If you’re a dedicated gamer or gaming expert or if you’re searching for the ultimate gift to give a gamer friend for Christmas, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to tell you all about the perfect gaming mouse and help you choose one yourself. Before we begin let’s just say that you certainly don’t need a professional gaming mouse to play PC games and be good at them too. There are tons of people who manage to enjoy the full gaming experience with a regular mouse and that’s completely possible – as long as you choose carefully.
There are, however, a range of benefits that a gaming mouse or a mouse with extra buttons and features can offer when it comes to playing. Regardless of whether you’re a professional gamer with years of experience or a newbie who simply enjoys spending their free time in a different digital world, let’s explore all that a mouse can offer and see how you can choose yours.
Gaming mouse vs. regular mouse: What are the differences?
The reality is that any regular mouse can easily be turned into a gaming mouse. After all, the design is pretty much the same and the difference lies in the capabilities. A gaming mouse will usually have a few extra buttons which allow gamers to perform better and faster inside a game. What’s more, a mouse created to fit the sole purpose of gaming will usually have advanced optical or laser sensors allowing the gamer to perform at the ultimate speed. This will also guarantee that the movements are precise and the user experience customized. What’s more, you can even take advantage of adjustable weights or button tension springs if you go for gaming mice of high-quality.
Some additional things that you can expect from a mouse for gamers are long cables. That’s right, despite the common assumption gaming mice are mostly wired instead of wireless. The reason is hidden behind what’s known as an input lag, giving the USB input a substantial advantage. By delays, we mean only a few hundredths of a second but believe it or not these microseconds could be of significant importance when it comes to who wins or loses. You’ll notice that if you’re after a wireless gaming mouse they usually come along with a tailor-made, fast and reliable wireless connection, increasing their price when compared to other models.
So how can you choose the best gaming mouse for you? With so much to consider, where do you start from?
What types of games do you like playing?
Before you dive into the vast pool of options to choose from, the first question to ask yourself is related to the types of games that you enjoy playing. Are there FPS, RPG, or RTS games? In case you’re a fan of the FPS or the first-person shooter-style game, then you’re facing a hard choice. The choice of a mouse will depend on the type of player you are. If you spend most of your time playing RPG games then a mouse with a wider range of programmable buttons is a great solution.
For instance, our gaming mouse with seven buttons is a great choice for many reasons. The seven buttons allow for faster reactions and ultra-comfortable long games. The mouse comes with up to 5500 DPI, optical tracking, ergonomic design for ultimate gaming comfort, changeable lights, a USB connection, and it can be used on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and MacOSX. In other words, there’s nothing more a gamer could ask for. This mouse offers a full range of benefits that will dramatically improve your gaming skills.
But before we get too excited, let’s make our way through the list of things to consider before making your choice.
Optical and laser mice
A mouse can have three different types of sensors – optical, laser, and infrared. Each type carries its own specific characteristics and may come in handy in different types of scenarios. For instance, one of the most popular choices is the laser sensor as it’s compatible with any type of surface. This means that you can play on any desk surface, a mouse pad, a notebook, and more. On the other hand, a laser mouse is eminent for having a bigger lift-off distance, meaning that you won’t be able to achieve your goal is the mouse comes to the end of your mat or mouse pad.
When you pick up the mouse to change its position, the laser continues reading the info from the surface. This means that there is a chance of you ruining your in-game movements as you can suddenly switch the game view, causing trouble. For this reason, the majority of gamers around the world stick to an optical mouse as a solution. They invest in a top-notch mouse mat to provide the optical sensor with the best surface to work on and read properly.
What type of grip do you have?
If you’re going to spend time playing games on your PC you’ll certainly want to enjoy it as much as you can. One of the most essential factors is comfort. There are different types of grips people have when using a mouse and determining yours can help you choose the right mouse design to fit in with your needs. Some of the most popular grip styles include:
- Palm grip – a popular and often used style by gamers. The fingers are positioned flat on the buttons and the palm is rested on the body.
- Claw grip – the name gives away the nature of this style. The palm is rested on the mouse’s back edge, the finger and thumb are curled up towards the buttons.
- Tip grip – games using this grip style make use of only the tips of the index, middle, and ring fingers to press the buttons. The hand’s palm doesn’t even touch the centre part of the mouse.
Of course, different types of games demand a different type of grip. It may be difficult to switch from grip to grip so the best option is to establish what’s most comfortable for you and choose a mouse that can support it. Keep in mind that mice with larger dimensions are best for a palm grip, short mice are suitable for a tip grip, and narrow mice as the best option for players using the claw grip.
DPI levels
For those of you who aren’t yet familiar with all the terminology, DPI stands for Dots Per Inch and offers a way to measure how sensitive the mouse sensor is. Be sure to check the DPI of your desired mouse. When the DPI is higher, the mouse needs less physical distance to be covered in order for the cursor to move on the screen. In other words, mice with high DPI allow you to achieve the same results using fewer hand movements. However, keep in mind that your movements need to be quite precise to make this work to your advantage while playing.
So do you prefer to make faster movements or lower across a limited area? If fast movements are your way to go, you’ll be more satisfied with a low DPI mouse or one up to 1200 DPI. However, if you’re among the players who opt for smaller hand movements, the right choice would be a mouse with DPI of 2000 or more.
Are you left-handed or right-handed?
For gamers with experience, this is a question that is never forgotten. However, if you’re a beginner or about to get your first professional gaming mouse, it’s easy to neglect the right hand vs. left-hand dilemma. Unfortunately, left-handed gamers have significantly fewer options to choose from due to the fact that most mice are designed for right-handed individuals.
It’s your turn to select the best gaming mouse
Well, one thing is certain – making the right choice does involve a fair bit of research. Don’t forget to read product reviews about the mice that you’ve set your eyes on before making any rash decisions. This could save you the hassle of returning the product or worse – being stuck with a mouse that is not working for you. If possible, try playing with a friend’s gaming mouse to see what type of things you like and dislike about it.
We hope that the information we’ve provided in this article will be useful when you decide to purchase your next gaming mouse or to surprise a friend with a Christmas gift. We’re here to support you with anything you need and offer quality gaming products that can make the winter days even more enjoyable.
