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.
Sensor resolution
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.
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.
Feet material
- Teflon (PTFE). Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) glides - also known as Teflon - are characterized by an extremely low coefficient of friction. As a result, mice with Teflon feet boast excellent glide and high cursor speed on any type of surface. The minimum level of friction allows you to easily control the movements of the mouse. Manipulators with Teflon gliders perform well in dynamic games and reduce wrist strain during prolonged work at the computer.
— Metal. When properly sanded, the metal feet provide excellent glide for the mouse, and they also have a long service life before abrasion. Note that manipulators with metal gliders are best used on plastic or other hard-wearing playing surfaces. Using a mouse without a mouse pad runs the risk of scratching the surface.
Optimal grip
Grip — a way of holding in the hand — for which this model is best suited.
Grip types are divided according to the position of the hand on the mouse. This parameter is relevant primarily in games: for maximum efficiency, the player needs a mouse that matches the usual type of grip. This is especially important for professional eSports, where any little thing can be the key to victory or defeat. Therefore, the types of grip are indicated mainly for gaming mice (see "By Direction"). At the same time, one can come across statements that certain types of grip are best suited for certain genres of games, but this is not entirely true: the main selection criterion is the user's personal preferences and characteristics. For example, some players quite successfully use a "slow" palm grip in dynamic shooters, compensating for the reduced speed with a good reaction; and others, even in quests, prefer a "quick" claw or finger hold.
Here is a more detailed description of the most popular grip options:
— Palmar. A holding method in which the mice touch both the entire fingers and most of the palm. In other words, with such a grip, the palm with fingers rests on the mouse, making maximum contact with it. It is under this option that most of the "rodents" are initially made, it is also popular in gaming models. Most models, specialized specifically for the palm grip, have a large length, as well as a characteristic asymmetrical design with protrusions...and depressions on the body — for maximum ergonomics; although there are exceptions. Anyway, the main advantages of this method of holding the mouse are the minimum strain on the wrist, as well as good smoothness and accuracy of movements. On the other hand, the speed of moving the mouse may be somewhat slower than with other types of grip.
— Claw. A claw grip is a grip in which the user's hand forms an arc and touches the mouse only with the lower part of the palm and fingertips. At the same time, the classic claw grip assumes an almost perpendicular arrangement of the fingertips relative to the buttons, but this requirement is not strictly necessary — the fingers can also lie at a slight angle. Anyway, due to the reduction of the contact area and the greater degree of freedom for the hand, such a hold provides more speed than the palm hold, and at the same time it is easier to master than the finger hold. Therefore, many gamers consider the claw grip to be the best option for shooters, action games and real-time strategies where reaction speed is important. Specialized mice for this method of holding are usually somewhat shorter than traditional "palm mice", and they often have a characteristic "hump" in the back of the case.
— Finger. A grip where the user only touches the mouse with their fingertips, with no hand contact with the mouse (but the wrist remains stationary). This type of grip allows you to achieve a high reaction rate, but it is quite difficult to master and does not differ in accuracy, especially if you are not used to it. However, many users use this method of retention intuitively, without thinking; the finger grip is specially mastered mainly by professional players and enthusiastic enthusiasts. Mice of this format usually have a small weight with a centre of gravity shifted closer to the front, and the body is made relatively short, most often symmetrical, and the “hump” (protrusion) is located closer to the centre of the body, or even absent (based on the fact that the palm still does not touch the mouse).
Note that there are models that combine several grip options — up to all three at once. The design of such mice may provide adjustment for one or another method of retention, however, the presence of such an adjustment does not interfere with clarifying separately.
Programmable buttons
The presence
of programmable buttons in the design of the mouse. In this case, the buttons mean not only the keys, but also the scroll wheels, which are usually able to work on pressure.
Almost all models with this feature are gaming (see "By Direction"). Usually, programming is carried out using special proprietary software, while the functionality of such a setting may be different. For example, in some models, only one action can be tied to one button, in others — a whole series of actions (such as a combination of attacks in an RPG). Often, it is possible to configure one button for different actions in different games.
However, this feature provides an additional convenience: the mouse keys are right at hand, and it is usually easier (and faster) to use them than to reach for the button (s) on the keyboard.
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.