Are Wired Mice Better For Gaming?

As of 2023, the gaming mouse market size is an astonishing USD 1.83 Billion. The continuous rise in market size is primarily due to the growth in PC gamers' interest in FPS and MOBA games. The surge in the gaming mouse market is pushing manufacturers to bring innovative products for consumers. They are enhancing the convenience of a wireless mouse, but can it surpass the performance of a wired gaming mouse?

If you want to find one-stop information on wired gaming mice, you are in the right place. This article will explore reasons why wired mice are the best for gaming. It will also mention features that wireless mice lag, compelling pro gamers to ditch them.

However, before we dive into specifics, let's begin with the basics. Every buyer should be aware of crucial terms before making a purchase.

1.1. Some Mouse Basics

● Microswitch: it is the component that makes the mouse click. It can be mechanical or optical, depending on the manufacturer. Actuation force, noise, feedback, and response time depend on the microswitch manufacturing.

● DPI: Dot Per Inch is the measure of the mouse to detect movement. It is also called the sensitivity of the mouse. A higher DPI means that the mouse can register subtle hand movements. In gaming mice, DPI is essential for accurate and precise cursor movements.

● IPS: Inch per Second is the measure of a mouse to detect physical movement. Gamers like to keep high sensitivity. It means large physical movements lead to lower cursor movement. For the mouse to register large physical movements, it needs high IPS.

● Acceleration: The human shoulder cannot produce acceleration above 20g. Accelerating the mouse with the jerk movements during intense in-game moments requires a good mouse. That is why a high-acceleration mouse suits the game's jerk movements.

● Polling Rate: The number of times the mouse sends data to the computer is Hz. A typical wired mouse has a polling rate of 1000Hz. In comparison, the Bluetooth mouse polling rate is 125-500Hz.

1.2. Are Wired Mice Better for Gaming?

Generally, wired gaming mice are better in performance compared to wireless mice. Here are the main factors that make them a better choice:

1.2.1. Reliability vs Convenience

Wired mice are reliable and not susceptible to signal interference like wireless mice. The communication of wireless mice depends on the signal transmission from the mouse to the receiver. Communication may be interrupted due to another signal within a similar frequency range. A wireless mouse may glitch in a place with many wireless signals, which can be crucial in gaming.

1.2.2. Are Wireless Mouse Truly Wireless?

The dilemma of charging wireless devices is a question many ask themselves. Are wireless mice wireless when they're charging all the time? Manufacturers have come up with the solution of Qi wireless chagrin technology. The technology enables charging wirelessly but will still disrupt critical gaming sessions. If you are a passionate gamer, you prefer a wired mouse as it requires no charging.

1.2.3. Budget Friendliness

Another compelling reason gamers prefer wired gaming mice is their budget-friendly options. Wireless mice with a high polling rate near 1000Hz are expensive. If you are genuinely passionate about wireless gaming mice despite the technology vulnerabilities, there is still a hefty price tag you need to bear. Wired gaming mice still top the charts for their performance in high-intensity games.

1.3. Which Mouse Specs Make them Gaming Oriented?

Let's dive deep into the specifications that make the difference between a regular and gaming wired mouse:

1.3.1. Gaming Mouse Sensor

As discussed in the basics section, DPI, IPS, Acceleration, and polling rate are vital for gaming mouse selection. The mouse sensor is the most crucial hardware component inside a mouse. Flawless mice are the ones that do not pose any inaccuracy between hand movement and screen cursor movement.

Pixart, Logitech, Razer, Steelseries, and Roccat are popular gaming sensor manufacturers. PMW 3360 and Focus+ are two of the top flawless sensors.

1.3.2. Light Weight Cable

The drag that a substandard mouse cable can be irritating for most gamers. Modern gaming mice come with braided lightweight cables with minimum friction and weight problems.

1.3.3. Microswitch

Gamers can make millions of clicks during gameplay, and regular mice cannot handle such harsh usage. High-end gaming mice come with microswitches such as Kalih, Cherry, Omron, and Razer. The latest type is optical microswitches with minimum response time and no rebound filtration.

1.3.4. Programmable Buttons

MOBA and FPS games may require frequent operation of specific keys. Like a selection of in-game weapons or items. For a mouse to be declared gaming, a minimum of 4 programmable buttons are necessary. Anything beyond 4-buttons is a game's preference.

1.4. Best Mouse Settings for Gaming

Gamers often need clarification about the best settings for their specific game genres. Here is a list of the most popular game genres and their best settings:

1.4.1. First Person Shooters (FPS)

DPI: 800-1600 for aiming

Polling Rate: 1000Hz for responsiveness

In-Game Sensitivity: Start low and increase gradually

1.4.2. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

DPI: 1200-2400 for balance

Polling Rate: 500-1000Hz sufficient for the game genre

In-game Sensitivity: Moderate settings

1.4.3. Casual Games

DPI: 800-1600 for casual aiming.

Polling Rate: 500Hz is sufficient

Sensitivity: Adjust as per your preference

1.5. Best Wired Gaming Mouse

Here are the three best-wired gaming mice to help readers understand what makes a gaming mouse. The list contains budget, enthusiast, and mid-range options for all users.

1.5.1. Razer Basilisk V3

Best Features

● 10+1 Programmable Buttons

● Tilt Scrolling with Tactile, Smart, and Free Spin Mode

● RGB Integration with 150 Game Titles

● Razer Focus+ 26K DPI Optical Sensor

1.5.2. Razer Viper 8KHz

Best Features

● Extremely Fast 0.125ms Response Time (8000Hz Polling Rate)

● Ambidextrous Design for Right and Left-Handed Gamers

● 2nd Gen Razer™ Optical Mouse Switch

● Sensor with 99.6% Resolution Accuracy

1.5.3. MEETION RGB Backlight Gaming Mouse (GM21)

Best Features

● 12000 DPI High Resolution Sensor

● Light Weight Braided Cable

● 1000Hz Polling Rate Budget-Friendly Gaming Mouse

● Macro Programmable RGB with Software

1.6. Conclusion

To conclude the blog, we recommend that our readers look for essential features like sensors, micro switches, polling rate, acceleration, resolution, programmable buttons, and RGB. Consider your budget while making the purchase. A mouse with a 1000Hz polling rate is far superior to any wireless gaming mouse. Wired mice provide the reliability and durability that any gamer needs. We hope you found value in the blog. So why wait? Get your gaming mouse today!