Many of our customers here at GravaStar are die-hard fans of CS:GO and CS2. They often ask our support team to recommend the best mouse for playing those games. That's why we created this roundup review guide.
Picking the right mouse to match your playstyle is critical. If you're an entry fragger, you'll want something lightweight with very high DPI, which translates into accuracy. Alternatively, if you're an AWPer or favor a support role, you might want something with more heft and stability. Getting it wrong isn't the end of the world, but adds unnecessary difficulty.
Here at GravaStar, we have a teammate who was obsessed with CS:GO decades ago and still casually plays CS2 today. While other competitive FPS's have come and gone, CS:GO has incredible staying power because of its community and just how satisfying it is to play.
How We Picked
We recommend mice based on features and factors that give you an edge in competitive and fast-paced CS:GO and CS2 gameplay. Here are the main factors we evaluated when recommending mice.
Weight
Depending on your playstyle, you either want a very light mouse or a relatively heavy mouse. Light mice pair well with high DPI and acceleration sensors to whip your sights around to an enemy. Heavier mice help you keep your view steady for sniping and the like.
Sensor
High DPI mice with equally high polling rates give you maximum accuracy. Whether your playstyle relies on quick reflexes or peak stability, a higher DPI and polling rate will help your game. The tradeoff, at least for wireless mice, is shorter battery life.
Switches
Gaming mice from even a few years ago suffered from ghost clicking, where the mechanical switches under buttons wore out and registered multiple clicks at once. That can be a serious issue for play. Many, but not all, manufacturers now use optical switches to fix this problem.
Price
Price is a consideration, but if you want peak performance, you're going to pay top dollar. We also included some more reasonably priced mice in this lineup. You can still be competitive on a budget and some of our budget recommendations have unique design choices and features.
Other Factors
We also accounted for other factors like ventilation and mouse size when making recommendations. These are niche features appealing to some gamers that make their gaming experience feel perfect. Ultimately, we're all about perfect experiences, so this is important.
Best Overall: Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Weight: 60 grams
- Sensor: HERO 2 32K DPI sensor
- Number of buttons: 5
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 improves in many ways on its forerunner, the Superlight. It's a fantastically lightweight mouse that practically glides on its low-resistance PTFE feet. In our opinion, there are fewer higher-specification mice on the market.
The Superlight 2 was designed with CS:GO and CS2 in mind, along with other FPSes, to provide top performance and comfort. The 32,000 DPI resolution of its HERO 2 sensor, combined with the other acceleration sensors makes for fast-paced directional changes.
That sensitivity makes this mouse highly accurate for tactical, reflexive, and support CS:GO and CS2 positions. We think Superlight 2 caters to every playstyle and that's another thing we like about the Superlight 2.
One of our pet peeves about the Superlight 2 is that it's a wired wireless mouse. You need to plug it in to charge it. If you have a cluttered desk or have your desktop elsewhere, that may cramp your play.
That is unless you own Logitech's Powerplay wireless charging mousepad. With that combination, the mouse setup isn't cheap. If you're uncompromising, though, this is the mouse for you.
Also Great: Razer DeathAdder V3
- Connectivity: Wired and wireless
- Weight: 59 grams (wired) and 63 grams (wireless)
- Sensor: Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor
- Number of buttons: 6
The Razer DeathAdder V3 is effectively interchangeable with the Superlight 2. There may be slight performance differences, but both represent the pinnacle of gaming mouse technology.
There are two key differences between the two mice. The DeathAdder v3 has a wired and wireless version, whereas the Superlight v2 is only wireless. If you prefer a tethered mouse for reduced latency and faster CS:GO and CS2 reaction time, the DeathAdder v3 is the best.
As a CS:GO or CS2 player, you might also prefer the doubled polling rate versus the Superlight v2. The DeathAdder v3 is twice as good at detecting split-second movement, which translates into a slight edge above your Superlight v2 competitors and a huge edge over others.
Beware, though, the doubled polling rate translates to much higher power demands. The DeathAdder v3 runs through its battery at least twice as fast as the Superlight v2 at its top polling rate, devouring the battery in 17 hours, according to the testing from RTINGS. At a 1000 Hz polling rate, the Superlight v2 is slightly longer-lasting at 95 hours versus the DeathAdder v3's 90 hours.
Whether you choose the Superlight v2 or the DeathAdder v3, you're buying the pinnacle of CS:GO and CS2 gaming mouse performance.
Budget Pick: BenQ EC2-C Zowie
- Connectivity: Wired and wireless
- Weight: 70 grams for small up to 80 grams for large
- Sensor: 3360 DPI sensor
- Number of buttons: 5
The BenQ EC2-C Zowie is a fan favorite. It's less expensive than other options here and can frequently be found on sale.
It's also universally compatible. The EC2-C doesn't require drivers or a software suite to operate and is totally plug-and-play. That's great for the growing numbers of Linux CS:GO and CS2 gamers, who can't access key features of Logitech or Razer mice due to software unavailability.
The EC2-C comes in small, medium, and large physical sizes to fit all kinds of palms. You can pick the one that fits you best, which can give you a better feel and control in CS:GO and CS2. That can translate to a significant competitive edge in those and other games.
Users also love the low-button travel distance. That's important for situations demanding clicks to register quickly and with a light touch. Where you want shots to register as quickly as possible once your target is in your sights, this is your mouse.
The EC2-C provides relatively paltry DPI options and polling. The most demanding CS:GO and CS2 players will notice the relatively shallow performance options in comparison to other mice. Still, many users with large or small hands may find this works better for them than other mice.
Best Longevity: Logitech G502 X
- Connectivity: Wired and wireless
- Weight: up to 89 grams
- Sensor: HERO 2 25K DPI sensor
- Number of buttons: 13
The Logitech G-502 family has been a solid contender for CS:GO and CS2 for the past decade and the Logitech G502 X is no exception. It improves on prior iterations with hybrid mechanical and optical switches to alleviate the click ghosting that plagued prior G-502 models.
Otherwise, it carries forward solid elements from the G-502 pedigree, like the 25K DPI Hero Sensor, which is more accurate than most on the market. It also incorporates multiple interchangeable weights to help customize the heft and feel of the mouse.
If you're a relatively new CS:GO and CS2 player and want to test different weight profiles, this is the mouse to do it. The G502 X is one of the few mice on the market presently that lets users customize the feel of the mouse, so if that's important to you, this is your mouse.
That niche makes the G-502 X a great all-around mouse. You can customize it to be heavier in some situations and lighter in others. We like that for playing games of all different genres.
The G-502 X also won't break the bank and can frequently be found on sale. This makes a fantastic budget option if you want a heftier mouse. If you have a more reflexive CS:GO or CS2 playstyle, this probably isn't the mouse for you, though, given its weight.
Best Ventilated Option: Steelseries Aerox 5 Wireless
- Connectivity: Wired and wireless
- Weight: 74 grams
- Sensor: 18K DPI sensor
- Number of buttons: 9
Steelseries is one of the pioneering names in ventilated gaming mice. If you have sweaty palms when playing games, rest assured: the mouse's movement provides a noticeable cooling effect.
The Aerox 5 Wireless sports a high-performing optical sensor, tilt sensors, and solid mechanical switches. It's a little heavier than other suggested options but is still incredibly light, especially considering it supports both a proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless dongle or Bluetooth.
For the distinguishing CS:GO and CS2 player, this blend of features provides the best of all worlds. On the one hand, you have a high-performing mouse with extreme compatibility. On the other, you don't need to worry about sweaty palms getting in the way of peak competitiveness.
The Aerox 5 also requires an app to control some functionality, making it limitedly compatible with some operating systems. Steelseries does state that it is Mac and Linux compatible if you're part of the growing non-Windows CS:GO and CS2 community.
If your competitive CS:GO and CS2 disadvantage is sweaty palms and gunk buildup, this is unquestionably the mouse for you. There are few other good options on the market and, while niche, it's a surprisingly prevalent niche.
The Competition
HyperX Pulsefire Haste: This inexpensive wired mouse mimics the specs and design of the Aerox 5. It comes with additional grip tape–notably covering some ventilation holes–and control software. It's a solid Steelseries competitor.
ROCCAT Kone Pro: This slightly less optimized version of the G-502 X shares design elements from other Logitech and Razer mice. It also uses optical switches and has a 19K DPI sensor. The tradeoff is a relatively inexpensive gaming mouse.
TECKNET Wireless Mouse: This is your mouse if you need a lightweight travel mouse that lasts practically forever on a single battery. It's at the absolute lowest end of what would reasonably be competitive but feels nice in the hand and is lightweight. Best of all, it's the cheapest option on this list and comes in many different colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of other questions related to the best mice for CS:GO and CS2. Here are some of the top questions we get.
Do CS2 pros use a wireless mouse?
Yes and the EC2 is especially popular among competitive CS2 teams. Logitech and Razer also sponsor and partner with teams to develop their gaming lines of mice.
What mouse do most Overwatch pros use?
The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is a popular Overwatch mouse. Some overwatch pros reportedly also use the FinalMouse Ultralight 2 and Razer Viper Ultimate.
Is there mouse acceleration in CS2?
Not natively. If you really want to use mouse acceleration in CS2, you should use RawAccel or a similar program. Make sure you won't get a VAC ban for using it.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right mouse will enhance your CS:GO and CS2 play sessions. That's important because you want to make sure you're not being held back. Make sure to take occasional stretching breaks to help keep you competitive.
You should also go easy on your mouse. Win or lose, throwing your mouse or otherwise damaging it will hurt your CS:GO and CS2 playing. Those stretching breaks are also good opportunities to step away and refocus for peak performance.
Many of the mice we recommended are wireless. Remember: unlike a wired mouse, those will run out of battery charge. Fortunately, many of them come with an included charging cable and can be charged in hours while playing.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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