What is a best computer mouse? Well, for starters, it’s definitely not one of those standard computer mice you’ve used before in your school computer lab or library.
A best computer mouse should feel comfortable, smooth, and move effortlessly as if it were part of your hand when you move the mouse.
Buying the best computer mouse is no easy task. You need to find the mouse that perfectly matches your mouse grip style and has the right features for your computing needs.
Also, you need to consider things like mouse performance, ergonomic design, and unique details. But you really don’t have to worry about that since I’ve got you covered.
This mouse buying guide will show you what you need to know to shop for the best custom mouse for you. And if you have any questions or concerns, just drop me a comment below.
Table of Contents
Check Your Budget
Setting your budget or price should be the first thing you do before buying a mouse. When you have a decided budget, it will be easier for you to choose your mouse because you can narrow down your options.
The budget range most people will be looking at for a new mouse will be in between $10-$100, and anything above $100 are generally advanced gaming mice for hardcore gamers.
If you can’t decide on a budget, I recommend choosing a mouse in the $35-$75 budget range. There are numbers of great mice that offer quality and performance in that budget range.
You really don’t have to spend more than that unless you’re a gamer who wants a competitive edge while gaming.
Since the mouse and keyboard are the most frequently used and practical aspects of your desktop, it’s worth investing in a good quality mouse.
Different types of Computer Mice
The mouse has evolved a lot from the typical [two-button, trackball] device to a [multi-button, laser tracking] device, and it doesn’t stop there.
There are now different variations of mice that are specifically designed for different types of use. So you can find the best mouse that works best for you, whether you need it for work, travel, gaming, etc.
-
Normal Mice
If you’re pretty old-school and prefer simple things, then you can still find yourself a relatively cheap basic mouse. A basic mouse today is a mouse with three buttons and a scroll wheel. Also, the mouse will be an optical mouse and not a trackball (trackballs are old).
See Also: Best Mouse for Overwatch
But I don’t recommend a regular mouse if you plan on gaming with it because it won’t perform as well as a mouse designed for gaming. Accuracy, performance and comfort will be very different compared to a gaming mouse.
-
Travel Mice
To meet the needs of people who travel a lot for work or pleasure, travel mice are much smaller than a normal mouse.
They are specifically designed to be portable and fit almost anywhere. You can throw them in your backpack, purse, laptop bag, orinanything else.
There are wired or wireless versions of travel mice so you can choose the one you like best. I personally hate having to change wireless mouse batteries so I always use wired versions.
Some things to know about travel a mouse is that they are primarily designed for laptops or notebooks, hence the word “travel”.
It is possible to use it for desktop computers, but the small size and performance of the mouse are not as practical on a desktop computer.
-
Ergonomic Mice
Now ergonomic mice will probably look unusual or weird because mouse design is something we don’t use either. When you look at them, they will look like a device from the future.
They look that way because they are designed specifically for your hand and how your hand is supposed to work naturally when you grip a mouse.
Using an ergonomic mouse will help minimize pressure around the carpal tunnel area when gripping a mouse. In this way, you can reduce the risk of any stress injuries to your hand and wrist during a long computer session.
-
Gaming Mice
When something is designed for gaming, you know it’s made for the most optimal performance, and this goes for gaming mice as well.
A gaming mouse has great qualities like good ergonomic design, advanced features, and high performance.
You can buy a gaming mouse that best suits the game genre you play so that you can have the most competitive edge in your games.
There are some advanced gaming mice that offer many customizable features such as programmable buttons, easy DPI/profile switching, and adjustable mouse weight balance.
One thing for sure is that when you buy a gaming mouse, you are getting your money’s worth. The build quality of a gaming mouse is the best, and the performance and functionality are amazing too. A gaming mouse is must for any PC gamer.
Mouse size and Grip style
How a mouse feels in your hand will determine whether or not that mouse will be the one for you. To find a comfortable mouse, you need to consider the size of the mouse and the type of grip style you use.
Mouse size can be difficult to determine when shopping online, so it’s always best to check the dimensions of the mouse.
Knowing your grip style can also help you to determine the right mouse size for you. The size and ergonomics of certain mice are specifically designed for certain types of grip styles. Once you know what style of grip you use, you can easily find the right type of mouse.
Note: It is possible to use more than one type of grip style, and don’t worry if you use more than one because most mice support different grip styles anyway.
-
Palm Grip
The palm grip style is when you hold the mouse with your whole hand. The entire surface of your hand will be touching and covering the mouse.
Most palm grip style mice will have a large arch or hump for your palm to rest on. This is probably the most normal way to use the mouse, and should be the most comfortable for most people. However, this grip may be perhaps the least accurate when compared to the other grip styles.
-
Claw Grip Mice
With a claw, you are literally grabbing the mouse with a claw gesture. The areas that touch and control the mouse are the palm of the hand, the fingertips, and the thumb.
See Also: Best Mouse for Claw Grip
The claw-style mouse is usually longer with a low profile, but with enough arch at the end for your palm to rest on.
The claw grip can put more stress on your hands than the palm grip, however you get more control and precision with a claw grip.
-
Finger Grip Mice
The finger grip may give you the most precision and accuracy with your mouse. Just like the name of the grip, you can control the mouse just with your fingertips.
See Also: Best Fingertip Grip Mouse
Unlike the other two grip styles, the palm doesn’t rest on the mouse, so you can move the mouse without restriction. This is the grip style that I personally use.
Mice connectivity (wired versus wireless)
Deciding whether you want to get a wired or wireless mouse is entirely up to you. It is really a personal preference, and you can choose the one you like best.
However, there are some pros and cons to consider before fully deciding to buy a wired or wireless mouse.
-
Wired Mice
The option of wired mice will give you the most optimal performance and responsiveness when you are computing.
Also, when it comes to connectivity, a wired mouse is much more reliable than a wireless mouse. You don’t have to worry about signal failure or interference with a wired mouse.
For convenience though, some might say that wired mice aren’t as convenient as wireless because of the wired cable, but to be fair, the wired cable seems much more convenient than having to change or charge the mouse batteries. every time. so often.
And if you’re having trouble with your mouse cable, you can get mouse with an elastic cable that helps with cable management for your mouse cable. It is something that almost all professional players use.
-
Wireless Mice
Similar to the growth of mouse technology, wireless technology has also been on the rise for the last few years.
And with wireless technology built into the mouse, you can eliminate cables for better viewing and comfort.
For travel, wireless mice can be more portable than wired mice. However, that’s not always the case with some wireless mice because some wireless mice have a charging dock that doubles as a signal receiver.
So carrying around a charging dock with a USB cable plus wireless mouse doesn’t really sound ideal for travel.
Another thing to consider is the cost of wireless mice. Yes, there are some cheap wireless mice out there, however, if you want the best, you have to spend some extra money.
The really good wireless mice on the market are quite expensive, but they are really worth every penny you spend.
Different between Optical Mice and Laser Mice
The difference between optical and laser is really not that much. Performance is great for both, and both can be used for any computing need.
The main difference between the two is that optical mice use LEDs and sensors to track mouse movement, while laser mice use lasers to track movement.
Now for the sake of choosing the best of the two, laser mice win because it’s a newer technology and doesn’t have LED lights coming out from the bottom when you slightly lift the mouse. Most new mice come with laser technology anyway, so why not go with it?
For gamers, you probably want to use laser mice as well because they can give you higher sensitivity and faster polling rate. And don’t forget to use a mouse pad.
Conclusion
There are many things to consider when it comes to choosing the best mouse. But if you can decide what you need, it will be easier for you to buy your mouse.
Stick to what you need with your mouse. You don’t have to go overboard with different mouse functions. Remember that comfort comes first, then other things.
Let us know which mouse is your favorite and if you’d recommend it to others in the comments section below. Or share with us what features you like best in a mouse.
Faizan Ali is a Master in Computer Sciences and has been writing content for computing, gaming and mobile technologies since 2016. He has written content for number of online magazines, websites and blogs and now writes for “the buyers trend”. Feel free to contact him for any sort of writing for your technology related blog, website or magazine.