summary
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High-end performance doesn’t require big brands, as budget Chinese versions offer the best specs at a fraction of the price.
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Many clones have PixArt PAW sensors, quality switches, 8K/4K scanning, PTFE sliders, and wireless hardware, all under $50.
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Simple modifications like PTFE sliders, key swaps, and aluminum tape can dramatically improve the feel and performance of inexpensive mice.
If you’re serious about online gaming, you’ve probably thought about upgrading your mouse. But these name-brand price tags are enough to make anyone click away. The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to get the same specifications, you just need to find the right budget model.
Cheap mice have come a long way
There was a time, not so long ago, when you wanted a reliable and lightweight gaming mouse, you had to choose a model from well-known brands like Logitech, Razer or ASUS. Their mice are known for their solid build quality despite low weight, highly accurate sensors with zero acceleration, low-latency optical wireless switches, and features like an infinite scroll wheel or multiple programmable buttons.
The main drawback of these brand-name mice is their price. Even if all you want is a basic, lightweight, reliable mouse for first-person shooter games, you’ll still have to spend $100 to $200 on something like the Logitech G Pro
Even niche brands geared toward competitive esports players, such as Pulsar, Lamzu, and Zowie (BenQ), sell high-performance mice in the same price range. Models like the Lamzu Maya
While these mice are the best and come with the best in every aspect (including software and warranty), you can get much of the same quality while spending less than a third of your hard-earned money. To get the best value for your money, you can go with a budget gaming mouse from China.
Popular brands include Zaopin, Ajazz, Attack Shark, Royal Kludge, Mchose, Scyrox, and ATK (some of these brands appear to be related to each other, as they use almost identical websites). You can often find these mice on Amazon, Walmart, AliExpress, eBay, and other online storefronts. Do some comparison shopping to find the least expensive option, as prices can vary widely.
Many of their products are clones of popular eSports mice, but the cool thing is that they use cutting-edge components that match or even beat name-brand models.
For starters, you’ll typically see the PixArt PAW 3950 sensor or the slightly older PAW 3395 sensor in these mice. This is the industry standard among high-end mice that don’t use proprietary sensors like Logitech’s HERO or Razer’s Focus Pro, so you know you’re getting extremely accurate tracking and a low LOD (lift-off distance).
Aside from the sensor, you also get a light and durable build, Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity with polling rates up to 8K, PTFE mouse sliders, and high-quality scroll wheel encoders. Some models also include eye-catching features like charging bases that can display GIFs, which is a nice touch.
Another common feature in budget mice are high-quality mechanical or optical switches from well-known brands like TTC, Huano, and Kailh. Depending on who you ask, they are often superior in feel and reliability to the Omron switches found in name-brand mice. I personally replaced the Omron switches on my Logitech G502 with Huano switches, and the difference was night and day.
The best gaming mice under $50 At the time of writing, these models can be found for under $50, so prices may change. In fact, many are under $40, and some are under $30, depending on the location. To find the best deals, be sure to check out all your favorite online sellers.
Let’s start with the mouse that I highly recommend to most gamers – the Ajazz AJ179 Pro. It’s a Vaxee start AX/ Lamzu Thorn clone with a sturdy build and a weight of around 58 grams, a PAW3395 sensor, Huano Green Shell White Dot switches, an 8K polling rate, a magnetic charging dock that doubles as a 2.4GHz receiver, Bluetooth, and a fairly standard F-switch scroll wheel encoder.
The only thing you really need to upgrade are the mouse sleds (this applies to many mice), as the black ones that come with the mouse drag a lot. Like other Ajazz mice, there are a few cheaper alternatives with slightly lower specifications – AJ179 and AJ179P– Along with the top model in the lineup, AJ179 summit. The Apex has a PAW 3950 sensor, which is slightly better and has a lower LOD, although most people are unlikely to notice the difference.
- Wireless?
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Yes
- Contact
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Bluetooth / 2.4G / USB Type-C
Ajazz AJ179 Pro is a lightweight and affordable gaming mouse, weighing just 58 grams. It features a precise PAW3395 sensor, supports 8K polling rate via the 2.4GHz docking station, and offers Bluetooth connectivity.
A mouse with almost identical specifications but 2g lighter is Ijaz AJ159 Pro. It’s noticeably slimmer, though Ninjutsu Sora V2 (or actually, V1) clone.
Another popular mouse to consider is the Attack Shark X3. It’s the Logitech G Pro If you’ve tried the Superlight and found it to be too heavy or too large for your hands, the X3 might be perfect for you. The X3 features 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth, 1K polling rate, PAW3395 sensor, Kailh GM 8.0 Black Mamba switches, F-switch encoder, and pure PTFE sliders.
In my opinion, the only thing holding the X3 back (very slightly) is its 1K polling rate, but even that won’t be a problem for most people most of the time. Oddly enough, the premium version of this mouse, the X3MAX, upgrades the sensor to the PAW3950 and switches to Omron optics but keeps the same 1K polling rate.
If you prefer a version of the Razer Viper V3 Pro instead, the Attack Shark X1 is unbeatable at under $40. It has very similar specs to the X3, except that it weighs 53 grams and uses Omron optical switches.
- weight
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53 grams
- Sensor and DPI
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PAW3395 Pro sensor, 40,000 DPI
The Attack Shark X1 is a lightweight wireless gaming mouse with a premium PAW3395 Pro sensor, three-mode connectivity, and an RGB magnetic charging dock. It offers fast, accurate tracking and long battery life, making it a great choice for both competitive gaming and everyday use.
Finally, if you want a DeathAdder clone but don’t want to sacrifice performance and wireless connectivity by opting for the original Razer DeathAdder Essential, you should get the Attack Shark R1. It uses the older PAW3311 sensor, but at less than $30, it’s also one of the cheapest wireless DeathAdder clones on the market.
Not to be confused with the Attack Shark R1, the ATK VXE Dragonfly R1 Pro is another great lightweight, budget-friendly mouse. ATK is a separate brand from Attack Shark and has its own line of mice, ranging from $20 to over $100, so check them out.
The R1 Pro is part of the R1 series whose prices range from around $20 to over $50, depending on the exact model. The Pro version has some nice upgrades over the cheaper models, though they’re all worth picking up. The figure is often compared to that of Endgame Gear OP1 and Killer Gaming Equipment LA-1Although it is a little wider than both.
Anyway, the R1 Pro weighs 48 grams, has a matte ice finish, is equipped with a PAW3395 sensor, a 4K polling rate (with a separate 2.4GHz receiver), Huano Ice Berry Pink Dot switches (which I can’t find any info on), an E10 or TTC Silver encoder, and sliders White PTFE.
Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cloning mice. I’ve only had space to highlight some of my favorite options, so don’t be afraid to explore some of the other offerings on the market.
You can use EloShapes Compare shapes and specifications to find versions of your favorite mice.
You can always upgrade your cheap mouse with mods
If you buy a Chinese clone mouse based on its look and feel, that’s a great start. It’s hard to find the perfect mouse, but with a few simple adjustments and a few extra dollars, you can fine-tune it to your liking.
When I got the Ajazz AJ179 Pro, one of the first things I did was replace the black mouse skates with PTFE (white) ones for smoother gliding. I had to do the same thing on my $150 Logitech G502 Lightspeed as well, so it doesn’t seem like this is something brands get every time (although most have now switched to white skates).
An upgrade that takes a little more time and some soldering experience, but is totally worth it, is upgrading the mouse switches. While many of these Chinese mice come with convenient switches out of the box, you may find that you prefer the sound, tactile feedback, and feel of another switch. I wasn’t a fan of the Huano translucent green-cased and white switches used on the Ajazz AJ179 Pro, which is why I replaced them with TTC Golds.
Another easy modification that can improve any mouse (and something you may have to do on more expensive mice as well) is to modify the aluminum bar. This involves placing a few layers of thin aluminum tape under the left and right button plungers to reduce pre-travel, making clicks more responsive. After I modified my Ajazz mouse, the clicks became more responsive than my G502, so I had to open up the G502 and modify it as well!
I’m not trying to discourage you from buying a premium, high-end mouse from well-known brands. If you love them and want to spend the money, by all means do so! But if you want the same raw performance at a fraction of the cost, you should know that you can compete with these budget-friendly versions. Just make sure you choose the product that suits you best!