Top 10 gaming gear: mice, keyboards, IEMs and headphones
UPDATED 2026-10-11
Ranked by points from several independent sources: enthusiast reviewers, measurements, pro usage data and buying guides. Not the usual big brands (Logitech, Razer, Zowie, Corsair, SteelSeries, HyperX, Asus and Sony are left out on purpose), and not “best of” sites that rank whatever pays the most.
Gear will not fix a bad connection. If you are not sure whether it was lag or you, run the test first.
Mice
Three sources: one FPS reviewer's full 60-mouse ranking, how many of 2,431 professional players use the mouse, and ProSettings' own review rating. Variants (sizes, revisions, colors) are grouped into one family.
| How the points work | Max | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket Jump Ninja rank | 40 | Best-ranked variant, out of 60. Rank 1 = 40 points, rank 60 = 0. |
| Pro adoption | 30 | Professional players using any variant, on a log scale. 40 or more pros = 30 points. |
| ProSettings review | 30 | Their review rating out of 5. |
Pro usage partly reflects sponsorships, and the mice that rank high with the reviewer but have no pro users or no ProSettings review score lower here. That is the point of using several sources.
- 1
Lamzu Maya X
92 pts47-48 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #9 of 6041 pros use itProSettings 4.5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 2
VAXEE ZYGEN NP-01S
90 pts57 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #11 of 6025 pros use itProSettings 5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 3
Lamzu Maya (8K)
85 pts46 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #10 of 6012 pros use itProSettings 5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 4
Pulsar X2 CrazyLight
81 pts37 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #4 of 6014 pros use itProSettings 3.5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 5
Lamzu Thorn
80 pts52 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #17 of 6012 pros use itProSettings 5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 6
VAXEE E1
72 pts61 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #27 of 6014 pros use itProSettings 4.5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 7
Finalmouse UltralightX
65 pts35-40 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #1 of 6020 pros use it
Often sold out: Finalmouse releases in limited drops (our understanding, not verified).
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 8
VAXEE XE / XE-S
62 pts61 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #51 of 6023 pros use itProSettings 5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 9
Endgame Gear OP1 line
59 pts50-58 G
Rocket Jump Ninja #43 of 6011 pros use itProSettings 4.5/5
2 sources: Rocket Jump Ninja top mice, ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 10
Pulsar eS FS-1
49 ptsMADE WITH VAXEE
15 pros use itProSettings 4.5/5
1 source: ProSettings mouse list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG
Keyboards
Only rapid-trigger (Hall effect / analog) boards, since that is the main competitive difference. The pool is small: Wooting dominates pro usage, and most other boards have almost no pro users.
| How the points work | Max | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Pro adoption | 35 | Professional players using the board, log scale. 400 pros = 35 points. |
| ProSettings review | 25 | Their review rating out of 5. |
| Measured latency praise | 20 | RTINGS lab review calling out low, consistent latency. |
| Written review verdict | 20 | A positive conclusion in a ProSettings or TechPowerUp review. |
Places 1 to 3 are well supported. Anything marked "limited evidence" is there because we could not find more independent coverage, not because it is bad.
- 1
Wooting 80HE
100 pts80% · HALL EFFECT
399 pros use itProSettings 5/5RTINGS: low, consistent latencypositive written review
3 sources: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros), RTINGS 80HE review, TechPowerUp review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 2
Wooting 60HE+
77 pts60% · HALL EFFECT
228 pros use itProSettings 5/5positive written review
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 3
Wooting 60HE v2
75 pts60% · HALL EFFECT
168 pros use itProSettings 5/5positive written review
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros), ProSettings review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 4
IQUNIX EV63 HE
37 pts65% · HALL EFFECT
10 pros use itProSettings 4.5/5limited evidence
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 5
Wooting Two HE
33 ptsFULL SIZE · HALL EFFECT
8 pros use itpositive written reviewlimited evidence
2 sources: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros), TechPowerUp review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 6
Pulsar eS HE 70
22 pts70% · HALL EFFECT
1 pros use itProSettings 3.5/5limited evidence
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 7
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
20 pts60% · HALL EFFECT OR TMR
RTINGS: low, consistent latencylimited evidence
1 source: RTINGS comparison
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 8
NuPhy Field75 HE
20 pts75% · HALL EFFECT
RTINGS: low, consistent latencylimited evidence
1 source: RTINGS review
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 9
Pulsar PCMK 2 HE TKL
12 ptsTKL · HALL EFFECT
7 pros use itlimited evidence
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 10
ATK EDGE 60HE
6 pts60% · HALL EFFECT
2 pros use itlimited evidence
1 source: ProSettings keyboard list (2,431 pros)
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG
In-ear monitors (IEMs)
Up to $400. Crinacle grades sound quality (his IEM ranking is from 2023, so newer models are ungraded there), SoundGuys tested IEMs specifically for gaming in 2026, and Headphones.com published a 2026 budget pick.
| How the points work | Max | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Crinacle sound grade | 35 | Average of his tone and technical grades (technical covers imaging and resolution). |
| Crinacle value rating | 10 | His 1 to 3 star price-to-performance rating. |
| SoundGuys gaming guide | 45 | Best overall or best for competitive shooters = 45, other category winner = 30, notable mention = 15. |
| Headphones.com 2026 pick | 10 | Named one of the best budget IEMs of 2026. |
Fit and seal matter more for IEMs than for any other gear, and nobody can score that for you. Technically strong IEMs without a gaming test (such as the 7Hz Timeless) rank on sound grade alone.
- 1
Truthear Hexa
48 pts$80
Crinacle A+ tone · B technicalSoundGuys gaming guide
2 sources: Crinacle IEM ranking, SoundGuys best IEMs for gaming 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 2
Oriveti Dynabird
45 pts$100
SoundGuys gaming guide
SoundGuys' best overall IEM for gaming and runner-up for competitive shooters.
1 source: SoundGuys best IEMs for gaming 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 3
7Hz Timeless
36 pts$220 · PLANAR
Crinacle A tone · A technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle IEM ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 4
Etymotic ER2SE / ER2XR
33 pts$110
Crinacle A tone · B+ technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle IEM ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 5
Tangzu Zetian Wu
33 pts$150 · PLANAR
Crinacle A- tone · A- technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle IEM ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 6
DUNU Titan S
31 pts$80
Crinacle A- tone · B technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle IEM ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 7
Moondrop Chu
31 pts$20
Crinacle A+ tone · C+ technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle IEM ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 8
Meze Audio Alba
30 ptsSoundGuys gaming guidelimited evidence
SoundGuys pick for action and adventure games.
1 source: SoundGuys best IEMs for gaming 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 9
Moondrop Chu II
30 ptsBUDGET
SoundGuys gaming guidelimited evidence
SoundGuys pick for cozy games.
1 source: SoundGuys best IEMs for gaming 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 10
Truthear Gate
30 ptsBUDGET
SoundGuys gaming guidelimited evidence
SoundGuys pick for dialogue-heavy and story games.
1 source: SoundGuys best IEMs for gaming 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG
Over-ear headphones and headsets
Up to about $500. Open-back headphones need a separate microphone; the two true headsets (Maxwell 2, PC38X) have one built in.
| How the points work | Max | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Crinacle sound grade | 35 | Average of his tone and technical grades (his table is from 2023; newer models are ungraded). |
| Crinacle value rating | 10 | His 1 to 3 star price-to-performance rating. |
| Headphones.com open-back guide | 25 | Included in their curated $200-500 open-back guide. |
| SoundGuys gaming-headset guide | 30 | Best sound quality for gamers = 30, named open-back pick = 25, notable mention = 15. |
This list is led by sound quality, which is what the enthusiast sources measure. Positional accuracy in games is subjective, and ties are broken by gaming-specific mentions.
- 1
Sennheiser HD 6XX (HD 650)
58 pts~$220 · OPEN-BACK
Crinacle A+ tone · B technicalHeadphones.com guide
Photo: Lucasbosch, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Shown: HD 650, the same headphone as the HD 6XX. Resized.
2 sources: Crinacle headphone ranking, Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 2
Sennheiser HD 600
57 pts$449 · OPEN-BACK
Crinacle S- tone · B+ technicalHeadphones.com guide
Photo: Ulfbastel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
2 sources: Crinacle headphone ranking, Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 3
Hifiman Sundara
55 pts$279 · PLANAR, OPEN-BACK
Crinacle A+ tone · B technicalHeadphones.com guide
2 sources: Crinacle headphone ranking, Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 4
AKG K612 Pro
35 pts$200 · OPEN-BACK
Crinacle S- tone · B technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle headphone ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 5
Audeze Maxwell 2
30 ptsCLOSED-BACK · WIRELESS · MIC
SoundGuys gaming guidelimited evidence
SoundGuys: best sound quality for gamers.
1 source: SoundGuys best gaming headsets 2026
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 6
AKG K371
28 pts$150 · CLOSED-BACK
Crinacle A tone · B- technicallimited evidence
1 source: Crinacle headphone ranking
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 7
Drop + EPOS PC38X
25 ptsOPEN-BACK · BOOM MIC
SoundGuys gaming guidelimited evidence
SoundGuys: a great open-back gaming headset. Opinions differ on its gaming soundstage.
2 sources: SoundGuys best gaming headsets 2026, Crinacle's first impressions
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 8
FiiO FT1 Pro
25 pts$199 · OPEN-BACK
Headphones.com guidelimited evidence
1 source: Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 9
Hifiman Edition XS
25 pts$269 · PLANAR, OPEN-BACK
Headphones.com guidelimited evidence
1 source: Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG - 10
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
25 pts$379 · OPEN-BACK
Headphones.com guidelimited evidence
1 source: Headphones.com open-back guide $200-500
View on Amazon.de WERBUNG
What this list is, and is not
- It is a consensus score, not a test. We did not buy or test any of this gear ourselves.
- Sources we could not read: Reddit (r/MouseReview, r/MechanicalKeyboards, r/headphones) and Head-Fi block automated access, and TechPowerUp blocks it behind a bot check. What those communities think is not reflected in the points. We did not try to get around any of that.
- Crinacle’s rankings (2023) predate many current IEMs and headphones, so newer models can only earn points from the buying guides. IEMs up to $400 and headphones up to about $500 are included, to keep it realistic for gamers.
- Pro usage data comes from ProSettings.net (2,431 professional players, October 2026). Professionals are often sponsored, so adoption is one signal of three or four, never the whole score.
- Some links on this page are affiliate links (marked “Werbung”). If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Whether a product has an affiliate program played no part in its score. Amazon links go to Amazon.de search results for the product; some products, especially from small brands, may not be stocked there. Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)