Help me find a new gaming mouse

[Ormy1]

I need a new gaming mouse, but I have some quite strict requirements.

First a brief history of the mice I've used since that might help. I remember when all mice had BALLS, what a nightmare. My first optical mouse was the old MS intellimouse (a similar mouse is still sold as intellimouse classic), it was quite large but still one of the more comfortable mice I've ever used having quite large hands. I had that for ages before buying a Razer Deathadder (their very first deathadder model) which was fantastic for many years until it started getting double clicks and missed clicks on the main left and right buttons. I replaced that with a Deathadder Elite 3.5G which I still use, it's comfortable enough but the thumb button and the DPI switching buttons often do not work at all, and then start working again for absolutely no reason. It needs replacing.

My requirements:

• Right handed mouse, not an ambidextrous one.
• Large size suitable for large hands
• The usual left & right buttons, middle click on the scroll wheel, two or three thumb buttons on the left side, DPI adjust buttons, no more, no less.
• Wired, or if wireless it must be verified to be super low latency and have replaceable batteries of a standard size (e.g. AA or AAA).
• Must be able to adjust DPI without installing third party software from the manufacturer.
• Either no bright RBG lights or the ability to turn them off without installing third party software from the manufacturer.
• Cheap, ideally £50 or less, could stretch to £75, certainly nothing over £100.
• NOT Razer, ideally a brand that I've heard of like Logitech.

Things I don't care about:

• Colour
• The weight
• Super high DPI settings
• Currently available new, I don't mind hunting down an older model on the used market.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bubo]

You'll more than likely be able to find the relevant microswitches on ebay if you have a google for the part numbers. The soldering is usually not that difficult if you can get the mouse apart. I usually try to do it a couple of times before I fully give up on a mouse, even if it means harvesting switches from other dead mice. Just a suggestion.

 

[ttaskmaster]

• The usual left & right buttons, middle click on the scroll wheel, two or three thumb buttons on the left side, DPI adjust buttons, no more, no less.
• Must be able to adjust DPI without installing third party software from the manufacturer.
• Either no bright RBG lights or the ability to turn them off without installing third party software from the manufacturer.

I think most mice will require the software to do the configuration you require. However, there may be an acceptable solution:

I use a Logitech G502 Hero, basic version, wired only. Costs around £35 these days.
I'm right-handed and so is this. I wear size XXXL in motorcycle gloves, so roughly a size 10-11.
Button list all check - It has a Profile switch button (optional) and a scroll wheel clutch button (very useful), but they're right behind the wheel and don't interfere with anything.
I personally use the scroll wheel tilt for +/- DPI, but it does come with that feature already programmed in - I forget which buttons were pre-assigned, but it was crap.... You could also set up a single DPI for each profile and use the profile switch button to cycle through them if you prefer.

You can set specific DPI levels in the software, as well as disabling RGB and (if you want) set all the buttons to do 'stuff'..... but you can also commit all these settings to the on-board memory and then uninstall the software.

 

[Ormy1]

You'll more than likely be able to find the relevant microswitches on ebay if you have a google for the part numbers. The soldering is usually not that difficult if you can get the mouse apart. I usually try to do it a couple of times before I fully give up on a mouse, even if it means harvesting switches from other dead mice. Just a suggestion.

I've had it apart to replace the cable which was easy enough. I do have a soldering iron but I'm notoriously bad at soldering, especially small surface-mount components, it's worth a try if the parts are cheap I guess. Would the part numbers be on the switches themselves or would I just google for the part numbers? Thanks for the suggestion.

You could also set up a single DPI for each profile and use the profile switch button to cycle through them if you prefer.

You can set specific DPI levels in the software, as well as disabling RGB and (if you want) set all the buttons to do 'stuff'..... but you can also commit all these settings to the on-board memory and then uninstall the software.

I don't need to change DPI regularly, I just need to find a setting that suits me and stick with it forever, same for button mappings. Does the onboard memory save all its settings across multiple reboots even after the software is uninstalled? I totally don't mind using the software as an initial one-off if I can uninstall it after applying my preferred settings.

 

[Capitano]

been using the viper wireless for a long time and has always been great, though the battery does get worse over time and requires more charging

 

[Bubo]

I've had it apart to replace the cable which was easy enough. I do have a soldering iron but I'm notoriously bad at soldering, especially small surface-mount components, it's worth a try if the parts are cheap I guess. Would the part numbers be on the switches themselves or would I just google for the part numbers? Thanks for the suggestion.

There will be someone who has done this with a guide on Youtube where they will usually detail the part number. The microswitches for the main buttons are usually a common size/shape across several mouse brands, but you should be able to google the specific part number somewhere. The DPI button is more likely to be a rectangular tactile switch rather than the onblong microswitches usd for the main buttons. With that one you will have to be more specific on getting the correct height switch because they do come in various heights. If you can get the mouse apart you could measure it. I am a little surprised your DPI switches have become dodgy, especially if it is both of them, and you say you don't use them much. That is quite odd to be honest.

 

[Varys]

Red Dragon do really good cheap mice durable and good quality under £50. Although I bought a Logitech G502x Plus earlier this week, I'm still using my old mouse along side it, depending on what I'm doing. Thing is with Logitech, despite the expense, they have been in the past a waste of money as they inevitably start double clicking after 6 months, although with the G502x Plus they have put decent switches in for a change. I would only buy Logi if you can get one with the new optical switches because their previous mechanical switches are terrible.

But if you want wireless "super low latency" as you say you're going to have to pay for it. RTNGS.COM has detailed technical teardowns of most mice which includes latency figures

 

[pewpew]

Just to add in my 2 cents, i also never used to care about the weight but it does matter at the extremes. After switching from my G502 121g to a glorious model D 69g i really do prefer the lighter weight. if you play shooters and move the mouse quickly the momentum of the heavier G502 although i love the shape the weight of the mouse definately changes your accuracy. its not worth fussing over with most mice but the G502 in particular is a tank at 121g and you can add even more weight to it. IMO i wouldnt consider a mouse above ~75g

 

[ttaskmaster]

Does the onboard memory save all its settings across multiple reboots even after the software is uninstalled? I totally don't mind using the software as an initial one-off if I can uninstall it after applying my preferred settings.

It's on-board, meaning you can go plug it into an entirely different PC and the settings (RGB, DPI, key mapping) will go with it. I literally have mine plugged into this laptop right now.
So yes, it will save through reboots, Windows reinstalls and everything.

I don't know if it saves macros and scripts too, as I haven't tested them, but my old CM Inferno did so it's possible.

 

[alec]

Strange to see no Razer clause.
Spent years on variants of Roccat Kone, great mice but buttons didn't last. Then got Razer Viper 8K. No reason to look at other mice any more. Durable, comfortable, as fast as they come. And fully ambidextrous, which is super rare these days. Will be 3 years in Feb.
If I had to switch, heard good things about Endgame XM2 8K, should suit all your requirements.

 

[Spils]

I recommend the glorious model * series I personally have a model 0 its a lovley bit of kit. I purchased it and logitech G502 to try out the G502 felt like a torture device in my hand compared to the Model O.

 

[RedMogg]

My son wanted a super lightweight, low latency, wireless (BT & 2.4Ghz) mouse and was recommended the VXE Dragonfly R1 Pro Max (with the 4K, 2.4Ghz dongle). I ordered from AliX for about £43 all in and it took just under three weeks to arrive.

Exceptionally light (48g - we weighed it!), minimal styling, really slippery PTFE skates, on board DPI switch and lovely switches. The dongle enables 4k polling...


However, it's ambidextrous, not particularly large and you do need to use the Chinese app* to set the polling speed and adjust the DPI settings (we set it to 400, 800, 1200, 3200 & had to try 26k for gits & shiggles), and assign a LED colour for each setting.

The settings are stored on the mouse, so this only really needs doing the once, then the app can be uninstalled.

I believe the R1 Pro Max can be picked up in the UK for about £47, although I don't think the 4K dongle is included.

There's also an Attack Shark version with almost identical internals, which is Right Handed - so maybe worth a look...

(*I used my Pixel 9 Pro to translate the app, so I could change the language to Engrish)

 

[Ormy1]

Strange to see no Razer clause.

I was so disappointed with the build quality of my current Razer (especially compared to the decent build quality of my first one) that I vowed never to buy another. Also the scandal with their mask during covid, why would anyone willingly give their money to such a company?

Then got Razer Viper 8K. No reason to look at other mice any more. Durable, comfortable, as fast as they come. And fully ambidextrous, which is super rare these days. Will be 3 years in Feb.

It looks nice buy I've found that ambidextrous mice don't fit my hand very well, I need a righty mouse that fits my hand shape for comfort. Also looks a bit over priced to me (nearly £90 on amazon).

However, it's ambidextrous, not particularly large

As Above.

 

[alec]

Also looks a bit over priced to me (nearly £90 on amazon).

checked my purchase history, apparently I got it in Feb 2022 new from ebay... for £27.50
rest of your comments fair enough, but quality is definitely not an issue for recent stuff. Another peripheral I am supper happy with is Razer Huntsman keyboard.

 

[RedMogg]

Found a R Handed Ergonomonomonic mouse with same internals as the Dragonfly: search for the AJAZZ AJ179 Apex (Paw3950 sensor, Bluetooth/Wired/2.4G wireless, 8k polling, available in black, white & sunset orange) - it's under 60g and approx £40 delivered.

 

[Ormy1]

AJAZZ AJ179 Apex

I really like this, and it's only £20 at a certain popular Chinese electronics shop. However I noticed that the 8k polling rate is only available in wireless mode, in wired mode it's limited to 1k polling rate. That on its own would be fine, but the battery is a non-replaceable 400mAh lithium. If I'm running on battery power I need the mouse to take a standard size so I can immediately swap in a freshly charged set (from my large collection of rechargeables in all common sizes). So if this mouse either took AA batteries or allowed faster polling on wired it would be perfect and I'd purchase it right now. As it stands I think I'm going to buy a G502 Hero, and once that arrives and is set up I might look into repairing my Razer.

Thanks again everyone for the excellent suggestions and advice, much appreciated.

EDIT: Correction, the base model is £20, the Apex model is £52.