Should You Buy an Expensive Mouse? Like other computer parts, there’s a huge spread in terms of how much you can spend on a mouse, basic models can be had for under 10 bucks, but you can also splurge and spend more on a mouse than you would on a Michelin star meal.
Table of Contents
What Do Fancy Mouse Offer?
So what features do these fancy mice have that more basic models don’t, to answer that we need to start with the sensor on the bottom of your mouse.
The Sensor Seeing The Service
Nicer mice almost always use a high CPI Optical sensor, but what does that mean, well mice work by taking pictures of the surface beneath them many times per second, then comparing those images to determine when and where they’re moving.
Understanding CPI (Counts Per Inch)
Higher CPI, or counts per inch, mean your mouse can see at higher resolutions, CPI is often used interchangeably with DPI, or dots per inch, to describe sensitivity, but CPI is the more accurate term.
Why High Sensitivity
So in the old days, high sensitivity was considered important for users of high resolution displays, since it allows the cursor, or your Crosshair, to travel farther across the screen with a small amount of movement, but most modern mice are sensitive enough that any further development is more to provide better accuracy for fine movements.
On The Fly Sensitivity Adjustment
Some mice include the ability to switch sensitivity on the Fly depending on what you’re doing, including turning it down to improve accuracy while sniping in games.
Polling Rate Responsive Matters
A related but separate specification is polling rate, given in hertz, this is how many times per second a mouse will report its position to your PC.
Polling Rate Tiers
Basic mice tend to have polling rates of around 125 or 250 Hertz, but nicer mice can offer polling rates of 500 Hertz, 1,000 Hertz, or even higher, giving an increased sense of responsiveness and control, I can feel I can see everything.
Who Benefits From High Polling Rates
Users of high refresh rate monitors will get the most benefit from a mouse with a higher polling rate, but beyond 1,000 HZ, you probably won’t notice the improved latency unless you’re a robot.
Not ALL Sensors Chase Max Sensitivity
Not every premium sensor is built for the highest sensitivity though.
Laser Mice The Darkfield Expectation
While laser mice haven’t been fashionable for quite some time, as they had a reputation for undesired acceleration compared to their infrared Brethren, they do still pop up from time to time, Logitech in particular uses a component they call a darkfield laser, that allows their Mouse to see clear glass as dark with imperfections and particles showing up bright.
The Acceleration Factor
Coming back to acceleration though, certain sensors have inherent acceleration, meaning the cursor moves a greater distance on the screen if you move the mouse more quickly on your desk.
Acceleration Conveience vs Consistency
For General desktop use, this can be convenient and intuitive, in fact Windows has its own acceleration enabled by default, but for competitive Gamers, any inconsistency in movement.
Can be the difference between Victory and defeat
The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune anymore to get a mouse without inherent acceleration, but you won’t get that from a Bargain Basement unit either.
Now there is another kind of acceleration that you want lots of, and we’ll tell you all
Described in G’s, has to do with how quickly you can change the mouse’s speed and direction without the sensor losing track of where it is, again for General desktop use it doesn’t matter much, but if you hope to land any flick shots, especially at low sensitivity, you’ll want a mouse that can keep up.
A related characteristic is IPS or in per second
This is used to describe the maximum speed a mouse can move before the sensor loses tracking, generally anything above about 20g and 200 IPS is considered good enough and can be had for about 30 bucks.
So why do some mice cost $300?
Well, the most accurate low latency mouse in the world won’t do you much good if it’s not enjoyable to use, so now we’ve got to consider features.
For example, there are lots of Cheaper mice out there that are Wireless
But not all Wireless mice are created equal, one big thing to look for is what kind of wireless connection the mouse uses.
Bluetooth mice don’t require a dongle which can be convenient.
But dongle mice, which typically use some other often proprietary protocol in the 2.4 GHz band, tend to give you a connection that’s a little more reliable as well as lower latency, for gamers it’s a pretty big deal.
I’m also partial to mice that feature a built in spot to hold the dongle when you’re not using it.
As they’re notoriously easy to lose, and it’s also very satisfying.
On the subject of gaming, there’s a gaming-oriented Mouse category that’s actually very useful for non-gamers.
I’m talking about MMO or MOBA mice, these tend to have lots of buttons on the side that allow Gamers to bind keys or programmable macros to every button for titles like World of Warcraft or League of Legends, where having a dozen or more functions at your fingertips can be a huge competitive advantage.
But even if you don’t play games at all, they can be very useful for productivity.
For example, if you often run macros in office suites or editing programs.
In fact, you could make the argument that MMO mice are a better fit for the office than your gaming rig.
Since the use of macros is frowned upon in many popular titles.
Even if you don’t need a ton of buttons, some premium mice can be customized in other ways to improve their functionality or help them last longer.
This can mean everything from replacing the switches under the buttons if you don’t like how the default ones feel, to changing out the side grips to suit your grip style, to replacing parts of the chassis with lighter weight shells.
This last thing has also become a popular option.
As mice with a lattice style top shell are lighter, making quick movements easier.
Speaking of doing things quickly, even the simple scroll wheel can be a selling point for some mice.
Some feature a horizontal scroll wheel, often on the side of the mouse, which can be very useful if you often find yourself working with large spreadsheets, or you might want a mouse with an unlockable infinite scroll wheel that allows you to rapidly navigate very large documents or repeat a key action with unhuman speed in your favorite game.
And there are many other quality of life considerations.
USB-C as opposed to micro USB connectors can be more convenient and durable, as can wireless charging and a built-in rechargeable battery, so you’re not having to swap out AA batteries all the time.
A mouse’s software and firmware can be another big difference maker.
And I’m not just talking about fancy RGB effects.
Many manufacturers offer the ability to tune and even improve a mouse’s performance through software.
For example, some models allow characteristics like liftoff distance to be configured and saved to onboard memory, so it doesn’t need to be reset every time you delete the software.
And occasionally manufacturers will find new ways to improve tracking performance that they make available to previous buyers of their products.
A final key differentiator is material, and this is where things can be very costly.
Better Plastics or rubber grips shouldn’t cost you too much.
But if you want a mouse made of something more exotic like magnesium alloy, you can expect to pay a pretty penny.
Of course, if you think that’s silly, you’re right.
Because no one can tell you what’s important to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can be the difference between Victory and defeat?
A: The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune anymore to get a mouse without inherent acceleration, but you won’t get that from a Bargain Basement unit either.
Q: What kind of acceleration do you want lots of?
A: Described in G’s, has to do with how quickly you can change the mouse’s speed and direction without the sensor losing track of where it is.
Q: Why do some mice cost $300?
A: Well, the most accurate low latency mouse in the world won’t do you much good if it’s not enjoyable to use, so now we’ve got to consider features.
Q: Are all wireless mice created equal?
A: No. Bluetooth mice don’t require a dongle which can be convenient, but dongle mice (using 2.4 GHz) tend to give a more reliable connection with lower latency.
Q: Are gaming mice useful for non-gamers?
A: Yes. MMO/MOBA mice with side buttons can bind macros for productivity (e.g., office suites or editing programs). In fact, they might be a better fit for the office than gaming rigs.
Q: Do you need tons of bells and whistles?
A: No. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a well-built mouse that will last a long time. Just steer clear of off-brand ones at hardware store checkout counters.
Conclusion
Of course, if you think that’s silly, you’re right.
Because no one can tell you what’s important to you. We went through a lot of considerations in this video, but it’s unlikely all of them will apply to you. So spend your money wisely. And if you don’t need tons of bells and whistles, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a well-built mouse that will last you a long time. I’d just steer clear of the off-brand ones at the hardware store checkout counter. Thanks for watching this video.
