When it comes to a gamer’s mouse there are many factors that come into play, and people often overlook how crucial each factor could be to the user. Each mouse is definitely not created equally, the price point for a high end premium mice is well worth it to gamers to make sure they get the desired feel and control they need for their games of choice.
The high quality feeling of a premium device can be rather impactful and comfortable for long gaming sessions, as they are fitted with high quality materials and grips. Some mice even come with special features that may be for performance benefits or aesthetics.
Wired vs Wireless Gaming Mouse
The technology supporting wireless devices these days have advanced dramatically, and make them a formidable contender as your day by day driver. A huge advantage to using a wireless mouse is the freedom of movement that you have as you’re not restricted by the attached wire. The lack of attached cable is great for aesthetics of your gaming setup, and travel. Without a wire to hold you back the freedom can result in greater accuracy.
On the other hand, wired devices have the advantage in terms of response time which can be critical when playing competitively. Wired mice also don’t need to be recharged as they aren’t relying on battery life. Typical wireless devices however have a rather sustainable lengthy battery life and can allow you to play for hours on end without issue.
If you are worried about the restrictions your cord might have, like it getting caught when in a high intense gaming situation, you can add a mouse bungee to your setup for extra freedom and control.
SteelSeries Rival 600
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is a great overall mouse, with a very low lift of distance you can be sure to be as accurate as possible when flicking or moving your mouse in game. This paired with the comfortable rubber grips makes this mouse a delight to use. The Rival 600 is fairly light with good weight distribution, however if you prefer a mouse more on the heavier side you can remove the side panels and add more weight. Another great feature is the 3 buttons located on the left side which come in handy for many games.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz CPI: 100-12,000 Buttons: 7 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless
Logitech took the fan favorite, and well received G502 mouse series and created a wireless version. The G502 LightSpeed wireless mouse uses the HERO 16k DPI sensor, which although such a high DPI isn’t necessary, its a great peace of mind. With the typical G502 11 button setup you can easily program them to assist you with daily tasks or to maximise your skills in game.
The Logitech G502 Lightspeed features RGB lighting that allows you to synchronize your Logitech gear together through their gaming app. You can choose between 16.8M colors or even match the color to your desktop background. If you are using the lighting the battery life should last up to 48 hours, and 60 without before needing to be charged.
Sensor Type: Optical Hero Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 100-16,000 Buttons: 11 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wireless
Glorious Model O
If you’re looking for a light weight mouse then the Glorious Model O may be optimal for you, it comes in matte and glossy models in both black and white. The matte version weighs about 58 grams and the glossy model is 59 grams. Glorious didn’t just stop at the light weight design however, they also included G-Skates for fast and clean sliding movements. The mouse comes fitted with a light weight flexible cord for optimal movement without feeling weighed down.
The Glorious Model O is also incredibly affordable, especially when compared to other light weight devices.
To make things even better the mouse is also rigged with controllable RGB lighting, making it optimal for matching your setup design. The Model O is fitted with Omron switches, which are suitable for up to 20 million clicks so you know it’ll last you a while.
Sensor Type: Pixart PMW-3360 Sensor Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 12,000 Buttons: 6 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Logitech G502 Hero
The Logitech G502 is one of the more well known mice on the market. It is a favorite amongst many gamers highly due to its overall comfort and well placed programmable button options. The Logitech G502 Hero takes the already successful mouse to a next level. Fitted with an upgraded braided cable to prevent unwanted kinking as well as the new sensor that offers a DPI of up to 16,000. Each of the 11 buttons are programmable through the Logitech Gaming Software, where you can also change the DPI and even save profiles for different games and tasks.
Sensor Type: Optical Hero Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 100-16,000 Buttons: 11 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Razer Naga Trinity
Razer made sure to make the Naga Trinity as useful as possible. Not only is it a great gaming mouse, but it can also be very useful to video editors, graphic designers, or anybody that can make the most out of programmable macro buttons. The comfort and productivity of this mouse is outstanding, and really shows off it’s potential in MMO and MOBA games due to its selectable side plates featuring 2, 7 and 12 buttons. The side plates easily snap into place magnetically and the mouse is designed with chroma lighting zones that add character to your gaming setup.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 16,000 Buttons: Up to 19 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Corsair Scimitar Pro
If you need a lot of different macro buttons on your mouse for productivity work, or MMO/MOBA games then a great option is the Corsair Scimitar Pro. The Scimitar Pro is packed with features, including RGB lighting, a 16,000 DPI optical sensor and 12 customizable macro buttons that you can set with your keybinds for gaming or to improve your workflow. The macros work on a slider, allowing you to adjust them to fit the positioning of your choice.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 16,000 Buttons: 17 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Corsair Dark Core SE RGB
The Corsair Dark Core RGB mouse can be used both wired or wireless and features Qi wireless charging capabilities. There are 4 RGB zones that you can control with the iCUE software, which also allows you to set profiles and customise the button macros for gaming. A great feature of premium mice are braided cables, and Corsair make sure to provide one with this device, as well as a highly capable 16,000 DPI optical sensor.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 16,000 Buttons: 9 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired or Wireless
SteelSeries Sensei 310
SteelSeries provides a quality affordable ambidextrous device with the Sensei 310, which works based on CPI instead of DPI for a true 1 to 1 tracking system that helps with in game accuracy. The device is highly durable under intense gaming situations and armed with comfortable silicone grips to make gaming for long hours a breeze.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 100-12,000 Buttons: 8 Shape: Ambidextrous Connectivity: Wired
SteelSeries Rival 710
Ever wanted a mouse that vibrates to give in game feedback and immersion? Then the Rival 710 may be for you, described by SteelSeries as the world’s most advanced gaming mouse, the device features the previously mentioned tactile vibration setting and a cool OLED screen which allows you to display GIFs or in game stats. The Engine Software provided by SteelSeries allows you to connect the device to apps like discord for intuitive chat notifications. The Rival 710 is another SteelSeries device that uses CPI for higher accuracy 1 to 1 tracking, which you can adjust between 100 and 12,000.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz CPI: 100-12,000 Buttons: 7 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Logitech MX518
The original Logitech MX518 became a much loved mouse in the gaming community, and even built what could be considered a legacy in the gaming industry. Although the device has the similar old look, it has been modified and updated with the new Logitech logo and takes use of a more advanced sensor which allows you to customise the DPI through the G HUB from 100 to 16,000 DPI. The mouse has 8 customisable buttons that you can take full advantage of and even allows you to save your profiles directly to the device for easy on the go travel use.
Sensor Type: Optical Hero Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 100-16,000 Buttons: 8 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
Corsair IronClaw RGB
The IronClaw RGB gaming mouse is designed for people with larger hands whilst still providing high accuracy precision and up to 18,000 DPI. The 7 programmable buttons are ideal for FPS and MOBA games and give you creative control over your device. The RGB zone located on the mouse is helpful for creating color themed gaming setups and tying everything together. Like so many high end mice the IronClaw uses Omron switches for durable clicks rated for 50 million or more.
Sensor Type: Optical Polling Rate: 1000Hz DPI: 18,000 Buttons: 8 Shape: Right Handed Connectivity: Wired
DPI vs CPI, What’s the difference?
When looking for a suitable mouse for gaming you will come face to face with two different but similar specifications, CPI (Counts Per Inch) and DPI (Dots Per Inch). These are used to describe the sensitivity of the device and are essentially the same thing. Many companies use DPI as it is a more universally recognised unit, however CPI would be the correct terminology. Although a lot of devices have a rather high DPI scale of 12,000 or more this is usually unwarranted as for high level accuracy most players opt for a rather low CPI of between 400 and 1600.
Refresh and Polling Rates
If you spend a lot of time looking at technology, specifically gaming products,you will notice a lot of the devices reference refresh rate or Hz. This terminology is used a lot when describing performance specs of gaming products, like monitors. The refresh rate or polling rate of a mouse however refers to how often the sensor sends signals to the computer of its movement and location. Typically the more premium mice allow for a user to select the refresh rate that suits them. A 1000Hz gaming mouse will send 1000 refresh points per second, where as 500Hz will only send 500 per second.
Lift off Distance
A low lift off distance is better for gaming as it helps keep your movement as accurate as possible. With a high lift off distance you will notice jittering or movement shifts when swiping and lifting your device. Therefore a shorter distance is better for more precision when gaming, and can make a great difference with your in game accuracy.
Conclusion
There is no perfect mouse that is best for everyone. How well a mouse will suit you depends on the types of games you play and your personal preference. Gaming mice that have fewer side buttons tend to be lighter and better for FPS games. Whereas mice that have more side buttons can be beneficial when playing MOBA games.
