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What Is The Difference Between A Gaming Mouse And A Regular Mouse?

What Is The Difference Between A Gaming Mouse And A Regular Mouse?

If You Are Thinking Of Buying A New Mouse And Are Hesitant To Choose Between Gaming And Normal Mice, In This Article, We Will Explain The Difference Between A Gaming Mouse And A Normal Mouse.

Are you looking to buy a new mouse and are confused by the many options available? The first way is to narrow your choices by removing one of the gaming and regular mouse categories. You need to know the difference between a gaming mouse and a normal one.

Before starting, let’s say that if you are not a gamer or interested in playing, there is no reason to exclude gaming mice from your choices! It would be best if you finally decided according to your needs and the price of the mouse. Do not forget that if you spend many hours of your day with the mouse, a correct and professional choice can prevent future nerve and health problems.

Sensor

One of the main differences between gaming mice and normal mice is their sensor. Normal mice use optical sensors, But gaming mice may use any of two types of visual and laser detectors. Both types of mouse sensors are great, But each has advantages and disadvantages.

Gaming mice track movement more accurately with their flawless laser sensors. They are equipped with highly advanced specialized sensors that provide unparalleled accuracy and tracking so your game is unaffected. For this reason, they use this type of mouse in FPS games.

Trackball Kensington TB550 mouse on mouse pad
Kensington TB550 trackball mouse

Optical sensors offer moderate gaming DPI and are reliable, low-latency, and highly accurate; However, they can only work well on surfaces like mouse pads. In contrast, laser mice have a high DPI and can work on almost any surface, including glass.

Laser sensors’ response power is remarkable and not considered suitable for normal users and beginners. During gameplay, just a small mouse flick can rotate the camera across the map, Although this problem can be solved by adjusting the mouse’s sensitivity.

Accuracy and sensitivity

Mouse sensitivity, or DPI, determines how fast your mouse moves across the screen. More sensitivity means the mouse moves faster and vice versa. DPI represents Dot Per Inch and the number of dots detected in one inch. When the mouse DPI is 800, it can divide 1 inch (equivalent to 2.54 cm) into 800 points.

When it comes to gaming, it is essential that your mouse can track your maneuvers very accurately. Especially in FPS games, the mouse must be very accurate so that you can aim correctly without angle snapping to transfer the hand movements to the game without any grade change.

A mouse for left-handers
$100 Razer Atlas mouse pad

All gaming mice have buttons on the top or side of the mouse, allowing the gamer to change DPI immediately. The gaming mouse comes with preset DPI settings that start at 400 DPI and go up to 26,000 DPI or even more.

This feature is great for those who need to change the mouse’s sensitivity depending on the activity or enjoy it. You can also download the mouse software to change the mouse’s default DPI settings.

You can find the software by visiting the manufacturer’s website or checking the packaging of your mouse.

Most conventional mice have a DPI of 800-1200 and usually don’t have a button that lets you change it quickly. To change the speed of regular mice, you must go to your computer’s settings and manually adjust the sensitivity.

If you don’t need to change the speed of the mouse very often, this shouldn’t matter to you. By changing the DPI, you can adjust the speed of the mouse cursor for precise tasks such as aiming in games or photo editing.

Sampling speed

The sampling rate (Polling Rate) is measured in Hertz and determines how often the mouse reports its location to the computer. The higher the sampling rate, the better the mouse’s responsiveness, and vice versa.

Normal mice usually have a lower sampling rate (around 125 Hz) than gaming mice. A high sampling rate is not important for doing normal daily tasks that do not require fast response, and this low rate is sufficient.

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S white mouse model in hand
Logitech MX Anywhere 3S mouse

The sampling rate of gaming mice is at least 500 Hz, which is enough for most gamers. The sampling speed of some models reaches 1000 Hz or more; However, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference between 500 and 1000 Hz.

More professional gaming mice, such as the Razer Viper 8K, offer sampling rates up to 8,000 Hz. This impressive rate puts more pressure on the CPU to make the mouse as responsive as possible. You can use your mouse software to set the Polling Rate.

Macro keys

Macros are a set of commands recorded and executed by the program by pressing a button. They can also perform simple tasks like opening a web browser, emails, or entering text. In the game, macro keys are used to complete repetitive actions quickly; But they are also suitable for general computer use with a function like keyboard shortcuts.

Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed mouse in hand
Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed mouse

Most gaming mice have macro keys you can program using the mouse software. For example, you can install the Razer Synapse app for Razer mice. Gaming mice can have many macro keys. Some gaming mice, especially those designed for MMORPG games, have a lot of extra buttons.

For example, the Logitech G600 MMO gaming mouse has 20 buttons. In contrast, normal mice usually do not have macro keys; But they might have two buttons for going forward or backward on web browser pages and, less likely, a DPI adjustment button.

With this account, normal mice have much less ability than gaming mice and certainly emphasize much less performance; Of course, this does not mean that ordinary mice are bad; Rather, they lack options essential for professional gamers and unnecessary for casual users.

Ergonomics and appearance

Gaming mice are almost always ergonomic; Because they are made to be used all day long. You will notice their natural and comfortable grip when you hold them in your hand, especially if they have a thumb rest.

The presence of support when holding the mouse gives your thumb a good place to rest and provides more comfort; As a result, it reduces and postpones fatigue.

It should be said that these mice may be made specifically for the use of right-handed or left-handed people; Of course, Ambidextrous mice are useful for both right-handed and left-handed people.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro mouse on mouse pad with keyboard
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro mouse

Most normal mice have a flat design, and it is uncomfortable to use them for a long time; they don’t keep your hand in a natural position. However, you can also find non-gaming ergonomic mice; if this matter is important, it is better to go for gaming models.

Besides, normal mice usually don’t look as attractive as gaming mice. Gaming mice generally have bright LEDs, sharp edges, and a unique futuristic design. Conventional mice rarely have RGB lighting or flashy logos and typically look office and lack ergonomic design.

Cost

In general, gaming mice are more expensive than regular mice. This is logical; Because, as you read, gaming mice have more and better quality and performance than normal mice.

Gaming mice come with software that you can use to set up and customize features like macro key functionality, RGB lighting, sensitivity, and polling rate. A normal mouse is enough for you if you need a mouse to do simple tasks such as web browsing and work with software such as Word.

Is a gaming mouse necessary for gaming?

It is not without reason that professional gamers and streamers use the best gaming mice and gaming chairs. If you’re looking to improve your gameplay in games like Valorant or Apex Legends, in addition to having a monitor with an impressive refresh rate, a gaming mouse is one of the best investments you can make.

The important thing about the right gaming mouse is that you can use it for normal tasks, But the best ordinary mice do not have the power to help you in all games as they should. In addition to improving the gaming experience, a good gaming mouse will also provide many other benefits.

Asus Harpe Ace gaming mouse and Hone Ace mouse pad
Harpe Ace gaming mouse

A gaming mouse is unnecessary for normal games, But it can give you a competitive edge in fast-paced games. A gaming mouse is not essential for many genres, such as strategy games. However, a gaming mouse may be necessary for FPS games; Because mouse accuracy and response time are critical.

Casual gamers can get by with a regular mouse, But if you want to compete, you need the right gaming mouse. A gaming mouse gives you more control and precision, essential in first-person shooters and other such games. If you are serious about gaming, I recommend getting a gaming mouse; Because it greatly affects your performance.

Finally, the issue of build quality is raised. The gaming mouse is made to last longer and can be used and abused even more than a normal mouse. If you are having difficulty with your gaming equipment, a gaming mouse is an option you should consider.

After reading this article, we recommend that to make a better choice, visit the best wireless mouse buying guide and the most popular mouse comparisons.