Can a $25 mouse compete with a $70 gaming mouse?

For sensor performance, yes. Budget sensors like the Mercury (G203) and TrueMove Core (Rival 3) track as accurately as sensors in $70 mice for gaming-relevant DPI settings. The differences at higher prices are: lighter weight, wireless connectivity, better switches, premium build materials, and extra buttons. If you play at 400-1600 DPI and do not need wireless, a $25 mouse performs identically to a $70 mouse in gameplay.

Wired or wireless for gaming on a budget?

At under $30, wired is the only option that delivers reliable gaming performance. Budget wireless mice at this price use Bluetooth, which has too much latency for competitive gaming. Quality wireless gaming mice with low-latency 2.4GHz dongles start at $40-50 (Logitech G305). If wireless is essential, budget $40-50 for the G305. If you can tolerate a cable, $25-30 wired mice perform identically to $150 wireless mice in-game.

Best Gaming Mice Under $30 2026