There was no doubt that wired mouse were superior to wireless mouse for gaming just a few years ago. Wireless mouse was hampered by high latency and other connectivity difficulties. Older devices couldn’t keep up with wired mice’s direct data transfer.
Wireless technology developments have leveled the playing field between wireless and wired gaming mouse, according to gaming peripheral companies. Most wireless mouse can now compete with their wired counterparts in terms of speed and performance, thanks to manufacturers like Logitech.
With Logitech’s G900 Chaos Spectrum launch in 2016, the performance gap between wired and wireless mouse began to close. The G900 was one of the first wireless gaming mice to compete with wired gaming mouse in terms of speed and performance. Since then, technology has progressed to the point that several popular mouse, such as the Logitech G Pro, Corsair Harpoon, and Razer Viper, are available in both wired and wireless versions without compromising capabilities.
Wired Mouse For Gaming
In most gaming communities, wired mouse are still preferred over wireless mice since they are more reliable and efficient. Despite their age, some wired mouse contain functionality that isn’t available on wireless mouse as of this article. Wireless mouse may be the way of the future, but wired mice have access to the most recent technologies long before their wireless equivalents.
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PROS & CONS
Pros
Convenience
Because they are plug-and-play, wired mice are straightforward to use. Your mouse will work as soon as you plug the cable into a USB port. Wired mice are an excellent choice for those who want to get into the game quickly without having to worry about batteries or losing the wireless transmitter.
Price
When it comes to cost, there are no alternatives. Because they require less hardware to function, wired mice are always less expensive than their wireless counterparts. The future of wireless mouse, on the other hand, appears bright, and the price gap is likely to reduce as the technology gets more widely adopted.
Speed
Wired and wireless mouse have same speed, and the differences are based on the mouse you pick.
The wired G Pro and G Pro Wireless from Logitech share the same 25,600 DPI sensor and have a one ms response time.
SteelSeries Aerox and Rival 3 models are available in both wired and wireless versions. The response time of these mice is one millisecond. The sensors on these mice are what sets them apart. The wireless versions of each mouse only go up to 8,500 CPI, whereas the cable ones have a greater 18,000 CPI sensor. Wireless devices are significantly more expensive than wired models in both cases.
In early 2021, Razer released the wired Viper 8KHz. It’s the first mouse in the world that poll at an 8,000Hz rate. Because of the high polling rate, the mouse connects with the PC 8,000 times per second, resulting in a reaction time of 0.125 milliseconds. The Viper Ultimate, its wireless cousin, one-millisecond response time and a 1,000Hz polling rate. it is still comparable to most high-end gaming mouse.
These examples show that when it comes to response time, wired and wireless mouse are basically on par. Wired mouse may be able to keep their crown if more manufacturers adopt an 8,000Hz polling rate.
Cons:
Comfort level
The cable is the biggest disadvantage of connected mouse. Unwanted friction might reduce your response time during games, and cable drag can make the mouse uncomfortable to operate. Mouse bungees are available from companies like BenQ ZOWIE and Glorious to prevent cable drag, but they add to the overall cost of wired gaming mouse.
Range:
The length of the cable on a wired mouse affects how far you may sit from your computer. If you sit far away from your computer or have it connected to a television, a wired mouse is a poor choice.
Of course, for competitive gamers who sit closer to their monitors, the limited range isn’t an issue.
Durability:
A wired mouse’s weakest point is the cord, which is prone to breaking. If you travel regularly, wired mice are not a smart choice because the cord is prone to snags and being tangled in transportation.
A mouse with a detachable cord, on the other hand, completely eliminates this problem. Detachable cables are usually simple to replace if they get damaged or misplaced.
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Wireless Mouse For Gaming
For pro games, wireless mouse is used less than wired mice, but the difference is progressively closing. Older gaming mouse 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 much higher than the 133Hz polling rate used by some Bluetooth mouse. Although wired mouse currently reign supreme, as technology progresses, the tide is progressively turning.
PROS & CONS
Pros
Comfort:
Wireless gaming mouse provide a level of comfort that wired mice cannot. When moving the mouse, there is no cable drag or resistance, giving your hand a lot more flexibility. While playing, the free movement translates to smoother tracking and faster flicks.
Speed:
The difference in speed between wired and wireless mouse is no longer a factor. The fastest wireless mouse can keep up with its wired counterparts in terms of speed. Signals are also somewhat of an issue, however, this is based on the mouse you’re using.
Top gaming mouse use proprietary technology such as Hyperspeed and Lightspeed. Lightspeed technology from Logitech keeps response times under one millisecond and stable connection.
Range:
Modern wireless mouse have long-range connections, making them great if you sit far away from your computer or have it connected to a tv.
If you sit far away from your computer, an extender cord is one option to improve your wireless connection. The extender cable has one end that connects to the PC and the other end that connects to your USB receiver. The majority of wireless mouse come with an extender cord, but you can also buy them separately.
Durability:
Wireless mouse are a better alternative if you’re frequently on the road because they don’t have cables that can become tangled or hooked. However, some wireless mouse charge via cables or USB ports, which might be pricey to replace if they are broken.
Cons
Battery Life:
At some time, the batteries in all wireless mouse will run out. Rechargeable batteries are used in some wireless mouse, whereas replaceable batteries are used in others. It’s possible that the batteries will run out while you’re playing, regardless of the choice you choose.
Many wireless mice come with a USB cord that can be used to charge the battery while gaming. Although the USB cord keeps the battery from dying, it causes cable drag.
The battery’s overall duration can sometimes be an issue. Some wireless mouse, such as Logitech’s G305, use, changeable AA batteries that are cheap and simple to replace.
Price:
Wireless gaming mice are almost always more expensive than wired mouse Given the advanced technology, a greater price is unavoidable. The price of wireless mice is further increased by the addition of transmitters and extension cables. Some manufacturers sell charging ports separately, which raises the price of wireless mouse even more.
Signal:
If there are a lot of other devices in close proximity, signal interference can cause some wireless mouse to lose connection. As technology advances, this problem will become obsolete. This is not an issue with modern wireless mice from trustworthy brands like Razer and Logitech. To avoid interference, these mouse scan different channels and switch to the quickest one with the least traffic.