Best Wireless Gaming Mouse?

Hey all,

I am looking for the best wireless (can be wired as well) mouse possible. Price is not an object right now but I would prefer the best value for my buck, so the cheaper the better. But price isn't a complete deciding factor. Please pitch in your suggestions and opinions. Right now I am looking at the Razer Mamba but man is it expensive at $110 on JR.com.

Thanks

 

Mamba or the G700 are the two obvious frontrunners.

After trying them both, I really think its a matter of personal preference, but the g700 is quite a bit cheaper.

 

The Razer Mamba and Logitech G700 are definitely the main competitors for the title of "best wireless gaming mouse".

They both have top-tier DPI (5,600 for the Mamba, 5,700 for the G700, pretty much no practical difference), 1,000Hz polling/1ms response in both wired and wireless modes, and the ability to play/charge with a USB cable plugged in.

The Mamba's wireless uses a comparatively bulky transmitter that doubles as the battery charging station. It's a little smaller than the mouse itself and much lighter. Not the most convenient for stowing away in a backpack, but it's not too difficult either. On the plus side, you can just leave the transmitter plugged in and simply drop the Mamba on top of it to charge it whenever you walk away from the computer.

The G700's wireless uses a very small USB transmitter, and can only charge when the cable is directly plugged in. It's much more portable, but the downside is that you can't just drop the mouse onto a dock to charge it. Also, it uses AA batteries, which are universal but may need more frequent replacement.

The G700 has more buttons than the Mamba as well, but frankly I have enough with the Mamba's 7 buttons. I'm also in love with the shape and feel of the Mamba. I haven't used a G700 personally so I can't comment on that.

 

I have tried both and think the G700 to be better. Just from my personal experience. I think the shape and feel to the G700 to be much more comfortable. My favorite part of the mouse is the tiny receiver as Mastershroom pointed out. I transport this mouse all the time. I just don't think Mamba is worth the price at all, really.

 

I see, so far that corresponds to what everyone else has told me.

I see. It seems like you are more for the Mamba. It seems like more people like it as well, it is just a bit too expensive.

Hmm. Are your hands average sized?

And your M17x R3 is pretty much the exact config I will have, except you have a 500GB HDD instead of my planned 750GB.

 

Just recieved my Naga Epic today and i love the feel and works great! Only draw back is the reciever is the charging base station. I dont know what the mamba uses but im going to barrow my brothers if it has a small usb dongle.

 

I had a mamba, and I sold a mamba.

Felt too big, too heavy, and not very comfortable for me.

I use a G7 and its pure awesome its like a wireless G5 / MX518, too bad they do not make them anymore.

 

I see. Yeah people complain that it is big. I don't know if I like all the buttons on the side though.

I heard the G7 is great. Is there supposed to be a newer version of it?

 

The G700 is the "new" version of it, but its not really the same mouse.

 

It is suppose to have like 14 buttons for macroing to cater to MMO players. So the G700 is really a Wi-Fi version of the Razer Naga, but in a form factor that isn't just a ton of buttons on the side of your thumb.

 

@OP, you can get the Logitech G700 for $56.99 right now (after $20 MIR), at newegg

Newegg.com - Logitech G700 Black 13 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB RF Wireless Gaming Mouse

 

Although the G700 has a lot of buttons it isn't more biased towards usage in any particular type of game. The high button count may help in MMOs and RPGs, but it also works very well in FPS games as well. Unlike the naga the buttons aren't all confusingly in the same place. They all have slightly different angles so it is very easy to tell which one you are pressing, and very hard to hit the wrong button by accident.

Also, it doesn't use wifi, wifi is a wireless internet protocol.

 

I meant wireless...

 

For the record, there is a wireless version of the Naga as well.

 

I see. Do you think it is better? (Ignoring costs)

I see, yeah that sounds good. I don't like the number of buttons on the naga and I don't really play MMO.

Thanks! I'll wait it out a bit for now!

I see. Thanks for affirming that it isn't cluttered.

I also added a poll so please vote everyone.

Right now I see that the G700 is a better value than the Razer Mamba, although I am not sure which one is more suited for me.

I play FPS like Black Ops, Battlefield 2, or Crysis 2; sports games like NBA 2K11 or FIFA 11; games like the Sims 3; and racing games.

 

What is the form factor of the mouse you use now? Some people might find it hard to get used to "ergonomic" mice like the Mamba and G700, especially those who are used to the ambidextrous claw grip. Size is a factor as well. If you have small-ish hands, then it is unlikely either of these mice will fit you well.

If you are able to, I would recommend copping a feel for these before buying. If not the actual product, at least something with a similar form factor. For example, the Deathadder has the same form factor as the Mamba if you cannot find a display sample of the latter. Traditional brick and mortar stores tend to have mice out on display, but that was some years ago, and I don't know if they still do that.

 

Well I just bit the bullet and ordered a G700. The only problem I am worrying is I heard some G700's on high sensitivity during Wireless usage has sensitivity issues where it fails to track small movements. However, I have also heard that the problem can be rectified if you lower the sensitivity to the levels of the DA (like around 3800 dpi) in Wireless mode, which is fine for me because I am coming from a DA 3500 dpi model.

That said, battery life is also kind of on the low side, but having an arsenal of constantly charging eneloops can solve that problem as well.

 

The Mamba has pretty lights.

 

Right now I do not use a mouse. I use a 360 controller. With my hands, they are a bit larger than average size.

Do you think microcenter or best buy will have these mouses showcased?

Good luck! Let me know how that mouse works for you.

Hopefully a few more people can come in here and give me a recommendation. Thanks again to everyone else!

 

I've definitely seen the DeathAdder and Mamba on display at Best Buy. I haven't seen a G700, but then again, I don't think I've been in a Best Buy since before they started selling them.

 

I see. I will try to go to Best Buy today or tomorrow and will update this thread accordingly.

 

Mamba ftw!!!

 

If you were to read Logitech's description information, you will see that they are targeting it as a MMO-friendly mouse with 14 programmable buttons. You may think otherwise, but it is designed ergonomically enough to work just like a Naga. So in a sense it is like a hybrid of the Mamba and Naga.

I would consider the Mamba if it wasn't for the hefty price tag and less glossy side grips...

 

I agree with you on the price tag (I only got mine because it was $70), but the Mamba's side grips are rubberized.

 

Oh never noticed... Looked glossy in the pictures... >.<

 

Yeah, most of the stock photos are taken from terrible angles.



You can see it more clearly here. The thumb well is rubberized, and the buttons are textured.

 

I wish they did that to the DeathAdder from the start...

 

Me too. That's definitely one of the Mamba's biggest improvements over the DeathAdder (disregarding the whole "wireless" bit )

 

Anybody know of where I could find a cheap Mamba? JR.com has it for $110, still too expensive. I will also try to make it to a Best Buy soon, couldn't go yesterday.

 

I got mine refurbished from one of Woot's one-day deals for $70. Apart from the lack of fancy packaging (it simply arrived in a brown cardboard box, wrapped in bubble wrap), I really couldn't tell it wasn't brand new, and it's been working great for a year now.

Other than waiting for refurbished ones to show up for sale on some online stores, you might want to check eBay.

 

Well I was going to tell you tonight how the G700 is but the stupid UPS driver messed up his route sooo... Tomorrow HOPEFULLY I can get the G700.

 

I see. I still haven't been able to make it to a Best Buy, I've been either busy or lazy and going over there isn't exactly the shortest trip.

Alright be sure to tell me when you get it.

So far it is 9-8 Mamba is winning. It looks like if I can get the Mamba for like $90 then it is the winner. The issue is price.

Thanks again everyone!

 

Haha, you can get the g700 for quite a bit less than that, especially if you don't mind it being used. I've got one sitting on my desk I haven't used in about a month because I got a g9x so I didn't need to recharge it anyways. You should have no problem getting a used/like new g700 for like $60 shipped.

 

Only if the stupid Mamba didn't have an annoying wireless receiver. Dock idea is irritating. Receiver should just be a USB hub. The charge station could be an option that connects via an extension to the USB hub. That would allow flexibility for desktop or travel laptop use.

Besides the Mamba or G700, which full size mice do people generally consider very good? The Roccat Prya seems small and the side buttons are placed too high.

 

I think people tend to overstate the inconvenience of the Mamba's charger/receiver. Sure, it's not as handy or portable as a tiny USB dongle, but really, the entire receiver is about half the size of the mouse itself, and weighs next to nothing. Odds are, if you have room to store the Mamba in whatever bag you're using, you probably have room for the dock as well. Hell, you can fit it into your pants pocket easily enough, if you're not wearing skinny girl jeans (and if you are, please stop being 14 years old )

And I much prefer having a dock that I can simply drop the mouse on to charge when I'm not using it and have it ready to go as soon as I lift it off, than have to plug the mouse itself in via USB to charge.

As for full-sized mice, the Logitech G9x is generally looked upon favorably. I used to own its predecessor, the G9. The swappable grips are nice, although I didn't feel like any of the 3 available grips were perfect for me. If Logitech were to expand the market for those, I think it would help them out. Other than that, it was quite comfortable and seemed very well built. It's got adjustable weights, but I don't really care for that either way.

If you don't care for adjustability, there's the G500. It's an updated model based on the old MX518/G5 shape, with one of the newer laser sensors.

I also recommend the Razer DeathAdder. Same shape as the Mamba, but wired, with a 3,500 DPI optical sensor instead of laser (which I personally prefer). It's a very iconic gaming mouse.

 

I just picked up a MX1100 from bestbuy for $40. I know this mouse originally released in 2008 but has technology really changed much since then? Would a G700 be a noticeable upgrade?

 

The main difference between "normal" mice (like the MX1100) and gaming-grade mice (e.g. the G700) is response time. Non-gaming mice generally have 125Hz USB polling rates, meaning a response time of 8ms. Gaming mice have 1,000Hz polling, which gives them a 1ms response. This much shorter delay is by far the main appeal in gaming mice, as online gaming generally requires movements and reactions to be as fast as possible.

The G700 will also have much higher DPI, although that's not nearly as important.

 

Well after using the G700 for a day, I can say it is a great mouse. It grip is slightly different from the DeathAdder (it is actually smaller than the DeathAdder) but it is not too deviated that it is uncomfortable or foreign to hold. The button positioning is very good, but the 4 thumb buttons are sometimes hard to press individually, since they are tightly clumped, but their overall position is perfect. There is also a thumb rest region on the mouse as well, so your thumb doesn't hang on the surface of your desk or mouse pad.

Overall wireless experience has been really good. I have seen any of the tracking issues I was worried about and at 4000 dpi, it feels just as smooth wirelessly as my DeathAdder with 1000 polling. However there is a really slight lag feeling using it wireless over wired, but not enough that it impact its performance.

Battery life is kind of bad, with only one AA Eneloop feeding the beast, you will need to recharge it every 6 hours or so if you are intensely using it. The high polling and dpi settings does take a toll on power. Therefore, if you want to constantly use it wirelessly, then consider investing in a set of Eneloops and have them charging daily, so you can swap and recharge on the go for every session.

Overall, I really like the G700. Considering I had some bad luck with the G500 and the G9x, this Logitech G-Series mouse is truly well built and packaged nicely too. I think this a great buy for $80 (and even better if you get a rebate or sale like I did).

I might do a more in-depth review if I have some time in the near future, but this is my experience with it so far.

 

Just picked up up the g700 today and im really liking it

And i have the mamba steel series xai 2 war mouses and orochi and tons of other mouses and i say i like the g700 alot better than all of them.

Why i went for the g700 is because i was getting cramps in my thumb and picky and i found a old mx600 and the cramps went away after useing that so i figure i picked that up sense its the same shape pretty much as the mx1000 which i love and the mx600.

But ya i like the feel on the g700 alot and i say it preforms better than the mamba, i cant really say the xai because the g700 and xai pretty much has the same brand sensor which are great.

Oh and the scroll wheel beats them all off the bat hehe

And the buttons placements are great!

Ony had it for about 2hours now

But ya the mamba and xai are nice mouses too but i prefer the g700 over them. Mamba is over price that's for sure tho.. Which i paid 130$ on release day...


But i do like the docking system on the mamba but its not a problem at all too put the wire in on the g700. G700 is more portable tho.

 

Thanks for all the in-depth responses. I still will be trying to make a trip to best buy, maybe later than sooner, unfortunately. But so far it looks like it definitely is between the G700 and the Mamba. I need a wireless mouse for convenience and also for portability and I don't want two mice, just one. The fact that I can make it wired when I am gaming is definitely nice too. So I will continue to look at this thread if others chime in on their experiences and will try to head over to Best Buy asap!

Thanks

 

For portable i would say the g700 would be 100% best for that, Sense all you bring is the usb micro receiver and the mouse, Its possible with the mamba but you will have too bring the big receiver and have it plug in with the wire so pretty much its like bring a wired mouse with you.

Sure the mamba receiver is very light and not really big but its still a pain too take than just leaving the micro receiver in your usb slot And don't have too worry about a wire.

My g700 is mainly for my desktop which is my main system anyways but when i take my m11x too work im thinking about bringing my g700 with me too

Nothing really wrong with the mamba but i would say the g700 is a better mouse for the sensor and portability and for me comfort.

 

The Razer Mamba wireless gaming laser mouse is the real deal. It is one of the best gaming mouse on the market today. From function to asethetics, it is clear that a lot of thought has been put into this laser gaming mouse.

 

You also might want to consider that the Razer Mamba and the Logitech G700 use two different sensors from two different manufacturers.

The Razer Mamba uses a Philips Twin Eye laser imaging sensor, which is generally disliked by hardcore mice nerds. The reason is because mice using the Philips Twin Eye sensor will cause the mouse cursor on-screen to twitch and move a few dozen pixels when you lift it off of a mouse pad (called the Z-Axis problem). This happens when you reach the edge of your mousing area, and need to lift the mouse up to re-center it. The Philips Twin Eye sensor is also notoriously picky about your mousing surface - so you pretty much need to use a clean mousepad.

The Logitech G700 uses an Avago S9500 laser imaging sensor, which is considered by the same mice nerds to be the best sensor you can find in a mouse when it comes to performance. It tracks precisely and reliably on many surfaces, including on imperfect mousing surfaces (e.g. laminated particleboard desk surface). It also does not suffer from the Z-axis problem.

You can think of single-lens Avago sensors as the Glock handguns of laser mice. They work, they work reliably, and they work reliably in just about any situation or environment.

 

The G700 is now $76.99 with free shipping at both Newegg and Amazon.

I'd personally order from Amazon as their return policy is better. A mouse is such a personal thing that if you don't like it, all you're out for from Amazon is return shipping. Even then that would only be about $5-7. At Newegg you'd have to pay shipping plus a restock fee.

Edit: If you're not worried about returning it, B&H Photo & Video has it for the same price plus a $20 mail-in rebate, making the final cost $56.99.

 

Kent, have you ever even used a Mamba? The Z-axis thing is just about negligible; the cursor only moves a few pixels (not a few dozen) on lift-off, and even that's only at specific angles. Protip: get a bigger mousepad so you don't have to pick up your mouse every 4 inches. For the record, I'm using the latest firmware and drivers on my Mamba, I don't know if that makes any difference.

As for being picky about surfaces, my Mamba has no trouble tracking on my eXactMat that's been wiped with a paper towel probably twice in its lifetime.

tl;dr - haters gonna hate.

 

I see you are finally not gaming on your netbook Mastershroom.
Could only imagine all that Razer peripherals surrounding that netbook.

 

I don't think they are his...

 

I haven't gamed on the netbook in a year, primarily because it has a tendency to overheat and shut itself off when doing anything even remotely graphically intense.

And with the netbook, I mostly just used my Orochi, sometimes the n52te.

wat

 

Never mind. I thought he was referring to your "sig."

 

Yes, used a Mamba before. Decent mouse, had things about it I didn't like. The lager base wasn't easily carried around in a laptop bag. It was expensive. The sensor seemed a lot less tolerant of imperfect mousing surfaces (like a bare desk surface).

I have a large mousepad for my gaming desktop, but not on my mobile rig that I carry around with me. For my mobile setup, I have a small Razer Kabuto mouse mat. Using a wireless mouse on a non-mobile gaming rig doesn't match what I need out of a mousing setup.

If someone gave me a Razer Mamba for free, then sure I'd use it. But if I could choose between the Razer Mamba or the Logitech G700, I'd pick the Logitech G700, even disregarding the 50% higher price on the Razer Mamba.