Current mouse feeling a bit ratty?Chris Rowlandsis here with some pointers to help you find one you’ll really click with…

GAMING GAINS

The weightless weapon

Razer Viper V3 Pro

Fast fingers will only get you so far in an online melee. Get the upper hand with this under your, er, hand: light as a feather at 54g, the Viper is built for lethal speed and accuracy. Its pro-grade profile even includes finger grooves to give your digits extra grip. £160/razer.com

The pro peripheral

Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2

A sensitive gamer will be upset when they lose; a sensitive gaming mouse will help make sure they don’t. Equipped with Logitech’s Hero 2 sensor, this one is capable of an ultra-sharp 44,000dpi, while hybrid switches combine clicky feel with optical efficiency. £125/logitechg.com

The illuminated inputter

Corsair Nightsabre

Shiny lights don’t make you a better competitor… but like the LED strips on a boy racer’s hatchback, they do make you feel like one. Customise the Nightsabre’s seven RGB zones through the iCUE software for a glow show that’s more Corsa than Corsair. £150/corsair.com

PRODUCTIVE POINTERS

The rapid recharger

HP 510

Bring this one in for a three-minute pitstop and it’ll prove itself an endurance star: one USB-C splash-and-dash yields up to 30 days of usage. A shell made of 70% recycled plastic makes it a squeaky-clean mouse, and it’ll work on almost any surface. £40/hp.com

The silenced selector

Xiaomi Mi Dual Mode Silent Edition

Heavy-handed clicking is one way to earn the ire of a librarian. Don’t want to get kicked out of the quiet section – or, worse, shushed by someone else? Try the hushed buttons on this tidy wireless mouse. Best of all, it’s yours for the cost of a new paperback. £10/buy.mi.com

SUPPORTIVE SCROLLERS

The angled accessory

JLab JBuds Ergonomic

The human hand was designed to rest sideways, not flat down on a desk. That’s why this wireless mouse is tilted to 52°: it reduces the strain on your wrist, making you much more comfortable (and ready to give a happy thumbs-up to your boss/spouse/cat). £40/jlab.com

The contoured controller

Keychron M6

The three bears didn’t work from home, so Goldilocks never tried out their mice. If she had, this is the one she’d have picked: it lets you switch between precision and infinite scrolling, and the curved top matches the contours of your palm. Just right. £49/keychron.uk

The thumb thing

ProtoArc EM05 NL

True professionals need to be on the ball when thumbing through documents. Designed for folk who prefer spherical navigation, this mouse has a trackball that lets you browse around using only your thumb. A 62° tilt means your wrist can rest easy while you flick away. £45/protoarc.com

The handsome handful

Lofree OE909 Touch

If Emmett Brown needed a new mouse, this is probably the one he’d go for. With an off-white finish straight out of the ’80s, it’s got a real whiff of classic Macintosh. An OLED readout adds a dose of today’s tech, displaying sensitivity and battery info, while the rounded back balances the boxy bits with curved ergonomics. For true geeks, the only thing cuter than this would be having a real mouse living on your desk. £44/uk.whatgeek.com

HOW TODECIDE

1Push it

Shortcuts aren’t just for gamers: custom macros can streamline your workflow. Many of the mice above feature mappable buttons to boost your productivity.

2Sense it

Sensitivity of 1500dpi is fine for websites and spreadsheets, but virtual snipers should look for upwards of 20,000. The best mice let you select different levels for different demands.

3Hold it

Ambidextrous mice work both ways, while ergonomic numbers are sculpted to fit a certain grip. You might even get on best with a wrist-relieving vertical design.

4Charge it

Every mouse above has a built-in rechargeable battery. Longevity depends on usage: most gaming mice are good for an 80hr marathon; everyday clickers can go up to a year or more.