Wired vs Wireless Mice

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Computer Mouse: Wireless versus Wired Debate

The wireless vs wired mouse debate is an old one and is especially popular among gamers. Nowadays wireless mice are getting better and better, so you don't have to worry about issues like slower response time or bad signal. However, there's no getting around the fact that you still need to recharge the batteries every now and then - just as there's no getting around the fact that wired mice are limited by the cable. Now it's your turn to tell us whether wired or wireless computer mice are better, and why!

Wired or Wireless? You decide!

What kind of computer mouse is better?

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Wired mice are best!

Ian G says:

Are there any wired mice which include a battery and detachable wire such that they charge when wired and can go wireless when needed? Wouldn't this be the best option? I'd like such a mouse so it can be wired for gaming yet wireless for e.g. media duties when sat on the sofa.

Steamname: Moja says:

Wired are better imo, because it feels for me, that they are a slightly bit faster...

TFS COMMUNICATIONS says:

I HAVE USED BOTH AND HAVE LIKED BOTH. HOWEVER I NEED THE USE OF MY WIRELESS MOUSE AND THE NEGATIVES ARE BRAIN ANNOYING. I USE RECHARGERABLES WHICH IS GOOD ACCEPT THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDS TO BE IMPOVED TO GIVE THE USER AN AUDIO AND OR VIDEO WARNING OF LOW BATTERY. THIS WOULD ELIMATE ONE OF THE TWO MAIN PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS WOULD GIVE WIRELESS A BIG LEAD IN THE ARGUEMENT. TFS COMM.

bigman8291 says:

Wired, hands down. I Primarily play FPS on PC with the occasional MMO or RPG and for FPS the wired mouse is by default the winner in my eyes. I have the logitech MX revolution and a 10$ wired logitech from wamart im not even sure what it is specifically (Gxxx?), anyways the MX sucks balls on FPS. Sensor skips are extremely frustrating when you are 100% confident you've locked in a headshot and for some reason the mouse swings a little too far to the right, BUT, you will not have this problem with a wired mouse. I consistently do very well with wired and consistently suck with wireless at FPS. MMOs and RPGs on the other hand are a little less accuracy intensive so wireless is my preference considering increased comfort and range of movement.

Stephen says:

Wired win, mainly because they are more responsive, there is no recharging, and if you drop/ rage throw it, it won't break into pieces.

yearz0r says:

wi

Keith says:

I have the G700 Logitech gaming mouse. I have the option to go wired or wireless. I can tell you i am always plugged in. Wired the only way to go for gaming.

Alex says:

Wired mouse always have faster response rates.
P.S the security word called me a cow nerd.

Chris says:

I once thought about buying a wireles mouse but decided against it. Further thinking made me realize that a wired mouse will cost less in the long run and provide consistent functionality. There would be no issues such as needing to stop to change the batteries or needing to pick up the mouse after it falls when one has a wireless mouse. Also, it can never get lost because it is always connected to the computer!

Runefox says:

It's been my experience time and time again that wireless mice have issues as their batteries run down. You start to lose range, the sensor skips, and all kinds of lovely effects that happen while the batteries technically still have probably half a charge. Wireless mice definitely do have their uses, especially in home theatre setups and where clutter is not welcome (the iMac's single power cable is a sight to behold whether you like them or not). However, for me, changing batteries while gaming? Not cool.

JarHeadHood says:

I love wireless mouses but I hate it when the battery dies while playing a game. WIRED FTW LOL

brian says:

yes i agree when playing shooter games the letters on a wireless keyboard are less responsive and sometimes the connection is lost in a game, also the mouse is the same.Brian.

squirrels in my pants says:

IF you buy a wired mouse, you dont have to worry about the response, the frequency machamacallits, etc

tony says:

i am using a wireless mouse and a keyboard when playing cod games and the W on the keyboard is not responsive enought when going forward and the wireless is slower too. Not recommend wireless when playing games,regards Tony.

heggland0 says:

Depriving a mouse of its tail is just wrong.

Scruffy says:

Wired, I always have problems with wireless mice losing signal on my desktop. As said before it can go 3-5 seconds which when something requires fast paced clicking... well it causes nothing but frustration.

Raymond Magno says:

well mainly i have used wireless mouses, and i dont see why everybody is saying stuff about the battery. u can buy a mouse that has long-lasting battery life. but lately the BIGGEST trouble i've been getting, Signal. I tend to play quite alot of games and mid gaming my mouse will freak out/lag badly or just simply stop working for 3-5sec. that may not sound like a long time but if ur a gamer ul understand how big that can be. i borrowed my bro's wired mouse and i actually enjoy it. im planning to switch to wired... wireless gives me too much signal problems ): and wired the wire doesnt bother me (:

ChickenRoar says:

wired mice ftw, cause I'm tired of defending (in-game) my friend while she struggles to find new batteries for her mouse

Isaiah9x says:

wired mouses pwn!

Mike says:

I have used wireless moises in the past and feel that they just aren't good enough. The wireless ones cost more, and unless you buy a $150 wireless mouse, the delay will always be there. As for us humans not being able to feel the delay, it adds up, especially when you are doing that invoke fast mouse movement in combination with clicking. The delay is actually visible. I like the wired mouse. They are cheaper, more reliable and have better response times.

Tone says:

Wired mice is best, because there are never wirelss disturbance like in Wireless

s says:

Better responsiveness, more mice to choose from, and you never have to worry about batteries!

h says:

no batts!

Mr Mop says:

No annoying batteries to worry about!

MVS says:

Call it old-fashioned, but I prefer the wired mouse. Yes I have to contend with the wires, but I do not have to recharge or buy new batteries all the time. Also the wired mouse is cheaper than is the wireless, better for my budget.

Almasy says:

Although wireless mice have lag and are heavier, i think that if they can be made to use only very small batteries and the lag decreased to negligible amounts they may become superior to wired mice.

However at this moment i would say that wired mice have the advantage due ot being considerably lighter, the salmosa asia edition for example is ~40g and even that still has extra weighting in it.
with a few mods to get the deathadder firmware installed applied to it (which meant adding the onboard memory from the deathadder) and then any extra weighting stripped away it still had a weight of a mere 42.6grams
most wireless mice are approaching 170grams or more.
it is much better for the wrists and less RSI inflicting to be moving 43 grams around than a 170gram dead squirrel resembling wireless mouse

dragon says:

Wired Mouse.
1. Won't lose it if you are "on the go" using a laptop.
2. Won't "fly off" your hand while intense gaming when one gets really excited or mad.
3. Won't accidentally knock it off the table and breaking it (where wired helps "save" it from a terrible damage if it were to happen to wired mouse)
4. NO BATTERY CHANGE. Think about it, The total amount of money spent on buying batteries will eventually add up that eventually it will be enough to purchase a high end gaming mouse! BASICALLY wired saves money.
5. Indeed there is the annoying wire, however, better guaranteed performance and just tie up the extra length in a circle or oval shape and tada! you lost some inches you don't need.
6. Most of them are user friendly to all. There are small mouses for those with small hands, and same for the big ones (i'm a big hand)

that's all i can think of as of now...

Chollins says:

Are shoelaces better than slip ons? To answer that I refer to when shoelaces break - and it's always when you're going out, never when you take them off at night. Similarly, batteries always seem dead when you're ready to work, never when you're ready to turn it off.

Noob says:

Yeah!

Frank says:

The only time I would use wireless is if my computer was on the other side of the room, hooked up to a TV. Even if I travel with my laptop, I could use my wired mouse anywhere a wireless mouse can be used. The response time is still slower with wireless, since the mouse has to translate the electrical signal to radio waves, then the receiver translates back to electrical signal. This is the major choke point. That and losing battery power in the middle of battle.

Wireless is the way to go!

Jonas says:

I like wireless best, at least the latest ones. For example the g700 have a 1ms response time, and decent battery life. In addition you can just input a cable and use it wired while it's charging.

Mike says:

Wired Wired Wired! Wireless lags all the time. I bought a MS Wireless mobile 6000 and it's again, a waste of my precious money. I thing i'll bring it back to the store ASAP and buy a new wired.

TheLord says:

"faster response time argument" = "copper wires move information faster than radio waves"

Yep, no. Wireless is better

Ronlove says:

I feel wireless mice are better because it allows you more space and distance.

Carole says:

I chose wireless. I haven't used a new wired mouse in forever but the old one I had (over 5 years) sucked, and since I needed the versitility of a wireless mouse when it crapped out I got a wireless. while this wireless only lasted a year, it only costed $20 (and has gotten dropped a lot). I'd blame it on the brand. I can't wait to get a nother wireless mouse. now I just have to find a good brand.

@scott. if the person is going from a old or dying wired mouse they will notice a difference. I did when I switched from my old one to a new one. heck I notice the difference everytime I change my battaries.

kmcvay says:

The one that's paid for.

spikey64 says:

Definately wireless. They are so versatile.

David says:

The minor resistance from the cord is noticeable, and you can pretty much move it anywhere, I have my computer under the desk, and there are a ton of cables in the way. Even if it's heavier, I now have some movement freedom.

JUNIOR SIMI says:

JUNIOR IS SKUXX

Scott says:

Wireless mice are better, because there's no cord to clutter the desktop. There's no reason to constantly buy batteries; either buy a set of rechargeables, or buy one of the dozens of rechargeable mice out there. Mine has to sit in its cradle overnight once every couple of months. Yeah, that's a real hardship. Also, it's impossible for a human being with a 120ms response time (minimum!) to detect the difference between wireless (8ms) and wired (1ms). Anyone who says otherwise is trying to justify the purchase of an overpriced "gaming" mouse. Yes, they're heavier (by a whole wrist-shattering 3 ounces!), but for me, the inertia helps smooth out motion when I need fine control.

tura says:

wired mouse are not soo bad..but, wireless mouse are even better as it has new great features.. :)
and it depends on everybody self comfort..for me, wireless is the way to go..!

Bryce says:

Wireless mice, I experience no lag, even if there is, it's not great enough for the eye to see, at least not mine, plus I like the havyness of them, it's not something that easily flies out of your hand and it doesn't feel cheap!

vitalmughal says:

I have wireless mouse + Keyboard (A4tech), now i am free from cables!

Benten101 says:

Wireless! I can't imagine feeling limited in my movement because of an attached wire. I also promote wireless keyboards!

Rad says:

Wireless mice are not slow.
Wireless mice do not lose connectivity (Except in weird situations, which usually take just a few minutes to fix permanently).
All of the wireless mice I have owned have lasted over 3 months on a single charge. You can also buy a backup pair of rechargeable batteries and swap them out.

There is no comparison when it comes to zooming in for the headshot, and suddenly the cable snags on the corner of your monitor stand. Or simply the resistance of the cable even when only rubbing against the corner of your desk.

Wireless is better.
You can only complain if you do not use one, in that case, go buy the MX610. By far the best mouse in existence, but do not judge the book by it's cover.

Decibel says:

When it comes to games, I can't use anything than my 1st revision Logitech MX1000. I've been using it daily for 6 years, and I bought it used then. There has never been a shred of lag or hesitation, just smooth as butter. Even to this day I can play a game for 6 hours straight without a recharge.
My main gripe with wired mice is not that It's stationary, but the feel of the cord. The wire produces a drag when moving and resistance when you want to move. Plus the wire just gets in the way and is annoying. On a good game mat, a nice wireless mouse takes nothing to glide effortlessly in any direction without the feeling of something attached.
As far as battery life goes, if you cant take a break after 10 hours of gaming you've got more important issues to deal with.

I personally like Logitech laser mice for gaming. It doesn't have to say "gaming" on it for it to be the best gaming mouse you'll feel.

Squidoolinepro says:

I'm all about the wireless.

pumpnut says:

I have quite enough cords laying around. Go wireless everything.

nimrodavid says:

Not that I get why this is at all a question worth debating about...

Puripong says:

Wireless mouse got a lot improved lately without a doubt. I am using Logitech M950 and I have to say it is best for work. There is no delay or bad signal issues as it were. There is no different compared to wired mouse in my feeling (or at least most peoples cannot define a really different between 8 ms response time for wireless mouse and 1 ms for wired mouse).

But to be honest I sometime felt lag when playing games with wireless mouse. The majority of problem is not the mouse itself, neither bad signal or delay issue or even tracking issue but it is the wireless channel it is using - 2.4 Ghz. Please do not forget that most (or all) of wireless devices are using the same 2.4 GHz channel. This is causing a conflict when these devices are using or connecting simultaneously and placed nearby between each other. The signals were conflicted and caused a sometime dropped in mouse wireless signal, which is caused lag issue.

I have tested by disabled all wireless devices except M950 and found no lag issue happened. This problem making wireless mouse cannot surpass wired mouse and that's why most seriously gamers do still prefer for gaming wired mouse instead of wireless. A bit in signal dropped due to signal conflict may not be a big problem for regular users but not with a serious gamer.

It is also hopeless to see any wireless device may come out and using another channel other than 2.4 GHZ since it is FREE! If they do use another channel then they have to pay for the license, which will caused more costs and make the product have an unnecessary higher price tag.

I have 4 wireless mouses and 1 wired mouses but it is still a very hard to make decision which one to go. However, I am not a serious gamers and my main priority is work then wireless is a way to go. I am not serious much about that lagging issue anyway.

daniel says:

It's not about using a wireless mouse far away from your computer. It's about wireless freedom. Besides, I've been looking at some specs for the top end wireless and wired mouses and many of them have similar specs. So why not add a few bucks for wireless freedom? You only have to change the batteries everyday, the same as charging your cellphone everyday.s

mcochs says:

Definately have to have my wireless mouse!

Yohan W says:

Wireless rules. I play quite a lot and I don't feel any problem with my wireless mouse. when using wired mouse I tend to get pissed off with those cables all around my desk (lol)

catherinelovestv says:

get rid of all wires I say!

Sarah Ann says:

I have two computer towers and only one monitor, so I do a lot of switching with hardware. When my secondary computer is plugged in, it's good to have a wireless mouse for quick switching, especially if the computer is on the other side of the room from my desk (which it usually is). I actually have a wireless keyboard, too, and I've had no major problems. The only difference is that my mouse is a battery hog and I usually have to change the batteries every two months; it's one of those mice that doesn't shut off but hibernates when it's not being used. I also had a reception issue once when the tower was under the table. The mouse became unresponsive while the keyboard showed no problems. Turning the tower around so that the controller poked out fixed the issue. The only other disadvantages of wireless products are price and parts like controllers which can get lost. Wireless items cost more new. It's very hard to find them secondhand because the controllers are almost always missing, rendering them useless. We have found countless wireless keyboards without controllers; in the end, we just bought one new.

Waxing-Lyrical says:

Gotta go with wireless. Just seems to make working online so much easier :)

JaguarJulie says:

I would like to see everything wireless!

theraggededge says:

Touchpad!

Mo says:

I only got wireless because my wired mouses wheel broke.

Nitrocell says:

The wireless mouse is the best for gaming. Is freedom wirout a stupid cable !!

 
view all 120 comments

Advantages of wired mice

  • A wired mouse is more reliable. Unlike a wireless one it will usually work even without any special drivers, and you won't need to worry about wireless signal interference.
  • Wired mice tend to have faster response times than wireless ones (although the issue is practically non-existent with newest wireless models).
  • There's no need to replace batteries all the time, or worry about them running out in the middle of an intense gaming session.

Classic wired gaming mouse from Logitech

Logitech Optical Gaming Mouse G400 with High-Precision 3600 DPI Optical Engine (910-002277)

Amazon Price: $36.19 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

G400 is an affordable gaming mouse from Logitech, and the successor of the MX518 which I had been using for nearly 6 years. I like the precision it gives me in Counter Strike: Source, and the extra buttons come in handy for easier back/forward web page navigation. The only thing I haven't found use for is the sensitivity changing on-the-fly (I always use the same one), but I'm sure some people will like the feature. This mouse is asymmetrical (for right hand use only), and as a result, fits into your palm nicely.

Pros of wireless mice

  • Wireless mice are, well, wireless. There's no cable, meaning you don't have to worry about it getting twisted or stuck.
  • You don't need to "drag" the cable all the time when you are using a wireless mouse (although it's not really an issue with a wired mouse if the cable is positioned correctly).
  • You are not limited to the cable length - depending on the model, it's usually possible to use a wireless mouse several meters away from the computer.

Good wireless gaming mouse

Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700

Amazon Price: $67.99 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

This is really great, if not best wireless gaming mouse you can get, and the top model Logitech can offer for gamers in the wireless area. It uses a 2.4 GHz wireless connection to avoid interference, and has a LED battery indicator, so you know when to recharge them. Again, gotta love the fact that it's not ambidextrous, but designed to be used with right hand only - classic Logitech design.

Best computer mice for gaming

Check out some of the best computer mouse models used by pro gamers.
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Comments

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  • Reply
    Serp Feb 6, 2012 @ 12:40 pm | delete
    The pros for wireless don't even give you a benefit. Why do you need huge range? Is your keyboard floating and wireless too, and does your monitor follow you everywhere as well? No? You sit in front of the computer in one spot? Then why does your mouse have to have the ability to be further away? Is that wire really limiting your movement? I don't even notice the wire because I'm not at max range, like most people I leave slack so that it has no effect on me.

    Just get a good logitech wired mouse and be done with it.
  • Reply
    MANJU Jul 19, 2011 @ 5:30 am | delete
    EAST OR WEST

    WIRED MICE IS BEST
  • Reply
    Robert Therrien Jun 2, 2011 @ 1:29 pm | delete
    Logitech ignores gamers request to manufacture the Logitech 9043530403 Trackman Wheel Optical Trackball
    Wireless is subject to interference in some areas, wired is not! Center located trackballs are useless, Gamers like myself need to use our thumbs to move the pointer or charater, fingers to click to use weapons and the left hand free to use the keyboard keys. Logitech poduces a trackman wireless that is exactly the same as the wired but useless due to interference from outside sources. plus Logitech figures they can charge much much more for a wireless version than the wired version, as it does cost more to make the wireless version. Logitech will not even sell the rights for others to produce what was and still could be a hundred thousand unit sale per state in just the U.S alone. Must be a Harvard graduate making Moronic decisions that only servre their visions instead of reality.
  • Reply
    vitalmughal May 16, 2011 @ 7:42 am | delete
    Good topic and great information, loved reading and participating in the lens.
  • Reply
    gtalan Nov 14, 2010 @ 8:24 pm | delete
    Interesting Duel. I have used both over the years. I used a wireless mouse at work for a while when the company paid for batteries, but I will not use them for personal use and have even phased out that mouse at work. When I thought about it, I just didn't like that I was sending batteries to the landfills.
  • Reply
    Irenemaria Oct 14, 2010 @ 11:01 am | delete
    Interesting debate! I have both a laptop and an ordinary comp. With both I use wireless mice
  • Reply
    JenOfChicago Oct 12, 2010 @ 10:42 am | delete
    Good debate! I need a new mouse so I'm thinking this over.
  • Reply
    mcochs Oct 4, 2010 @ 6:54 pm | delete
    Cool lens-love it!
  • Reply
    Roju269 Oct 2, 2010 @ 7:36 am | delete
    wired mouse is the way to go! ;D
  • Reply
    Oliversbabycarecouk Sep 28, 2010 @ 9:40 am | delete
    Great Lens. I Use Both, Currently A Wireless One, But I Prefer Wires, Less To Go Wrong Then
  • Reply
    Waxing-Lyrical Sep 20, 2010 @ 4:48 pm | delete
    Great debate. I've used both, but much prefer the wireless version.
  • Reply
    lasertek May 17, 2010 @ 7:11 pm | delete
    Nice debate! I have used both the wired and wireless mouse. Never really had problems with both though; that's why I cannot choose which is much preferred.
  • Reply
    Jan 1, 2010 @ 6:18 pm | delete
    Nice I got it
  • Reply
    DividingLine Oct 12, 2009 @ 7:38 am | delete
    It's got to be wired if you want the best gaming mouse with the fastest response and no battery worries, although the new Razer Mamba is really good for a wireless gaming mouse
  • Reply
    Treasures-By-Brenda Apr 15, 2009 @ 4:42 pm | delete
    Loving my wireless!

    Brenda
  • Reply
    poddys Feb 4, 2009 @ 7:13 pm | delete
    I use my touchpad most of the time on my laptop, but I do like my Logitech bluetooth mouse and keyboard, they perform nicely. Good lens, 5*****
  • Reply
    valmont Apr 21, 2008 @ 8:08 am | delete
    I've got the #2, #3, #7 mice in my store!

    Do visit my store:
    http://www.squidoo.com/games4matessrazershowcase
  • Reply
    KimGiancaterino Apr 1, 2008 @ 4:39 pm | delete
    My laptop has a touchpad, so I've been mouse-less for many years now. Great debate though. I never had a problem with my old wired mouse.
  • Reply
    ols Mar 31, 2008 @ 3:34 am | delete
    Nice lens with useful comparisons made between wired and wireless mice.

by

Chadrew

I prefer a wired mouse for gaming and the convenience of never having to charge its batteries. Imagine them running out at worst possible moment!

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More Than Just a Mouse! 

Apple Magic Mouse

Amazon Price: $67.99 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Apple has brought Multi-Touch technology to the desktop mouse, giving you a new and more intuitive way to interact with your computer. Just as with iPhone, the wireless Magic Mouse adds gestures and swipes to the usual clicks to bring more functionality and help you get more done with less effort.

A Mouse for the Pro Gamer 

Razer Deathadder Black 3500 High Precision 3.5G Infrared Gaming Mouse

Amazon Price: $50.09 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Razer makes the best gaming gear in the world and this mouse is no exception. DeathAdder is one of the best and most popular gaming mice in the world, featuring a 1800 dpi infrared sensor, 1000 Hz ultrapolling and an unbeatable 1ms response.

Top of the Line Gaming Mouse 

Logitech G9X Programmable Laser Gaming Mouse with Precision Grips

Amazon Price: $61.99 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Logitech G9X is the absolute best gaming mouse money can buy. It features a next-generation gaming laser, onboard memory that can store five different profiles, a weight-tuning system and a custom-color LED.