The Steam Deck is essentially a portable gaming PC. As such, it only makes sense to use a good mouse with it, right? Whether you are planning to play FPS or MMO games, or just want a smoother browsing experience – a good mouse can help you get the most out of your Steam Deck. Having said that, it can get difficult to cut through the noise and buy the best mouse for Steam Deck.
Thankfully, we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll dive into some of the absolute best mice available for the Steam Deck. We’ve carefully curated a collection of gaming mice that excel in various tasks, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The best part? They all cost well under $100! So let’s take a look at some of the best mice for Steam Deck that you can buy right now.
But first, you might want to check out the following:
- Pair your gaming mouse with these keyboards for the Steam Deck
- Enhance your gaming experience with these amazing Steam Deck accessories
- Keep gaming for extended sessions with these power banks for Steam Deck
1. Razer DeathAdder Essential
- Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Single Color (Green)
- Max Sensitivity: 6,400 DPI
Available in both black and white colorways, the Razer DeathAdder Essential is the perfect gaming mouse if you’re just starting out on your gaming journey. To that end, Razer has furnished its contender with all the quintessential features of a good gaming mouse. At the same time, the mouse has been priced competitively too.
The Razer DeathAdder Essential comes with a reasonably accurate 6,400 DPI sensor. You can even adjust the DPI on-the-fly if you so choose. The mouse even lets you re-program the side buttons to any action of your choice. Do note that while Razer Synapse isn’t officially supported on the Steam Deck, you can still make use of OpenRazer to customize the settings.
The icing on the cake is that the mouse ships with an ergonomic design which is widely admired by customers. The mouse also gets rubberized side grips, that allow a user to grip the device better.
Unlike some other competing options, the Razer DeathAdder Essential isn’t chockablock with RGB lighting. In fact, the mouse only sports green LED lighting. Regardless, if you’re looking for a reliable, feature-rich, and affordable gaming mouse for the Steam Deck, this is it.
2. SteelSeries Rival 3
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wireless/Bluetooth | RGB: Yes
- Max Sensitivity: 18,000 DPI
The SteelSeries Rival 3 costs a smidge more than Razer’s offering. On the upside, the mouse supports wireless connectivity, and a hyper-sensitive sensor, especially for the price.
Unlike the Razer DeathAdder, the SteelSeries Rival 3 comes with six programmable buttons, including a dedicated toggle to adjust the DPI. As for connectivity, you can pair it directly to your Steam Deck via Bluetooth.
Alternatively, if you’re using a dock with the Steam Deck, you can connect the Rival 3’s 2.4GHz dongle to the console. This will let you leverage extremely low-latency wireless connectivity, which is crucial for games from the FPS genre. And, when you’re on the go, you can conveniently hide the dongle inside the mouse, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing it.
That’s not all, as SteelSeries claims that the Rival 3 can easily last an entire year while being powered by dual AAA batteries. Rest assured, if you’re looking for an affordable wireless gaming mouse for your Steam Deck, the Rival 3 is a great option.
3. Logitech G502 HERO
- Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
- Max Sensitivity: 25,600 DPI
The Logitech G502 is one of the most popular gaming mice and for good reason. Backed by the company’s flagship Hero 25K sensor, the G502 is regarded as the best gaming mouse by professionals and consumers. You get a lot of features with the device and that too without having to spend a fortune.
For starters, the Logitech G502 HERO comes with a total of 11 customizable buttons. What’s more, the mouse supports full RGB lighting, so you can personalize the effects by choosing from up to 16.8 million colors. If anything, there is no official support for the G502 HERO’s companion app – G HUB – on the Steam Deck. That said, you can check out Piper to configure the G502 with your Steam Deck.
As prefaced previously, the mouse gets a 25,600 DPI sensor with zero smoothing, filtering, or acceleration, thereby making it the most advanced sensor from the company yet. This, in turn, translates to precise and accurate tracking, which sets the G502 HERO apart.
What’s more, the G502 HERO’s ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, so you can play for longer without experiencing any fatigue. Add to that, the mouse also gets a customizable weight system that lets you fine-tune its balance to your liking.
If you prefer to cut the cord, you can also opt for its successor, the Logitech G502 X LIGHTSPEED. It’s easily one of the best gaming mice out right. That said, it also costs a pretty penny.
4. Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite
- Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
- Max Sensitivity: 18,000 DPI
If you’re into MMO games, then you will greatly benefit from a dedicated MMO gaming mouse. Of the lot, the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite stands out, as it comes with over 17 programmable buttons, among other things.
You get a total of 12 buttons on the Scimitar RGB Elite’s left fascia, each of which can be configured as per your liking. You can assign macros, hotkeys, or spells, giving you a competitive edge. What’s more, is that you also get a patented Key Slider system. This allows you to easily shift the 12-button cluster within your thumb’s reach.
While all this sounds good, it’s worth noting that you cannot natively use the Corsair iCUE app on your Steam Deck. Instead, you’ll have to install it on a secondary Windows machine, configure the settings, and then use the mouse with your Steam Deck. However, thanks to support for various profiles, once you’ve configured everything, you probably won’t need to use the companion app again.
In terms of the design, the Scimitar’s contoured shape and textured grip provide a comfortable and secure feel. This greatly helps in reducing fatigue during extended gameplay sessions. The mouse supports dynamic RGB lighting as well, which can be seamlessly controlled via the OpenRGB app.
5. Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wireless | RGB: Yes
- Max Sensitivity: 25,600 DPI
If you want a wireless gaming mouse from Logitech but don’t want to pay the premium for the G502 X Lightspeed, then the Logitech G Pro Wireless is a great alternative. We say this, as the mouse is widely preferred by professionals, thanks to its lightweight and comfortable design and superb responsiveness.
Backed by the company’s flagship HERO 25K sensor, the Logitech G Pro Wireless is capable of tracking insane flicks at speeds over 400 IPS. And, weighing in at just 80g, the G Pro Wireless won’t weigh you down in the heat of the battle either.
Do note that you’ll have to use the G Pro Wireless’ 2.4GHz dongle, which can be connected to your Steam Deck with the help of an adapter or a dock. And, if you’re traveling, you can store the dongle conveniently inside the mouse itself. That’s not all, as the G Pro Wireless comes with a rechargeable battery that can last up to 48 hours on a single charge.
If anything, the mouse is susceptible to Logitech’s infamous double-click and scroll wheel issues. As such, you can also check out the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro, which offers similar features while saving a buck and being slightly more reliable.
6. Alienware AW720M Tri-Mode Wireless
- Connectivity: Wired/2.4GHz Wireless/Bluetooth | RGB: Yes
- Max Sensitivity: 26,000 DPI
The Alienware AW720M is a superb gaming mouse for the Steam Deck too. For one, it supports a handful of connectivity options. At the same time, it touts an ergonomic design and ships with an advanced sensor.
The Alienware AW720M supports three different connectivity modes. To that end, you can pair the device to the Steam Deck via Bluetooth (v5.1). Alternatively, you can either use the bundled 2.4GHz dongle or a wired connection to hook up the mouse to your console.
In terms of battery backup, the mouse can last a whopping 420 hours on Bluetooth and up to 140 hours when paired via the 2.4GHz dongle. As far as the design goes, the Alienware AW720M offers a symmetrical layout, which will not go unnoticed by left-handed users or gamers vying for a mouse with an ambidextrous grip.
The mouse gets a pair of buttons on each side, contributing to a total of eight fully programmable buttons. The 26,000 DPI sensor can be easily controlled via the Alienware Command Center app. However, similar to other mice on this list, you’ll have to use a secondary Windows machine to set up the mouse to your liking.
FAQs About Best Mouse for Steam Deck
Essentially, yes. The Steam Deck comes with support for Bluetooth, so you can pair your wireless mouse with it. Alternatively, if your mouse requires a USB dongle or is wired only, you can connect it to your Steam Deck with the help of an adapter or docking station.
Having a gaming mouse with your Steam Deck isn’t a necessity, but it can be an incredibly handy accessory, especially for certain genres of games. If you’re into first-person shooters or strategy games that demand precise aiming and control, using a gaming mouse can truly give you a competitive edge.
Yes, you can connect your wired mouse to the Steam Deck’s USB-C port via an adapter, or a USB Hub.
Ultimately, the best gaming mouse for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, some of the top options include Logitech G502X Plus, Razer Viper V2 Pro, SteelSeries Aerox 9, Glorious Model O, etc.
Unfortunately, no. At the time of writing, no major mouse manufacturer makes companion software that is supported by Linux, which is the backbone of SteamOS. However, all the mice mentioned on this list come with onboard memory. As such, you can use a secondary Windows machine to configure the profiles, and then use your mouse seamlessly with the Steam Deck.
Boosted Precision, Enhanced Gameplay
PC peripherals like a gaming mouse arguably offer smoother movement and precise aiming as opposed to controllers. Whether you fancy a nice wired gaming mouse or a Bluetooth mouse for Steam Deck, there’s something for everyone.
So, which Steam Deck Mouse will you be going with? Let us know in the comments below.
Last updated on 12 June, 2023
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