Best mouse pads and mats in Australia 2020

The best mouse pads and mats in Australia

• Best overall mouse pad: Corsair MM600
• Best budget mouse pad: Steelseries QcK
• Best gaming mouse pad: Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris
• Best supersized mouse pad: Corsair MM300 Extended Anti-Fray Cloth Gaming Mouse Mat
• Best charging mouse pad: Corsair MM1000 Qi Wireless Charging Mouse Pad

Best overall mouse pad: Corsair MM600

Why we chose it

Corsair's MM600 is a premium-priced mouse pad, but it's one that does a lot to justify its asking price.

It's an extremely durable mouse pad made from aluminium, and it's dual sided, with differing textures on each side. That means you can use it across a variety of tasks or accommodate different users and their preferences simply by flipping it from one side to the other.

Reviewers noted its durable nature, the versatility of those dual sides and the comfortable rubber stoppers that keep it securely on your desk as a big plus for the MM600. However, it lacks any power features and it's not a super-sized model if that's what you need.

Best budget mouse pad: Steelseries QcK

Why we chose it

There are some very cheap mouse pads around, and honestly, if all you want is a surface, then they're probably OK. But if you're going to the trouble of buying a mouse pad, it makes sense to get the most value for your money, and that's where numerous reviewers highlighted SteelSeries' very affordable Steelseries QcK mouse pad.

It's a cloth mouse pad with a rubber base that reviewers liked because the cloth top meant it was very good for tracking mouse movements, while its small size was seen as a bonus for many looking to place it in a home office. Some did note that it has flat edges, not stitched ones, so it's possible to slip your mouse off if you're not careful.

Best gaming mouse pad: Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris

Why we chose it

A gaming mouse pad needs to do a bit more than just track your movements nicely; it should also strike fear into the hearts of your opponents, or at the very least show off just how powerful your own in-game moves are going to be. That's where Corsair's MM800 RGB Polaris stands out; like many "gaming" mouse pads, its big selling point is the inclusion of RGB edge-lighting to dazzle your opponents, but it does a little more than just that.

While it needs USB to connect up power for its lights, it also features a USB out port, so you don't have to sacrifice connectivity in return for your blinkenlights. Of course, not everyone needs flashy lighting, and you do pay a serious price premium for the privilege.

Best Supersized mouse pad: Corsair MM300 Extended Anti-Fray Cloth Gaming Mouse Mat

Why we chose it

When most people think of mouse pads, they're envisaging a square or small rectangle, but there can be some solid benefits in opting for a mouse pad that's much larger. It gives you solid support for other devices and a massive working area to slide your mouse around. That's precisely what the Corsair MM300 Extended offers, with a generous 92.98 x 29.9 x 0.3cm spacing covering just about any mousing need.

Reviewers like its stitched edging, which helps keep everything in order, and the smoothness of its surface for tracking purposes, although they did note the rather prominent Corsair branding as something of a problem in some situations. The surface is also designed to deliberately fade with age, which might not suit your personal style.

Best charging mouse pad: Corsair MM1000 Qi Wireless Charging Mouse Pad

Why we chose it

A mouse pad doesn't just have to be a mouse pad; with the addition of a little power, you can do just a little bit more with it – and we're not just talking funky RGB lighting here either. There are a number of charging-specific mats on the market, most of which just focus on charging a companion mouse continuously, but Corsair's approach is a little different. It uses the Qi standard, which means that it's not just mice but any Qi device, such as your smartphone that can get a power boost while you work.

Reviewers liked its hard and slick surface for everyday mousing purposes too, although that could be an issue if you prefer a softer mouse pad. The Qi charging section doesn't cover the whole mat, either – you've got to remember to drop your wireless charging device specifically on the logo or it won't work.

Methodology

17
Brands considered

36
Products compared

5
Best products chosen

• We compared computer mouse pads that could be purchased online by Australian consumers.
• Mouse pads that were not easy to buy from Australian retailers or merchants selling to Australia were excluded from comparison.
• The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

• Why you can trust our picks

  We compared a total of 36 different mouse pads that were on sale to Australian consumers at the time of writing. This selection included models stocked locally and some that you would have to order in from overseas, which may involve significant wait times. Some mouse pads that were highly regarded by consumers and professional reviewers overseas but that were not easily or readily available to Australians to at least order were excluded from contention.

  Brands that were included for consideration included the following:

  • 3M
  • Amazon
  • Anko
  • Corsair
  • Logitech
  • HP

  • Asus
  • MSI
  • Razer
  • SteelSeries
  • Turtle Beach

  We used our own expertise, drawing on more than 20 years of technology peripheral reviewing as well as the reviews from consumer-focused sites alongside real-world consumer reviews from the likes of Amazon to make our choices for each mouse pad category. What we've assembled as a result is what we consider to be the best mouse pad choices for consumers in Australia.

  We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But Finder may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.

How to compare mouse pads

Improvements in mouse technology – and critically the introduction of optical mice by way of Microsoft more than 20 years ago – have shifted the "need" for a mouse pad into somewhat of a "want" space because most basic mice can track over simple surfaces.

However, where we've seen the most innovation in the mouse pad space has been for gaming mouse pads, where the differences in surface tracking over a reliable area have more impact.

Here's what to consider when choosing your next mouse pad: