Do you want to know the answer to the question ‘is wired mouse better than wireless for gaming?’, even I wanted the answer so badly so that I can improve my gaming experience. I did some research and found the answer that I want to share with you guys in this article.
So, Is wired mouse better than wireless for gaming? Yes, the wired mouse is better than wireless for gaming because the wired mouse has lesser input lag, is not susceptible to interference, does not need batteries and charging, is available much cheaper than a wireless mouse, and they are generally used by most pro gamers for competitive gaming.
I have used both wired and wireless mice while gaming and found both of them work almost similarly but have different pros and cons. I would recommend you to check out the following factors to understand completely so that you can decide & choose a much better option yourself.
Is Wired Mouse Better Than Wireless For Gaming? Let’s find out
I remember those days when I got my first gaming mouse, It was the wired one but was the one that looked so much different than the normal mouse. It has extra buttons and a very unique shape that looked very futuristic. But then as time goes by I came across new upgrades and one of the biggest is the wireless property.
I loved the wireless mouse when I first started using it. But, then after the research online and using them personally and finding their differences, I have found that most of the pro gamers use the wired mouse as they have the fastest response time. But, not just that has made me decide which one is better. I have found other factors as well that contribute towards one particular decision.
Gaming mouse type and what you should choose?
The gaming mouse comes with two connection types and they are wired and wireless and with two functionality types such as optical and laser. As functionality goes, the laser mouse is more accurate and can be used on any surface.
When it comes to the difference in DPI (dots per inches) for both optical and laser is getting closer and closer as technology advances. If you want to make sure what DPI for your gaming mouse should be or to look out for.
Having said that, multiplayer online battle arena games such as Dota 2 have a relatively high sensitivity, measured in dots per inch (DPI), which can be as high as 20,000. Read more on this at Wikipedia. Gaming mouse can be connected with 3 types of connections such as via USB, PS/2, and Bluetooth where nowadays you can find USB & Bluetooth used.
Wired vs Wireless gaming mouse
In order to know how a wired mouse is better or worse than a wireless mouse, we need to first check its effectiveness in certain areas. The following comparison will help you to understand the differences between the factors that can make your gaming experience better or worse.
| Factors | Wired | Wireless |
| Input lag | Normal | Little Higher |
| Susceptible to interference | No | Yes |
| Cable drag & mess | Yes | No |
| Batteries and charging | No | Yes |
| Sensitivity | Normal | Little Less |
| Convenience | Limited movement | Portable |
| Price | Normal | Little Higher |
Input lag or Response time
In a competitive gaming environment, we gamers need to have speed factors to work for us and that can be achieved by having fast gaming components and accessories such as fast RAM, VRAM, high frame rate, monitor with high refresh rate, and response time. The gaming mouse is no different and has the factors attached to it such as speed and which is calculated by input lag.
So, how input lag can affect your gaming experience? All gaming mouse, wired or wireless come with different input lag or in layman’s terms response time. But generally, due to the wireless connection of the gaming mouse, that input lag is a little slower than the wired gaming mouse.
David from this following video has tested some of the latest gaming mice for the comparison between wired and wireless and found some results that show both the latest wired and wireless mouse has almost similar response time in modern gaming.
So, what should I conclude from this? Nowadays, with advancing technology the high-end wireless gaming mouse does close that gap in terms of response time or input lag but those will come with a cost. In another sense, wireless technology will improve over a period of time but till then there will be differences in the performances and a wired gaming mouse right now should be the first choice if considered as a budget option.
Susceptible to interference
The wireless gaming mouse is susceptible to interference because the nature of the wireless connection via Bluetooth can be disturbed due to the object interfering between the gaming mouse and the gaming system. Hence, when there is any kind of interference the wireless gaming mouse becomes less responsive and can cause a delay in response.
The wired gaming mouse, on the other hand, is free from interference unless the cable is not working or loses connection. You will get the same response time all the time with the wired gaming mouse and that is a certain win for the gaming experience.
Cable drag & mess
Yes, a wired gaming mouse or any wired mouse has cable drag while using it. This cable drag can be annoying initially but can be ignorable after some time of usage. With cable comes the mess if not taken proper care such as cable clutter can occur with other wires from the computer. It is also hard to travel with because cables are easy to get tangled.
The wireless mouse is free from cable drag and mess and definitely a winner in this factor. There will not be any cable visible next to your setup and it is also easy to travel with. Consider this factor as per your preference and how much clean the place you want to have.
Batteries and charging
With a wireless gaming mouse, there will be batteries that you will need to replace every now and then or recharge them if they are rechargeable. Batteries provide your wireless mouse with the source of energy that will deplete based on your usage.
I have experienced this sometimes with a wireless gaming mouse and that happened once when I was playing an online match that you can’t pause. This event here is very annoying and irritating which sabotages your gaming experience.
And guess what? imagine you don’t have spare batteries or you have to wait for a long time until the rechargeable batteries get fully charged. This can be a bit frustrating sometimes but can be avoided with proper planning for changing or charging battery habits.
Sensitivity
This factor right here can be debatable where sensitivity is mainly calculated based on DPI (dots per inches). The latest gaming mouse does have a high DPI for gaming that runs on high resolutions such as 1440p or 4K. We have covered the topic which answers What DPI Should I Use For Gaming?
For competitive and multiplayer gaming you should be using 400 – 800 DPI. Dropping from 3000 DPI to 400 – 800 DPI will help you to perform better in gaming which runs at 1080p screen resolution. The best DPI for gaming used by most gamers is between 400 – 800 and more than 1000 DPI by pro gamers when the screen resolution is higher like 1440p / 2K to 2160p / 4K.
Both wired and wireless gaming mouse comes with various DPI settings that you can change as per your requirement. Though, many supporters of wired mice say that the wireless mouse is significantly slower and less sensitive.
Convenience
The wireless gaming mouse is much more convenient than the wired one because they are portable and does not have cable issues such as tangling and messing with other wires. You can use your wireless mouse from anywhere like from the couch or on any other surface than the desk. The only disadvantage here is that a long distance from the system will weaken the connection and response time respectively.
The wired gaming mouse, on the other hand, has limited movement, Many gaming mouse wires are about a meter long and that is enough for most desk users. Consider this factor as per personal preference and you can decide the better option for your gaming setup.
Price
If you looking at the budget gaming mouse then this is the right place. Nowadays both wired and wireless latest gaming mouse is going to be expensive because they come with additional features such as extra buttons that you can map for a certain activity in-game, with some button you can change the sensitivity and very futuristic designs with color backlights.
Having said that, a wireless gaming mouse can be found at a little higher price due to obvious reasons such as portability and have response time almost the same as wired ones. You need to consider your personal preference in terms of portability, batteries & charging and decide the one which fits in your budget. Check out our recommended gaming mouse.
Other factors to consider
Like the above-mentioned factors that are core to the differences for a wired and wireless gaming mouse, you should consider the following factors that can help you understand your needs and decide the best option that you won’t regrate later.
Extra USB port & speed
Whether you get a wired or wireless gaming mouse, nowadays you will need an extra USB port for the gaming mouse connection. For a wireless gaming mouse, you will have to use the Bluetooth USB port that connects the mouse and system and a wired mouse has a simple USB port to connect.
As a gamer, you need your computer to be clubbed with faster accessories. Most of the USB ports this gaming mouse has are 3.0 which are faster than 2.0 and below USB ports. Make sure that you know the USB port speed for a faster response to your gaming system.
The speed factor of the gaming mouse is also effective on the display with a higher speed such as gaming monitors with high refresh rates such as 144Hz to 240Hz.
Design
Most of the gaming mouse designs nowadays are very unique and made for the gaming look which suits your gaming setup. Some of the gaming mice come with ergonomic designs which you can identify with a design that has a defined thumb placement. You can choose the design as per your needs or what the one comes with all other aspects and the design that you can live with.
Purpose & Personal preference
In gaming, you should know your purpose based on the type of gaming you are up to. The needs can differ when you compare competitive gaming such as fast-paced FPS gaming, online gaming, or esports to casual gaming such as role-playing and strategy gaming.
You will need a fast response time for the fast-paced gaming and you don’t want to spoil the fun by choosing the slower one. That is why most pro gamers use a wired gaming mouse for faster response time and performance.
We will have to wait until the wireless technology reaches the same level of response that can be achieved by wired ones. You can choose a wireless gaming mouse if your preference is non-professional gaming or just casual gaming.
Also read: How To Choose A Gaming Mouse? 8 Best Factors To Consider
Other questions related to ‘is wired mouse better than wireless for gaming’
Is wireless mouse good for gaming?
Yes, the wireless mouse is good for gaming when you are not using it for the competitive gaming environment because it has a slightly slower response time than the wired gaming mouse but comes with a bit higher price. With a wireless gaming mouse, you are free from cable drag and mess, batteries and charging, and more convenient for travel.
Is wired mouse good for gaming?
Yes, the wired mouse is good for gaming as most of the pro gamers use it for a competitive gaming environment because it has a faster response time and is also cheaper than the wireless gaming mouse. You also consider that a wired mouse can cause cable drag and mess, requires batteries and charging from time to time, and is not much convenient for travel.
Why do gamers use a wired mouse?
Gamers use a wired mouse because the wired mouse has a faster response time and is also cheaper than the wireless gaming mouse. The faster response time helps them in a competitive gaming environment where wireless gaming mouse has a bit slower response time and is susceptible to interference due to the objects that come between the mouse & the gaming system.
Not every gamer uses a wired mouse and that is absolutely perfect if the gaming requirements are not demanding the fastest response time. The gaming environment and personal preferences will be crucial considerations while choosing between wired and wireless gaming mouse.
Which one is better for gaming: wireless or wired mouse?
The wired gaming mouse is better for gaming because most pro gamers use wired gaming mouse for competitive gaming such as fast-paced FPS games which makes them highly responsive to the event but if you are not playing games that require the fastest response time such as role-playing or strategy games then a wireless gaming mouse can be used.
The selection of the wired or wireless gaming mouse is mainly based on the personal preference for what gaming experience they are at where wireless gaming mouse is catching up with the wired one in terms of input lag. As much we love wireless technology, the difference in response time is the biggest drawback for a wireless gaming mouse until and unless they catch up in the future with the wired one.
Wired or wireless keyboard for gaming?
Wired gaming keyboards are the most commonly used by pro gamers in a competitive gaming environment because they have fast response time than wireless keyboards. A wired keyboard is cheaper and very stable, also does not need batteries and charging.
Best Wired mouse for gaming
Popular brands such as Corsair, Razer, and many others have produced the best-wired gaming mouse which has the fastest response time up to 15 milliseconds. Please check out our recommended wired gaming mouse.
| Wired Gaming Mouse | DPI |
| Corsair Nightsword RGB | 18000 |
| Corsair Scimitar Pro RGB | 16000 |
| Razer Basilisk v2 | 20000 |
| Razer Naga Trinity | 16000 |
| Corsair Ironclaw RGB | 18000 |
| HyperX Pulsefire Surge | 16000 |
| Steelseries Sensei 310 | 12000 |
Best wireless mouse for gaming
The best wireless mouse for gaming is manufactured by Logitech, Razer, and many other brands, and some of them say that their response time is faster like a wired gaming mouse. Please check out our recommended wireless gaming mouse.
| Wireless Gaming Mouse | DPI |
| Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless | 16000 |
| Razer Viper Ultimate Hyperspeed | 20000 |
| Razer Mamba Wireless | 16000 |
I hope you have understood the difference between a wired and wireless gaming mouse and found the answer to the question Is a wired mouse better than wireless for gaming? Also, what factors do you need to consider before you make your decision to get the preferred gaming mouse. Please share the article and write your suggestions or questions in the comment box below. Cheers!
