5 Best Mice for Comfortable Gaming Sessions

Wired or wireless?

The decision to go wired or wireless is up to you. Both of our top Razer options actually let you go either way, which is partially why they’re the best in class. It’s a simple trade-off: With a wired mouse, you’re plugged in, so the cable limits mobility and room to adjust a bit—but you don’t run the risk of latency. Lag has always been the downfall of the wireless mouse. More often than not, serious gamers prefer wired. However, we don’t think you will have an issue with any of the excellent wireless mice we picked.

Are wired or wireless mice heavier?

As a rule of thumb, wireless mice are more lightweight than their wired brethren. Over the years, the race to have the best battery life has led wireless mice down this road—with lighter, smaller batteries to compensate. Wired cables themselves can carry a good deal of weight as well. Wired mouse designs don’t often prioritize lightness or portability compared with wireless mice.

What is polling rate?

Polling rate (or report rate) is a measure of how many times per second a mouse “reports” or sends data to the computer. Theoretically, the higher the number the smoother your mouse movements will be. That can be important in competitive gaming. Most gaming mice have a polling rate of 1,000Hz, but some go up to 8,000Hz and higher.

What are CPI and DPI?

These are both abbreviations for ways to measure the sensitivity of a mouse’s optical sensor. Counts per inch (CPI) and dots per inch (DPI) are mostly interchangeable as marketing speak, but technically CPI is a more precise measurement. That means you’ll probably see it used less often. Basically, the higher the number, the bigger the reward you’ll get from making minute movements and playing with even greater precision.