Is Gaming Better with Wired or Wireless Mice?

Choosing between a wired or wireless mouse for gaming could be challenging. Wired gaming mice dominated the industry for decades due to their low cost and high reliability. They also offered various features that made them a perfect option for gaming. However, with recent technological advancements, gamers preferred wireless mice over wired mice. Features such as ultra-high polling rates, low latency, high-precision sensors, and longer battery life in wireless gaming mice eliminate any noticeable difference between wired and wireless gaming mice.

Introduction to Gaming Mice: Wired vs Wireless

You can use either a wired or wireless mouse for gaming. Understanding the key differences and the history and evolution of wired and wireless gaming mice will help you better understand these technologies.

History and Evolution of Gaming Mice

The first mouse was invented in 1968 by Douglas Carl Engelbart, having a wired connection. In its early days, mice were part of computers used in WW2. As digitalization continued, mice became accessible to people working on their workstations or computers. A high-potential gaming industry has been created with time, technology, and the development of new and better computer games. There was a need for a mouse that helped gamers gain a competitive advantage over other gamers. In 1999, Razer Boomslang was introduced as the first PC gaming mouse by Razer. It featured two models with resolutions of 1000 DPI and 2000 DPI, which was unheard of then. The mouse used a combination of LEDs and traditional mechanical movement while employing a cutting-edge optomechanical ball mechanism.

1984 marks the year of the invention of the first wireless mouse that operated on infrared signals. In 1991,  Logitech’s Cordless MouseMan was the first to communicate with radio signals, which allowed the mouse to function outside the receiver’s line of sight. The mouse drew power from a quartet of Ni-Cad batteries. A decade after the first wired gaming mouse in 1999, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Swinder X8 2009, the first wireless gaming mouse. It featured an impressive 4,000 DPI, making it the first wireless mouse to achieve such a high DPI. Microsoft achieved a polling rate of 500 Hz by using 2.4G wireless technology. These mice had a limitation of 125Hz owing to the time and technology. It marks a significant milestone in gaming mouse history.

Key Differences Between Wired and Wireless

Understanding the differences between a red and a wireless gaming mouse would help determine which table best suits your needs.

Performance Factors: Wired vs Wireless Gaming Mice

The performance of a gaming mouse ensures a competitive advantage over others while gaming. Latency, connectivity, battery life, DPI, and sensitivity are deciding factors in ensuring consistency in gaming mouse performance.

Latency and Responsiveness  

If you prefer playing fast-paced or competitive games, the latency and responsiveness of your gaming mouse can significantly influence your performance. In simple terms, latency refers to how quickly and accurately your mouse reacts to your input. Lower latency means a quicker and more immediate response from the mouse.

A wired gaming mouse has a physical connection through a cord, leading to very low latency. It minimizes the time between moving the mouse and seeing the corresponding action on the screen. Latency can be as low as 1 ms (milliseconds), making the gaming mouse ideal for competitive gaming, where precision and timing are critical.

Due to limitations in wireless technology, wireless gaming mice had significantly higher latency than wired mice in the early days. However, with time and technological advancement, wireless mice using 2.4GHz connectivity substantially reduced latency. Many new wireless gaming mice offer sub-1ms latency, making the difference with wired mice almost imperceptible to gamers.

Battery Life and Charging

It can sometimes be frustrating to need to charge your gaming mouse constantly. However, a good battery life and fast charging can be crucial for gaming mice to ensure an uninterrupted gaming experience.

A common misconception about wireless mice is that they always struggle with battery life. To ensure the wireless mouse keeps functioning, the user must charge it, as there is no physical connection between the mouse and the gaming device. To conserve battery, these wireless gaming mice use intelligent energy-saving features. Sleep modes and higher efficiency sensors used in wireless gaming mice help lower power consumption, preserving and providing higher battery timing. To ensure minimal charging time, fast charging technologies such as USB type C charging can charge the mouse from 0% to 100% in 1-2 hours, making the mouse last for an average of 60-70 hours of usage.

A wired gaming mouse could be a perfect choice to avoid constantly charging it. With a physical connection, power is continuously supplied to your mouse when connected to your computer, ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience.

Pros and Cons of Wired Gaming Mice

Pros:

No Battery Concerns

One of the biggest perks of a wired gaming mouse is that you never have to worry about charging or being frustrated when the battery runs out during intense gaming sessions. It enables you to focus entirely on gaming without any interruptions or distractions.

Price

A wired gaming mouse could be a perfect fit if you are on a budget. Since it does not use costly wireless technology or rechargeable batteries, it is cheaper, making it a great budget-friendly option for gamers.

Stable connection

A wired gaming mouse offers a rock-solid connection that eliminates worries about interference or dropouts. It means you can easily enjoy gaming without frustrating lag between the mouse and your gaming device.

Cons:

Cable Management

One of the significant downsides of wired gaming mice gamers face is cable management issues. Wires can sometimes get tangled or catch on things, slowing you down during fast or sharp movements.

Reduced Mobility

Every gamer has room or extra space to move around or adjust themselves. However, considering a wired gaming mouse can be a hassle, as the cable length limits movement.

Pros and Cons of Wireless Gaming Mice

Pros:

Freedom of Movement

A wireless gaming mouse could be a perfect option if you like playing games requiring quick, sweeping movements and gliding the mouse across your entire desk.

Portability

Carrying a wireless gaming mouse is much easier without cables. Whether gaming on the go, switching between different setups, or having a game night with your friends, you can toss your wireless gaming mouse into your bag without stressing over damaged or tangled wires.

Clean and Tidy Setup

Without cables getting in the way, it improves ergonomics and gives your gaming setup a much cleaner, tidy, and minimalistic feel. It gives you more desk space, making room for other peripherals.

Cons:

Battery Life Concerns

One major setback of wireless gaming mice is the need to charge them often. Depending on usage, you might need to plug them in every few days or weeks. Running out of power can be annoying in the middle of a game.

Higher Price

The added cost of wireless gaming mice is due to extra technology, such as batteries or wireless receivers. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, a wireless gaming mouse might not be appealing.  

Practical Considerations: Choosing the Right Gaming Mouse

Budget Considerations

Setting up a budget can help you determine what options to consider. It can also help you be more decisive about choosing between a wired or wireless gaming mouse and which type offers the best features within your budget. A set budget plays a vital role in determining the features and performance level you can expect from your gaming mouse.

Gaming Genre and Play Style

To choose a perfect gaming mouse, it’s essential to think about your play style and the types of games you love playing. To cater for games with different needs, the right mouse can make a huge difference in your gaming experience. Sensitivity, button layout, or design language significantly improve ergonomics and how well you will perform while gaming. Below is a breakdown of what type of mouse suits best with games.

● FPS: A lightweight mouse with high DPI and low latency makes it perfect for FPS games.

● MOBA: A Mouse with multiple programmable buttons focused on ergonomics could be a perfect fit.

● RTS: A mouse with extra buttons for quick control while being responsive and comfortable for fast clicking.

● Battle Royale: A mouse with high DPI and comfort is determined to smooth performance during intense matches

● Fighting Games: A mouse with responsive buttons and low DPI to help with quick, precise inputs needed for combos and fast movement.

Ergonomics and Comfort

If you love gaming for prolonged periods, problems such as wrist or hand strain could significantly reduce your gaming performance. Before picking a gaming mouse, prioritize grip style, size, weight, and material that feels natural in your hand and provides support for extended gaming sessions.   

Expert Opinions and Reviews

Professional Gamer Preferences

Wired gaming mice are still dominating pro gaming tournaments. Players prefer wired gaming mice, as a little lag or interference might disadvantage them compared to other gamers. With wired gaming mice offering superior latency, lower weight, and unparalleled reliability, they are an unrivaled option when even split seconds matter. However, wireless technology advancing at a blazing pace can offer good enough performance for casual competitive players while paired with superior comfort and flexibility.

Technical Review and Benchmark

“Linus Tech Tips” experimented to determine the claims that Logitech and Corsair wireless mice are indistinguishable from their wired gaming mouse. They conducted the tests using a slow-motion camera and various complex equipment to test the processing latency difference between wired and wireless mice. Within the margin of error, the tests between wired and wireless mice make Logitech and Corsair's claims valid. There was practically no difference in processing latency between wired and wireless gaming mice. Logitech’s MX518 (wired) averaged around 14.8ms, while Logitech’s G703 (wireless) averaged around 13.8ms. He also concluded that ordinary wireless mice have a higher latency than wireless gaming mice.