Short answer: the Razer Naga V3 Pro is the most flexible gaming mouse with side buttons in 2026 because it lets you swap between 2-, 6- and 12-button side plates. If you mainly play MMOs, the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE and SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless are excellent 12-button alternatives.
If you only need a few extra thumb buttons for shooters or general gaming, a mouse such as the Logitech G502 X Plus is easier to manage than a full MMO grid.
Best gaming mice with side buttons at a glance
| Mouse | Side-button style | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Razer Naga V3 Pro | Swappable 2 / 6 / 12-button plates | Best overall / multiple genres |
| Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE | Adjustable 12-button thumb grid | Best dedicated MMO mouse |
| SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless | 12-button side panel | Best lightweight MMO option |
| Logitech G502 X Plus | Several thumb controls; 13 programmable controls total | Best for FPS, RPG and everyday use |
| Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition | 12-button thumb grid | Best true left-handed MMO option |
1. Razer Naga V3 Pro — best overall
Razer launched the Naga V3 Pro in August 2026, and it is exactly the kind of mouse this article should now lead with.
Its biggest advantage is the modular side-button system:
- 2-button plate: FPS and everyday use;
- 6-button plate: MOBAs, battle royale and ability-heavy action games;
- 12-button plate: MMOs and macro-heavy games.
Razer says the V3 Pro supports up to 23 programmable buttons across its controls, includes five onboard profiles and uses a Focus Pro 50K optical sensor.
That makes it far more versatile than the old Razer Naga Trinity featured in the original version of this article. The basic idea is similar, but the V3 Pro is the current generation.
See the official Razer Naga V3 Pro page.
Why choose it?
- One mouse can cover MMO, MOBA and FPS layouts.
- Magnetic side plates swap without tools.
- Up to 23 programmable controls.
- Wireless HyperSpeed and Bluetooth support.
- Five onboard profiles.
Main downside
You are paying for flexibility. If you know you will always use a 12-button MMO grid, a simpler fixed-layout mouse can be better value.
2. Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE — best dedicated MMO mouse
The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE is built around a permanent 12-button thumb grid rather than swappable plates.
Its standout feature is Corsair’s Key Slider: the entire 12-button cluster can move forward or backward to line up better with your thumb.
Corsair lists:
- 12 adjustable side buttons;
- 16 programmable buttons in total;
- 33K Marksman S optical sensor;
- 2.4GHz Slipstream wireless and Bluetooth;
- three onboard profiles.
For MMO players who want a dense side grid but struggle to reach the first or last row on fixed mice, that adjustable cluster is genuinely useful.
See the official Scimitar Elite Wireless SE page.
3. SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless — best lightweight MMO option
The SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless gives you a full 12-button side panel while keeping the shell much more open and lightweight than traditional MMO bricks.
SteelSeries lists 18 programmable buttons in total. The 12-button thumb panel is designed for ability rotations, macros and action bars.
This is the model I would look at if you like MMO controls but dislike the heavy, solid feel of older multi-button mice.
See the official SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless page.
Main downside
The side grid still takes practice. Twelve buttons under one thumb are powerful only after you build muscle memory for their positions.
4. Logitech G502 X Plus — best for fewer side buttons
Not everybody needs a 12-button number pad attached to their mouse.
The Logitech G502 X Plus is a better fit for players who want a handful of extra controls for push-to-talk, melee, abilities, DPI shifting or productivity shortcuts without turning the entire thumb rest into a keypad.
Logitech lists 13 programmable controls in total, configured through G HUB.
It also uses Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED wireless system and LIGHTFORCE hybrid switches.
See the official Logitech G502 X Plus page.
Who should choose it?
Choose this style of mouse if you mainly play:
- FPS games;
- action RPGs;
- battle royale games;
- single-player games;
- a mix of gaming and everyday PC work.
For most players outside MMOs, two to six convenient thumb-side controls are easier to learn than a full 12-button grid.
5. Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition — best for left-handed MMO players
The Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition deserves a place here because true left-handed MMO mice are extremely rare.
It uses a genuine left-handed ergonomic shell and places its 12-button thumb grid on the correct side for a left-handed grip. Razer lists 19+1 programmable buttons, onboard profiles and Synapse remapping.
This is not merely an ambidextrous shell with buttons on both sides. It is specifically shaped for left-handed use.
See the official Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition page.
Budget alternative: Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed
If you want the classic 12-button MMO layout without buying the newest flagship Naga, the Naga V2 HyperSpeed remains a useful alternative.
It has a fixed 12-button thumb grid, 19 programmable buttons, 2.4GHz HyperSpeed wireless and Bluetooth. Unlike the V3 Pro, it does not give you interchangeable side plates.
Razer still lists it as a current model in 2026.
How many side buttons do you actually need?
More buttons are not automatically better.
| Side buttons | Best use |
|---|---|
| 2 | FPS, browser forward/back, push-to-talk, melee |
| 4–6 | RPGs, MOBAs, battle royale, mixed gaming |
| 12 | MMOs, complex macros, productivity shortcuts |
A 12-button MMO grid makes sense when you regularly use enough hotkeys to justify it. If you only bind reload and melee, most of that grid is wasted.
Which gaming mouse has the most side buttons?
Among mainstream current models, several MMO mice use a 12-button thumb grid. That remains the practical maximum for a dedicated side panel.
The newest Razer Naga V3 Pro can expose 12 side buttons at once and offers up to 23 programmable controls across the whole mouse.
The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE also gives you 12 side buttons, while the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless combines its 12-button panel with 18 programmable controls overall.
The old article called the discontinued Logitech G600 the mouse with the most buttons. It was famous for its 20-button layout, but it is no longer the product I would build a current buying guide around.
Are wireless gaming mice still slower than wired?
No — not as a general rule.
The old version of this article recommended wired mice mainly because batteries could die and wireless connections were assumed to be slower.
Modern gaming wireless systems such as Razer HyperSpeed, Logitech LIGHTSPEED, Corsair Slipstream and SteelSeries 2.4GHz gaming wireless are designed for low-latency use. A good current wireless gaming mouse is entirely suitable for competitive play.
The real trade-offs are now:
- battery management;
- weight;
- price;
- whether you want Bluetooth as well as 2.4GHz;
- charging method.
If you never want to think about charging, wired still has an obvious advantage. But latency alone is no longer a good reason to dismiss modern wireless gaming mice.
What matters besides button count?
Shape and hand size
A mouse with perfect specifications is useless if the side buttons force your thumb into an uncomfortable position.
This is especially important with 12-button MMO grids. The Corsair Scimitar’s adjustable side panel is useful precisely because thumb reach varies so much between players.
Weight
MMO mice tend to be heavier because of their buttons, larger shells and extra electronics. If you prefer fast, low-effort movement, something like the Aerox 9 may feel more natural than a dense traditional MMO mouse.
Button separation
The biggest problem with 12-button grids is not the number of buttons — it is being able to identify them by touch.
Look for different textures, angles or physical spacing that help you learn where your thumb is without looking down.
Onboard profiles
If you move between computers or different games, onboard memory is valuable. It lets you save mappings directly to the mouse rather than rebuilding everything every time.
Software
- Razer: Synapse
- Corsair: iCUE
- Logitech: G HUB
- SteelSeries: GG / Engine
All let you remap buttons, but the exact macro and profile features differ.
How do you map mouse side buttons?
Install the configuration software for your mouse, select the button you want to change, then assign a keyboard key, mouse action, macro or application shortcut.
For games, I prefer mapping mouse buttons to ordinary keyboard keys rather than building complex game-specific macros unless the game explicitly allows them.
That keeps the setup easy to understand and reduces the chance of creating a macro that violates a game’s competitive rules.
Good side-button layouts by game type
FPS
- Melee
- Push-to-talk
- Grenade
- Ping
MMO
- Primary rotation abilities
- Interrupt
- Defensive cooldowns
- Potions or consumables
- Mount / movement utilities
Productivity
- Copy / paste
- Undo / redo
- Browser navigation
- Media controls
- App-specific shortcuts
Gaming mouse with side buttons FAQ
What is the best mouse with lots of side buttons?
The Razer Naga V3 Pro is the most flexible current option because its 12-, 6- and 2-button plates let one mouse cover several genres.
What is the best 12-button MMO mouse?
The Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE, SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless and Razer Naga models are all strong current choices. The Scimitar stands out for its adjustable thumb-button position.
What is the best mouse with side buttons for FPS games?
For FPS, I would usually choose a mouse with only a few well-placed thumb controls, such as the Logitech G502 X Plus, rather than a 12-button MMO grid.
Are more side buttons better?
Only if you actually use them. Extra buttons add complexity and can make accidental presses more likely.
Can mouse side buttons be used outside games?
Yes. They can be mapped to shortcuts for browsers, editing apps, spreadsheets, media controls and other productivity tasks.
Bottom line
The best number of side buttons depends on the games you play.
For maximum flexibility, the Razer Naga V3 Pro is the standout because you can switch between 2, 6 and 12 side buttons. For a dedicated MMO setup, the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless SE gives you an excellent adjustable 12-button grid. For players who want lots of MMO controls in a lighter design, the SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless is the interesting alternative.
And if you mostly play shooters or general games, do not buy twelve buttons just because twelve sounds better. A smaller set of thumb controls that you can hit reliably is usually the smarter choice.
