Choosing a gaming mouse: grip, weight, wireless and buttons

Shape and grip

People hold a mouse in one of three ways. Check which one you use first.

• Palm grip: your whole hand rests on the mouse. A larger, rounded mouse feels comfortable then, like the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed or the Logitech G502 HERO.
• Claw grip: your palm only touches the back and your fingers are arched. A medium-sized mouse with a high back often works well.
• Fingertip grip: only your fingertips touch the mouse. A small, light mouse is easiest to move then, like the Razer Basilisk Mobile, which Razer calls compact.

Look at left or right too. An ergonomic mouse is usually shaped for the right hand, like the DeathAdder and the G502. A symmetrical (ambidextrous) mouse works for both hands, like the Corsair M75 Wireless and the Corsair Sabre v2 Pro. If you play left-handed, there are also mice made for the left hand, like the Razer Naga Left-Handed Edition.

Weight

The lighter the mouse, the less force you need to move it quickly and stop it again. That is why many mice for shooters are light. Manufacturers often put the weight in the name: the Attack Shark wireless gaming mouse lists 49 grams and the SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless 74 grams. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 and the Logitech G305 X Superlight carry their low weight in the name already.

A heavier mouse is no drawback if you play at a calmer pace or want a mouse with lots of buttons. Some players find a bit of weight more precise. There is no right or wrong: if you can, try a friend's mouse or one in a shop.

Wireless or wired

Wireless gaming mice use their own 2.4 GHz USB receiver. Logitech calls it LIGHTSPEED, Razer HyperSpeed. That connection is made for gaming. Many mice also have Bluetooth, for example the Logitech G305 X Superlight. Bluetooth is handy for work or on a laptop on the go. For games, use the receiver.

Wireless means charging or changing batteries. The manufacturer lists how long each mouse lasts. A wired mouse never needs charging and is often cheaper for the same shape, like the Razer DeathAdder Essential and the Logitech G502 HERO.

Sensor, DPI and polling rate

The sensor measures how far you move the mouse. The box lists DPI (or CPI): how many steps the mouse counts per inch of movement. The Razer DeathAdder Essential lists 6,400 DPI, the Logitech G502 HERO 25,600 DPI. A high number sounds good, but you set the sensitivity yourself in the software, and most players use a value far below the maximum. So you do not need to choose a mouse by its highest number.

The polling rate is how many times per second the mouse reports its position to the PC. 1000 Hz is common for gaming mice. Razer lists up to 8000 Hz for some of its mice. You notice that mostly on a screen with a high refresh rate, and it uses more battery.

Extra buttons for MMO and strategy

In MMOs and strategy games you use a lot of shortcuts. A mouse with a button panel on the side puts them under your thumb. The Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed lists 19 programmable buttons, the SteelSeries Aerox 9 18. For shooters two thumb buttons are usually enough, and a lighter mouse is handier then.

Do not forget the mouse pad

A mouse only glides well on a flat surface. A cloth mouse pad gives more control, a hard pad glides faster. Look at our mouse pads for a size that matches how much room you need.