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| | | PC World - 8 May (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsPerformance matches its priceBeautiful, bright displayDecent battery life for a gaming laptopConsPower connector doesn’t fully insert into the laptop (at least on initial models)Our VerdictThe Gigabyte Aorus 16X is a solid gaming laptop that offers competitive performance for its price range, although the power adapter is lacking some polish. If you can find it at a price that beats the competition, it’s a fine choice.
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X is a powerful, sleek 16-inch gaming laptop. Our souped-up review model came outfitted with great hardware, a high refresh rate display, and whatnot. So, why didn’t I give it a higher score? Well, this kind of package is what we expect to see on a laptop that costs around $2,000. It’s a fine value, but there’s nothing about it that stands out as an unusual value.
Gigabyte has gone out of its way to provide a “premium” laptop experience and has overall done a decent job, but there’s one thorn in my side and that’s the power connector. It doesn’t quite fit into the laptop, which doesn’t match the kind of polish I’ve come to expect from a high-end machine. Although Gigabyte says it’s fixing this problem in manufacturing, it soured my experience a bit.
I also reviewed the less expensive Gigabyte G6X laptop at the same time as this one, so you’ll see me compare the two machines throughout this review.
Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops available right now.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Specs
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X packs a lot of powerful hardware into a 16-inch gaming laptop chassis. The Gigabyte Aorus we reviewed came with an Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU. This is an Intel Core HX chip, a refresh of last year’s Raptor Lake hardware. These seem to perform a little better than Intel’s current Core Ultra chips, which are based on the Meteor Lake architecture. However, these Raptor Lake chips lack the neural processing unit (NPU) that will supposedly accelerate future Windows AI features, according to rumors.
The Aorus 16X we reviewed was an Aorus 16X ASG model, which has Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics along with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive. Gigabyte also has other variants that come with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics. Additionally, Gigabyte says it will offer versions of this laptop with a faster Intel Core i9 CPU. And, as usual, RAM and storage may also vary.
We should also address the AI elephant in the room: Gigabyte is calling this an “AI gaming laptop.” For the most part, this is just as much an AI laptop as any other laptop with a powerful Nvidia RTX GPU. Gigabyte is right about its AI performance — as we’ve pointed out, a fast GPU will give you the best AI performance. However, since this system doesn’t have an NPU, it’s unclear if it will support the AI features Microsoft adds to Windows in the future. Microsoft hasn’t said yet.
Gigabyte shows off the system’s AI performance by bundling a convenient little tool that will download and set up Stable Diffusion on your PC, giving you a graphical interface for AI generation of images on your own PC. That’s honestly super cool and one of the most useful “AI laptop” features I’ve seen yet. The other options in Gigabyte’s “AI Nexus” feel a little gimmicky: Using “AI” to adjust system power consumption and fan speed, for example. I don’t imagine those will make a huge difference in system performance compared to other brands without these features.
CPU: Intel Core i7-14650HX
Memory: 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM
Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070
Display: 2560×1600 16:10 IPS display with 165 Hz refresh rate and HDR
Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Webcam: 1080p webcam
Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 / USB Type-C (USB4, DisplayPort 1.4, and Power Delivery 3.0), 1x USB Type C (USB3.2 Gen2 and DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen2), 1x MicroSD card reader, 1x combo audio jack, 1x HDMi 2.1, 1x RJ-45, 1x DC power in
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, gigabit Ethernet
Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello
Battery capacity: 99 Watt-hours
Dimensions: 14.01 x 10 x 1.06 inches
Weight: 5.07 pounds
MSRP: $1,949 as tested
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Design and build quality
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X has a “sports car-inspired design,” according to Gigabyte. Compared to less expensive gaming laptops like the Gigabyte G6X, there are more sleek curves and visual touches, with a more polished design overall. The lid on top of the laptop is made of aluminum, while the rest of the chassis is made of plastic.
The back of the laptop has a light bar which fits the whole sports car theme. The light bar cycles through different colors, and you can see its light through the hinge area between the laptop’s display and its keyboard. The light bar has the “Aorus Beacon” — a small projector that projects the word “Aorus” onto the surface right behind the laptop.
Complete with a “Team Up Fight On” graphic below the keyboard that continues onto the touchpad, it’s a more traditionally “gamer” design than other modern gaming laptops, like the Alienware m16 R2, which often try to de-emphasize the gamer styling. There’s nothing wrong with that, and many gamers will prefer a design like this.
The design feels solid. There’s no creaky plastic, the hinge feels nice in action, and the lid doesn’t have too much flex. At just over five pounds, it’s a reasonably good weight for a gaming laptop this size and with this kind of hardware.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
One thing here feels strange: The power connector. First, the power connector is on the left side of the laptop — not the back, where it’s located on many gaming laptops. Second, the bundled power adapter has a cable that sticks straight out — there’s no L-shaped connector that directs the cable to the back of your laptop. Because of this, I expect this laptop will not feel great to use for people who use their mice left-handed. Even if you aren’t left-handed, this is an inconvenient configuration for the power connection that will use a good chunk of space on the desk to the left of your laptop.
Additionally, the laptop’s power connector doesn’t fully insert into the jack. There’s nothing wrong with that, necessarily — the laptop works fine, and nothing seems like it’s going to break — but this laptop is around the “upper midrange” price bracket. At this almost-$2,000 price point, this sort of fit-and-finish issue cheapens the overall feel.
This issue was not exclusive to my review model — I found reviews on Amazon and YouTube that pointed out the same issue. While I don’t think it’s a huge problem deserving of a one-star review, like that particular Amazon reviewer, it’s easy to see how someone spending nearly $2,000 on a laptop could be disappointed by this sort of thing.
Gigabyte provided us with a statement saying the power adapter sticking out from the charging port is a known issue and that there does not appear to be any problem with it — something I completely believe, as the laptop worked perfectly well in my testing. Still, Gigabyte says this is not the intended experience and the issue will be fixed in July 2024, after which Gigabyte says it will prevent a similar issue from happening again.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Keyboard and trackpad
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X has a classic “chiclet” keyboard that feels great to type on. Its keys feel snappier and less “mushy” than the keyboard on the more bargain-priced Gigabyte G6X. That’s no surprise — in the specs, Gigabyte says that the Aorus 16X’s keyboard has 1.7mm of key travel compared to the G6X’s 1.5mm of key travel. The keyboard feels good to type on. It’s definitely a more premium keyboard on a more premium laptop.
The Aorus 16X’s keyboard has three zones of LED lighting. It’s nice and colorful, and the WASD keys — along with Q, E, and R — are transparent to really stand out and highlight the LED lighting.
This is a traditional laptop keyboard layout without a big number pad at the right side, like on the less expensive G6X. However, there are full size arrow keys, which are nice to see.
The trackpad is large and responsive, with a satisfying click — a click that feels snappier than the trackpad included on the less-expensive Gigabyte G6X. That’s a pattern I saw repeated throughout the experience, with most things about the Gigabyte Aorus 16X just being somewhat nicer.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Display and speakers
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X has a beautiful matte display. The nicer display is a big reason why it’s worth spending a bit extra for a premium gaming laptop like this one, if you’re willing to spend the money on it.
The Aorus 16X has a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS display with a 165 Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR, including Dolby Vision, and it’s plenty bright. Gigabyte says it has up to 400 nits of brightness, and Windows says it has more like 500 nits of peak brightness with HDR enabled. The colors, contrast, and responsiveness are great, and it was a joy to play games on.
It’s a big upgrade from the Gigabyte G6X’s display, which is lower resolution at 1920×1200, dimmer at 300 nits of brightness, and doesn’t support HDR. It’s not just about that other Gigabyte laptop, though: Less-expensive gaming laptops frequently cut corners on the display to get the price down and include fast CPUs and GPUs on the spec sheet.
The Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers also sound fine for laptop speakers. They have decent volume, and they sound better than the speakers on the less-expensive Gigabyte G6X — although they are still built-in laptop speakers.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Webcam, microphone, biometrics
The 1080p webcam here is a very nice webcam! It’s also a very standard 1080p webcam — for a 1080p webcam. It’s a big upgrade over the 720p webcams commonly found on cheaper laptops like the Gigabyte G6X. You won’t feel compelled to plug in an external webcam if you want to have video meetings on this laptop.
The microphone produces clearer sound than the built-in microphone on the Gigabyte G6X, with no background noise in a quiet room. It was surprisingly quiet — a problem I wasn’t alone in noticing. I turned the microphone’s volume up from about 50 percent, its default volume level, to 100 percent, and the volume level was fine. I would still want to plug in a dedicated mic or headset for voice chat while gaming, but that’s always the case.
This laptop has an IR camera for Windows Hello, so you can sign into your PC with your face. The IR camera worked well in a variety of lighting conditions. Less-expensive gaming laptops often omit this feature to save money, but it’s nice to have — it’s great to just open your laptop or sit down in front of it and have Windows automatically sign you in with no typing necessary.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Connectivity
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X provides a wide selection of ports, like most 16-inch gaming laptops do.
On the left side, you’ve got DC power in for the charger, an RJ-45 (Ethernet) jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB Type-A port (USB 3.2 Gen2), and a Thunderbolt 4 / USB Type-C port (with USB4, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB Power Delivery 3.0.)
On the right side, you’ve got a USB Type-A port (USB 3.2 Gen2), a USB Type-C port (USB 3.2 Gen2 and DisplayPort 1.4), a microSD card reader, and a combo audio jack.
On the back of the laptop, there are no ports! Just fan exhaust vents and a light bar along with that cool little projector that projects the word “Aorus” onto the surface behind the laptop. (It’s more visible in the dark, but I could still see it in the daylight).
The Aorus 16X offers bleeding edge wireless hardware with support for both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. You probably don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 router yet, but it’s great to see this laptop is futureproof when you’re spending this kind of money. Additionally, it offers gigabit Ethernet if you want to go wired.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Performance
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X delivered great performance in day-to-day computing use and gaming, which is no surprise thanks to all the powerful hardware packed into this laptop. Of course, we ran the Aorus 16X through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs.
We benchmarked the laptop in its default mode out of the box, with the “AI Power Gear” setting set to “Performance” in the Gigabyte Control Center. This uses the laptop’s Mux switch to boost performance by letting the laptop bypass Intel GPU, but you’ll have to reboot if you want to use the laptop’s integrated GPU to save battery power away from an outlet.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. This is an overall system benchmark, but it favors the CPU.
The Raptor Lake-based Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU in this laptop delivered great performance with a score of 7,774, only beat by the higher-end Core i9 CPU in the MSI Raider GE78.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage.
Once again, the Core i7 HX CPU delivered great performance with a core of 8,428 in the multi-threaded benchmark. That’s a 15 percent higher score than Gigabyte’s less-expensive G6X laptop and its Intel Core i7-13650HX, which offers less top-end CPU performance.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period of time. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load.
The Aorus 16X delivered a great result, completing the encode in 762 seconds — just under 13 minutes. Once again, that’s only beat by the Core i9-powered laptop we’re comparing it to. It’s noticeably faster than the Gigabyte G6X, which has a CPU with less top-end performance. The Aorus 16X’s cooling did a great job here.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This is gaming laptop, so gaming performance is going to be the result that matters most. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance.
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X delivered a score of 12,723. It’s normally all about GPU models here. And, as expected, we see the Aorus 16X and its Nvidia RTX 4070 come out ahead of RTX 4050- and 4060-powered laptops and behind an RTX 4090-powered laptop. But the Aorus beat out the Alienware m16 R2 and its RTX 4070 here, too.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Now, we look at some games. We run the benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider to test all the gaming laptops we review. This is an older game, but it’s a great way to compare graphical performance across different PCs.
The Aorus 16X delivered an average FPS of 137 frames per second, about the same as the Gigabyte G6X. The laptops with RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 hardware we’re comparing the Aorus to tend to be in the same ballpark here.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Last, we run the benchmark in Metro Exodus, a more demanding game. We set the benchmark to 1080p resolution at the Extreme detail setting. The Gigabyte Aorus 16X delivered 50 frames per second in this benchmark, 20 percent faster than the Gigabyte G6X’s result of 40 frames per second.
Once again, the story here is all about the different GPUs. This laptop’s RTX 4070 is faster than RTX 4060 and RTX 4050 hardware — but nowhere near as fast as a much more expensive RTX 4090.
Overall, the Gigabyte Aorus 16X delivered great performance with its Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU. The laptop’s cooling worked well, too: Gigabyte says it has “Windforce Infinity Cooling Technology,” which delivered good cooling performance. When gaming, the laptop’s keyboard stayed nice and cool and never became annoyingly hot.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Battery life
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X delivered good battery life for a gaming laptop of its size. That’s likely thanks to its massive 99 Watt-hour battery — this is the largest battery the U.S. Transportation Security Administration will let you take on an airplane!
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Movies & TV app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this.
(We switched the laptop to Balanced mode in the Gigabyte Control Center for this battery life test.)
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X lasted for 410 minutes — nearly seven hours — before shutting down. This is a best case scenario, and you won’t get this long while using the laptop normally. You’ll want to plug the laptop in to get a full workday’s worth of use from it. But this is quite a good result for a gaming laptop. It’s nearly two hours longer than the less-expensive Gigabyte G6X laptop, with its 73 Watt-hour battery.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: Conclusion
The Gigabyte Aorus 16X offers solid hardware at a reasonable price. Gigabyte is going for a more “premium” laptop experience here, so it’s not a bargain that offers unusual value for at its retail price like the less-expensive Gigabyte G6X. The Aorus 16X is an RTX 4070-powered gaming laptop that is similarly priced to many other laptops in its price range.
Overall, this is a good laptop. It performs well, the display is beautiful, and everything about it feels very nice to use. But that’s true about a lot of gaming laptops around the $2,000 mark. Consider the $1,849 Alienware m16 R2, for example: It also has an RTX 4070 GPU. The display is dimmer, but it offers a higher 240Hz refresh rate. It has less RAM and doesn’t have Wi-Fi 7, but its power connector is in a more convenient place and it’s $100 cheaper.
I keep coming back to that power connector because this laptop costs nearly $2,000. For a premium laptop that’s all about fit and finish, having a power connector that doesn’t insert fully just feels cheap. There’s nothing wrong with it and the laptop works fine, but that sort of thing doesn’t scream “premium.” People spending $1,949 at launch will probably want more polish.
But Gigabyte says that issue will go away on future production runs of this laptop. You may be reading this review many months from now, with the power adapter situation resolved, and the Aorus 16X available at a great sale price. And, if you can find the Aorus 16X at a better price compared to laptops with similar specs, you’ll have a perfectly nice experience.
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| | | PC World - 8 May (PC World)When your K/D tally is at stake it’s pretty tempting to buy a premium gaming mouse with all the latest bells and whistles. But that can be a costly move that can see you paying upwards of $150 USD — that’s coin that could go towards a brand-new processor instead.
The truth is you won’t lose much performance going for a cheaper option. In fact, you can get a top-performing mouse that — barring the sensor, which is usually more modest than in premium devices — is virtually identical in build quality and styling and with equally quick buttons.
That’s not to say all budget gaming mice are alike. Admittedly, at the lower end of the market there tends to be more variation in the build quality, weight, and button configuration than at the top end, so you’ll still want to do your homework before you buy.
Or, you could just peruse our list of best budget gaming mice (below). We’ve already done the research on your behalf by extensively testing a cohort of mice, sorting the wheat from the chaff, so that what’s left is the best of the best. We’ll keep updating our chart as we review more mice and find even better products.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld’s gaming peripheral experts are hardcore gamers on a never-ending quest to find the best peripherals to improve their own gaming performance, so they know what works and what doesn’t. As such, our reviews are raw evaluations, written in the voice of gamers. We want our readers to know the truth about products so that they can make informed decisions about which products to buy and which ones to skip.
For the criteria we use to review budget gaming mice you can read our article on “How we test gaming mice at PCWorld.” For even more options, see our complete roundup of the best gaming mice, featuring both wired and wireless picks at various prices points.
Updated May 2, 2024: See our recent review of the SteelSeries Aerox 3. Its perforated top won’t be to everyone’s liking, but it’s still highly competitive performance-wise with our top budget picks and worth considering.
Logitech G502X – Best wired budget gaming mouse / Best overall
Pros
The 25K Hero sensor is very proficient event at high DPI settings
The button are extremely well placed for accessibility
The rubber thumb rest provides plenty of grip
Cons
Not including swappable trigger buttons seems like a missed opportunity
There`s no RGB lighting except a small DPI indicator light
The mouse wheel is quite noisy
Best Prices Today:
$59.99 at Amazon$69.99 at Logitech G
Why I like the G502X
The G502X sports a number of nice upgrades over its predecessor the G502 — which was itself popular with gamers — including a super-quick and accurate 25,600 DPI sensor. But what really sets this mouse apart is its button configuration — which is near perfect. It features 13 programmable button options in all, including highly sought-after DPI up/down buttons and a four-button mouse wheel. But the gem in its crown is a trigger button near your thumb, which makes letting off that must-hit command or macro just that much quicker in fast-paced games.
On top of that, the G502X sports a refreshed design that makes it eminently more comfortable and easier to move. I especially like a new, improved rubber thumb grip that replaces the plastic one from the G502, and the mouse’s longer dimensions that make it a much better fit for large hands.
Who should buy the Logitech G502X
Gamers with large hands that want an all-round great performer and don’t mind that it only has wired functionality. It’s also a great option for serious gamers that want to release a macro or extra command at break-neck speed.
Read our full
Logitech G502X review
Roccat Kone Pro – Best wired budget gaming mouse runner-up
Pros
The 19,000 DPI sensor is very precise, and the buttons are quick and clicky
An ingenious design elevates your index finger ready to fire
A lightweight body adds to its speed and precision and prevents fatigue
Cons
No dedicated DPI button means you can`t as easily switch DPI settings
Wired connectivity only, so you`ll need to plug it in to play
The mouse wheel lacks lateral left / right clicks
Best Prices Today:
$39.99 at ROCCATNot Available at Amazon
Why I like the Roccat Kone Pro
The wired Roccat Kone Pro is designed for precise targeting thanks to its lightweight design and formidable 19,000 Owl-Eye DPI sensor, which in our playtesting proved an excellent performer in fast-paced FPS games. Clicks are also extremely quick thanks to Titan optical switches in the buttons and a slight left-to-right slant on top that perfectly poises your index finger on the left main button ready to fire.
A thin plastic outer layer keeps the Kone Pro’s weight down to just 2.3 ounces (66 grams), so that it glides across your mouse mat smoothly and with minimal effort. While the Kone Pro doesn’t have a dedicated DPI button, you can still change DPI on the fly in games by assigning this function to one of its other buttons in the supporting Roccat Swarm software app.
Who should buy the Roccat Kone Pro
Anyone who wants a quick, lightweight mouse for FPS gaming that won’t break the bank. It’ll also appeal to fans of RGB who will get a kick out of its futuristic aesthetic.
For another great budget wired option, be sure to check out the SteelSeries Aerox 3, which has become a favorite for many gamers because of its light weight and excellent maneuverability.
Read our full
ROCCAT Kone Pro review
Keychron M6 Wireless – Best wireless gaming mouse
Pros
Precise and accurate 26K sensor
The sloping design elevates your trigger finger
Two scroll wheels enhance your play
Cons
The build quality could be better
The mouse feet aren`t 100 percent PTFE
There`s no RGB lighting
Why I like the Keychron M6
The Keychron M6 doesn’t have the most robust build quality you’ll find in a gaming mouse, but it does offer a lot of functionality that you just can’t get elsewhere for the bargain basement price tag it wears. I’m talking about its large and comfortable thumb rest, two scroll wheels (one with four clicks), useful side buttons, and its accurate 26K optical sensor. You get all that for a mere $49. Considering the closest match I can think of feature-wise is the $99 Logitech MX Master 3S, the Keychron M6 seems like exceptional value!
This mouse also supports all three connectivity types — 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wired connection — making it a highly versatile option that you can hook up to just about any PC or laptop you own. Because of its cheaper build quality, though, it’s definitely one to keep safely housed out of harm’s way.
Who should buy the Keychron M6
Gamers who like the features and functionality of the Logitech MX Master 3S but can’t or don’t want to scrape together $99 for the privilege of owning one. The Keychron M6 Wireless can do just about everything this more expensive mouse can and costs half the price.
Read our full
Keychron M6 Wireless review
Keychron M3 – Best wireless gaming mouse runner-up
Pros
Very fast and precise 26,000 DPI sensor
Well-proportioned and very comfortable
The quickest buttons I`ve ever used
Cons
It would have been more convenient for the DPI button to be placed where the RGB button currently sits
Mac users will have to wait on the software app
The M3 is currently only sold through Keychron`s online retailer
Best Prices Today:
$49 at Keychron
Why I like the Keychron M3
With a flawless 26,000 DPI sensor, a timeless and comfortable design, responsive buttons, and swish RGB lighting, the Keychron M3 is the complete package, worth every bit of its $49 price tag and possibly even a dime more. For a mouse with all three connectivity types — wired connectivity via a USB cable, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth — it’s also exceptionally light, weighing in at just 2.78 ounces (79 grams).
All this value would have come to nada without some decent performance, which is just what the M3 Keychron delivered in our playtesting. From spinning around to catch foes from behind, to zipping up our cursor to flush out snipers dug into camping spots, the Keychron M3 handled every movement smoothly and without a hint of lag. It also came bundled with a few extras in the box, including not one, but two separate dongles (one for USB-A and another for USB-C) so that we could connect to just about all our devices.
Who should buy the Keychron M3
With all the connectivity types, a powerful sensor, DPI switcher, and even swish RGB lighting, the Keychron M3 will suit budget-conscious players of FPS games to a tee.
Read our full
Keychron M3 review
Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed – Best for esports
Pros
Quick and accurate sensor
High sensor positioning
Very long battery life
Hyperpolling support
Cons
No RGB lighting
2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity only
Weighs less than 3 ounces
Best Prices Today:
$69.99 at Amazon
Why I like the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed
Razer’s Viper V3 Hyperspeed gives you a taste of pro gaming functionality at half the price of some other pro-grade gaming mice. So, what’s the catch? Very little actually — a modest RGB-free design and no Bluetooth functionality, is all. In my playtesting I found its 30K Razer Focus Pro sensor to be incredibly accurate and quick and the Razer Gen 2 Mechanical Switches in the buttons felt soft and responsive — just ideal for FPS.
This mouse’s handling is also as good as it gets thanks to a full-bodied grip with lots of length in the fingers. Connectivity is via a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi dongle only. The mouse is powered by a single AA battery which provides a whopping 280-hour battery life. While the Viper V3 Hyperspeed comes with a standard 1,000Hz polling rate out of the box, it also supports 4,000Hz HyperPolling via a Razer HyperPolling dongle (sold separately).
Who should buy the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed
The saying is mostly true that you get what you pay for when it comes to gaming mice, but in the case of the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed you get a lot more than you paid for. If you’re an esports player or aspiring to be one, this catch will save you some hard-earned cash.
Read our full
Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed review
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless – Best for esports runner-up
Pros
The solid top back is comfortable and stylish
Its 26,000 DPI sensor can target at lightning speeds
Bluetooth functionality makes it one of the most versatile esports mice you can get
Cons
The compact buttons can feel a bit cramped at times
There`s just the one RGB zone to play with
It`s more expensive than its predecessor
Best Prices Today:
$79.99 at Amazon$89.99 at HyperX
Why I like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless
The six-button HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2’s symmetrical design and 26,000 DPI sensor give it laser-like pinpoint precision in games, a fact which in itself doesn’t make it anything special. What sets it apart is that it weighs just 2.15 ounces (61 grams) — that’s lighter than more expensive pro-grade esports mice like the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro and Logitech G X Pro Superlight. Suffice to say it’s super quick off the mark.
Achieving such a lightweight design is quite an extraordinary feat by HyperX for two reasons: The Pulsefire Haste 2 has a hard top back rather than the perforated one we saw in its predecessor the Haste 1, which also means it’s better suited to claw grippers. It also sports Bluetooth as well as 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, when extra Bluetooth functionality is still a rarity among pro-grade esports mice. All these factors make it one of the best value esports mice you can buy right now.
Also be sure to check out the Haste 2 Wireless’s forebear, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless, which is still an excellent all-round performer for fast action games.
Who should buy the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless
Anyone who wants to put a rocket up their movement and mouse button actuation in competitive games. It’s not an exaggeration to say the Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless can spar with more premium priced esports mice like the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, yet by choosing the former you can save yourself a whopping $80.
Read our full
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless review
Logitech G203 LightSync – Best ultra-budget gaming mouse
Pros
A comfortable design that resembles more expensive esports mice
Sturdy and well-built
The RGB lighting really pops
Cons
Some sensor lag was experienced with large, fast movements
The sensor`s lift-off distance is higher than some mice
The RGB logo on the top isn`t customizable
Best Prices Today:
$26.68 at Amazon$39.99 at Best Buy
Why I like the Logitech G203 LightSync
The G203 proves gaming on a budget needn’t be glum, combining style, performance, and comfort for a shoestring price. This wired mouse sports a small ambidextrous body and familiar six-button configuration that resembles premium esports mice, except it has a more rounded back end that gives palm grippers a high level of precision.
In terms of hardware performance, the G203’s buttons feel quick and clicky. Its 8,000 DPI proprietary gaming sensor may not be as quick as some rival sensors, but it’s still highly accurate and performs decently in just about every casual gaming scenario.
In our review, we heaped praise on the G203 for its dazzling RGB lighting band and Logitech logo that light up your mouse pad with pops of color, the band of which also splits into three lighting zones customizable in the Logitech G Hub app.
Who should buy the Logitech G203 LightSync
Minimalist gamers, who don’t need the quickest gaming mouse on the planet but want something that will outperform any office mouse. The G203 best suits gamers with smaller hands, so children and young adult gamers may find it easier to use.
Read our full
Logitech G203 LightSync review
Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed – Best dual-purpose budget mouse for gaming and productivity
Pros
Comfortable, ergonomic design
Dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
Long battery life
Cons
No RGB lighting
Slightly slower than top-shelf gaming mice
Best Prices Today:
$48 at Amazon
Why I like the Razer V2 X Hyperspeed
A stealthy profile is this wireless mouse’s biggest advantage — it sports an entirely matte-black body with no RGB lighting, meaning your work colleagues will be none the wiser about the gaming power that rests beneath your palm.
The V2 X Hyperspeed packs a very capable 14,000 DPI sensor that performs a treat in AAA games like Metro Exodus. Its seven buttons sport Razer second-generation mechanical switches, which Razer says makes them last up to 60 million clicks.
The V2 X Hyperspeed offers the convenience of dual wireless connectivity, allowing you to switch between 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with the flick of a button. It’s also highly portable thanks to a long battery life, which provides approximately 235 hours in Wi-Fi mode and up to 615 hours in Bluetooth mode on a single AA battery.
Who should buy the Razer V2 X Hyperspeed
Anyone who needs a kickass gaming mouse that can just as easily pass off as a work or student mouse. The dual wireless functionality and its use of AA batteries means it’s also a great option for travelers.
Read our full
DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed review
Roccat Kone XP – Best for MMO, RPG, and RTS gaming
Pros
Stunning RGB lighting that lights up the whole top section
The Owl-Eye sensor is highly accurate and powerful
The 15 buttons can be customized with up to 29 functions
Cons
The button layout can be confusing before you get the hang of it
Some gamers may not like the bold RGB
The supporting Swarm software could do with an update
Best Prices Today:
$56.37 at Amazon
Why I like the Roccat Kone XP
The Kone XP is the flashiest mouse we’ve had the pleasure of testing, featuring no less than eight customizable RGB “pipelines” illuminated by 22 LED lights, yet it’s also a solid performer. With an impressive contingent of 15 buttons — customizable to 29 functions — the Kone XP is especially suited for MMO, RPG, and RTS games that require players to quickly deploy a high number of commands or macros.
Under the hood, the Kone XP sports a 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye sensor based on the flawless PixArt PMW3370, which has proven its worth among competitive gamers.
In our PCWorld review we found it to be precise and accurate in games like Cyberpunk 2077. We also liked the Kone XP’s four-directional scroll wheel, which felt sturdy and responsive.
Who should buy the Roccat Kone XP
Gamers who really like to jazz up their gaming getup with bold RGB lighting. The Kone XP will also suit RTS, RPG, and MMO gamers that like assigning a second command to their mouse buttons and think the more commands they can get, the better.
Read our full
ROCCAT Kone XP review
Roccat Kone Air – Best battery life
Pros
Precise Owl-Eye sensor
Durable Titan Switch Optical switches
Impressive battery life up to 800 hours
Dual wireless connectivity
Cons
Uneven weight distribution with one battery
No wired mode
Limited to a single profile
Possibly too heavy and large for esports
Best Prices Today:
$49.99 at Roccat$59.99 at Amazon
Why I like the Roccat Kone Air
Popping just two AA batteries into the Roccat Kone Air gives you a whopping 800 hours of battery life in Wi-Fi mode. Suffice to say, the Kone Air has one of the best battery lives of any wireless mice you can buy. That said, it’s definitely a mouse for gamers who like a solid weight in their hand — it weighs 5.1 ounces (147 grams) when loaded with batteries — so it’s not going to be great for esports. Its hardware is nonetheless very respectable, and in our PCWorld review we found the 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye sensor to be very precise and quick off the mark.
The mouse’s Titan Switch Optical switches in the two main buttons are also extremely quick and they have a high durability rating of 100 million clicks. If connectivity options are going to sway you one way or the other, it’s worth noting that the Kone Air relies solely on wireless connectivity. Although, you do get both a 2.4GHz low-latency connection as well as Bluetooth, so the Kone Air will connect to almost any device.
Who should buy the Roccat Kone Air
Anyone who frequently finds themself away from an AC outlet or forgets to charge. The Roccat Kone Air’s amazing battery life means you can forget about frequent charging and just concentrate on the one thing that matters — your game.
Read our full
Roccat Kone Air review
Razer Basilisk V3 – Most ergonomic and comfortable
Pros
The Razer Focus + sensor gives faultless performance
Scrolling is made simpler with the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel
The RGB lighting looks fantastic
Cons
It`s quite heavy and bulky
You`re limited to wired connectivity only
Best Prices Today:
$49.99 at Amazon
Why I like the Razer Basilisk V3
Thanks to its extremely comfortable design, this right-handed mouse is a pleasure to use for extended gaming periods. Among the features that make it so comfy are an ergonomic thumb rest that elevates your thumb off the surface you’re playing on, two highly tactile injection-molded grips on either side, and 11 well-placed, easy-to-reach buttons.
The Razer Basilisk V3’s hardware also performs handsomely. In our review we thought its 24,000 DPI sensor tracked flawlessly, and the buttons, which feature second-generation Razer Optical Switches, responded very quickly. The Basilisk V3 also has one of the best scroll wheels of any budget mouse we’ve come across, allowing you to switch between additional scroll modes, including a Free-Spin Mode and Tactile mode with the touch of a button.
Who should buy the Razer Basilisk V3
Anyone who enjoys the feeling of a comfortable thumb rest while gaming. Also, anyone who really wants the convenience of a multifunctional scroll wheel that makes flicking through menus or long lists of items much easier than a conventional scroll wheel.
Read our full
Razer Basilisk V3 review
FAQ
1.
How much should I spend on a gaming mouse?
When it comes to what you should pay, there’s really no one price that fits every gamer. Although, as a general guide, you shouldn’t pay more than $90 for a budget gaming mouse—that being the absolute maximum cost of the most feature-stacked budget gaming mice you can get.
Traditional wired gaming mice with six-button configurations tend to be some of the most affordable these days, with excellent value-for-money options like the Logitech G203 Lightsync, providing gamers with just about everything they’d want for casual gaming for around $25. Expect to pay a little more for a wireless mouse, such as the $50 USD Keychron M3 Wireless, whose tetherless design makes it a much more portable device.
2.
What shape mouse do I need?
Many budget gaming mice share the same design as their premium counterparts, so chances are you may already be familiar with a design you like that feels comfortable. If you’re starting from scratch, first off you’ll want to find a mouse with a shape that fits your dominant gaming hand. There are three main shapes: left-handed, right-handed, and ambidextrous.
Left and right-handed mice are just what their names suggest—mice designed to accommodate left or right hands. These mice come with design characteristics that provide advantages to left- or right-handed users, including curves to follow the contours of their hands and button configurations that can be more easily reached.
Alternatively, ambidextrous mice are designed to be used by either hand. These mice sport a more neutral shape, which is usually quite symmetrical. Ambidextrous mice are quite often favored by competitive gamers who like the predictable way they move.
3.
What size mouse is right for me?
Just like a new pair of sneakers, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your gaming mouse, so if it’s a lousy fit you’re not going to be comfortable and that’s going to affect your performance. Mice tend to fit into three main categories: small, medium, and large. To find a mouse that best fits your hand size you can use this simple size guide:
Small gaming mouse: Length: Less than 6.7 inches; width: 2.9 to 3.3 inches
Medium gaming mouse: Length 6.7 to 7.9 inches; width; 3.9 to 4.3 inches
Large gaming mouse: Length 7.9 inches; width; 3.9 to 4.3 inches
4.
What mouse suits my grip style?
The way you hold your mouse should fit into one of three main grip styles: a palm grip, claw grip, or fingertip grip. While you can essentially ignore your grip style altogether and play with any gaming mouse you choose, if you’re looking to maximize performance, you’ll want a mouse that gives you the most control for your grip. Here’s a guide for what to look for:
Palm grip: Long, flat mice tend to be a better fit and more comfortable
Claw grip: Narrower and smaller mice tend to suit this grip style
Fingertip grip: Lighter mice are often preferred by fingertip grippers to reduce strain
5.
How many mouse buttons do I need?
Your mouse’s button count will limit the number of commands and macros you can apply in-game, and it can also affect the mouse’s weight, which can ultimately impact gaming performance.
Ideally, the number of buttons you need should be informed by the types of games you like to play. For example, if you play a lot of first-person shooters, then keeping your mouse’s weight to an absolute minimum with a small button count is of paramount importance. In this case a standard six-button mouse is perfect, providing enough functionality for at least six commands, but optimizing weight for movement and targeting.
On the other hand, if you predominately play role-playing games (RPGs), or massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), a mouse with from 10 to 18 buttons is preferable since you’ll have more options for the myriad commands these games require. These days you can also get mice like the Roccat Kone XP that allow you to customize buttons with extra functions, which greatly increases the number of commands you can deploy.
6.
What DPI sensor should I look for?
When it comes to performance a lot of emphasis is placed on the DPI (dots per inch) resolution of a gaming mouse’s sensor, with manufacturers touting the benefits of top-of-the-line mice with sensors between 20,000 to 30,000 DPI.
With some exceptions, budget gaming mice tend to have sensors that are much lower in DPI resolution than premium models, which by the same thinking should mean they’re a lot less capable. But that’s simply not the case. In fact, budget gaming mice with sensors as low as 8,000 to 12,000 DPI can still track movement faster than what the human eye can perceive, and, with the exception of some competitive gaming scenarios, can be just as capable performers.
The takeaway is, while it doesn’t hurt to purchase a mouse with the highest DPI sensor as your budget will allow, you should also place just as much importance on other factors like the mouse’s weight and its button configuration, which can be just as important as your mouse’s sensor when it comes to performance.
7.
How light should my mouse be?
Weight comes down to personal preference. Some gamers (especially those that play FPS games) swear by lightweight mice for quicker movement and aiming and to prevent soreness in long gaming sessions, while others prefer the consistent feeling of a heavier mouse.
That said, manufacturers continue to make lighter mice each year. This year we’ve seen a bucket load of new releases that weigh much less than their predecessors—some six-button mice are even breaking the previously unheard of 60-gram mark.
You may find it difficult to find a budget mouse that light, since the lightest mice usually carry the most premium price tags. A more realistic weight is anything below 100 grams, it being kind of an unspoken benchmark for optimal mouse weight among serious gamers. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is one mouse that is extremely lightweight for its $89.99 price tag weighing just 61 grams.
8.
What’s the best budget gaming mice for kids?
Most kids have smaller hands than adults, so if you have kids, you’d be best advised to get a compact gaming mouse like the Razer Viper Mini, Corsair Scimitar Pro, or Logitech G203 Lightsync.
In addition to moderately sized dimensions, these mice pack gaming-grade sensors and quick switches in their buttons so your kids won’t miss out on any performance advantage in games. If you have older teenagers, any medium-sized gaming mouse like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 will do just fine, since older teenager’s hands tend to be proportionally as big as most adults.
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