Wired vs Wireless: Which is a Better Mouse for Gaming?
The mouse is the most precise gaming controller right now. A mouse gives the player an outstanding experience in every aspect of the game that requires aiming and pointing a cursor at it. Even PC gamers would agree that a keyboard and mouse combo are more versatile controllers than the gaming pads, most gamers are debating which type of mouse is better for gaming, wired or wireless mouse.
Despite the similar performances of both mice, the question remains which is the best gaming mouse. Below are fully discussed characteristics of each mouse to help you decide on which to use for an excellent gaming experience.
Wired mouse
This type of mouse has a physical link, a wire that establishes a connection between the mouse and the computer. The wired mouse is the most popular type as it is more practical, and its response speed is much faster. Despite many brandings them as old tech, they possess qualities that wireless is yet to achieve.
Pros
- It is cheap: Wired mice are cheaper when compared to wireless mice; this is because they require less hardware for them to work.
- Fast response speed: Wired mice have high-speed response due to the direct data transfer offered by the wire. With response speed graded at one millisecond, wired mice prove to be much faster when compared to their wireless counterparts
- Convenient: Their plug-and-play nature makes it more convenient for gaming use. It involves plugging the mouse cable into the USB port; just like that, the mouse is now functional. They draw power from the computer and thus do not need batteries or any transmitter, thus making it easier and more convenient.
Cons
- Ease of use: The major drawback of a wired mouse is the wire. The drag caused by the cable can prove to be uncomfortable during gaming. The wire also causes unwanted friction that can sometimes slow your game response during gaming.
- Limited range: The cable is the primary determinant of how far you can sit away from your console and thus becomes a wrong choice, especially when it is a TV-hooked game, as the cable distance is short of providing the required comfort.
Recommended Wired Gaming Mouse
Logitech G203 Lightsync
One of the cheapest and most popular wired mice in the gaming space. It is lightweight, ambidextrous, and even has RGB
The Razer Death Adder V2
This is another popular gaming mouse that can be used in many esports tournaments. It is lightweight and can accommodate hand sizes and different types of handgrips.
The Razer Basilisk V3
This is one of the best wired gaming mice you can find on the market. Unlike the Death Adder, this a heavy mouse but the Basilisk has tons of features that make it a better mouse than the Death Adder. It has a better sensor, a better cable, a dedicated sniper button, rubber side grips, and RGB lighting.
Wireless mouse
As its name suggests, this mouse does not use a wire to connect to the computer. Still, it applies Bluetooth technology, whereby it has a receiver that establishes a connection. Most wireless mice use the 2.4 GHz frequency for transmission. Some of its advantages and disadvantages include:
Advantages
- Luxury: Wireless mice offer superior comfort unmatched by the wired mouse. No cable drag is involved when moving the mouse, thus more freedom during gaming. The fast responses during gaming are a translation of the smooth movement of the wireless mouse.
- Longer range: Wireless mice have a more extended operational range making them suitable for sitting far from your computer or when connected to the TV.
- Durability: Wireless mice are more durable compared to wired mice, as they have no wires that may cut or loosen up.
Disadvantages
- Pricey: Wireless mice are more expensive when compared to wired mice. Although the increased cost is due to more advanced sensors and sometimes more high-end wireless mice having internal rechargeable batteries, which many may appreciate, it is still expensive.
- Battery life: Wireless mice use batteries, rechargeable or replaceable, which may run out at some point. Many mice use AA batteries whose overall lifespan can also be a problem.
- Have added weight: The batteries in their modules tend to increase the weight of the wireless mice. However, this depends majorly on the type you choose. You can see in current trends that most companies are trying to reduce the weight of their wireless mouse, which is one reason honeycomb design has been popular.
Recommended Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Razer Viper V2 Pro
This mouse is designed for high-performance esports gaming. It is, if not the lightest, one of the most lightweight gaming mice there weighing around 60 grams. Like every mouse in the Viper line-up, it is amazingly comfortable for different hand sizes.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
This is a mouse with an ambidextrous design that is, as its name implies, a super light mouse. Without trouble, this is one of the world’s most famous mouse gaming mice. It weighs only 63 grams. It is a very comfortable mouse to use.
Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Even though I like the G Pro X Superlight, I think G502 Superlight is the best wireless gaming mouse. It has many features and customizability that make G502 Superlight a well-rounded and all-around mouse. It has 11 customizable buttons, adjustable weights, RGB, mechanical button tensioning for the primary controls, long battery life, and wireless charging.
What should you consider when choosing a mouse for gaming?
Many considerations are put in place to decide which is the best gaming mouse. They include accuracy, sensitivity, weight, and the most important is the response time.
When it comes to latency and durability, the wired mouse wins the argument because gaming requires a mouse that will give you a higher response time with the least effort, and that is the wired mouse. Wireless mice use a USB Bluetooth receiver to establish a connection with the PC. Loss or damage of the receiver proves to be a menace as it would force you to buy a whole new mouse.
But with more recent wireless mouse, latency is a non-factor because wireless mouse is as reliable as its wired counterparts. I would recommend wireless mouse for a more hardcore gamer that plays esports games. Most wireless mouse only weighs 80 – 90 grams, which can heavily improve your mouse movement and puts stress on your wrists.
Final Thoughts
With all the discussed points, there are a lot reasons to go for the wireless route, although the reliability and lesser latency of a wired mouse may win over an avid gamer. The bottom line is that the wired mice will continue to rock in the gaming spaces until the wireless improves on some of its deficiencies and drawbacks like the latency issue and signal blockage.
