As most gamers inevitably realize, gaming with a mouse that was specifically designed for that purpose is a far cry from using a regular mouse. However, sometimes you find yourself in need of silent gaming equipment as well. Since I’ve already made my recommendations for silent gaming keyboards in a previous article, I’ve decided to also spend some time searching for the best silent mouse for gaming.
Whether you’re gaming competitively or just for fun, you’ll be able to find the perfect quiet gaming mouse for yourself right here. As always, before I present my list, we’ll take a look at some of the features you should be on the lookout for when shopping. And after I present the best silent gaming mice on the market, I’ll also endeavor to explain the difference between a gaming mouse and a regular mouse.
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What Makes a Good Quiet Gaming Mouse?
Typically, the more clicky a mouse is and the more aggressively you use it, the louder it will be. However, that’s inevitable, especially when you’re playing a really intense game.
Still, most of the mice on my list do have some sort of a button mechanism that makes clicking more silent, while still maintaining the mechanical feeling we like. After all, you still need to know when you’ve made contact with the buttons. So, let’s see what other features are important in gaming mice.
Basic Features
Most people will tell you to look for functionality in a gaming mouse — but what does that mean, exactly? Well, functionality is a kind of a blanket term for all of the basic features of a computer mouse.
Firstly, consider the difference between the optical and laser sensors. Optical LED sensors are a bit less sensitive than the laser ones, but they should still offer enough support for most gamers. Still, if you’re a more demanding and precise player, you should definitely look for a laser sensor.
Another basic feature I’ll repeatedly mention in my list is whether a mouse is wired or wireless. This debate is one that I’ve mentioned before, in my silent keyboards article. Essentially, wireless keyboards and mice allow you more freedom of movement. However, they also might lag — which is the last thing I’d want when I’m in the middle of a game.
Sensitivity and Responsiveness
When it comes to the sensitivity and the responsiveness of a mouse, the sensors are the factor you should be looking at. Most mice will also have two numbers written in the product description, though: the DPI and the polling rate.
The dots per inch measurement will tell you how sensitive the mouse is. As I have mentioned, most regular mice are just under a thousand DPI. Gaming mice benefit from being more sensitive, and the most expensive ones have DPIs above 10,000. But really, most games don’t require a sensitivity higher than 1,600 or so.
On the other hand, the responsiveness of the mouse is measured by its polling rate. As I have explained, the polling rate is the speed with which data travels from the mouse to the computer. Most mice have a polling rate of about 100-150 Hz. However, gaming mice typically have a higher polling rate, upwards of 300 Hz, with more expensive options reaching as high as 1,000 Hz.
Custom Software and Buttons
Most gaming mice also have extra buttons on the device, aside from the scroll, and left and right click. The buttons are often programmable, so you’ll be able to use them as shortcuts while you’re playing, lowering your dependency on your keyboard. For a lower price, you might get just a few extra buttons — while a higher-end mouse might have 10 or more extra keys.
More importantly, some mice also come with custom software to help with key mapping. The software would allow you to set shortcuts for each button, and even have different profiles for different programs. First, you could be playing a game, where your buttons control, say, changing your weapon and firing. Later, if you need to use Photoshop, your buttons might help you undo or rotate the canvas.
And, of course, the software might even allow you to customize the backlighting some gaming mice have. Speaking of which, let’s talk about the look and feel of mice.
Look and Feel
The design of a product is a big deal in the world of gaming mice. Unlike regular mice, which often compromise comfort for the sake of size or simplicity, gaming mice are meant to be handled for hours on end. Therefore, it makes sense that manufacturers would commit to creating the most comfortable outer shell. Most of the time, you’ll see these characteristics referred to as the ergonomics of the mouse design.
Some higher-end gaming mice go as far as to provide interchangeable sides for the product, in order to provide different grips. The sides often contribute to the functionality, as you’ll see in my reviews. Also, since gaming mice are supposed to fit into your hand perfectly, there’s more of a difference between left and right-handed mice.
Aside from the general shape of the mouse, its build is also what distinguishes a gaming mouse from a regular one. As you’ve probably noticed, cheap plastic mice tend to start creaking after a while. Most gaming mice have a higher quality build since they need to be able to take a beating, especially from the more zealous players.
In addition to the general sturdiness of the mouse, some gaming mice also have adjustable weights. So, players can choose the amount of resistance they’re most skilled at.
Also, while a regular mouse or a low-end gaming mouse might have a rubber cord connecting it to the computer, a gaming mouse might have a braided cord cable. This isn’t really a functional feature, though I suppose it might make the cable a bit more durable.
And finally, many gaming mice also have various designs and colors of backlighting. Just like the cable design, this is more of an aesthetic choice, but it does play a part in some people’s final decision.
Best Silent Gaming Mouse on the Market (2021)
Obviously, there’s one more thing we’re all looking for when it comes to gaming mice: cost-efficiency. Everyone will be shopping within their budget, but we all want to get good bang for our buck. So, with that in mind, I’ve arranged my list based on the price. The first 6 products are all under $50 (most of them less than $20) followed by 4 more expensive products.
These are the 10 best silent gaming mice in 2021:
1. VicTsing Wireless Gaming Mouse With Unique Silent Click
There are thousands of great products on the market, but the VicTsing Wireless Gaming Mouse is one of the most popular ones. It is immensely reliable, durable, quiet, and all that for a great price!
This mouse is a perfect choice for both casual gamers who are on a tight budget and professionals who’d rather spend their hard-earned money on something else.
It features five adjustable DPI values (800; 1,200; 1,600; 2,000; 2,400) and precise optical tracking for maximum accuracy on a variety of surfaces.
The mouse is wireless with a 30 ft working distance, which is great if you don’t have much space for cables and are trying to go wireless altogether. Of course, any delays, interruptions, etc. are eliminated so that you enjoy responsive feedback and high precision 100% of the time.
The left and right buttons are quiet and are rated at 5 million clicks, so expect years of use from this product. In fact, you can utilize it for anything from intensive gaming to studying because of its silent mechanism and durable design.
In addition to the pro features, the VicTsing mouse also comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty.
Main Features:
- Wireless technology
- Quiet buttons
- Ergonomic design
- Durable body
- Adjustable DPI values
- Energy-saving chip
2. TENMOS K96 Wired Gaming Mouse With Silent Click
This TENMOS gaming mouse is certainly one of the most affordable products in its category. Still, its design is comparable to those you can find among the mid-range mice.
The mouse is made of durable ABS plastic, and it’s wired, connected to the computer via a nylon braided cable. It also has a metal piece to add weight and improve handling and should be absolutely silent.
As far as sensitivity and responsiveness go, the K96 doesn’t disappoint. You can adjust the sensitivity between 1,200 and 3,200 DPI by using the button at the top of the mouse. The responsiveness is also great, and since the mouse connects to the computer with a cable, it shouldn’t lag.
Aside from the DPI key, the mouse has 5 buttons. These include the scroll wheel, the usual left and right click buttons, and the page forward and backward buttons on the left side of the mouse. You’ll be able to use the mouse on various versions of Windows systems as well as the Mac OS. The mouse also has alternating LED backlighting, though you can’t set it to one color.
Main Features:
- Braided cable, ABS build
- Up to 3,200 DPI
- 6 buttons in total
- LED backlighting
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
3. PICTEK 2.4G Wireless Silent Click Gaming Mouse
This PICTEK gaming mouse is the next wireless mouse on my list. Despite the fact that regular wireless mice have a bit of a tarnished reputation, the ones that are made for gaming don’t typically have a lot of lag, since they often have a stronger reach.
The mouse also has an auto-sleep mode which kicks in if you don’t use it for 8 minutes. In addition, there’s also an off switch on the bottom side of the mouse. One AA battery should last through about a year of use.
The build of the mouse is durable, and the soft finish coating on the surface is sweat, grease, and fingerprint-resistant. There are 7 buttons, including the scroll, and the left and right click buttons. There are forward and backward buttons on the left, and two DPI adjustment buttons under the scroll.
Like with the previous product, this one has a modest sensitivity adjustment range, from 800-2,400 DPI. And, you can even move the default polling rate of 125 Hz up to 250 Hz. This mouse is available in all-black with blue accents or black with red detailing.
Main Features:
- Wireless mouse
- Uses one AA battery
- Up to 2,400 DPI
- 7 buttons in total
- Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux
4. VEGCOO C10 Silent Wireless Rechargeable Mouse for Gaming
The design of the VEGCOO C10 silent gaming mouse, the partially exposed scroll wheel in particular, strongly resembles that of the second product on my list. However, there is one key difference. Unlike the TENMOS mouse, this one is wireless.
It has seven built-in LED lamps — which can be turned off when not needed — to take your gaming experience to the next level.
The mouse is rechargeable, featuring a 600 mAh Lithium battery that should easily give you more than a month of use, but even if you happen to run out of power during an important game, you can plug the mouse in and continue using it without a problem.
What’s more, the body of the mouse is of medium size and has an ergonomic, curved design, meant to feel comfortable in anyone’s hand. Additionally, the left and right buttons are silent, allowing you to enjoy your gaming experience to a maximum.
Additionally, there are forward and backward buttons on the left that make navigating that much easier. They are not that silent, though, so if you are looking for a completely noise-free mouse, maybe turn to one of the other options on this list.
Main Features:
- Quiet buttons
- Two side forward and backward buttons
- LED lights that can be turned off
- Comfortable design
- Durable body
5. FOME I720 Ergonomic Gaming Mouse With Noiseless Buttons
Like the previous wireless mice on my list, this FOME gaming mouse has a great 2.4 GHz connection. However, the manufacturer claims that their product can last for up to 20 months before needing 2 AAA replacement batteries. Also, the brand included three power saving modes, which cause the mouse to conserve energy and eventually go into deep sleep mode after idling for 5 minutes.
The design of this mouse features a familiar open scroll wheel. However, the asymmetrical build also identifies it as a right-handed device.
Like the previous mice I have mentioned, the FOME I720 uses optical sensors. As such, it can’t achieve much more than a 2,400 DPI. Although, like the previous mice, this one also has a DPI adjustment button which will get you from 1,000 to 1,600 or 2,400 DPI. In addition, the mouse has a 250 Hz polling rate, making the transfer of data between the mouse and the computer decently quick.
Other than the DPI quick switch, there’s also the usual scroll wheel, as well as the left and right click buttons, and even forward and backward buttons on the left side of the mouse.
Main Features:
- Right-handed wireless mouse
- Uses 2 AAA batteries
- Up to 2,400 DPI
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
6. UtechSmart Venus High-Precision Laser MMO Gaming Mouse
This UtechSmart Venus gaming mouse is a bit of a $50 palate cleanser before I move on to the higher-end gaming mice. This mouse offers us our first taste of some of the more advanced features gaming mice are famous for.
The mouse features a 6-foot cable itself encased in braided fiber, and an incredibly ergonomic design overall, with both a thumb rest and a ring finger rest on both sides. Other than the laser sensor, the bottom side of the mouse also holds Teflon pads that allow for smoother handling. In addition, there’s also a removable weight cartridge with 8 separate weights you can remove individually.
As usual, there’s a scroll wheel on top of the mouse, between the left and the right click buttons. There are two sensitivity adjustment buttons that can get you from 1,000 DPI to an astonishing 16,400 DPI. Also, this mouse has a polling rate of 1,000 Hz, which is the highest one we’ve seen so far.
There’s a programmable button to the left of the left click button, as well as 12 more programmable buttons on the left side of the device. You can personalize the mouse further by choosing one of 5 LED colors to show through the logo on top of the mouse and on the sides of the scroll wheel. The LED color will even illuminate the colors of the numbers on the 12 programmable buttons, and the front of the mouse.
Now that we’ve seen what’s available in the $40 range, let’s see what we can get from more expensive mice.
Main Features:
- Wired mouse, 6-foot braided cord
- Up to 16,400 DPI
- 19 buttons total
- 5 LED color options
- Compatible with Windows (the buttons and lights won’t work on Mac)
7. MOJO Pro Performance Silent Gaming Mouse
The MOJO Silent Gaming Mouse is a more expensive option, but there is a good reason for the price — this product screams professional!
It is wired, so you shouldn’t expect any lag or interruptions. The cable length is 5.9 ft (1.8m), which is more than enough for most people.
Furthermore, the mouse features an ergonomic design that will make your experience that much better.
One of the most impressive things about this product is that all its buttons are completely customizable and noise-free. That includes a left and right click, scroll wheel, next and last page, DPI+, DPI-, Sniper (rapid fire) key, and FN function button. You can download the company’s software and set everything up the way you want it to be.
The mouse has a 1,000 Hz polling rate and an adjustable DPI (500; 1,000; 2,000; 4,000; 6,000; 8,000; 12,000). That means everything will run smoothly all the time!
Main Features:
- Wired mouse with 5.9 ft cable
- Adjustable, quiet buttons
- LED lights
- Ergonomic design
- Durable body
- Adjustable DPI values in the range of 500–12,000
8. Logitech MX Ergo Advanced Wireless Mouse
Leave it to Logitech to keep it classy while making it weird. The Logitech MX Ergo wireless mouse has a subtle gray design which is made interesting thanks to a trackball on the left side of the mouse. Though the mouse is wireless, it’s actually rechargeable — and it can hold a charge for up to 4 months.
There are actually 8 buttons on the mouse, including the trackball (if I could call that a button). There are the left and right click buttons and the scroll wheel, as well as the forward and backward page buttons to the left of the left click button. A single button at the top of the mouse can help you quickly and easily switch between working on two different computers. In addition, there’s also a button on the left side of the mouse which enables advanced optical tracking, which increases the DPI count.
Unlike all of the previous mice, this one can only move from 380 to 440 DPI. Technically, it’s not even a gaming mouse, and if I had arranged the products on this list by DPI, this would have been at the beginning. However, this mouse is definitely high-quality, despite the lower sensitivity, so it still deserves a mention.
Namely, I thought it was worthy of a mention just because of how odd it looked. And, of course, because it has two of the main features a gaming mouse should have — an ergonomic design and programmable buttons. The whole mouse can actually tilt up to 20 degrees, which helps reduce muscle strain.
Main Features:
- Wireless and rechargeable
- 8 buttons in total
- Up to 440 DPI
- Ergonomic design
9. Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum Quiet Gaming Mouse
The next product on this list is the Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum Gaming Mouse. It is the priciest of the mentioned gaming mouses, but trust us; you won’t go wrong with it!
This product features immensely high performance, premium build, eleven programmable buttons, DPI shift settings, desk surface tuning, custom LED lighting, and more.
Just download the company’s gaming software, and personalize your gaming setup any way you want!
The body of the mouse is extremely durable with buttons rated at 20 million clicks, magnetic weight-cavity door, rubberized grips, braided cable, and more. An advanced optical tracking sensor ensures you get maximum tracking accuracy with no delays whatsoever.
This mouse is truly tailored to the needs of most professional players and is designed to last, hence the higher price.
Main Features:
- Wired mouse with braided cable
- Quiet buttons
- Ergonomic design with rubberized grips
- Custom RGB lighting and programmable buttons
- Desk surface tuning
- Advanced optical tracking sensor
- Adjustable DPI (up to 12,000)
10. Razer Mamba Chroma Wired or Wireless Mouse
Like some other products on this list, the Razer Mamba Chroma mouse is symmetrical, making it easier for left-handed people to use it. Still, the two programmable buttons are on the left side, so the mouse isn’t completely leftie-friendly. You’d essentially have to get to the buttons with your ring finger or pinkie.
The Mamba Chroma has a laser sensor which can have 16,000 DPI sensitivity. There are 7 buttons on the mouse, including the left and right click buttons and the scroll wheel. The two buttons on the left and the two on top of the mouse are all programmable. In addition, the left and right click can be programmed to respond to a certain amount of force.
This mouse is available in wired or wireless versions — and the wireless version comes with a 7-foot braided charging cable. As is usual for Razer, the light detailing is all individually adjustable.
Main Features:
- Wired or wireless (rechargeable)
- Up to 16,000 DPI
- 7 buttons in total
- Razer Chroma lighting colors
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
Gaming Mouse Vs. Regular Mouse
At some point, some of you may be wondering why you shouldn’t just continue using your regular computer mouse, instead of purchasing a new one just for gaming.
Other than the price difference, there are a few things that distinguish a gaming mouse from its ordinary brethren. As far as the price goes, though, regular ones do tend to be cheaper, typically staying around or under $10. In contrast, gaming mice can even cost as much as a few hundred dollars. In my opinion, though, the higher price point of most gaming mice is justified by their features.
To begin with, the sensitivity of most gaming mice is much higher than it is in regular mice. While most regular mice, and even some cheaper gaming ones, use optical LED sensors, the more expensive gaming mice use laser sensors. The reason for this change is that a laser sensor is able to achieve a higher DPI, or dots per inch. However, that doesn’t mean that a laser sensor is conclusively and irrefutably better than an optical sensor.
Aside from the greatly increased DPI value, which is about 800 in regular mice, gaming mice also have higher polling rates. This measurement tells us how quickly the data is sent from the mouse to the operating system. So, a higher polling rate usually signifies a smaller chance of lagging.
Finally, you’ll also be able to tell a gaming mouse from a regular one by all of the extra features it comes with. Gaming mice usually have a stronger and more visually interesting build. Not to mention that they’re typically more comfortable to hold since you’re likely to spend hours on end gaming.
Final Thoughts on Silent Gaming Mice
That concludes today’s adventure. Hopefully, one of these silent mice will be the perfect one for you or the gamer in your life. And, if you’re looking to make your gaming experience even quieter, I recommend checking out my article on how to soundproof a gaming room.
There are plenty of ways you can do it, no matter how big of a budget you have. In addition, you could also go back and check out my list of quiet keyboards!
Ultimately, you shouldn’t be too embarrassed if you’re causing a bit of a ruckus when you’re gaming. We’ve all been there! However, using silent products can help you focus on the game even more, as well as avoid annoying your family or friends.
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A lawyer never retires. So I would just say that I am not as active as I used to be. Now I simply dedicate myself to fishing, my hobby, and my grandchildren. For Business Finance News I write about legal aspects of mortgage policies, mostly regarding the rights of policyholders. I also have articles about personal injuries.
