Your gaming mouse is arguably the most important contributing factor to your reaction time and headshot potential. I enjoy playing FPS like CS:GO, COD and Apex, and so I can say with confidence that your gaming mouse is an extension of your body. Whether you’re a wrist or arm aimer, what is a good entry-level gaming mouse?
The Razer Basilisk, Razer Deathadder Elite, and Logitech G403 are good entry-level gaming mouses. They offer precision accuracy, comfortable grips, lightweight and heavyweight options, good lift-off distance, varying DPI options, and they all cost less than $50.
Having a lot of choices doesn’t always make it easier, so I’ve narrowed down the best three entry-level gaming mouses, and I’m going to tell you why they are good for you and how they improve your game.
What Is A Good Entry Level Gaming Mouse?
Firstly, it’s essential to keep in mind that there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ gaming mouse. The trick to getting the best entry-level mouse is to know what makes it suitable. From there, you can decide which qualities are most desirable for you. It’s the same reason why you can buy an expensive gaming mouse and still be unhappy with it.
The lift-off distance of a mouse refers to the space you can lift the mouse from the mousepad before it stops registering input. The typical mouse has a lift-off distance of 1-2mm, whereas a quality gaming mouse has 3mm. It allows you to move your mouse back to its default aiming position without the risk of moving your crosshair position.
Shape, size, and grip are vital and can significantly affect your in-game accuracy. Some of us are wrist aimers, while others have their whole arm on our mousepad. It usually determines how we grip our gaming mouse; without fingers or entire hand. If your mouse slips out of your hand or is uncomfortable, your aim will suffer.
Weight is alongside size and can make or break your aim. A lightweight mouse is more mobile, so you will be able to slide and reposition it a lot quicker than you could a heavier mouse. However, a heavier mouse will encourage smaller movements and translate into more accuracy. I usually prefer a heavier mouse for sniping.
Getting a feel for the buttons and scroll wheel is a good idea because the shape of a mouse, in turn, shapes your hand. It will cause you to click with either the tip of your fingers or their bases. In the same breath, ensure that you like the sensitivity of the scroll wheel to make sure it feels responsive.
DPI (Dots Per Inch) measures how much physical hand movement is needed to cover screen distance; so, a higher DPI will travel further with less movement. It’s great for movement, but it can affect your accuracy. As with Apex, higher DPI can be better for Z-axis aiming, whereas CS:GO prefers linear aiming and may prefer lower DPI.
Why Should You Choose The Razer Basilisk?
The Razer Basilisk has excellent grip and performance, and its pricing of around $39.99 makes it a top pick. It has a total weight of 104 grams which puts between average to heavy, and it has a flexible, braided cord that won’t easily come apart. Its total DPI is 16,000, ensuring that your flick shots will be right on point.
The surface texture of the mouse is made from a plastic that is both smooth and rough, therefore giving it a steady and comfortable grip. If you like variety, you’ll also be happy to know the Razer Basilisk comes in black, white, and pink. The switches on the mouse are custom-made by Razer, so they have a fantastic quality and feel great.
It also comes equipped with eight reprogrammable buttons that can be configured with Razer’s mouse software. Its high arches make it ideal for larger hands, although the rubberized sides work just as well for smaller hands or finger gripping. If you’re looking for a pure FPS mouse, you cannot go wrong with the Razer Basilisk.
Why Should You Choose The Razer Deathadder Elite?
The Deathadder Elite is the perfect lightweight entry-level gaming mouse, and it sells for around $32.99. It comes in at a total weight of 102 grams, and it’s also installed with customized Razer switches, Chroma RGB, and the high-performance 5G PMW 3390 optical sensor. The cord is excellently braided and flexible, just like the Basilisk.
Its shape, size, and weight make it a little bigger than most mouses, but it feels pretty balanced, and it will fit snuggly in your hand. Furthermore, it has seven reprogrammable buttons that can be configured in the Razer Synapse software that is free to download from their website.
The shape philosophy is best suited to holding it in your palm, where your hand looks like a claw. The ride rubbers are slightly slippery, although the screen wheel has a very satisfying click. Overall, its features are exceptional value for money.
Why Should You Choose The Logitech G403?
The G403 is similar in size to the Basilisk and extraordinarily lightweight at 89-99 grams, and you can usually get one for the affordable price of $43.18. Due to its shape and narrower back-end, it fits comfortably with a whole-hand grip or a claw-grip.
The rubber used in its construction is very smooth, yet it has a surprisingly sturdy grip. The Logitech G403 switches are Omron switches, meaning they are sensitive to touch (like a mechanical keyboard), and all six buttons on the mouse are reprogrammable.
The cable is braided and flexible, and it also has two RGB areas on the mouse that you can set in G Hub, the universal Logitech mouse software. Also included at the bottom of this mouse is a weight that can be adjusted to make the mouse heavier, increasing the weight from 89 grams to 99 grams.
Conclusion
Picking the best entry-level gaming mouse is easy when you know what you’re looking for and how you’re going to be using it. Consider the game you play, the role in that game, and what you want to be capable of doing in that game, and you’re golden!
Sources
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar-HKYkWlvw&ab_channel=LinusTechTips
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOaP3k3-K0&ab_channel=OptimumTech
- https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-cheap-gaming-mouse
- https://www.rtings.com/mouse/reviews/best/cheap-gaming-mouse
- https://www.businessinsider.in/tech-buying-guides/entry-level-gaming-mice-for-fps-games-india/articleshow/86463076.cms
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOaP3k3-K0&ab_channel=OptimumTech