Connection
The type of connection used by the mouse.
All types of mouse connection can be divided into
wired and
wireless. There are also
combined models that allow both methods; however, for a number of reasons, they have not received much distribution.
Wired mice can vary in connector type; however, the universal standard nowadays is USB, other options are much less common (see "Cable" for them). Anyway, such mice are much cheaper than wireless counterparts, moreover, they do not require batteries / accumulators and have an almost unlimited lifespan. On the other hand, the wire restricts mobility and can be inconvenient when connecting, especially if the computer is located far away or in a hard-to-reach place.
Wireless devices, in turn, can connect via
radio,
Bluetooth, or
Wi-Fi ; in some models, two options are combined — at the user's choice, (usually radio and Bluetooth). Regardless of the interface used, all such models are more convenient than wired ones due, in fact, to the absence of a cable; and their range is at least a few metres, so a wireless mouse can also work as a kind of remote control. At the same time, a wireless connection is more expensive than a wired connection, and besides, it requires autonomous power supply — as a result, the per
...iod of continuous operation of the mouse is limited.
As for the different types of wireless connection, here are their features:
— Radio. To connect over the air, usually, a wireless adapter is used, which is connected to the USB port of the computer. This method is convenient in that it can be used with any computer, including systems that do not have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules. The disadvantages of this option include the fact that the adapter requires a free connector; as a result, with a small number of USB ports, difficulties can arise. However, this moment, if necessary, can be easily corrected by connecting a USB hub; so it is this connection method that is most popular among modern wireless mice.
— Bluetooth. The main advantage of this connection method is that many modern devices — laptops, most monoblock computers, smart TVs, etc. — have built-in Bluetooth modules. Thus, you can connect the mouse to such equipment directly, without occupying hardware connectors. And for PCs not equipped with internal Bluetooth modules, appropriate adapters are available (which may even be included with the mouse). In addition, some advanced models with such a connection are able to remember several Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them literally “with the touch of a button”. The Bluetooth communication range is at least 10 m with line of sight.
— Wi-Fi. A rather specific option, which is extremely rare — in certain models of laptop mice (see "In the direction"). In many respects it is similar to Bluetooth — in particular, it is designed mainly to work with built-in modules and allows you to use a mouse without occupying hardware connectors. At the same time, the range of communication via Wi-Fi is much greater. On the other hand, this advantage is not of fundamental importance, and on the technical side, the creation of Wi-Fi mice is associated with certain difficulties. That is why this type of connection has not received distribution.Cable length
The length of the cable that is equipped with a mouse with the possibility of a wired connection (see "Type of connection").
When choosing this parameter, you should first of all take into account the distance from the manipulator to the connection port: a cable that is too short may simply not reach the connector, and a cable that is too long may get tangled at hand and create inconvenience. As for specific values, the most modest wire length in modern mice is
1 m or less ; such devices are intended mainly for laptops. Most desktop manipulators come with cables that
are 1.1-1.5m or
1.6-2m long, with some models running
longer than 2m.
Sensor
The model of the sensor installed in the mouse. This information is indicated mainly for models equipped with high-end sensors, which are significantly superior in their capabilities to simpler solutions. Such characteristics are important primarily for gaming mice, so most of the devices for which the sensor model is specified belong to this category.
Knowing the name, you can find detailed data on the sensor and evaluate its capabilities. Note that one of the most popular brands nowadays, under which advanced sensors are produced, is
PixArt ; on the market are often found, in particular, sensors
PixArt 3212,
PixArt 3325,
PixArt 3327,
PixArt 3335,
PixArt 3360,
PixArt 3389,
PixArt 3395. The second common brand is
Avago (recently owned by the same PixArt); the most popular model of this brand is
Avago 3050, the simplest and most affordable representative of gaming sensors.
Max. acceleration
The greatest acceleration during movement, at which the mouse maintains normal performance; if this indicator is exceeded, the cursor may “break down” (moving to an unexpected place due to incorrect processing of data from the sensor).
The faster the mouse moves, the greater the acceleration acting on it. Accordingly, this parameter determines the sensitivity to sudden movements, the extent to which this model is able to normally perceive and process such movements. High values of maximum acceleration (
40 G,
50 G) are important first of all in dynamic games, especially for professional e-sportsmen and advanced enthusiasts. If the mouse is bought for relatively simple tasks (working with documents, surfing the web, etc.), you can ignore this indicator.
Max. speed
The ips (inches per second) parameter is the linear speed of mouse movement, expressed in inches per second, at which the manipulator's sensor is able to read the surface. In top models, the maximum mouse movement speed often reaches 400-600 ips, but devices with ips in the region of 200 are more common.
Built-in memory
The presence in the mouse of its own
built-in memory.
The main and, in fact, the only way to use such memory is to store various advanced settings (for example, the functions of programmable keys, or even entire user profiles for various games or other tasks). This feature is relevant mainly for gamers, so almost all models with this feature are gaming.
Lighting
The presence of
illumination in the design of the mouse.
This illumination can be provided by the same LED that illuminates the surface below the sensor, or by separate light sources. It can have a different colour, and the most advanced systems —
RGB backlighting — allow you to adjust the shade to your liking. Anyway, the backlight gives the mouse an unusual and stylish appearance, besides, it can also have special effects (see below). However, this function has not only an aesthetic, but also quite a practical meaning: for example, a colour change can be used as a DPI level indicator (see above) or as a low battery signal. On the other hand, the backlight affects the cost of the device, and the real need for it is not so often — moreover, in many cases (for example, in the office) an extra “illumination” is completely useless. Therefore, most modern mice still do
not have a backlight.
Lighting effects
The mouse has additional lighting effects. For more information about the backlight itself, see above, and its effects can be different — ranging from a smooth change in brightness and/or colour to colour and light signals, as well as
backlight synchronization(for models with synchronization, this paragraph indicates the supported synchronization technology).
The last function is worth dwelling on separately. Synchronization itself allows you to "match" the mouse backlight with the backlight of other system components — the case, graphics card, keyboard, monitor, etc. Thanks to this matching, you can create various unusual effects: synchronous colour and brightness changes, "colour waves", "running lights" etc. However, for such work, all components of the system must support the same synchronization technology — and such a technology, usually, each manufacturer has its own. So before buying it's ok to check compatibility. However, some mice are able to work with several options at once — for example, iCUE from Corsair and MLS (Mystic Light Sync) from MSI.
Cable
Additional features of the cable that the mouse is equipped with.
These features may include a winding system,
a detachable wire, and a braided
wire(however, most modern mice still have a cable
without a braid). Here is a more detailed description of all these features.
— Retractable. Wire equipped with a special coil for winding. This feature greatly simplifies transportation: during off-hours, the wire is as compact as possible and does not get tangled, and when used, it can be unwound to the desired length (usually the coil allows this possibility). All this is especially important for laptop mice (see "In direction") — in fact, most models with a wire reel fall into this category.
— Removable. Wire that can be detached from the mouse. Almost all mice with two connection options have this feature — wired and wireless: when working in a wireless format, the cable can be removed so that it does not interfere. However, there are also purely wired devices with such a cable — mostly laptop devices, where the wire is removed for ease of transportation. Also note that most often a universal connector like microUSB is used to connect the cable, so if necessary, the wire can be replaced with another one — for example, a longer one.
— In a braid. The presence of an additional braid on the mouse cable. This feature makes the wire more d
...urable, reliable and resistant to bending. On the other hand, braid tends to accumulate dirt and fray when worn; because of this, the wire sheath loses its presentation faster than in mice without a braid. Yes, and such a wire is more expensive than a regular smooth one.