Lightweight and ultra-lightweight gaming mice are all the rage these days, but just having the lightest gaming mouse out there doesn’t automatically make them the best. The specs that make up the rest of the performance still have to be excellent, especially to keep up with the fast-paced movement of FPS games. Major gaming brands, like Logitech and Razer, are now starting to produce ultra-lightweight gaming mice, making them no longer a niche product from niche manufacturers like the Zuankoenig M2K.
Key Factors For Choosing The Lightest Gaming Mouse
There are several key factors that buyers should consider before buying a light gaming mouse. These include weight, connectivity, and grip.
- Weight: What is the weight cutoff to be considered a lightweight mouse?
- Connectivity: How does the mouse connect to a PC?
- Grip: What shape of the mouse works best for different grips?
Looking to further upgrade the gaming setup? Consider adding a wireless keyboard for a complete and immersive gaming experience, worthy of a new lightweight mouse.
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Game Rant’s Picks for the Lightest Gaming Mice in 2024
Weighing in at 58 grams, the Viper V2 Pro is not the lightest gaming mouse out there, but when factoring in its overall performance, features, and comfort, it is easily one of the best gaming mice out there. Thanks to the newly released Focus Pro 30K sensor, the Viper V2 Pro is incredibly accurate, making it an ideal choice for fast-paced gaming, even at a competitive level. Razer’s optical switches help provide a remarkably low click latency, and they are designed to prevent double-clicking, which tends to be a problem with mechanical controls, mainly after they have been used for a while.
The shape of the Razer Viper V2 Pro might not be for everyone, with its flatter profile and relatively large body. But it does work well with pretty much any grip style, and because of its symmetrical shape, it can be easily used by right-handed or left-handed gamers. Because the shape of the Viper lineup from Razer hasn’t changed that much, users who have used previous generations will probably feel very comfortable with this mouse.
The Viper V2 Pro has an impressive battery life of 80 hours. Comparatively, the closest mouse Game Rant could find with a similar performance level and lightweight is the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, which only has 70 hours of battery life.
Asus didn’t set out to make one of the lightest wireless mice on the market when they created the ROG Harpe, but that’s what they ended up doing. Designed and tested alongside esports professionals, the simple design of this gaming mouse offers players industry-leading specs within an ultra-light body.
The incredible ROG AimPoint optical sensor has a max CPI of 36,000, which in and of itself is impressive. However, Asus doubles down on this to provide gamers with less than 1% CPI deviation, a max speed of 650 IPS, and a 50G max acceleration. All of these are top-of-the-line specs, leaving the ROG Harpe with few competitors.
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On the surface level, players will continue to be pleased with this gaming mouse, as it includes a lot of the expected comfortability features. For instance, the two side buttons are split across a ribbed texture, making it easy to determine which button a player’s fingers are on while also adding some much-needed grip to the smooth mouse. The short lift-off distance pairs well with the lightweight build, while the slightly contoured shape lends itself best to fingertip and claw grips, especially for those with bigger hands.
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Customizable buttons offer decent personalization, while the muted RGB lighting is just enough to add a bit of style to any gaming setup. For gamers wanting their next wireless mouse to be one of the lightest options money can buy, the Asus ROG Harpe gaming mouse is the way to go.
The Asus TUF M4 Air is not the most gorgeous-looking mouse out there, but with its exceptionally low weight of 49 grams and excellent gaming performance, it is easy to overlook the somewhat questionable design choices. At this price point, there is a very small selection of mice that are this light but still offer gaming performance that Game Rant feels comfortable recommending for competitive-level gaming.
This mouse is powered by a 16,000 DPI PixArt sensor. The max DPI of 16,000 is much lower than mice like the Razer Viper V2 Pro, but because of its lightweight, it is still easy to flick the TUF M4 Air around and land shots in fast-paced situations. Plus, the paracord cable is so flexible and does not catch that this wired mouse doesn’t need a bungee to get the most performance out of it.
This mouse is perfect for competitive FPS gaming, and thanks to the design, this mouse is comfortable to use all day long. To achieve this low weight, the TUF M4 Air relies on triangle cutouts, which can present quite a durability issue if a drink gets spilled or if the user has a sweaty hand. Luckily, because this mouse is part of Asus’ TUF lineup, they have thought of this and made the components IPX6 water-resistant, so for the most part, this mouse should be able to survive spills and sweaty rounds of CS: GO.
The Cooler Master MM710 is the first lightweight gaming mouse from the manufacturer. For the most part, it is a slam dunk. The MM710 weighs in at a remarkably low 53 grams and can be picked up for around $20. If gamers like the look of the TUF M4 Air but need the price to be a bit lower, this mouse is an excellent choice.
The MM710 is not the mouse that gamers show off to their friends, but it is one of the best no-frills ultra-lightweight mice. Being a budget product, Game Rant appreciates that instead of focusing on fancy lighting or extra features, Cooler Master delivers a solid-performing mouse that can keep up with competitive gaming. Movements don’t feel quite as accurate as the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, but for about $100 less, the MM710 offers incredible performance.
Its ambidextrous design is comfortable for any grip type, especially palm grip, although gamers with larger hands might feel a little cramped using this mouse. Despite the honeycomb design, this mouse feels solid and well-built, but be sure to keep drinks and sweat away from it because it is not water-resistant, unlike the TUF M4 Air.
Gamers who are ready to move up from their budget gaming mouse, but who won’t get their money’s worth with the absolute best-performing mouse should turn to HyperX. The Pulsefire Haste 2 may not be the best at any one thing, but, for less than $100, players can get a seriously well-rounded gaming mouse that’s nearly as competitive as the high-end market offerings.
This wireless mouse has a lightweight build that clocks in at just 61g without having to add a honeycomb shell. Instead, this HyperX mouse uses a matte surface and smart contours to provide a comfortable grip. Two programmable buttons on the side sit ready and waiting, slightly indented to prevent misclicks. The mouse isn’t the most stylish, with the only color option being black and RGB lighting on display only around the scroll wheel, but this may be a boon to players who dislike bright backlighting.
Internally, the mouse has what it takes to compete with the best. The 26K DPI is worthy of respect, and the max speed of 650 IPS is in line with the very best gaming mice. Despite the powerful specs and ultra-lightweight body, the Pulsefire Haste 2 has a battery life of up to 100 hours. Plus, players can connect their mouse through the HyperX’s wireless dongle, Bluetooth, or through a USB-C cord.
For gamers ready to upgrade, but not quite ready to go pro, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is an excellent choice. This gaming mouse will deliver on all fronts, even keeping up with plenty of high-end gaming mice.
The Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition is for those with deep pockets who want the ultimate wireless gaming mouse. Its perforated exoskeleton is made of magnesium alloy, which provides rigidity and is ultra-lightweight. The unboxing experience is unmatched by any other mouse, making it exclusive and premium. Weighing only 49g, this is Razer’s lightest and most advanced mouse to date and houses their flagship Focus Pro 30K optical sensor.
The Viper Mini Signature Edition features their Gen 3 optical switches and has a 90M click lifespan. Razer bundles their 4000Hz polling dongle with the mouse, which they also sell separately for $100. It claims to have a battery life of 60 hours on a single charge while playing at 1000Hz, but that number drastically diminishes when the polling rate is bumped up to 4000Hz. To combat this, the mouse can quickly charge up to 50% in about 20 minutes and fully charge in under an hour.
The polarizing exoskeleton design might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for claw/fingertip grippers, this mouse won’t feel alien. This sensor is also featured in other Razer high-end mice like the Viper Mini, which paired with its high polling rates makes for a lag-free gaming experience. Sensor latency is exceptionally low and clicks feel tactile thanks to the magnesium alloy construction. Overall, the Viper Mini Signature Edition sits at the pinnacle of their lineup and showcases Razer’s ability to make the ultimate gaming mouse money can buy.
In Game Rant’s full review of the Logitech G Pro X Superlight wireless mouse, we found this mouse to be one of the best lightweight gaming mice available today. Weighing in at 63 grams, this mouse houses some of the best wireless technology thanks to Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED wireless. Gamers unwilling to compromise on creature comfort but who still want a lightweight mouse should look no further than the G Pro X Superlight. This mouse is tuned for fast-paced gaming, with the Hero sensor that goes up to 25K DPI and exceptionally low click latency.
Even though the G Pro X Superlight is not the newest option from Logitech, the second generation G Pro X does not warrant the higher cost while this mouse is still available. The Hero sensor provides accurate tracking, even at high speed, making it a perfect companion for competitive gaming. Plus, the included feet are buttery smooth on most gaming surfaces, so there is no need to worry about jumpy movements when going for flick shots.
Regardless of hand size or preferred mouse grip, the G Pro X Superlight is comfortable to hold, although the side buttons might be a bit hard for gamers with smaller hands to reach while using a fingertip grip. These features come at a fairly high price point, but FPS gamers who want a lightweight with excellent wireless performance will not be disappointed by the G Pro X Superlight.
MMO and lightweight gaming mice don’t typically cross over that much, but that might change with the introduction of the Glorious Model 1. Besides its low weight of 69 grams, its main feature is the four side buttons, two of which are magnetic and can be replaced with differently shaped buttons or removed altogether.
Four buttons won’t blow the mind of most MMO fans who are used to mice like the Razer Naga, which has 12 buttons, but the Glorious Model 1 offers quite an excellent MMO experience at this weight. Because most of the other mice from Glorious are focused on FPS gaming, their BAMF sensor, also in the Model 1, has incredibly accurate tracking. And even though it takes some getting used to from a typical MMO mouse, the lightweight makes it easy to play for hours at a time without getting sore.
Fans of larger-shaped mice will be pleased with the feel of the Model 1. It has a more prominent hump than most lightweight mice, making it easy to use all day long. The shape is more similar to the Logitech G502 Hero or the Razer Basilisk Ultimate for gamers who are fans of those mice. However, using a palm grip with this mouse might make it hard for gamers with smaller hands to reach the far side buttons.
The Roccat Burst Pro Air is probably the way to go for gamers who want to brighten up their desk like a party but still want to use a lightweight gaming mouse that’s under 100 grams. Coming in at 80 grams, the Burst Pro Air is certainly pushing the limit of what it means to be a lightweight mouse. Because of how good the RGB lighting looks, Game Rant is willing to overlook a few grams here and there.
In Game Rant’s full review of the Roccat Burst Pro Air, we found that this mouse has an excellent implementation of RGB lighting. Like the Asus TUF M4 Air and Cooler Master MM710, the Burst Pro Air uses a honeycomb design, but instead of having the holes open, there is a layer of plastic on top. This plastic layer provides extra protection without adding too much weight and adds a layer of diffusion to the RGB lighting.
Moving past the looks, the Burst Pro Air also offers pretty impressive gaming performance. The Burst Pro Air is accurate and has pretty low click latency, whether connected wirelessly or wired. However, compared to mice that are more geared toward competitive gaming, like the Razer Viper V2 Pro, this mouse is probably not the best option for gamers who want a mouse they can always rely on for rock-solid performance.
The Redragon M9616 PRO 3-Mode ultra-light wireless gaming mouse is a flexible gaming mouse suitable for gamers who play for long hours. It has an ergonomic and lightweight design and is soft to the touch; as such, gamers can comfortably wield it on their palms for extended periods without straining. It weighs only 1.73 ounces, which is ultralight and enhances user-friendliness.
Functionality-wise, the Redragon M916 PRO brings its A-game. It has five DPI levels, the default being 1000, going up to a maximum of 26000, allowing users to work with the sensitivity setting of their choice. It also has five programmable buttons, which gamers can tweak depending on their gameplay.
The versatility of the Redragon M916 PRO is evident in several areas, such as its three connectivity modes. Users can connect the mouse to other devices via Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, or through a USB-C cable. The connections are robust, ensuring seamless operation. Combine all these features with the best ergonomic gaming chair, and the sky is the limit for any gaming or working-related activities!
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How To Pick a Lightweight Gaming Mouse
Buyers should consider several factors before buying a light gaming mouse, including weight, connectivity, and grip.
Weight
Weight is the biggest factor when picking out the lightest gaming mouse, but what is actually considered light? This number has varied over the last couple of years, but for the most part, there seems to be a consensus of around 80 grams being the cutoff point. Most mice on the market that aren’t considered lightweight typically sit at or above 100 grams.
This number might continue to drop lower and lower as the years go by based on current trends. Just taking a look at the guide above, most of the mice are under 70 grams, so who knows where it will be a couple of years from now? Remember that having the lightest mouse available doesn’t always mean it is the best. An excellent way to test if something would be a good weight is to find a household object around the same weight as a mouse and see how it feels to move around. This won’t be a true test of how the mouse will feel, but it is a good way to start building a general idea of how these different weights feel.
Grip
The grip gamers use for mice typically fall into three main styles: Palm, Claw, and Fingertip. The lightest gaming mice are more catered for fingertip and claw grip users because those grips usually require less space on the mouse to be comfortable, and the smaller the mouse is, the easier it is to make it lighter.
At this point, most mouse manufacturers will list what grips typically work best for specific mice and keep in mind that hand size also plays into the overall comfort of a mouse. So when a bigger mouse says it works well for palm grip, look at the dimensions and see if they would theoretically work with a given hand size.
Connectivity
Connectivity affects not only the way the lightest gaming mouse connects to a gaming PC but also how light a mouse can be in the first place. Wireless mice have to factor in a battery and wireless technology, which is not a concern with a wired mouse. At this point, there are several extremely lightweight wireless mice, like the Razer Viper V2 Pro and Logitech G Pro X Superlight. Still, these are also typically more expensive than their wired counterparts.
Wired mice have to factor in the weight of the cable, so they are not without concerns, but it’s not as big of an issue, especially for mice like the Asus TUF M4 Air that have a replaceable cable that can be traded out for a lighter cable.
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FAQ
Q: What is considered a lightweight mouse?
This number has varied over the last couple of years, but for the most part, there seems to be a consensus of around 80 grams being the cutoff point. Most mice on the market that aren’t considered lightweight typically sit at or above 100 grams.
Q: Are lightweight mice better for gaming?
Lightweight mice are not necessarily better for gaming, but for gamers who play faster paced games having a mouse that is easier to flick around and make movents quickly and precisely can be the difference between a win and a loss.
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