Did your computer mouse suddenly stop working after a few days of tantrums? While that may be frustrating, it does give you a reason to purchase a new one! Have you considered upgrading to a wireless mouse?
How do you say? They cost too much, they are not very precise, and you don’t know if your computer “digests” them? I’m sorry, but I think you’re not very up to date on the subject.
Right below, we had listed out the best models of the best wireless mouses.
Things to Consider Before Buying Wireless Mouse
I can guarantee you that wireless mice are now extremely precise (there are also some for gaming that guarantees performance very close to those with cable), and most of them can be brought home at very affordable prices.
To find out which wireless mouse is best for you, you need to learn to evaluate some aesthetic, practical, and functional characteristics of the various types of mice available on the market: here are the most important ones to consider.
Form
Mice can have various shapes, each of which is optimized for a different type of handle. The most common handle is the one called palm grip (palm grip) in which the palm rests completely on the surface of the mouse.
Then there is the claw grip (claw grip) in which only the fingers are placed on the mouse, without the palm, and finally, we have the fingertip grip (taken with the fingertips) in which the mouse is moved with the tip of the fingers without constantly keeping your hand resting on it.
Ergonomic mice deserve a separate discussion, which can have a horizontal or vertical grip and are designed to be used with the arm outstretched (so as not to stress the joints and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome).
Some ergonomic mice are characterized by the presence of a trackball, a “ball” that allows you to move the mouse cursor on the computer screen without physically moving the mouse.
Weight
Another feature to consider before buying a mouse is its weight. In principle, the lighter mice allow very rapid movements; they do not tire the hand but are not very precise compared to the heavy ones.
The heavy mice, on the contrary, are very precise but have slow movements and quickly tire the hand. To underline the fact that some mice – generally, the more expensive and advanced ones are supplied with weights that can be inserted inside to change their weight if necessary.
Number of Keys
Most of the mouse has three buttons: right-click, left-click, and scroll wheel (which can also be used as the key) to which very often are joined one or two side keys with variable functions.
This configuration is fine for most uses, except for gaming, where a mouse with more keys may be more useful. The additional mouse keys for gaming can be associated with various functions thanks to special software to be installed on the PC. In this case, we speak of programmable keys.
Optical or Laser Sensor
The sensor is the most important part of a mouse, the one on which the accuracy and efficiency of the device depend. It can be optical or laser.
The optical one (LED) ensures greater speed of movement, has a good level of precision but does not work on surfaces that are too smooth or in glass, this is because the sensor takes “photographs” of the surface on which it is located and compares them to calculate the movements to do.
The laser sensor, on the other hand, also works on smooth surfaces as it captures images with greater contrast. It guarantees a higher level of precision than the optical one, but it also has a greater sensitivity to the specks of dust that can be found on the desk.
Resolution
Resolution is a parameter which, expressed in DPI (dots per inch), indicates the number of pixels the mouse cursor moves for each inch of movement (e.g., if the mouse has a resolution of 1600 DPI, the cursor on the screen moves 1600 pixels for every inch traveled on the desk).
Contrary to what the advertisements want us to believe, this value does not indicate the level of precision of the mouse, nor its degree of sensitivity (which can be adjusted at the software level).
I recommend a mouse with a very high resolution only if you have a display with a very high resolution. Instead, focus on the accuracy of the device by reading online reviews and user comments.
2.4 GHz or Bluetooth Wireless Connection
Wireless mice can operate radio frequency via the 2.4GHz wireless network or via Bluetooth. Those based on the 2.4GHz network require the use of a small USB stick (called a dongle) and work on all computers.
Bluetooth ones do not require the use of dongles but only work on computers that support Bluetooth technology (unless you use external keys, but this would not make sense!). Generally, they have shorter autonomy than RF ones.
The range can vary from mouse to mouse but is typically 10 meters. Some wireless mice can be associated with multiple devices simultaneously and allow you to switch from one device to another with the push of a button (without having to perform a new pairing each time).
Battery
The wireless mice can be powered by rechargeable batteries such as those of smartphones, which must be charged occasionally via USB cable, or by common AA or AAA batteries. Their autonomy is variable, although in general, we always talk about weeks per charge or per battery change.
Technical Parameters
In the datasheets of the mice, you can find various items related to technical characteristics that, although apparently, they may seem very difficult to understand, in reality, they can be evaluated with extreme simplicity. Here are some examples.
- Polling Rate – is the frequency with which the mouse communicates its position to the operating system, is expressed in Hz, and it is good that it has a high value.
- Malfunction Speed – this is the speed above which the mouse sensor stops recording movement correctly.
- Acceleration – is the degree of speed that the mouse pointer can reach about hand movement. In fact, according to the time taken by the user to move the mouse, the cursor reacts differently. The acceleration value is measured in “G,” and a movement of 9.8m / sec is equivalent to each “G.”
- Advanced Scrolling Options – some mice offer advanced scrolling options, i.e., scrolling pages. For example, some mice support horizontal scrolling of pages and others that allow you to scroll vertically in jerks, therefore with precise interruptions, thus avoiding infinite strokes on the same text.
- Response Times – is the length of time it takes for the wireless mouse to capture user input. It is calculated in ms, so the lower this value, the higher the responsiveness of the mouse.
- Gesture Support – some advanced mice have a touch surface that allows you to interact with the computer through gestures, a bit.
- Use by Left-Handed People – not all mice are suitable for left-handed users. If you are left-handed, before buying a mouse, make sure that it is suitable for use with the left hand.
As easily understood, the values that I have just listed are important, especially in areas such as gaming or graphics, which require a certain precision of the mouse cursor.
If you need a “generic” mouse to use for activities such as web browsing and office work, you can also not focus too much on these aspects.
Led Lighting
Mice should also be evaluated based on their aesthetic appearance. If you like particularly flashy or aggressive-looking mice, know that there are several models equipped with LED lights that can often be programmed via PC software.
Software Compatibility
2.4GHz-based mice work with all PCs (and not just PCs), while Bluetooth mice only work with devices that support Bluetooth technology.
But we have already said this. What I want to emphasize now is that to program the keys and the LED lights, specific software is needed that may not be compatible with all operating systems (e.g., they may be compatible with Windows and not with macOS) or with all versions of the same operating system (e.g., they could work on Windows 10 but not on Windows 7).
Before buying a customizable mouse via software, therefore, make sure that the programs necessary for configuring the device are compatible with your computer.
