The Most Customizable Mice for 2023

Customizable keyboards have become a fan favorite in recent years, and it seems like customizable mice are starting to catch on as well. However, with the limited options, it is hard to find mice that offer physical customization options that fit the features to make it on this list, so Game Rant has included RGB customization and programmable buttons to the list of features to consider in a customizable mouse.

Whether looking for a mouse that can be changed and tinker with every physical component of it or have the RGB lighting fit the vibe of one’s desk, this list will cover it all. Also, for those who are looking for a customizable keyboard to go with a new mouse, be sure to check out this list of the most customizable keyboards.

When gamers are searching for their next customizable gaming mouse, be sure to keep these points in mind:

• Connection Type: Is the mouse wired or wireless?
• Ergonomics: How is the mouse shaped? Is it intended for right or left-handed use?
• Customizability: How much can gamers make the mouse their own?

Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Adjustable Wired Gaming Mouse

Best Overall Customizable Mouse

The Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Adjustable Wired Gaming Mouse offers gamers an extraordinarily unique and customizable design. The R.A.T. 8+ has a 16,000 DPI sensor and durable switches rated to last over 50 million clicks. The mouse features an adjustable palm rest to accommodate a variety of grip styles and swappable parts including alternative pinkie rests. In addition, the R.A.T. 8 has an adjustable weight system to suit both MMO and FPS titles. The R.A.T. 8 provides the flexibility of 11 programmable buttons, 4 internally stored user profiles, and Chameleon RGB software to customize lighting effects. 

Weight

157 grams

Sensor and DPI

Optical, 16000

Switches

OMRON switches

RGB Lighting

Yes

Programmable Buttons

11

Connectivity

Wired, USB

Wireless

No

Pros

• Tons of customization options
• Accurate sensor
• Onboard memory

A vast majority of gamers might recognize the name Mad Catz as the company that makes all those crazy-looking third-party controllers. While the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ looks wild, it also has an incredible number of customization options and excellent performance. Starting with the physical customization options, this mouse can change the height and length of the palm rests and circular weights, allowing users to dial in the mouse to their exact liking.

Gamers can customize the RGB lighting, keybinding, and DPI using the software, but that is pretty standard with gaming mice. What makes the R.A.T. 8+ different is the ability to change the height at which the laser will continue reporting movement when the mouse is lifted off a surface. Plus, it has onboard memory to ensure gamers have access to all the custom settings even when plugged into a computer without the software installed.

When it comes to gaming, the Mad Catz R.A.T 8+ offers fairly low click latency and accurate tracking, making it excellent for most game types. The heavier weight of 157 grams makes it hard to recommend for FPS gamers. However, users should not be as bothered by the heavier weight in MMOs and slower-paced games.

Asus ROG Chakram Wireless Gaming Mouse

Best Wireless Customizable Mouse

Asus ROG Chakram Core is a wireless gaming mouse with a 16,000 DPI sensor, a 1000 Hz polling rate, and 400 IPS tracking. It features a removable and programmable thumbstick, adjustable weight, and socket design which allows the removal and replacement of buttons and covers.

Certified by Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, it delivers real-time performance thanks to optical sensors. Asus ROG Chakram Core features four buttons, a multipurpose thumbstick, a wheel, and a dedicated DPS button

Weight

121.6 grams

Sensor and DPI

Pixart 335

RGB Lighting

3 RGB zones

Programmable Buttons

11

Connectivity

USB Type-A, 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)

Wireless

Yes

Battery Life

19.5 Hours

DPI

100 – 16,000 CPI

Polling Rate

1,000 Hz

Pros

• USB-C and Qi charging
• Easily swappable parts

Cons

• Removable mouse buttons feel a bit clunky
• Expensive

With the included tweezers from ROG, it is incredibly easy to pluck out a switch and replace it with a new one. Currently, there are only two options for different tactile feelings, but some older PC gaming fans might remember when Kalih was the only company that offered reliable keyboard switches. If more and more mice follow suit with the Chakram, gamers can expect to see more switch options for mice quickly appear on the horizon.

The high polling rate and low lift-off distance make the Chakram a joy to game with, regardless of the genre, but this is not the mouse for fans of lightweight mice. Weighing in at 121 grams, this is not the heaviest mouse out there, but it is certainly not the lightest by any stretch. This mouse is incredibly comfortable for most gamers and grip types; however, gamers with smaller hands might find it difficult to reach the joystick using any grip type.

Cougar 700M EVO Gaming Mouse

Best Wired Customizable Mouse

The Cougar 700M EVO Gaming Mouse takes all the customization, ergonomics, and extensive functionality that the original 700M offers but with a new and improved sensor. The PMW3389 sensor offers support of up to 16,000 DPI delivering accurate tracking.

The aluminum frame gives the Cougar 700M EVO high durability while still being relatively lightweight. Plus, users can fully customize the position of the palm rest and the mouse’s weight to ensure it is the perfect fit for every gamer.

Weight

105 grams

Sensor and DPI

PMW3389 optical gaming sensor

Switches

50M OMRON

RGB Lighting

2-Zone RGB system

Programmable Buttons

8 Programmable Buttons

Connectivity

USB 3.0 Cable

Wireless

No

DPI

16,000 DPI

IPS

400 IPS

Polling Rate

2000Hz

Acceleration

50G

Pros

• Extremely well built
• Customizable palm rest

Cons

• Design style is not for everyone

While wired gaming mice aren’t the new hotness when it comes to gaming mice, they are always a reliable standby. The Cougar 700M Evo is an incredibly well-built mouse made entirely of aluminum. Besides the build quality, this mouse also features a customizable palm rest like the Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+. Regardless of the grip used (palm, claw, or fingertip grip), this mouse can be adjusted to fit anybody’s hand perfectly. Plus, if the standard palm grip is not to one’s liking, it can be swapped out for a smaller rest to have less contact with a user’s palm. With the amount of ergonomic customization this mouse offers, some users may find themselves constantly fiddling with it to try to get the best configuration, but for gamers who like to tinker, this mouse is an excellent choice.

The 700M Evo features 8 programmable buttons, including a dedicated sniper and fire button on the right-hand side of the mouse. Many FPS-orientated mice include a sniper button to temporarily drop the DPI to make aiming accurately easy, but not all implementations of this are as good as the 700M Evo. Regardless of hand size, gamers can easily press both of these buttons with their thumb, but it is so well-placed that accidental presses are not a concern.

Gaming on this mouse is an incredible experience, it is incredibly comfortable, and thanks to some high-performance specs, the 700M Evo can hold its own with more premium gaming mice. Thanks to the 2,000Hz polling rate and accurate Pixart sensor, gamers can rely on this mouse for a fun gaming experience that will not disappoint.

The Logitech G203 is one of the best budget-friendly gaming mice available. Logitech can create affordable mice that feel incredibly high-quality and not like they are $25. While the G203 might not be the most obvious for a customizable mouse, it sports a couple of features making it deserving to be on this list.

RELATED: Best Budget Gaming Mice

The LIGHTSYNC RGB technology synchronizes lighting and game profiles with content. Using the G Hub software, this mouse can glow with 16.3 million colors and connect with all other G Hub-compatible devices. Second is the onboard memory, which tends to be an overlooked feature. Onboard memory makes a huge difference for any user with multiple computers or gamers who regularly go to gaming cafés, so they don’t have to customize the mouse each time it’s plugged into a new computer.

Despite its low price point, the G203 also offers excellent gaming performance, with a very low click latency and an accurate sensor. The high-quality feet allow this mouse to slide easily across most surfaces, but the rubber cable does get caught occasionally. This mouse has an ambidextrous design, so both left and right-handed gamers can comfortably use the G203 regardless of preferred grip style, but gamers with larger hands might find this mouse a bit too small.

The Razer Naga Trinity has been called the Swiss Army Knife of mice. With three swappable side plates, this mouse can fit every gamer and game type. So whether used for playing FPS or MMO games, gamers will find a layout that works best for them. Most FPS fans will probably find themselves using the 2 button side panel, which has an excellent feel. The ergonomic hump makes it feel nice in hand. However, for those gamers with smaller hands, this mouse might be a bit hard to palm or even claw grip.

RELATED: Best Razer Gaming MiceThis wired mouse has a very low click latency which is great for fast-paced gaming. However, the cable is a bit stiff, which can create some drag when moving the mouse, so it might be worth it to pick up a mouse bungee to get the most out of this mouse. Because of the swappable side plates, the Naga Trinity is also an excellent choice for MMO gamers, but it is more of a hybrid mouse than a dedicated MMO mouse.

Despite being out of the GPU game, EVGA is still putting out quality products. The EVGA X15 is an excellent fit for any MMO gamer. Users can reprogram all 20 buttons with the easy-to-use software. The 20 buttons on the side of this mouse can be intimidating to some gamers, but for those MMO or macro lovers, having that much possibility is amazing to see. Besides the primary buttons, there are 10 buttons on the left-hand side, two ring-finger buttons, and two buttons behind the scroll wheel. Using EVGA’s software, gamers can reprogram every button with custom macros.

Performance-wise, its 8,000 Hz polling rate is outstanding compared to many other mice on the market. Unlike other EVGA X mice the liftoff distance is not customizable, but by default, it is fairly low. Gamers can expect to have pinpoint accuracy with the X15, but sometimes the rigid cable can get a bit in the way. For those gamers that have smaller hands, this mouse is slightly too large for long gaming sessions but overall feels great in hand.

The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE is an overall impressive mouse, plus its excellent RGB lighting makes it an easy winner for this spot on the list. With nine customizable RGB zones – one is a long strip that wraps along the two side buttons – it looks incredible. In Game Rant’s review of the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE, we found that Corsair’s iCue software provides gamers with an excellent amount of customization options, including extensive RGB lighting options and programming the buttons.

The PixArt PAW3392 sensor in this mouse supports up to 18KDPI and has a max polling rate of 2,000Hz. Gamers can adjust the DPI by increments of 1 in the iCue software, which really allows gamers to dial in the right settings for them. In-game, the Dark Core RGB Pro SE really shines, and despite having a slightly off-center sensor, it is incredibly accurate over both wireless and wired connections.

Both palm and claw grip users can use this mouse comfortably, but the palm grip feels better for longer sessions. On the right side of the mouse, there is a removable panel that hides the slot for the RF USB receiver, which can also be replaced with an optional pinky support wing. This little extra grip makes it easy, especially for those with smaller hands, so the user’s pinky is resting instead of just floating in the air straining.

For gamers who are looking for an ultra-lightweight mouse that can be customized in and out, the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo Gen 2 is easily the best option. On the Pwnage website, each component’s colors and material can be customized to fit anybody’s style perfectly. Pwnage also offers a cover set that comes with another complete set of pieces to swap in and out at any time. Weighing only 68 grams without the battery and 73 grams with it, this mouse is incredibly light. The Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo Gen 2 will make any ultra-lightweight mouse fan happy.

Performance-wise, the Pwnage Ultra Custom Ergo Gen 2 is quite impressive; it has a very low lift-off distance and a broad DPI range. Unfortunately, the DPI can only be changed in increments of 100 which doesn’t give a ton of options for gamers to pick out the best DPI setting for them. Compared to other ultra-lightweight mice, this mouse does have a somewhat higher click latency, but it is quite improved over previous generations of the Ultra Custom Ergo.

RELATED: Best FPS Gaming Mouse

This mouse is pretty comfortable for all hand sizes and grip types. However, palm grip is most comfortable for gamers with smaller hands; users with larger hands might feel a bit cramped using a palm grip.

The Logitech MX Ergo Trackball mouse is designed to be extremely comfortable, regardless of hand size. With its customizable tilt angle, pretty much any gamer can find an angle that works best for them. Other vertical mice do not give the option of what angle one’s hands sit, so it’s hard to tell if it’s the right fit before trying. However, this mouse is only really intended to be used with a palm grip so fingertip and claw grip users will not find this mouse ideal.

This mouse is not designed for gaming, but that doesn’t mean it can’t game at all. Instead of moving the MX Ergo Trackball around like a traditional mouse, users instead roll a trackball with their thumb to move the cursor. This is not for everyone, but some gamers have found that this actually works quite well for them after some practice. To the MX Ergo Trackball’s credit, it does have fairly low click latency and a wide DPI range; however, the polling rate does not go over 125Hz.

RELATED: The Best Ergonomic Gaming Mice

Although the trackball can be hard to get used to, after a couple of days of using it, the weirdness starts to fade away. For those gamers who are feeling hesitant about an ergo gaming mouse, be sure to check out Game Rant’s in-depth look at whether a vertical mouse is worth it.

The Logitech G903 has excellent performance and incredible customization options, making it an easy pick for this category. The side buttons can be placed on either side, accommodating left-handers and righties in a pinch! Using Logitech’s G Hub software, gamers can reprogram every button on this mouse. These side buttons are some of the best in the market, too, which is surprising based on how long ago the G903 came out.

RELATED: Best Logitech Gaming Mice

Whether wired or wireless, this is a top-tier mouse thanks to Logitech’s trusted optical sensor that reaches 12,000 DPI. While that isn’t the widest DPI range, gamers can adjust the DPI by increments of 1 to dial in the perfect settings. The G903 lightspeed has a very low click latency, so when paired with the impressive sensor performance, gaming is an absolute joy, even for those fast-paced FPS games.

The G903 Lightspeed is comfortable for most hand sizes and grip types. However, gamers with smaller hands might find it hard to reach the side buttons when using a fingertip grip.

How To Choose The Best Customizable Mouse

Connectivity

Although there are a lot of aspects where a mouse can be customized, the connection types offered are usually a bit harder to change after the fact. So when it comes to picking a new mouse, be sure to choose whichever connection will work best regardless of how the mouse is used.

Wireless mice are perfect for those gamers that don’t want to have a cable cluttering their desk and don’t mind having to charge the mouse every so often. Wired mice are the ideal fit for gamers that don’t want to leave any performance on the table, want lighting-fast polling rates, and don’t really mind having a cable on their desk. That being said, wireless mice aren’t explicitly that much slower than their wired counterparts, but to get similar performance (most of the time), wireless mice will be a bit more expensive.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of a mouse is, unfortunately, not a one-size-fits-all kind of category. A mouse that is ergonomic to some users might be painful to others, and the best way to find that out is to test a couple of different mouse shapes and types. For those gamers that haven’t used a bunch of different mice before, Game Rant highly recommends going into a physical store where it is possible to try out a couple of different designs and shapes to see which one works best and then go from there.

Luckily, a lot of the customization options with mice are ergonomic. Sometimes gamers will find mice like the MAD CATZ R.A.T. 8+, where every aspect of the shape can be dialed to fit any hand best. For users that don’t want to mess around with a mouse that much, something like the Corsair Dark Core Pro RGB might be better.

Customization can sometimes be a curse and a blessing. Sure, gamers can customize a mouse to their heart’s content, but where does it stop? Finding a mouse that can accomplish all its user’s needs, and doesn’t feel the pressure to modify or change it constantly, means that is the right mouse.

Customization

Finally, last (but certainly not least) – and most of the reason we are here – is the customization of a mouse. Customization can mean a lot of different things to different gamers. For some, it is just being able to change the RGB lighting. To others, it is fully customizing every aspect of the mouse, like with the Cougar 700M Evo.

To make sure gamers are picking out a mouse that hits the number of customization points needed for an excellent experience, Game Rant finds it easiest to make a checklist. Before starting to shop for a customizable mouse, use this checklist below as a reference; feel free to add to it or take away points that don’t align. Make sure every mouse is hitting at least these points, and if they go above and beyond, that’s perfect.

• Can the RGB lighting be customized?
• Does the software that comes with the mouse allow for customization of specs like DPI, Lift off Distance (LOD), and polling rate?
• Can the ergonomics of the mouse be customized?

FAQ

Q: Can you make a custom mouse?

People can make custom mice, but there is much less support for DIY mice than for DIY keyboards. So before opting to build your mouse entirely, we recommend checking out one of these mice.

Q: Why is the G502 so popular?

Logitech’s G502 lineup has a highly accurate sensor and switches, a slightly larger size typical of a gaming mouse, and a strong-looking design. Yet, it is light and fits comfortably in hand, making it a favorite among a wide range of gamers.

Q: Can you customize Razer mouse?

Some Razer mice, like the Naga Trinity are fully customizable with hot swap side panels, others just have RGB lighting and reprogrammable keys.