Best mouse 2020: 5 best mice for gaming, working and more
From wireless mice to ergonomic mice and gaming mice, tech expert Whitson Gordon explains how to choose a better mouse at various price points.
Whitson Gordon
Whitson Gordon
If you like the idea of multiple buttons and super-smooth scrolling but don't want to pay the premium of the MX Master 3, Logitech's M720 gets you a lot of the same features. They're slightly downgraded here and there — and the mouse sports fewer buttons and therefore fewer customizable options — but still present in all the ways that matter for less than half the price.
Look, I get it — you want to ditch the trackpad but you don't want to spend the money on a multi-button productivity machine. The Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse is a staple in office buildings far and wide and with good reason: It's comfortable, reliable and extremely well-priced. It’s also ambidextrous — something most ergonomic mice can't claim.
If you find that a regular mouse is giving you wrist pain, you might want to look into an alternative form factor. We dive into your many options in our guide to the best ergonomic mice, but my personal favorite is the Logitech MX vertical, which helps you keep your wrist straight at your desk. Sadly, it doesn't have the incredible scroll wheel of the other Logitech models above, but it's worth the sacrifice if you're experiencing discomfort.
If you plan on doing some gaming alongside your at-home work, you might want a mouse with higher sensitivity, low-latency wireless performance and — let's be honest here — cool lighting effects. Logitech's G502 is arguably the best around, sporting adjustable sensitivity, a sniper button near your thumb and the same amazing scroll wheel you'll find on Logitech's productivity-focused offerings. Add in Logitech's software for customizing its lighting and performance and you've got a gaming powerhouse. There's also a more affordable wired version, which I personally use every day.
Gaming mice often have more buttons than their productivity-focused counterparts, giving you quick shortcuts to all your in-game weapons, spells or other abilities. But having extra buttons is a boon to gaming and work alike, and if you're the kind of person that lives and dies by one-click shortcuts, a gaming mouse like the Razer Naga could give you a huge boost, even if you only use it for work. Razer also makes left-handed versions of their mice — if you're a southpaw, their entire lineup is worth a look.
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