The Best Wireless Gaming Mice (Feb. 2018)

In the not-so-distant past, the term “best wireless gaming mice” sounded absolutely ridiculous. At the dawn of the wireless technologies’ development, wireless gaming mice were frowned upon. Regardless, they cemented themselves a spot in the e-sports industry and manufacturers released products that can be competitive to the most renowned corded mice.

Today, lagging and interference issues wireless gaming mice are associated with are non-existent. If you are fed up with the bundle of cables around your desk, you want to get rid of the feeling that the cord is preventing you from making accurate movements, or you travel often, there is nothing that can deter you from going wireless.

Although wireless gaming mice were said to be the next big thing in the gaming industry, some gamers still prefer their wired equivalents due to the fear that batteries can drain in the middle of the game. However, contemporary wireless mice come with durable batteries that last weeks. What’s more, the most advanced gaming peripherals enable you to swap between wired and wireless mode. Check some of the most vivid representatives of the latest generation of hybrid mice.

Corsair Dark Core RGB Gaming Mouse (Editor’s pick)

If I have to point one disadvantage of the wireless gaming mouse, what do you think it would be? The lag, the weight, the fast battery drain? No, my major complaint about the wireless gaming mice is the steep price tag they carry. That’s why I am delighted to present to you guys, one of the latest peripherals in Corsair’s portfolio – the Dark Core RGB. This is the perfect wireless gaming mouse that ticks all the right boxes as far as quality and performance are concerned but this time around Corsair has significantly knocked down the price.

What makes the Dark Core so special is that this is world’s first Qi mouse. In other words, you don’t need a special charging pad, you can plug it into the charger of your smartphone.

Although the Dark Core can be charged via any charging pad, Corsair also introduced the MM1000 Qi. It is essential to know that you cannot glide the Dark Core across the MM 1000 Qi and expect it to get charged. You have to place it on a specific spot on the pad. To put it another way, you will not be able to use the mouse while it is charging.

Design

The Dark Core RGB is a pretty big departure from the previous Corsair mice. It is a bit fat which may be a dealbreaker for gamers who employ claw grip or have small hands.

The top of the mouse houses the standard right and left clickers, a profile switch button, and DPI buttons. The left side is where a DPI/ Profile light indicator, two side buttons, and a sniper button are placed.

Performance

Corsair Dark Core is a sophisticated tool for enemy destruction and it is safe to assume that the lagging issues, commonly associated with wireless mice, will not be a bother. The mouse felt as responsive in my hands as the corded Scimitar Pro RGB. The Dark Core offers 16,000 DPI, which is currently the new “dpi standard”, and 1000Hz polling rate.

I read about some latency and disconnection struggles but I did not stumble upon such issues. The only thing I noticed is that it takes a few seconds to pair but after that, it performs admirably.

According to Corsair’s statement, the mouse can get you through 24 hours of constant gameplay and during my tests, it delivered as promised.

Frankly, the Corsair Dark Core is worth every penny you spend on it. The stunning accuracy, combined with long battery life, and the fact that it does not require a proprietary charging pad, makes it a good bang for the buck. Its versatility allows you to land precise headshots in Overwatch or get a chicken dinner in PUBG.

The DPI clutch placement felt a bit awkward and it takes some time to get used to it, but other than that the Dark Core is an option to consider.

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Razer Mamba Hyperflux & FireFly Hyperflux Bundle

Imagine it is the 2010 and I tell you that in less than a decade, we will have a battery-free wireless gaming mouse. I bet you would have given me a mocking smile and discard my futuristic vision of gaming peripherals evolution.

Well, here we are. The year is 2018 and the Razer Mamba HyperFlux has arrived in all its glory and it is currently the lightest wireless gaming mouse on the market. Why is it so lightweight? Guess what? It is devoid of batteries that make the wireless rodents heavy and bulky.

However, being the lightest gaming mouse takes its toll. The Mamba HyperFlux and the FireFly HyperFlux pad go together like peanut butter and jelly. You cannot buy the Mamba HyperFlux mouse and charge it via a random charging pad, and vice versa, you cannot purchase the FireFly HyperFlux charging pad and use it for charging random wireless mice.

Design and Performance

Тhe Mamba Hyperflux is not a big departure from the original Mamba save for the lack of RGB lighting strips running along the sides, and the Adjustable Click Force feature that allows you to tweak the amount of force on the two main buttons to your liking.

Razer has gone an extra mile in ensuring Mamba’s optimal in-game accuracy. The mouse is equipped with a 5G laser sensor that goes to the whopping 16,000 DPI.

Now let’s say a few nice words about the FireFly HyperFlux charging mousepad. Basically, the flux capacitor stores and transfers electricity that keeps the mouse up and running. If you lift the mouse off the charging pad for more than 10 seconds, it will stop working but when you drop it back to the charging pad, it will dutifully continue doing its job.

The FireFly itself is a dual-sided mat. It has a hard, smooth side for rapid movements, and a soft side for occasions when you need precision.

The Razer Mamba HyperFlux & FireFly HyperFlux combo is a brand new concept and if you are cool with the fact that the mouse will not work without its proprietary charging pad, and you want to own the latest gaming peripherals, the bundle is a worthy addition to your setup. Alternatively, you can always pick a good mousepad and go for the original Mamba or the wireless Lancehead.

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Logitech G703 / G903 Wireless Mice with Powerplay Charging Compatibility

G703 Wireless Gaming Mouse

Logitech G703 is a perfectly passable wireless gaming mouse. It is a right-handed rodent that has the standard right and left buttons, a scroll wheel, two thumb buttons, as well as a button for cycling through the DPI presets. It is a classic, inoffensive, cost-effective solution that gives you exactly what you need for your smooth gameplay.

The G703 is Powerplay compatible and it has a slot on the bottom where you have to insert the PowerCore. However, if you are reluctant to ditch $100 and purchase a proprietary pad, you can simply charge the mouse via a standard USB cable. In this case, you will get 24 hours of power or up to 32 hours if you turn off the lighting.

The mouse weighs 107 grams, but the weight is not the main factor that makes it a solid pick for eliminating your in-game enemies. Its strongest selling point is the sensor that ensures optimal accuracy. Despite being a budget mouse, the G703 is equipped with the PWM3366 sensor found in the renowned G502 and G903 models.

Overall, the G703 is an unobtrusive wireless gaming mouse designed by a leading manufacturer and it is on par with some high-end peripherals that cost two times more. That being said, it would not hurt to check out its sibling below.

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Logitech G903 Wireless Gaming Mouse

The G903 is the more sophisticated alternative to the above-mentioned G703 and a successor of the G900 mouse. Although the G903 and G703 do have a lot in common, there are some features that give the G903 an advantage over the G703. First of all, the G703 is a right-handed mouse that has 6 buttons, while the G903 has an ambi shape and 11 buttons.

Other than that, the G903 is also Powerplay compatible and if you purchase the Powerplay charging pad, the mouse will constantly draw power from it. The Powerplay is a convenient but not an essential add on, though. You can charge the mouse via a USB cable and get approximately 24 hours of battery life or up to 32 hours if you choose to go dark.

Under the hood, the G903 has a PMW3366 optical sensor that offers a max sensitivity of 12,000 DPI. The G903 is a great gaming mouse but if you don’t pair it with the powerplay mat, there is nothing revolutionary about it. However, if you are determined to cut the cord, and you want a top quality all-purpose gaming mouse, the G903 is worth your while.

G703 vs. G903

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Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum – Wired/Wireless, Professional Ambidextrous Mouse

The G900 Chaos Spectrum brags about its lag-free wired and wireless performance and the rechargeable battery that can get you through 30 hours of playing in a single charge. The Clock Tuning Technology the mouse utilizes makes it the longest-lasting wireless device under 110 grams. Pro gamers define the integrated Optical Gaming Sensor as the best gaming mouse sensor and speak favorably of its tracking accuracy. The DPI range can be adjusted between 200 and 12,000. The mouse is advertised as suitable for any grip style but I am going to disagree with that statement below.

The G900 is a perfectly symmetrical ambidextrous gaming mouse. The mouse is made of durable polycarbonate and it has a matte finish. Therefore, it can endure a lot of punishment. The reliable, fast and accurate performance is guaranteed by the availability of a Pivot button. G900 Chaos Spectrum has 11 programmable buttons and works with Windows 7 or a later version.

The mouse is extremely lightweight. It is just 107 grams, which leads to enhanced responsiveness, not to mention that gamers feel comfortable even when they use the mouse for hours on end.

The software allows users to save gaming profiles, change buttons’ functionalities, and keep track of the battery performance.

The G900 is branded “Spectrum”. I have never paid much attention to the colors, but I guess I am old-fashioned since more and more companies follow the trend of releasing mice featuring glowing LED strips.

Overall, the G900 leaves customers under the impression that it is admirably responsive and easily customizable. Gamers (me included) are prejudiced against wireless mice, but Logitech G900 acts as a pretty solid argument that their fears are groundless. It performs well even in areas of intense Bluetooth and Wi-Fi traffic. Every registered stroke is smooth and accurate.

You might be disappointed to know that it does not have the essential “sniper” button, but you can set one of the thumb buttons to perform that action.

The end of this brief overview takes us to the next sections containing information about every essential component of G900 Chaos Spectrum.

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ROCCAT Leadr – Wireless, MultiButton, RGB

Prior to the debut of Leadr, Roccat promised to roll out a mouse that outshines all wireless devices currently in existence. Unparalleled performance, stunning accuracy, zero latency and innovative sensor technology were also among the features that would justify Roccat Leadr price tag. Well, Leadr’s release date has arrived and last week I found myself holding the latest gaming peripheral produced by Roccat.

I have to admit that I was curious to find out whether the Leadr delivers as promised and rigorously tested it in various games including Heroes of the Storm, the Witcher 3, and Overwatch.

Whenever you need a whole lot of buttons to manage your spells or special attacks in some MMO, you can count on the Leadr. Likewise, if you are into FPS, you can use only a few buttons. The Leadr is an unobtrusive mouse, not to mention you can simply disable the buttons you don’t need.

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Mad Catz R.A.T.9 – PC and Mac Compatible, Customizable

The R.A.T  9 comes with three different palm shapes as well as three buttons for little finger and thumb. Unlike some other high-end mice, the Mad Catz RAT 9 has an adjustable weight feature. Personally, I hate feather – light mice, so the adjustable weight option is one of the reasons why the RAT 9 is included in my list of favorites.

What’s more, the mouse possesses an Accurate Aiming button for thumb (here you go, FPS lovers) as well as Back and Forward for browser. Each button can be programmed via the Cyborg software.

The RAT 9 differs from its predecessor by the absence of conductors. Although there is not a huge performance gap between this model and most products in the same price range, the available features make it stand out from the crowd. Now, after this brief overview, let’s focus on the essential factors that make the RAT 9 worth your attention.

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