If you're a PC gamer, chances are you've come across the age-old debate about whether a wired or wireless mouse is better for your needs. This is a thorny question and one that, until relatively recently, would have had only one firm answer: wired, forever and ever. Having a wired mouse means you don't have to worry about connectivity as it's physically connected to your PC. Worries about battery issues go away too, and when it comes to response times, well, hardwired would always win, right? Until as recently as 2016, this argument carried a lot of weight, and you would have been hard-pressed to find a PC gamer who would prefer a wireless mouse to a wired mouse. But then something happened that turned heads and changed the perception of the wireless mouse forever. In 2016, the Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum was released, and with it Logitech boldly claimed that the mouse was the fastest on the market. Not the fastest "wireless" mouse, but the fastest mouse. "We talked to esports pros and none of them like the cable on a wired mouse," said Ujesh Desai, Logitech's vice president and general manager of gaming at the time. “They would like the freedom of wireless, but the performance and reliability of a wired mouse. So that was the design goal we gave our engineers, to build a wireless gaming mouse that's faster than competitive wired gaming mice. The G900 delivers on the promise, and we're confident it's the best gaming mouse we've ever built. Reviewers at the time confirmed that the mouse lived up to its hype, shifting the balance between the wired and wireless argument a bit. That was four years ago, and wireless has advanced even further since then. But it's not just connectivity what is a factor when buying a gaming mouse, there are many more decisions to consider here are some of the main differences that go into buying a wireless mouse vs. a wired mouse.
![Espectro del caos Logitech G900]()
The Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum Wireless Mouse (Image credit: Logitech)
Cable or cordless?
A wired mouse, by definition, has a cable. This cable traditionally means that things like input lag aren't an issue because your mouse plugs directly into a USB port (or a PS/2 port if you're old school) and there is lag. minimal input with a wired mouse. Most wireless gaming mice connect to a computer via a USB connector using a 2.4 GHz connection, but low latency Bluetooth is also a consideration and many will come with a cable as well. . If you're investing in a decent dedicated wireless gaming mouse, latency really shouldn't be an issue. While traditionalists will always choose wired, there are advantages to having a truly wireless setup. A cable can cause resistance when playing and this is something to keep in mind. The touch of a cable could be the difference between winning or losing in the heat of a particularly furious online battle.
Accuracy matters
Whether you choose a wired or wireless gaming mouse, precision matters. There are a number of things to keep in mind, but it's worth noting that they're remarkably similar in wireless and wired setups. An important factor is the DPI. It stands for "dots per linear inch." The idea is that the higher the DPI, the less movement you have to use to make the cursor move. The lower the DPI, the more power you have to give the mouse to make the cursor work. Most gaming mice on the market will offer between 10,000 and 20,000 DPI, which is a phenomenal amount. But don't take the highest number to improve it. It really depends on the type of game you're playing. While higher DPI may work well for character movement accuracy, it may not be as good for aiming a weapon; if your mouse is too sensitive, aiming can become a problem. The good news is that most gaming mice allow you to change the DPI and sensitivity of a mouse.
Who is in charge?
One of the main differences between a wired mouse and a wireless mouse is charging. A wired mouse does not have the disadvantage of having to be charged, while a wireless mouse will inevitably need to be recharged. For die-hard gamers this could be a problem, but many wireless mice can hold a charge for around 50 hours or more. Take the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless, featured in our best gaming mouse guide. You can get 60 hours of gaming out of this mouse, 30 hours if you turn on the RGB lighting and use the most optimal wireless connection. And when they need a charge, you only watch for two to three hours.
![Corsair Harpoon Wireless RGB]()
The Corsair Harpoon RGB wireless mouse (Image credit: TheComparison)
Play anywhere
Another key area where wired and wireless mice differ is in proximity to the computer. With wired mice, it's obvious that you have to be close to the computer because you're connected to it. A wireless mouse has the advantage that it can be used far from the computer, sometimes up to 30 feet without wasting latency. It's good for those who have taken their PC out of their bedroom and have a living room setup. This means that, in theory, you can walk over to the couch to play, instead of standing near your gaming desk and chair.
Wired or Wireless Gaming Mice: The Verdict
Due to advances in battery and wireless technology, gaming with a wired or wireless mouse is now a priority. There will always be those who prefer wired and peace of mind knowing that their mouse connection will never suffer, or that a dead battery will ruin a late-night gaming session. But these things are now rare. Wireless mouse technology now means latency is on par with wired brethren and companies like Logitech, Corsair and Razer have worked hard to make sure their versions of 1.4Ghz connectivity are as stable as possible. Choosing the right gaming mouse now largely depends on ergonomics: how the mouse feels in your hand, and how much you're willing to pay. These should be the first questions you ask yourself, and they show just how far wireless gaming mice have come. TechRadar created this content in a paid partnership with Currys PC World. The content of this article is completely independent and reflects the editorial opinion of TechRadar only.