Everyone’s gaming setup is different, and with so many options it can be daunting to set up your first, or a new, gaming rig. Choosing the right computer components, the right monitor, desk, chair, keyboard, mouse, headset…there are so many things! So let’s focus on just one aspect of just one of these items: your mouse. Should you get a wireless or a wired mouse? Top gaming mouse brands like Logitech normally have both wired and wireless mice but the best Logitech mouse is often wireless.
Mouse technology today for both wireless and wired mice has pretty much evened out. Gone are the days where wireless mice had to give up responsiveness and sensitivity just to lose the wire. Some of the top professionals of today play on wireless setups, so if that’s the route you want to go then more power to you. There are a couple of things to consider as you make your decision of wired vs wireless though.
Cost
Cost always plays a role in our decision-making because most of us don’t have endless stacks of cash lying around. In most cases, a wired mouse will be less expensive than its wireless counterpart. If cost is one of your main factors, you will more than likely spring for a wired mouse – which isn’t a bad option at all. Because wireless mice have to include their own power source (third party batteries or an integrated, chargeable battery) and a wireless connection, they will typically be more expensive.
Responsiveness and Sensitivity
Usually, the wired vs wireless discussion does not require you to give up other features on your mouse – you can find both wired and wireless mice with all the best bells and whistles. Adjustable sensitivity, adjustable weight, RGB lights, lots of buttons…it’s all available on both platforms. But if you go wireless, as you turn up your sensitivity and responsiveness, and play all day with those RGB lights on, your battery is draining faster and faster. If you are not someone who cares about having lights on all the time you can easily go days or even weeks without plugging in your mouse to charge or replace batteries. But if you have to have lights on all the time, pulsing in time with your keyboard and headset, a wired mouse may be a better option for you based on power consumption alone.
Cable Management
This is something that can really divide the gaming community. Some people don’t care about cable management at all, and their gaming space has cords everywhere. The keyboard cable is tangled with the monitor cable, the mouse is tied in a knot around a USB hub hanging off your case, and the wall behind your desk looks like a bird’s nest. Other people live for clean lines and hidden cables, and they’ll spend extra money to have as many wireless peripherals as they can. It’s this aesthetic that really drives the conversation of wireless vs wired mice.
Because of today’s technology, there really aren’t performance differences between wired and wireless mice. Sure, you may have to pay more for the top performance features on a wireless mouse, but if you NEED to have that clean desk look it may be well worth it for you. A wireless mouse will also travel a bit easier than a wired mouse: it takes up less space, there’s no cord to store, no knots to untangle, etc. If you bring your mouse from your house to your office a lot, or to a friend’s house, a wireless mouse may be your jam. However, if you have A LOT of wireless tech around your computer it’s possible to experience a little interference as you add more and more wireless accessories to your space. Most people won’t have an issue with this, but it is something to consider.
Power
A wired mouse gets its power from your computer directly, so there are never any issues. If your computer is on, your mouse is on. You’ll never have to charge it. You don’t need to buy stock in a battery company. It’s always plugged in and ready to go. A wireless mouse may require batteries, which cost money. If there is an integrated battery then you’ve got to plug it in. What happens if your battery dies in the middle of a game? Do you have spare batteries lying around? Can you plug your wireless mouse into your computer for immediate power, or does it need to charge a bit before you can use it again? Do you have a backup mouse? None of these questions arise when you have a wired mouse.
There are clearly pros and cons to wired and wireless mice, and it all comes down to personal preference. Take a look at your entire gaming setup and start to ask yourself some questions. Do you have a lot of cords in your space already, so adding one more won’t make a difference? Would a wired mouse be the ONLY cable in your area and therefore ruin the look you’ve got? Is it worth it TO YOU to spend a little extra money and deal with charging/batteries to have that clean-looking desktop with a beautiful keyboard and mouse and nothing else in sight? Do you mind having a mouse that you need to plug in to charge every night, or do you want one that runs on batteries because you keep extras in your desk and in your backpack? Or do you just want to have a mouse that’s ready to go, no questions asked, no special treatment, nothing else to worry about other than how you’re playing today?
The decision is yours!
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