Five things I wish I’d known before buying my first gaming mouse

In case you’re on the lookout for recommendation in your first gaming mouse buy, you have come to the suitable place. Whereas there are such a lot of gaming mice choices out there in the marketplace, it may be straightforward to have a look at one thing low-cost and cheerful and marvel why you would possibly wish to spend a bit extra on one thing that appears very comparable—or what benefits you’ll be able to truly acquire from buying a gaming mouse over a normal squeaker.

I’ve been utilizing gaming mice since that they had little rubber balls within the backside, and loved a misspent youth cleansing the gunk out of the rollers to try to acquire a bonus on my subsequent Counter Strike match. These days are lengthy gone, after all, however now I get my palms on a number of the finest gaming mice out there, and because of this I’ve put collectively this information that can assist you resolve on one of the best gaming mouse for you.

We will focus on 5 things I wish I may have advised Younger Andy to look out for in his early gaming mouse buying days, within the hope they will be of use to you immediately. After all, the first factor I would have advised him is “gaming mice are awesome in 2024 if you pick the right one”, however fortunately you are right here proper now, so let’s skip that and get on to the good things!

Oh, yet another factor before you get scrolling: Black Friday 2024 is quick approaching, and we take nice pleasure to find one of the best Black Friday offers on gaming mice. We hunt for one of the best bargains all yr spherical, however now’s a wonderful time to choose up a superb gaming mouse for much less.

1. Wired or wireless isn’t as big a deal as you think
2. Don’t fall for the esports hype
3. Shape makes the difference
4. Cheap can absolutely be cheerful
5. Weight is important, but it depends how you game

Written by…Written by…

Andy Edser

{Hardware} author

Andy’s all the time digging across the PC Gamer equipment cabinet to search out the newest gaming mice, and to be trustworthy we will not cease him. That is as a result of he is all the time on the lookout for the subsequent mouse to evaluation, within the hopes that at some point he finds gaming mouse nirvana. That, plus his years of rodent-handling expertise, makes him the proper decide to information you on which mice to purchase, and which to keep away from.

1. Wired or wi-fi

(Picture credit score: Future)

Wired or wi-fi is not as large a deal as you suppose

One of many first decisions you are going to must make in your subsequent gaming mouse buy is whether or not to go for a wired mannequin, or a wi-fi. There are good arguments to be made for each, however personally I do not suppose it issues as a lot as some folks suppose.

Let’s go over the professionals and cons for a second. The most effective wi-fi mice are, let’s face it, a bit cooler and extra fashionable feeling, just by advantage of the truth that attaching your peripherals by a cable feels barely old-school. Plus, it means you’ll be able to transfer them throughout your desk with out rearranging your cable administration, they usually can really feel a bit freer to maneuver, seeing as you are not dragging the wire round with you.

On the cons facet, they are usually dearer, you need to cost them, and a few will say that they’ll really feel the lag and latency launched by even a really quick wi-fi connection.

Put merely, I suppose that final level is doubtful. Loads of highly-ranked players use wi-fi mice, and something made by a good model is more likely to have imperceptible latency to anybody with something lower than superhero-esque reflexes.

In the end, I’d decide a wi-fi mouse over a wired mannequin merely for the added comfort. However I usually shift over to wired fashions in my day-to-day utilization, and whereas it would take a second to get used to the cable shifting with my hand, after mere moments I’ve forgotten about it.

It is principally private choice right here, so don’t fret in case your finances will not stretch to wi-fi—or if you cannot be bothered to plug in your mouse semi-regularly for charging. Both will work simply positive for gaming, so be happy to choose and select based mostly on different elements as a substitute.

2. Sensor speeds and scores

(Picture credit score: Future)

Do not fall for the esports hype

You will discover that many gaming mice will market themselves as “competitive”, or “built for esports”, with large DPI numbers, 8K sensors and the like. Now, let me be clear right here—should you’re trying to begin a severe multiplayer profession, or actually do wish to min/max your potential to rise to the highest of the leaderboards, these things could make a distinction.

However let’s be trustworthy, it is the fleshy factor holding the mouse that actually makes the distinction right here, and that is you. No-one grew to become a professional gamer as a result of that they had the suitable mouse, whereas others faltered as a result of theirs was technically slower. These things matter for esports professionals, however for the remainder of us? It is the identical mentality as sneaker corporations making an attempt to promote you Cristiano Ronaldo’s soccer boots to make you a professional soccer participant.

Are they good boots? Most likely. Will they make an enormous distinction to your efficiency? Uncertain. So do not fall into the entice of considering that you simply want the largest numbers on the field to get one of the best mouse for you. Whereas these mice do ship the efficiency they promote, the place you may truly discover the distinction day-to-day is in form, really feel, and high quality. These things are troublesome to quantify, whereas large numbers are straightforward to shove in to the advertising and marketing copy.

That is why it’s best to belief subjective evaluations from correct human beings who’ve had the prospect to get their palms on these mice themselves. Fortunately, you are on a website that is chock filled with them. So whereas large numbers are a pleasant factor to have, do not feel like you need to spend a ton to get the easiest. There are much more vital things to contemplate than that.

3. Form is king

(Picture credit score: Future)

Form issues in the case of day-to-day consolation

This is one thing I’ve seen is not mentioned sufficient in the case of buying a gaming mouse: Form issues, and it would take a number of makes an attempt to search out the mouse that is best for you. That is as a result of everybody’s obtained differently-sized palms, and so what’s an ideal match for me with my lengthy skinny fingers may not be best for you—particularly should you’ve obtained the kind of mitts that may crush an orange with a single squeeze.

Fortunately, mouse producers are properly conscious of this, so there is a plethora of choices out there, from sizeable rodents with severe heft to tiny, ultralight affairs which are higher suited to extra delicate palms with a lighter contact.

One factor to concentrate to is how you end up gripping your mouse when you sport. Some folks relaxation their complete palm on a mouse as they transfer, and for these I’d extremely advocate one thing on the substantial facet, just like the Razer Basilisk V3 Professional.

Others have a extra “claw-like” grip, delicately resting their fingers on the mouse whereas their palm floats above. This being the case, it would be higher to go for one thing smaller (and lighter) to raised reply to these positive motor actions, just like the Razer Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed, or the TurtleBeach Burst II Air.

After all, most mice can nonetheless be used each methods, so it is not an enormous factor to fret about. And in the case of form, you may be counting on photos and evaluations to evaluate whether or not a mouse will suit your palms accurately once you pull it from the field.

However as a basic rule, should you’re a palm person I would recommend one thing with a really raised again, whereas should you’re a finger-gripper I’d go for one thing shallower, smaller, nearer to the desk, and doubtlessly barely flared on the sides of the buttons.

4. Worth

(Picture credit score: Logitech)

Low cost can completely be cheerful

So, you have in all probability checked out a number of mice on this web page and located that some are pretty fairly priced, whereas others are fairly costly. In case you’re on a really tight finances, don’t have any worry—you’ll be able to completely get an important gaming mouse for lower than the worth of takeout for one, should you store fastidiously, after all.

For a begin, if it is obtained a non-sensical model identify that you’ve got by no means heard of before, I’d keep away from. That is to not say that there aren’t first rate gaming mice on the market from comparatively little-known producers, however the outcomes will differ. And I’m right here to get you one of the best bang to your buck, so let me clue you right into a well-known truth: The Logitech G203 Lightsync can typically be discovered for lower than $30, and it is a corker of a gaming mouse.

So, it is not a wi-fi mannequin. Massive deal. In case you’re ready to place up with a cable (and let’s be trustworthy, it is not precisely a problem) then your low-cost gaming mouse choices change into legion. The Logitech G502 Hero is one other nice shout for a cabled-yet-brilliant rodent, as we regularly see it drop all the way down to the $40-$50 mark, and it is even obtained adjustable weights.

However what should you’ve obtained your coronary heart set on a wi-fi mouse, however you are still pinching the pennies? Properly, Logitech to the rescue once more, as you may need to try the Logitech G305 Lightspeed, one other fabulous mouse that may typically be discovered properly underneath $50.

It is not simply Logitech that make nice low-cost gaming mice after all, however they do make a few of our favorites. And we take a look at them up, down, sideways and again to entrance for good measure, and might affirm that they hold trucking lengthy after you’d count on an inexpensive mouse to have given up—they usually really feel nice for gaming, too.

5. The good weight debate: The selection is yours

(Picture credit score: Logitech)

Weight is vital, but it surely relies upon the way you sport

So, you may in all probability have seen in your mouse purchasing adventures that gaming mice typically promote their weight, or slightly the shortage of it, fairly closely. It is because many players desire an ultralight mouse for very fast, flick-of-the-wrist actions, and it is one other quantity you’ll be able to stick on the field that producers hope will draw clients in the direction of the “best” mouse for them.

The reality is? Weight is a really subjective factor. So by all means, go for a light-weight mouse should you actually like the concept of an excellent snappy, hyper-responsive gaming peripheral that skids round your desk on the lightest contact.

Personally, I often use the slightly massive and heavy Logitech MX Master 3S for productiveness stuff, and swap to a lighter mannequin for gaming. Nevertheless, that is not all the time the case. It merely will depend on what kind of sport I’m taking part in. So for shooters, motion video games, and things that require an extremely snappy response, I’ll go gentle for positive. Whereas we’re on that topic, Logitech occur to do one in all our favourites, the Professional X Superlight, natch.

However for a little bit of Civ VI, or a slow-paced RPG? Its a lot larger, heavier brother does simply positive.

Greater than that, producers compete with one another—all the way down to the only gram—to allow them to say they’ve “the lightest gaming mouse”, and it is a bit of a race to the underside that’ll in all probability finish with us all having to tape our mice to the desk when not in utilization, lest they float in the direction of the ceiling. It is all a bit foolish should you ask me, so whereas weight is certainly an element to look out for, actually your decisions are: “A bit heavy”, “A medium weight” and “So light it’s almost like it’s not there”.

Once more, do not fall for the hype. In case you like gentle, purchase gentle, however do not trouble prioritising one mouse over the opposite just because it is a few grams lighter than a competing mannequin. Test it towards the opposite elements I’ve listed on this information as a substitute, and you will not go far flawed to find the suitable mouse for you.