Comparison Asus ROG Spatha vs Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse

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.

Mouse support for Multi-Device technology.

This technology is found exclusively in models with wireless connectivity (see “Connection type”). It allows you to pair the mouse with several devices simultaneously and quickly switch between them without fiddling with the settings every time; in many models, such switching is carried out literally at the touch of a button. Thanks to this, you can, for example, easily use the mouse with both your home computer and a TV running Android TV, connecting to one or another device as needed.

Note that it would not hurt to clarify the specific features of the Multi-device separately. First of all, this concerns the number of simultaneously supported devices.

Interface used for wired connection in mice that have this capability (see "Connection type").

The most popular nowadays is the connection through the classic USB port. Mice for the newer USB-C connector, for a number of reasons, are produced quite a bit, despite the advanced capabilities of this interface. And PS/2, on the contrary, is gradually giving way to newer and more advanced standards. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— USB. Connect to a traditional, full-size USB port (called USB A). Such connectors are extremely widespread: they are practically mandatory for modern PCs and laptops, and are also used as standard for working with peripherals in smart TVs, media centers and other types of electronics. That is why the vast majority of wired mice use this connector.

— USB-C. The newest (for 2020) type of USB connector; is significantly smaller than the USB A described above, as well as a convenient double-sided design. Such connectors are increasingly used in modern PCs and laptops, but very few mice are made for them; this is due to several reasons. Firstly, advanced versions of USB are often implemented through the USB-C connector, with high speed and high power supply; for mice, these characteristics are not needed, but they can be useful for more demanding devices. Secondly, the USB-C hardware socket can b...e used for interfaces other than USB (primarily Thunderbolt v3 and v4). Thirdly, it is simply easier to get into the full-size USB A connector with a plug — especially when trying to blindly find the connector on the back of the system unit. In light of all this, only a few laptop mice are produced under USB-C (see "In the direction").

— PS/2. A specialized connector with a characteristic round shape, used exclusively for keyboards and mice; colloquially known as "pee in half". PS/2 inputs are found exclusively in desktop PCs — they are too bulky for laptops. In general, this interface is considered obsolete and less used, but it can still be found in modern computers. At the same time, PS/2 has a very practical advantage: connecting a mouse to such a socket allows you to leave an additional USB connector free, which, in turn, can be useful for other peripherals. However, mice with only such a plug nowadays are almost never found — devices that can also connect to USB have become more common (see below).

— USB or PS/2. This option most often means that the mouse itself is equipped with a USB plug, and an adapter for PS/2 is supplied with it. Thus, the device turns out to be as versatile as possible in connection; at the same time, adapters are very inexpensive, their price is almost invisible compared to the cost of the mice themselves (even inexpensive ones). Therefore, most modern manipulators with the ability to work through PS/2 belong to this category.

The direction the mouse is facing. Specified only for models with additional specialization or design features — namely, for laptop, gaming and vertical mice. Here are their main features:

— Laptop. Mice well suited for use with laptops. Most of these models have compact dimensions — the length of the case in them is less than 110 mm, and often less than 100 mm. This makes it easy to transport along with the laptop. And larger devices are considered laptops if such specialization is somehow indicated by the manufacturer. In addition, this category includes most models with a Bluetooth connection (see "Connection type") — such a module is found in almost any modern laptop. And wired laptop mice can be equipped with a wire winding system that allows you to adjust the length of the cable for different situations and twist it compactly for transportation.

— Game. Mice designed primarily for use in computer games and intended for gamers — including professional e-sportsmen (although the price category and capabilities of different models, of course, may vary). Such devices are often made in a characteristic "aggressive" design, with unusual patterns, logos, coloured backlighting (in some models — with effects), etc. On the functional side, gaming mice are distinguished primarily by increased sensor accuracy, as well as the presence of various specialized feat...ures — such as additional buttons with the ability to “attach” certain game actions or even a sequence of actions to them, a triple-click (“queue”) button, a sniper button, DPI switching (see below), weight adjustment, etc. Note that narrow the specialization of such models can be different: there are both universal gaming mice and devices optimized for a specific genre (shooters, RPGs, etc.) or even a specific game.

— Ergonomic (vertical). Mice of a specific design: the surface on which the hand is placed during work is not located horizontally in such models, but with an inclination to the right (in left-handed models — to the left). As a result, the body height is noticeably greater than that of traditional models — hence the name "vertical". And the user's hand actually covers such a case from two sides: on one side (on an inclined surface) there is a palm, on the other (in a special recess) — a thumb. This position of the hand is considered more natural and comfortable than the classic horizontal position, it reduces the load on the joints and ligaments, thus reducing fatigue and the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders. Vertical models are well suited for those who have to work at the computer for a long time — except that it may take some time to get used to the unusual shape after a traditional mouse.

Resolution of the sensor responsible for tracking mouse movements on the work surface. Specified in DPI — dots per inch.

The physical meaning of DPI as a whole is as follows. The sensor of a modern mouse works on the same principle as the camera matrix, and consists of pixels. And DPI is the number of pixels that fall on 1 inch of the underlying surface (length or width), "visible" by the sensor.

It is believed that more DPI means a more advanced sensor and mouse in general; nowadays, models for 3500 – 5000 DPI, 12000 DPI, 16000 DPI even more are not uncommon. In a way, it is — high resolution contributes to accuracy. However, the only thing that is directly determined by this indicator is the speed at which the cursor moves across the screen: the higher the resolution of the sensor, the greater the number of pixels that the cursor will move when the mouse itself moves a certain distance. At the same time, it is worth recalling that too high a speed is even more undesirable than too low. So the real need for high DPI ( 1000 and above) arises mainly when working on large screens (4K resolution and more); for more modest displays (HD and Full HD), smaller values are often enough.

The number of buttons provided in the design of the mouse. However, the term "buttons" can also refer to specific hardware solutions — for example, a solid touch area used in many Apple mice counts as two buttons, because. it is divided into two working areas. But the clickable wheels, as well as the power button, are not taken into account in this calculation.

The minimum number of buttons for modern mice and other similar manipulators is two : this is the number that is necessary for comfortable work in most modern operating systems. If there are more than two keys, this means that there are additional buttons responsible for specific actions. So, even relatively inexpensive devices can be equipped with 3 – 4 buttons ; in addition to the 2 main buttons, they can have, for example, 2 side thumb keys, or 1 double/triple click button (see below). Solutions for 5 – 6 buttons are extremely popular nowadays; among them are many gaming mice, where the mentioned thumb buttons are supplemented with a double / triple click, a sniper button and/or a DPI switch (see also below about these functions). And in the most multifunctional models, 7 – 8 buttons and even more can be installed. In some cases, this number exceeds a dozen and a half; such mice are usually gaming devices designed for RPGs and other simil...ar genres where it is important to have a wide range of actions at your fingertips.

The presence of the mouse side buttons — under the user's thumb.

The traditional, most popular option is two buttons, which by default are responsible for the “Back” and “Forward” commands in the browser, system file explorer, etc. There are more of these buttons in gaming mice; some of these models even have an interchangeable side panel that allows you to install a different number of side keys, as desired.

Anyway, the side mouse buttons provide additional convenience and expand the list of features available from the device. At the same time, the buttons are always at hand, in fact, in instant access. This is especially handy in games: some frequently used actions can be tied to the side keys, such as reloading or a special attack. However, even in everyday use, it is much easier to press a button on the mouse than to move the cursor to the Back or Forward icon every time in the same browser.

"Hot" replacement of mechanical switches without the procedure of disassembly and soldering of the manipulator. Hot Swap technology allows you to change one switch for another in a matter of seconds. This is convenient both when the switches fail, and when using the mouse in different scenarios. Most often, the technology is used in advanced gaming devices.

The number of scroll wheels the mouse has.

The traditional, most common option is one wheel, which is used by default to scroll the image up and down. Models with two wheels are much less common; the second wheel in such devices, usually, is located under the thumb and is responsible for horizontal scrolling by default. Such mice will be useful primarily for designers and layout designers working with large-format materials — although usually the functions of the second wheel can be reassigned, which can be useful for other categories of users. However, the second wheel significantly affects the dimensions and cost, so in most cases it is more convenient to get by with an alternative option — a 4D wheel (see below) or programmable buttons (see above). That is why "two-wheeled" mice are not widespread.