Wrap-up: Making Picks
Our mouse shootout has covered virtually every segment of the mice market, from budget to high-end, gaming to high-performance general use, and everything in between. To wrap things up in a concise manner, we will group the products into three different categories based on overall value, feature set and non-gaming best in class. Although some level of subjectivity is inevitable when testing an input device, I've highlighted those that in our minds best represent each category.
In terms of best value for your money, the Microsoft SideWinder X3 OEM is tough to beat at under $30. The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" comes to mind when discussing this device. The ambidextrous X3 doesn't have a ton of real estate or buttons, but enough of both to get the job done. A close second in this category is the Logitech G500. While it provides an all around better total package than the X3, the fact that it sells for twice as much keeps it from the top spot.
If price is no boundary and a feature-packed mouse is a must, the Razer Mamba, Roccat Kone and Logitech G500 are my top three picks in that order. The Mamba is the most expensive mouse in the round-up at around $130, but it does offer a lot of great features like a high-end sensor, wired or wireless operation, great looks and comfort to match.
If wireless operation isn't important to you, the Razer Imperator uses the exact same tracking system as the Mamba at just around $80 on Newegg, a fraction of the cost. For $10 more, the wired Roccat Kone took me by surprise with its great software suite and supporting physical attributes. The Roccat logo on the palm of the mouse looks a bit cheesy but other than that everything was spot on with this device.
Finally, on the non-gaming side of things, I have to give the nod to Logitech's Performance MX. While Logitech made a few changes to the MX series that I don't necessarily agree with, the ability to use the mouse wired and replace the battery, and the Darkfield tracking system help bridging the gap between old and new. The Microsoft Laser Mouse 7000 was very comfortable and showed a lot of promise at just $50, but its noisy mouse feet and sub-par scroll wheel ruined it for me.
Hopefully our mouse round-up has given you plenty of insight and advice that you can use to help make your next high-performance or gaming mouse purchase a success. Our conclusion only scratches the surface, so if you skipped directly to the last page, we suggest you check out each write up for a complete rundown of what these products have to offer.