10 Best Gaming Mouses in India 2021 (Razer, Steelseries and more)

Selecting amongst the best out there, we have assembled a list of the best gaming mouses available currently.

There are a lot of elements to consider when deciding which gaming mouse is best. We have assembled a buying guide with detail and easy to understand content to help you out with your selection. Let's dive in.

There was once a time when a ball was present on the bottom of the mouse. Today, there are two dominant mouse types available- optical and laser. Both of them are very similar as they rely on light patterns and work with an image sensor that detects light; they differ in sensitivity and the surface. With advancements in technology, the difference between the two types has been minimized.

Optical mouses have a LED sensor attached to the bottom of the mouse. The light emitted by LED is not very strong and can reflect easily. This plays advantage and disadvantage at the same time. Too much light can distort the sensor; that's why they are not preferable to be used on a shiny and reflective surface-like-glass.

Non-glossy surfaces like mousepads are much preferable for best performance. Optical mouses are still more preferable by competitive gamers due to their consistency and accuracy.

Laser mouses have the edge over optical mouses in terms of sensitivity and the capability to be used on any surface. You can use them without any issues about reflection or rough surfaces owing to the strong light emitted, unlike optical sensors. 

One of the drawbacks of the laser's precision is that it is too accurate and can read very tiny details that can cause random movements and jitters while playing, which can misdirect your aim.

For example, there is a very tiny crack on the wooden surface, not visible; the mouse shall read that and respond accordingly. Too much accuracy doesn't play in favor of precision-based gaming.

It is a crucial point when you are deciding on which mouse shall suit you the best. There are specific gaming genres that rely on individual requirements, and accordingly, you need equipment compatible with it. There are FPS (First Person Shooting) games, RPG (Role Playing) games that are precision-based and require accuracy and consistency during gameplay. 

Getting a mouse with heavy buttons ensures there are no accidental clicks. Accordingly, there are MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) games and RTS games (Real-time strategy). These games rely more on functions and accessibility than precision, such as setting up a camp, switching weapons, and giving commands spontaneously. 

For such gaming themes, a mouse with soft clicks is beneficial to avoid fatigue, and the presence of programmable buttons on the side of the mouse for multiple commands is helpful.

Every individual is unique. Similarly, everyone has a different grip style when using the mouse. They are categorized into three basic styles - palm, claw, and fingertip and the division between these styles determine the size and weight of the mouse.

Palm style is the most natural style of grip; most users naturally have this style where you place your hand, and it rests entirely over the mouse. Mouse built for this grip style are longer and have a steeper end to give better support to the hand.

Claw grips have the hand curved upwards while touching the mouse with less contact between the hand and the mouse, forming a claw shape. It is an aggressive grip style for fast movements for playing games like FPS or RTS games. The mouse arch is larger and short in front.

Fingertip style is the one with minimum contact between the mouse and the hand, giving the user complete control and fast movements without the palm or wrist being hindered. Mouses made for this grip tend to be light, short, and with a low back arch.

Software enhancements are as crucial as shortcut buttons and hardware functions. Major manufacturers have assembled customizable software-based advanced programming, which helps adjust specific tasks according to user needs—for example- creating game-specific profiles like assigning a particular function to a button differently as per game.

The software also helps in running surface calibration in which the mouse software runs a routine that optimizes the mouse and its sensor for the texture and traits of your mousing surface. There are certainly more functions, like changing RGB lighting and enhancing click speed.

DPI stands for dots per inch, and CPI stands for clicks per inch. Both the terms refer to mouse sensitivity and are used interchangeably, but their definition differs. Let's try to simplify it.

The term DPI has been used commonly since early computer onset. DPI( dots per inch), which most widely measures the output resolution, manufacturers use the term to designate the resolution measurement.

However, this term has been used to measure mouse sensitivity as well, and since it is recognized widely by users, individual companies continue to use it. For example, Logitech uses DPI to measure sensitivity. The higher the DPI rating, the less movement needed to move the cursor on the screen. DPI is one of the crucial aspects when selecting a mouse.

CPI stands for counts per inch, which refers to the sensitivity of a mouse. For example, with a CPI setting of 800, one-inch movement of your mouse moves your cursor by 800 pixels. The higher the CPI, the more sensitive it is to your movements. CPI is the accurate term of measurement, but it is often interchangeably used with DPI, the latter being widely recognizable.

The gaming mouse comes with a DPI/CPI rating as high as 20,000 clicks. But the higher is better is not applicable here. Too much sensitivity leads to jitters and erratic unwanted movements, hindering the gameplay. For example, you aim for a target, but your mouse keeps moving even with slight movement.

Pro gamers use CPI/DPI settings below 3000, majorly between 400 – 1600. Rest, it's an individual preference. Though duly note, DPI/CPI is not the sole measurement to select the mouse.

IPS refers to Inches per second, and a combination of IPS with CPI is a better and accurate measure of mouse sensor quality. IPS refers to the mouse's capability to keep up with high-speed movements during gameplay.

If you have fast muscle reflexes and movements, but your mouse has a slow IPS rating, your gameplay will suffer. For example, a Ferrari can easily cruise at a speed of 150kmph, but a Swift will start trembling under strain at the same speed. That's the importance of a higher IPS rating; an IPS rating of 300 plus is good.

The wired vs. wireless debate still carries on amongst gamers. Competitive gamers prefer wired ones to wireless ones to eliminate latency (screen lag) and the possibility of a battery running out during gameplay. Many still hold that bias for wired, but major brands like Razer, Logitech, and others have released addressing lag with low latency ratings to create a preference amongst competitive gamers.

If you're looking for a wireless, some models come with a USB charging cable for rechargeable batteries that can double as a mouse cable while you're charging, letting you use the mouse simultaneously.

If you go for the wired model, check the cable length, it must be long enough to reach your table from your CPU with a certain length still free. Do check the cable material; a braided nylon or cloth cover is more durable than a standard rubber coating.

There are particular add ons that make the gameplay more interesting, and your mouse more visually appealing.

Lift-off distance is the point when the optical or laser sensor stops tracking when you remove the mouse from the surface. Certain mouses come with a low lift-off distance that stops tracking immediately when you remove it from the surface, and some come with a high lift-off distance that continues to work at a certain distance even when you lift them.

Competitive gamers hinge towards low lift-off distance because there are so many unpredictable movements, For example, picking and turning the mouse 180 degrees several times spontaneously. You don't want the sensor tracking any movement, even a bit, when the mouse is not on the surface when playing, as you may miss the aim.

RGB lightning customization is a neat addition allowing your mouse to glow as you want. Certain mouses come with standard one-shade lightning, and some offer custom lights using native mouse software.

For better comfort, few models have swap-out side grips that snap or attach to the mouse's left or right edge. You can adjust the mouse according to personal grip style and to enhance grip and improve gameplay. Certain mouses come with snap-on weights as well that provide a better feel and more control.

We have assembled the best of our know-how in our buying guides about gaming monitors, mechanical keyboards, and external SSD.

Every user has a unique way of playing, and to get the best gaming experience and performance, invest considerable time to find the mouse that suits you according to your grip style and comfort. The right mouse does wonders for your gaming experience. 

Author- Dhruv Manchanda