One of the pricier and more unexpected things you’re going to need to buy for your PC gaming setup is a gaming mouse. Gaming mice can cost you three digits for some of the better models, leaving a lot of people wondering whether or not they’re worth it.
Gaming mice are worth it. Your mouse is how you interface with whatever game you’re playing. It dictates your aim and reaction speeds, meaning you need a good gaming mouse to compete in any competitive game. The sensor technology used in gaming mice makes them more than worth the investment.
Investing in a good-quality gaming mouse is always going to be worth it. The difference between a branded gaming mouse and a cheap mouse you bought from a computer store is going to be night and day.
Of course, why gaming mice are worth the money is a little deeper than saying it makes you better at a game. There is a range of things that you need to consider before you make any purchase.
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Why Gaming Mice are Worth it
Gaming mice are absolutely worth it; let me say that right now. I would be the first person to call out overpriced hardware for what it is, but most gaming mice are actually underpriced compared to what they could sell for. This means that gaming mice are worth it for a variety of different reasons:
- The sensors used in gaming mice are more responsive than those in non-gaming mice, giving you more accurate mouse tracking, meaning your movements are more accurate. Gaming mouses tend to have ergonomic designs that allow you to use them for hours on end without any hand pain.
- Gaming mice use either an optical sensor or mechanical buttons that are both faster to press than buttons on a traditional mouse, meaning you get to react to things in-game faster.
Those three are the biggest reason why I advocate for gaming mice being worth the money. To sum it all up in one phrase, a gaming mouse performs better than a non-gaming alternative. It’s faster, more accurate, more comfortable, and made of more advanced technology.
On top of that, you can get a good quality gaming mouse for under $100. For the technology included in some of these mice, I wouldn’t blink twice if the price tag was double that, making them one of the best hardware investments you can make for your gaming rig.
What Should I Look for in a Gaming Mouse?
When you’re shopping for a gaming mouse, there are a few different specs that you should be on the lookout for. Rather than just recommending a mouse to you, I’m going to tell you what I look for when I’m buying one for myself so that you can do your own market research.
Wired or Wireless Mice?
First and foremost, you need to decide whether you want a wired mouse or a wireless one. Traditionally, wired mice used to be the only competitively viable option. That’s changed since the launch of the Logitech G Pro Wireless.
These days, you can get wireless mouses that are just as responsive, if not more so, than most market-leading wired mouses out there. Although, you can expect to pay a little bit more for that wireless technology.
Still, a wireless mouse is a lot more convenient given that you’re not constantly battling with a wire while you’re trying to shoot in games like CSGO or Valorant.
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Sensor Technology and DPI
After you decide whether you want a wired or wireless mouse, you need to start doing research into what kind of sensor and DPI options your mice of choice come with.
Your DPI is the figure that dictates your mouse’s sensitivity. This makes it the single most important number in your entire gaming setup.
You want to make sure you can change your DPI at will with your mouse, especially if you play PvP games. A lot of mice give you three or four different DPI options, but that’s not good enough in this day and age. I’d recommend only going with a mouse if you can completely customize your DPI figure to your liking.
What level of DPI your mouse can achieve is typically indicative of the quality of the mouse’s sensor. Razer and Logitech both have industry-leading sensor technology in various mouse models, but there are plenty of lesser-known brands that also use great sensors. To see the best budget mice options for $50 check out my article
Comfort
Your mouse needs to be comfortable to use, especially if you play for several hours per day. Not only does the design of the mouse need to be ergonomically sound, but you need to pay special attention to it if you’re left-handed.
Not every mouse is ambidextrous, so make sure you’re not buying a mouse designed for right-handed players. Otherwise, you’re going to be in for an awfully miserable experience.
A comfortable and ergonomic design is more than just throwing some rubber on the mouse and calling it a day. It includes the concaves and shapes of the shell as well as the dimensions so that it fits in your palm comfortably.
If there’s no mention of ergonomics on your mouse of choice’s sales page, then chances are it’s not worth the investment.
Button Customization
You should be buying a mouse because of the sensor and performance it delivers, not because it has buttons on it. That being said, those buttons are still a massive part of what makes a good gaming mouse worth it. Granted, these buttons are more important in certain titles than others.
For example, you’re going to need a lot more button options if you’re playing an MMO versus a few for your grenades in CS. Base your shopping in this regard around your genre of choice and get a mouse that is appropriate for it.
Don’t sacrifice quality for buttons, though. If you have the option between a poor mouse with six buttons and a great one with two, get the great mouse.
Curious about becoming a pro gamer but not sure what equipment you need? Check out my article here for the 6 essential pieces of equipment you can’t miss out on.
