There was no doubt that wired mice were superior to wireless mice for gaming just a few years ago. Wireless mice were plagued by high latency and other connectivity issues. Older wireless options couldn’t keep up with wired mice’s direct data transfer.
Wireless technology advancements have been made by gaming peripheral companies to level the playing field between wireless and wired gaming mice. In terms of speed and performance, most wireless mice can compete with their wired counterparts.
When choosing a mouse, there are two important factors to consider:
- Optical
- Laser
Wired Mouse
In most gaming circles, wired mice are still preferred over wireless mice because they are more reliable and practical. Despite their age, some wired mice have features that aren’t available on wireless mice as of this writing. Wireless mice may be the way of the future, but wired mice have access to the most recent advancements long before their wireless counterparts.
Pros
- Convenience
- Considerable price range
- High response speed
Cons
- Comfort
- Durability
- Limited Range
Wireless Mouse
For professional play, wireless mice are used less than wired mice, but the gap is gradually closing. Older gaming mice frequently use a Bluetooth connection, which causes a lot of lag and connection problems. The 2.4GHz frequency used by modern wireless gaming mice allows for a 1,000Hz polling rate, which is significantly higher than the 133Hz polling rate used by some Bluetooth mice. Although wired mice still reign supreme, as technology advances, the tide is slowly turning.
Most gamers won’t notice the input lag unless they move very far away from their computer, and only seasoned gamers will notice the difference. Keeping track of battery life is more of a minor annoyance than a real disadvantage. Even so, we’ve all forgotten to charge our mouse, keyboard, or controller, only to have it die on us in the middle of a game.
Pros
- Comfort
- Speed
- Long motion range
- Durability
Cons
- Battery Life
- High Cost
- Weight
- Signal interference can affect performance
Which Should You Pick?
Given all of the aforementioned considerations, it is always preferable to make a decision based on your requirements. In the end, only the user’s requirements determine which is better.
You should get a wireless gaming mouse if you’re looking for increased comfort, a cleaner desk, or some couch gaming. Unless you’re a competitive gamer who needs every advantage, the slight input lag is minor.
A wired gaming mouse, on the other hand, is usually a better option for those on a tighter budget or who would rather get a good mouse for their money than pay extra for wireless capabilities.