When comparing prices between models, almost everyone is left speechless. While a generic mouse costs less than five euros online, a gaming mouse can easily exceed the 60-euro barrier. So, what is the difference between a gaming mouse and a common one? Today we're going to explore some of the most important aspects.
Customization
A common mouse is one of the most compelling examples of plug-and-play you can find today: a wheel, two buttons (or three, if the wheel works as the third button), you plug it in, and that's it. You can invert the priority of the buttons if you're left-handed in the operating system, but nothing else.
In contrast, a gaming mouse seeks to adapt to the user's demands and provides access to certain configuration parameters that aren't available in a traditional mouse. In the vast majority of cases, these parameters are modified with the help of proprietary software, but there are models with physical buttons that modify the behavior of the gaming mouse without needing to install applications.
DPI and Polling Rate
DPI stands for "Dots per inch" or points per inch, though some companies use CPI, "Counts per inch". This value expresses the number of steps a mouse will report when moving one inch. As expected, there are many differences between manufacturers: some talk about "speed", others about "sensitivity", and others about "acceleration". In a conventional mouse, the average ranges from 300 to 1,000 DPI. However, the DPI value has become a marketing resource for gaming mice, and today we find models with absurd numbers.
The polling rate, also known as "response speed" (as Logitech calls it), measures how many times a mouse reports its state and position to the computer, expressed in Hertz. It's very rare to find a common mouse with a polling rate above 250 Hz, but the story is different for a gaming mouse. A polling rate of 500 Hz equals an update every two milliseconds, while 1,000 Hz reduces it to one millisecond. Some gamers swear by that one-millisecond difference, especially in competitive titles like CS:GO.
Weight Adjustments
As simple as it sounds. Some gamers prefer lighter mice, while others go the opposite direction. Something similar happens with mechanical keyboard switches: personally, I prefer them very heavy, but Cherry MX Red are popular for being light and linear. There are models that come with special weights, and others have holes in their shells (usually following a honeycomb pattern) to reduce the amount of material. With a little creativity, you can modify the weight of any mouse.
Gaming Mouse: Buttons
As we mentioned in the customization section, a normal mouse doesn't have more than two or three buttons. For gaming mice... let's say the sky is the limit. Many users celebrate the ability to transfer keyboard commands to the mouse, and there are games that definitely know how to take advantage of additional buttons (Doom Eternal comes to mind).
To that we must add the creation of macros. Some games show no mercy with the key combinations they demand, and reducing that chaos to pressing a button on a gaming mouse changes our experience completely. Nevertheless, you have to be careful: certain anti-cheat systems don't look kindly on the use of macros.
Sensors and Switches
The hardest part for last. While a sensor only needs to be "good enough" in a conventional mouse to fulfill its basic functions, the supposed virtues of sensors in gaming mice have given rise to more than one flame war on the web. A high DPI number is useless if the sensor is low quality or exhibits erratic behavior when pushed to the limit. The key is to find the best price-performance ratio. You have to do a lot of research: it's very easy to overpay for a gaming mouse, and the last thing we want is to discover it has a mediocre sensor.
Another aspect that has gained a lot of relevance in gaming mice is that of switches or buttons. In fact, some manufacturers have implemented hot-swap support, which allows us to replace switches without using a soldering iron. Latency and "clickiness" parameters come into play here, but just like with keyboards, the final word belongs to each gamer.
The Difference Between a Gaming Mouse and a Common One: Summary
- The differences between a normal mouse and a gaming mouse are very important, but first and foremost, those differences must be useful to you.
- There is some consensus on the four essential parameters that define a good gaming mouse: comfort, durability, precision, and price.
- The "DPI race" is a myth. Some sensors are forced to work with higher values, producing negative results or introducing anomalies that harm the player.
- The RGB looks good on many models, but don't be fooled. Some very low-quality generic mice hide behind a cloak of RGB.
- The You're not obliged to buy a gaming mouse. While they are valuable in ultra-competitive high-speed, high-precision titles, many games depend on the mouse for very basic commands, and there's always a defective port that never manages to correctly translate its gamepad controls to the mouse.
If you have any questions, don't think twice and leave a comment. Of course, we also extend that invitation if you think we missed something and want to share your own experiences with gaming mice.
