have several causes. If your cursor is jerky no matter what application you’re using, you have an issue with your computer or mouse hardware.

Computer-caused mouse lag could be because your system resources are running low. Check how hard your CPU and RAM are being pushed. If the whole system is maxed-out and struggling for resources, your mouse can too. If you only have mouse lag in one application, but not elsewhere, again look at the amount of system resources it's using; An update might be in order to solve this.

But, if you think your computer is running fine, you have a couple of options left. Firstly, make sure your mouse drivers and associated software are up to date. Second, check the battery level of your mouse (if it’s wireless). Then make sure that your computer isn’t close to anything that could be interfering with the wireless signal. Lastly, make sure the computer mouse sensor itself is clean, and the surface you’re using it on is also clean and suitable for use. We recommend investing in a new mousemat - in most cases, it’s the correct and cheapest way of solving the problem.

Who invented the computer mouse?

According to the Wikipedia page on the computer mouse, American inventor Douglas Engelbart created the first mouse at his research lab at the Stanford Research Institute. Although the trackball had been around for a few decades at this point, by 1964 Engelbart and colleague Bill English had created a handheld control box with a wire at the back of it. They coined the term ‘mouse’ due to its appearance. By 1968 they were offering them for commercial sale. In the early 70s, they were starting to appear as computer peripherals. By the 1980s, and the advent of Microsoft Windows, the computer mouse was a firm fixture of PCs the world over.

Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.

He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.

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