Deciding which mouse to buy is not as simple as it once was.
Gaming mice come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with advanced features including microprocessors, gyroscopes, and fingerprint sensors.
Choosing the right mouse for your gaming style can be difficult, so we’ve broken down the biggest factors you should consider when buying a gaming mouse.
Specifications
The specifications of different gaming mice can determine their proficiency at fast tracking and accuracy.
Sensor Type
There are two main sensor types, laser and optical.
Both optical and laser mice actually use an optical sensor, a laser mouse simply uses a laser for illumination.
There are some key differences between the two types of sensors however, as they are optimised for different surfaces.
While optical sensors track with a slightly lower margin of error, this can vary according to the surface you use.
If you plan to use your mouse on a variety of surfaces, a laser mouse is probably your best bet, but if you value tracking accuracy on specific surfaces, an optical mouse will provide a small increase in accuracy over a laser sensor.
Sensor DPI
DPI simply means “dots-per-inch” and is a good general indicator of maximum sensitivity.
This specification is not an indicator of accuracy and only refers to sensitivity or resolution, although a mouse with a high DPI specification may track better at relatively high sensitivities than a mouse with a DPI specification barely above the set sensitivity.
Unless you require extremely high sensitivity (this could be applicable to high-APM strategy gamers, but first-person-shooters favour lower sensitivity settings), a mouse with over 1,000 DPI should be more than enough.
Polling Rate
Polling Rate refers to the amount of times a mouse sensor reads its position every second.
This is a good indicator of the mouse’s latency and responsiveness, although these differences are barely noticeable after a point.
Generally, a higher polling rate requires more system resources but is better for gamers who prioritise responsiveness and lower latency.
Button Layout
The most important part of choosing a gaming mouse is choosing a style that is both comfortable and suitable for your playstyle.
FPS
First-person shooter gamers simply require a good-quality gaming mouse that is comfortable and has a good sensor.
Adjustable weights and one or two side buttons are a nice option to have, but are generally not the first priority for FPS gamers.
MOBA/Strategy
Games like Dota 2 and StarCraft require both mouse accuracy and efficient input options.
Many MOBA gamers opt for mice with additional input options, ranging from a simple pair of side buttons to a customisable array of buttons on both sides of their mouse.
MMORPG
MMORPGs are enjoyed by both casual and hardcore gamers alike, and there are mice catered specifically to hardcore MMO players.
Mice with a large amount of extra buttons allow MMO players to bind important skills to their mouse buttons and free up more buttons on their keyboard for extra skills.
Extra mouse buttons can also be useful when wound to Push To Talk, minimizing interference with keyboard commands.
Accessories
There are a number of accessories available which could improve the feel of your gaming mouse.
Mousepad
A good mousepad can make a big difference, as your sensor may be more suited to a certain material than others.
Mousepads also come in a variety of forms, including smooth “speed” surfaces and coarser “control” surfaces with more friction.
Cable Management
Tired of your mouse cable dragging and catching on the edge of your mousepad or other items? A mouse bungee could be the answer to your problems.
There are a number of mouse bungees available in South Africa which are relatively inexpensive, and some also act as USB hubs.
