Logitech G703 Hero Mouse Review: Wireless For A Fair Price

When looking for a new gaming mouse you may have been considering switching to a new wireless gaming mouse. The Logitech G703 Hero adds to Logitech’s extensive line of wireless gaming mice, providing performance striking above its price point.

Let’s dig in and see if the Logitech G703 Hero is the mouse for you.

The Verdict

Logitech G703 Hero with a laptop and keyboard.

The Logitech G703 Hero is a wireless gaming mouse with excellent performance.

It improves over the previous version with the use of the accurate HERO sensor and it supports Logitech’s Lightspeed connectivity.

The G703 has an ergonomic shape with large buttons and comfortable rubber side grips. The mouse supports tons of grip styles and is very comfortable over long periods of use.

You also get a lot of in-depth functionality with the software. The G703 also supports a lot of different features like an adjustable weight, Powerplay compatibility, and onboard memory.

The only major downsides of the mouse are the outdated micro-USB connection and the software that could be a bit confusing to use at first. Additionally, the shape of the mouse applies to a specific niche but I found it quite easy to adjust to.

So if you are looking for a wireless mouse with a great sensor, decent lightweight, and solid build then the G703 is a fantastic option to consider.

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Specifications

Length	~124 mm ~ 4.88 in
Width	~68 mm ~ 2.67 in
Height	~43 mm ~1.69 in
Weight	~95g (+10 with weight)
Sensor Type	Optical (100 – 25.6K DPI)
Polling Rate	125 – 1000Hz
Cable Length	1.8m (6ft) Braided Cable

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In The Box

In the box, you will find the mouse with all the essentials and some accessories.

Manual: There is a quick start guide to walk you through basic things like using and charging the mouse.
Cable: Logitech includes a braided USB-A (regular USB) to micro-USB cable to both charge the mouse or use the extender.
Dongle: This dongle allows for the mouse’s lightspeed wireless connection for very low latency.
Extender: If your mouse is far away from your computer or you are experiencing connection issues, an extender is included as a great solution to the issue.
Powerplay Puck: The puck is attached to the bottom of the mouse with magnets and is necessary for using the Powerplay feature.
Weight: Included is a 10g weight if you feel the mouse is too light.
Sticker: Logitech always throws in a sticker showing their blue G logo with their gaming products. It’s a nice touch.

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Build Quality

The Logitech G703 is made from a mix of strong plastic and rubber. Rubber is used on the scroll wheel and on the sides for extra comfort and grip. Even at 95g, the G703 is quite robust.

The mouse looks all black with a translucent section for the G logo. The style obviously belongs to a gaming mouse but is not overly gamery.

The mouse feet on the bottom provide a smooth glide, allowing quick flicks and consistent travel. In my testing, they were not as good as the most premium mice like the Logitech G Pro Superlight or Razer Viper but they are better than many popular mice like the Logitech G203 or G502.

Overall the G703 has a fantastic build, especially for the price. My only disappointment with the design of the mouse is the use of micro-USB over USB-C. While this doesn’t affect the functionality, it’s nice to have.

Style and Comfort

Logitech’s G703 has an ergonomic design but is not super sculpted. The mouse is great for those who are right-handed but it doesn’t lock you into any position so it is comfortable with all mouse grip styles.

I had no issues using the G703 with a fingertip, claw, and palm grip. Some mice lock you into a palm grip or claw grip but the G703 provides flexibility in this field.

Many people don’t like the design but I found it very easy to get used to and very comfortable, even during multiple-hour gaming sessions. The rubber helps a lot over time and it makes the mouse very easy to grip and hold.

Additionally, the buttons are quite large so they are easy to find. Typically buttons are quite small on the side of the mouse but the G703 has the biggest side buttons on any mouse so you can easily rest your fingers on the side buttons.

Switches and Scroll Wheel

The Logitech G703 has 6 buttons in total. They all have satisfying clicks and are very responsive. The switches are from Omron and have eliminated the double-clicking issues that Logitech used to face. These switches are some of the best ones that I have used in any gaming mouse.

On the left side of the mouse are two side buttons. They are some of the biggest side buttons that I have seen on the mouse making them very easy to find. Additionally, the scroll wheel has nice tactile steps and feels very solid.

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Sensor and Polling Rate

Logitech’s Hero sensor uses optical technology, which is the norm among modern gaming mice. It is one of the most accurate and efficient sensors in any mouse. Additionally, the sensor itself is quite lightweight which is why Logitech makes some of the lightest mice on the market.

The sensor goes up to 25.6K DPI and can be adjusted through the software in increments of 50. Most people opt for a DPI between 200 and 1200, but the high range shows the accuracy of this mouse.

This fantastic sensor goes along with the industry-standard 1000Hz polling rate.

Powerplay Compatibility

If you want a wireless peripheral but the requirement to charge it is an issue for you, Logitech’s Powerplay could be the solution for you.

For this to work with the G703 you must purchase their Powerplay mousemat. This is an additional investment, but the mousemat will charge the mouse resulting in endless battery life.

Adjustable Weight

If you want a slightly heavier mouse, you can utilize the 10g weight. Adding the weight will increase the overall weight to 105g. You can easily add the weight by pressing it into the slot on the bottom of the mouse.

Using the mouse with its stock weight was the best for me. The G703 felt balanced and it made me more consistent in shooters. I was able to land headshots more frequently, manage recoil more easily, and make more accurate flicks.

If you want to further lower the weight, taking off the Powerplay puck on the bottom is an easy way to shave off a few grams making the mouse about 92g. The difference isn’t huge but still noticeable.

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Vibrant RGB Lighting

Top view of Logitech G703 with RGB lighting

The Logitech G703 supports bright RGB lighting on the logo and scroll wheel. The lighting looks good at night and throughout the day. If RGB isn’t for you you can always turn it off or dim it.

You can control all the lighting with the G Hub software and you get a lot of functionality. You can have separate or synced lighting between the logo and wheel. Also, there are tons of colors and present affect to choose from.

You can also sync the lighting with a game or movie you are watching. For, example the color of your mouse will change because of the team you are on. This isn’t too crazy just on the mouse because you probably will be more focused on the game but if you have other Logitech products then you can sync this with them and the experience is quite unique.

Wireless Connectivity

Angled view of Logitech G703 with wireless adapter

Apart from the standard wired connection, the G703 also supports wireless connectivity via Logitech’s low latency Lightspeed technology.

The lightspeed connection via a dongle is about as fast as a wired connection. It is incredibly fast and reliable. If you ever have any issues like interference or you are just very far from your device you can also use the included extender. Without the extender, I was able to use my mouse over 20 feet away from my computer with no issues.

With wireless mice, battery life is always an important consideration. The battery is quite strong considering the mouse supports RGB lighting. You can get 35-60 hours of use off a single charge depending on how bright the lighting is and the polling rate. When you need more battery, you can completely charge the mouse in about 2 hours.

The mouse also has battery-saving methods. The lighting will dim after a minute of inactivity and the G703 goes to sleep after 5 minutes. Waking from sleep is essentially instant. Additionally, the lighting on the mouse will turn red if the battery goes below 15%. Overall the battery life is pretty good and the power-saving measures make it not a concern.

In-Depth G Hub Software

Logitech G Hub software used with the G703 mouse

The Logitech G703 works with the G Hub software to control it. You can do basic things like change the lighting, sensitivity, remap buttons or do more complex things like control game integration.

Setting everything up isn’t too difficult once you have gotten used to the software. As soon as you open the Software you will be able to see the estimated battery life.

Although G Hub is very functional, it can be very confusing to those who are new to it. Pages like game integration are not the easiest to find and saving profiles and presets can be confusing.

Additionally, I have run into occasional bugs. Sometimes a different DPI than I wanted would become my default DPI for the onboard profile or not all my lighting presets would save. Logitech has fixed most of the bugs that I have faced but I still think the software has its issues.

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Onboard Memory

Logitech’s G703 stores up to five onboard profiles. You can save your preferred sensitivity, button mappings, and lighting all to the mouse.

Onboard memory is helpful if use your mouse with different devices. Additionally, if you don’t like Logitech G Hub this is nice because you can quickly save your profiles, and then you won’t need the software anymore.

Conclusion: Is The Logitech G703 Hero Good For Gaming?

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The Logitech G703 Hero delivers a great experience for gamers, even for pros, at a great value.

The G703 supports the Lightspeed connection that has equal latency to a wired connection but the lack of a wire means you don’t have to worry about your mouse getting caught on anything or drag. The need for a mouse bungee is not existent.

Inside the mouse, you get high-quality Omron switches and Logitech’s famous HERO sensor that is among the best on the market.

The shape may not be for everyone but most people can get used to it and the mouse supports a wide variety of grips. It also has a solid build while still maintaining a decently low weight.

If you think this mouse is a good fit for you then consider checking it out on Amazon.

Thanks for reading and if you have any more questions check out our Instagram and Discord.

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May 12, 2021

Logitech MX Master 3 Review: Make Your Workflow Efficient

The Logitech MX Master 3 is a productivity mouse that is packed with features. The MX Master 3 comes with all the essentials that you will want like wireless connectivity along with other features that can optimize your workflow.

Let’s take a close look at the MX Master 3 and decide if Logitech’s third iteration is the right one for you.

The Verdict

Logitech’s MX Master 3 is a productivity mouse, packed with many features making it a great option for productivity and creative work. Its various features could improve the efficiency of your workflow.

The MX Master 3 packs great performance with a high-quality sensor and a fantastic build. It delivers innovative features such as a horizontal scroll wheel, the MagSpeed scroll wheel, app presets, and much more to help you get more done, faster.

Things like the in-depth software help you get much more out of the mouse. Wireless connectivity, a USB-C port, and fast charging provide a nice user experience too.

Unless you are on a budget or game the majority of the time this mouse is a great option, especially if you do creative work. Its price is a bit hefty at around the $100 mark but it definitely is worth it.

If you think the MX Master 3 is for you, check it out on Amazon.

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In The Box

Inside the box, Logitech gives you everything that you need to use the mouse.

Cable: You get a high-quality rubber USB-A to USB-C cable. It supports fast charging and also allows you to use the mouse wired.

Wireless Dongle: The mouse does support Bluetooth but if you want a more stable connection that is also a bit faster, Logitech gives you a 2.4ghz dongle that is plug and play.

Paperwork: There is some paperwork inside the box but all the useful instructions are on Logitech’s product page.

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Build Quality

The MX Master 3 has fantastic build quality.

The mouse is definitely one of the heaviest mice I have used at 141g. Although the weight may not be ideal for gaming, it feels quite hefty and it is not an issue because this mouse is not designed for gaming.

The MX Master is made of plastic, rubber, and metal. The core build is made from sturdy plastic with metal scroll wheels, and rubber where your palm and thumb rest.

The scroll wheels have no wobble and provide a texturized grip. The main scroll wheel has sharp, tactile steps while the secondary wheel is buttery smooth. All the buttons on the MX Master feel snappy and sound quite good. Omron switches are used for peak reliability, especially in the long term.

You can find the mouse in both a graphite gray color and a black color too. The cable is a dark gray for both versions.

Overall, the MX Master 3 has a nice feel and the materials used give you confidence in the product.

Shape and Comfort

The MX Master 3 has an ergonomic shape. It fits the mold of your hand and the buttons are perfectly in reach. This makes the mouse very comfortable to hold, especially for long periods.

Besides the 2 main buttons, the buttons that you will be pressing the most are all controlled with your thumb which maintains the user’s comfort.

If you use a palm grip with your mice then this mouse will be fantastic for you. Using the mouse with other grips is possible but it is not nearly as comfortable. The mouse is fairly large but if you have small or big hands then this mouse will be comfortable for you so that is not a concern.

On top of the ergonomic design, the fact that they use rubber where the pam and thumb rest makes the mouse a lot more comfortable.

Overall this is one of the best mice that I have ever used for comfort and it is obvious that Logitech put a lot of work into the design of this mouse. The MX Master 3 is comfortable and does not look out of place compared to other ergonomic mice.

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Buttons and Scroll Wheels

On the MX Master 3, you get physical buttons. All have a solid, tactile feel with a pleasant sound. All these buttons can be remapped.

Along with the buttons, you get aluminum scroll wheels. Both have a texture to them to make them easier to find.

MagSpeed Wheel

The main scroll wheel supports a very unique feature that is one of the main changes from the previous from previous versions of the mouse. It functions similarly to Logitech’s Hyperscroll.

You can scroll through 1000 lines of code or over 100 pages in a PDF in just a second. This makes this mouse very useful when scrolling between different parts of a project. I also found it very useful in daily tasks like scrolling back to the top of a news article or quickly scrolling to a different part of a music playlist.

Initially, the scroll wheel will function like a regular mouse wheel with tactile steps. As you try to spin the scroll wheel faster, it will automatically move into a freespin mode. In this mode, the wheel will glide smoothly and quietly.

This system uniquely utilizes electromagnets. The wheel is electronically powered, allowing the user to have more accuracy and control.

Horizontal Scroll Wheel

One of the most unique features about the MX Master is its second scroll wheel that is horizontal.

Most mice only have a vertical scroll wheel to move up and down but with a horizontal scroll wheel, you can maneuver from side to side.

Logitech supports many app presets that make the horizontal wheel have different functions. In editing apps you can use the wheel to scroll through a timeline, drawing apps will change the size of the brush, and in zoom or teams, it will change the volume.

A horizontal wheel is a great way to improve the speed and efficiency of your workflow.

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The Sensor and Buttons

Logitech’s MX Master 3 uses their Darkfield laser sensor. Logitech is renowned for making some of the best performing sensors and the Darkfield is no different.

The Darkfield laser sensor can track on almost any surface, including glass. This means that you don’t need a mousepad for good accuracy.

This sensor goes up to 4,000 DPI, which can be adjusted through the software. This sensor may not be suitable for gaming but from my testing, it performed quite well.

Wireless Connectivity

Logitech MX Master 3 mouse next to wireless dongle

In addition to a wired connection, you can also connect the MX Master 3 either with a 2.4ghz USB dongle or via Bluetooth.

The dongle will have less latency than Bluetooth and it is plug and play. If you wish to use the mouse with multiple devices then Bluetooth will be needed though.

You can connect to up to 3 devices via Bluetooth and then 1 with the dongle. This great if you want to use the mouse with multiple devices and it enables the Logitech Flow feature to work.

To change between the devices there is a button on the bottom of the mouse that you can press to change between any of the three devices.

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Battery Life and Quick Charge

The battery one of the best things about this mouse. It lasts for up to 70 days, supports fast charging, and has battery-saving measures.

I rarely need to charge the mouse and when it reaches low battery the light on the side of the mouse will light up red. That means that I need to plug it in at the end of the day and then I will have battery for another 2-3 months.

After owning the mouse for almost 6 months I have only needed to charge it twice.

If you are out of charge, a single minute will give you a couple hours of use and 3 minutes can get you through the day.

When you stop using the mouse it will go into a power-saving mode but will automatically wake up when you need to use it again.

In-depth Logitech Options Software

The MX Master 3 is supported by the Logitech Options software. It gives you a lot of in-depth control over different parts of the mouse so you can be more productive and efficient with your workflow.

You have control over basic things like changing the mouse sensitivity, checking mouse battery, remapping buttons, and much more.

You can also control more specific things like gestures or control button mappings for specific apps.

App Specific Presets

You have the option to enable or disable different preset options for some popular apps with the MX Master 3. These presets can also be edited. This allows the buttons on your mouse to have specific functions only in specific apps.

There are presets for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, the Microsoft Office Suite, the Adobe Suite, different web browsers, and more.

For example, in Microsoft Word, the horizontal wheel will be used to zoom in and the side buttons are used for undo and redo.

Gestures

Where you rest your thumb there is a gesture button. In total, you can make up to 5 gestures.

You enact these gestures by either pressing down the button or pressing down the button and then moving the mouse up, down, left, or right. With each of these movements, you can apply custom presets to execute functions more quickly.

One very useful gesture is after pressing the gesture button you can move the mouse left or right to skip or go back to a previous song.

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Logitech Flow

Logitech Flow is arguably one of the coolest features of this mouse.

Logitech Flow is unique because it allows you to use one mouse with multiple systems easily. You can work on two devices at once or you can even transfer files between the two systems.

For this to function, you need to connect to devices via Bluetooth connectivity on this mouse, and then connect to the computers in your network. This allows you to use multiple systems and even transfer files between them over the air.

The ability to transfer files quickly and easily between two systems can be very helpful. This removes the need for a flash drive and the process is also much faster.

Conclusion: Is It A Good Workstation Mouse?

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Logitech’s MX Master 3 is a great mouse. It delivers tons of features, has a comfortable design, and gives you functionality for some of the most popular professional apps.

The MX Master 3 may not be the best mouse for gaming but if you do creative work or you are a power user then this mouse will give you a lot more functionality at your fingertips than most mice.

If price isn’t a factor this is probably the best mouse you can get for productivity. Overall it is a fantastic workhorse mouse and you can’t go wrong with it.

So if you think that you will benefit from the MX Master 3, check it out on Amazon for around 100 dollars at the time of writing.

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April 7, 2021

Logitech G203 Review: Top Tier Mouse For A Decent Price

Are you looking for a cheap but decent entry into the PC Gaming world?

The Logitech G203 may be perfect for you. Logitech delivers great performance without breaking the bank making the G203 a very popular option.

Let’s take a closer look at the Logitech G203 and see if it suits your needs.

The Verdict

The Logitech G203 has a solid shell accompanied with a robust and good quality sensor.

This mouse is an ideal choice for PC Gamers on a budget. Its cheap price tag won’t dent your wallet while still won’t yield a technical disadvantage over other gamers with better mice. If you are like me and love RGB then fear not because the G203 has RGB accents on the logo and at the edge of this mouse.

The smaller size is very good for a claw grip although a palm grip will also work great for it. Its sides are very recessed but are symmetrical besides the buttons on the side which are not present on the left side. Furthermore, this mouse is fine for left-handers but they will not have use of the secondary buttons.

The main downsides of the Logitech G203 include the build quality, the lacking sensor compared to other mice in 2021, the lackluster software, and lastly Logitech’s history with double-clicking mice.

If the user can overlook these issues this mouse can objectively be one of the best budget gaming mice even in 2021, 3 years after its launch.

If you think the Logitech G203 is right for you, check it out on Amazon for a great price.

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Logitech G203 Specifications

Length	~116.6 mm ~11.66 cm ~29.62 in
Width	~62.15 mm ~6.22 cm ~15.79 in
Height	~38.2 mm ~3.82 cm ~9.7 in
Weight	~85 g ~0.09 kg ~0.19 lbs.
Sensor Type	Optical (200-8000 DPI)
Sensor Model	Logitech Sensor 8k DPI (By Mercury)
Polling Rate	125-1000 Hz
Cable Length	2.1m (6.9 ft) Rubber Cable

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In The Box

At this price point, you can not expect very many extras in the box and that trend continues with the G203.

In the box, you find nothing besides the mouse and some documentation. It does not include extra skates or more commonly a weight other mice may have.

All in all, besides the mouse nothing very interesting.

The Build

Mice in general are all subjective in terms of shape but sensor, build quality, and switches are some of the objective parts of a mouse.

Logitech mice are generally very well built and look like the same thing continues with this mouse even at its low price point.

The mouse does not feel like it will break if you drop it but at the same time its relatively light at a cool 85 Grams. That being said its is not the best quality. There is a sort of metallic springy reverb around the buttons when you press them quickly or if you put the mouse down with force.

Lastly, we can move on to the switches. Logitech mice have very good switches in terms of feel and responsiveness. Though one issue plagues Logitech mice; double-clicking. While this issue has been mitigated by new switches in all mice, thousands were still affected by it. That being said all the mice I have had from Logitech (G502 Hero, G203, G703) have not had these issues even after years of use. So, it’s safe to say all for the mice that Logitech will sell will likely not have double-clicking issues.

Shape and Comfort

The G203 is a symmetrical mouse with two buttons on the left hand side. You can use it with your left hand but it is not recommended,

The mouse is definitely on the smaller side as it is much smaller than the Glorious Model D and Zowie EC-2. Depending on what you like in a mouse this may or may not bother you. If you like a bigger more ergonomic mouse this is definitely not the mouse for you as it is very short and small. That being said, if you are a left-handed user then this is gonna be great for you as it is symmetrical besides the side buttons which are on the right.

The mouse is very comfortable for the claw grip. but the palm grip can get a bit uncomfortable after long periods especially after long periods of use.

As for the button positioning it is all in excellent positions.

Buttons include:

Left Click
Right Click
Two buttons on the left
Scroll wheel
DPI adjustment between left & right click

As already stated, the mouse buttons are very comfortable and clicky. The same goes for all the other buttons sans the DPI adjust which has a ton of spring ping especially if you click fast.

Perhaps one of the best parts of Logitech mice is the scroll wheel. It has a very satisfying click and is very easy to grip. The only problem I found during testing was the low height. Some people may find that uncomfortable.

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Sensor and Polling Rate

On the bottom of the mouse is an undisclosed sensor by Logitech. It reaches 8K DPI (dots per inch) with a minimum of 200.

It features a 1000hz Polling Rate (how fast info is reported to the device). The mouse is very snappy in windows but compared to the hero sensor on my G502 there is a notable difference in responsiveness and speed at the same DPI and sensivity.

Colors and RGB Lighting

The Mouse comes in 4 colors. Lilac, Black, White, and Blue. These colors are flashy and look quite good overall.

The RGB on the mouse is great. It is exciting and bright compared to other budget offerings. There is lighting on the back and side in a strip and on the logo. This looks great especially considering Logitech’s three-zone lighting mode which looks great if configured properly.

The lighting is vibrant and supports a ton of effects.

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Connectivity

This mouse is not wireless, but the cable is quite good. The cable is not braided, which sounds like a con, but in reality, it’s a plus for this mouse. This is because the drag on this mouse is far better than it is on cables that are braided from mice like the Logitech G502 Hero.

The connectivity is flawless and the cable is long and isn’t prone to kinks. The cable is not detachable which is a standard in wired mice. It would have been nice to see a detachable cable but that would add weight.

Logitech G203 on the Amazon page. — CC: Amazon

Software

What good is a mouse without customization and what better way to have that than with software?

Logitech G Hub software works but is nothing great. The functionality is not its fault but the bugs. Users have reported seeing issues of profiles being reset, software not even loading, and much much more. While it seems they have fixed these bugs the past is still the past.

Aside from the bugs there is a lot of functionality with the G Hub software from in depth macros to lighting interactions with what is on your screen.

You can tune everything you would expect from a mouse software.

Polling rate (125Hz – 1000Hz)
DPI (200-8000 DPI, in increments of 50)
RGB
Button bindings

These are just some of the things that you can change with the G Hub software. It may have bugs but it is very powerful.

Onboard Memory

The Logitech G203 has onboard memory so you can save specific settings like lighting, sensitivity, and button mappings on the mouse.

Onboard memory is helpful if you use your device with multiple devices or take your mouse to different places. It also enables you to keep all of your settings without a software running.

If you don’t want to run Logitech’s G Hub in the background or you want to uninstall it, you can quickly save your profiles to the memory.

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An Alternative/Upgrade: The G305

The bigger brother of the Logitech G203, the G305 is a wireless version of the G203. It retains the same shape while making some improvements to the inside and cutting the wire.

The G305 does cost more than the G203 but it has an improved Hero sensor that is more accurate and the same latency while being wireless.

If you do like RGB then sadly the G305 doesn’t have any but if you want a great sensor and lightspeed wireless connectivity, the Logitech G305 is a great value.

Conclusion: Is It Good For Gaming?

The Logitech G203 is a great mouse for the 20-30 dollar price point and perfect for people who are new to the PC Gaming community. It packs punch in performance with great internals at a great price point and has amazing availability on amazon which is always a plus.

There aren’t many cons to this mouse besides commodities you would expect in a higher-end mouse. The accurate sensor, great buttons, and comfortable shape at around 30 dollars makes this mouse very easy to recommend.

It is a great mouse for gaming, especially if you are just getting into gaming or are on a budget. It delivers better performance and a nicer build than most of the competition at the same price.

And it has plenty of RGB, which obviously increases performance.

(It doesn’t)

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February 24, 2021

Are Gaming Mice Worth It?

Top view of Logitech G703 gaming mouse next to regular mouse.

While looking at gaming mice, there are some major differences from the boring, old mouse that has been sitting on your desk for what may seem like decades. Gaming mice can provide many benefits compared to a regular mouse making them potentially a good buy for you.

A gaming mouse may be a great investment for those who want a device that is more comfortable, durable, and has improved functionality. Gaming mice provide numerous benefits and are especially important for gamers as they provide some key improvements that could actually help you in games. Gaming mice have different more buttons, support more grip styles, and have less latency for quicker response times.

Let’s find out all the differences between gaming mice and regular ones and decide if gaming mice are worth it for you.

Ergonomics

One area where gaming mice excel over regular mice is in ergonomics. Gaming mice are often more comfortable in comparison to regular mice especially because they are designed for long gaming sessions.

Different gaming mice will have different frame styles, support specific grip styles, and some even have support for adjustable weight. No matter what design of mouse you are looking for you will be able to find one that suits your preference and gives you the most comfort.

Grip Styles

There are three main grip styles for mice.

Palm Grip	Claw Grip	Fingertip Grip
Most Common Grip	Popular among gamers	Least popular of the three
Maximum comfort	Allows faster, more accurate clicking	Greatest control
Most comfortable	Medium comfort	Quickly fatiguing
Uses palm to control the mouse	Hybrid of the two	Uses fingers to control the mouse

Unlike regular mice that are generic and are not suited to any grip style, different gaming mice are sold to suit different preferences. This gives consumers many options. Finding a mouse that suits your grip style can improve your comfort and improve your confidence in your mouse.

Ergonomic vs Ambidextrous

In addition to the type of grips that mice support there are also two shapes to consider, ergonomic and ambidextrous.

Ergonomic	Ambidextrous
Usually only for right hands	For both right and left hands
More comfortable	Less comfortable
Sometimes heavier in weight	Usually lighter in weight

These different attributes for each kind of mouse are often related to your preferences. Typically ergonomic mice are more comfortable for most people, especially for extended periods, as their design is supposed to be more comfortable.

Often people prioritize weight over shape. You can find lightweight mice that have an ergonomic design but all super lightweight mice under 70g have an ambidextrous design.

The shape of the mouse and the grip styles that they are best for often go hand in hand. Ergonomic mice often go best with the palm grip and sometimes the claw grip as ambidextrous mice can work with all grip styles but are usually most comfortable with the claw and fingertip grips.

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Nicer Materials

Gaming mice are designed to be used for long durations while gaming so companies often decide to use materials to maximize long-term comfort. Rubber and high-quality plastic are the most used material used. The high-quality plastic will make sure fewer bodily oils stick which is a common issue for lower quality mice.

Rubber is then often used on the sides and scroll wheel for additional grip. Rubber makes the mouse easier to grip. Using a mouse for multiple hours on end can cause discomfort but rubber makes that less of an issue.

A gaming mouse will usually feel nicer in every way over a regular mouse and elements like a metal scroll wheel or rubber sides further add to that rather than putting your hands on a completely plastic shell that may even flex a bit under pressure.

Adjustable Weight

Adjustable weight is not supported in all gaming mice but for the ones that it is supported in, it is nice to customize your mouse to your preference so you can be as comfortable as possible with your device. Regular mice don’t have this at all and the weight that you are given is what you are stuck with.

You can add a few grams in weight, usually 10g max, and these weights can often be added to different parts around the bottom of the mouse. This can allow you to put more weight on the sides, the rear, or front to change the balance of the mouse to further suit your preference.

This feature may be supported on many mice but more budget-oriented gaming mice or ultra-lightweight mice typically won’t support an adjustable weight.

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Durability

Logitech G703 gaming mouse next to regular mouse.

Gaming mice usually cost more than regular mice but with that comes much better quality. The overall durability from paint to warranty length is much better than those of regular mice.

Paint

Often the mice that you find with prebuilt computers will have paint that can fade very quickly even with regular use. This is not as much of an issue gaming mice. Logos and color often fade first but most gaming mice will typically maintain a consistent paint job far after the warranty.

The lesser quality of paint with regular mice can make them look dated quite quickly.

Components

Gaming mice often use high-quality components so the mice perform better for gaming but this also makes them more durable. Gaming mice tend to use some of the most accurate and durable switches and sensors.

One of the biggest uses that plagues regular mice is buttons or scroll wheels breaking or running into issues that make them hard to use. Since gaming mice use better switches this is less of an issue so instead of breaking in a few months to a couple of years, they can often last much longer.

Material Quality

The quality of materials used for gaming mice can greatly improve the user experience. Typically regular mice use thin, cheap plastic but gaming mice use a variety of stronger and more premium materials. You can find gaming mice made with metal, rubber, and more premium plastic.

This allows gaming mice to not only be more comfortable but also helps your mouse to last longer. Your mouse would withstand drops much better than a regular mouse and will show a lot less wear over time. Regular mice use cheap plastics which accumulate body oils very easily. This can feel and look worse but the build of a gaming mouse with multiple materials or just better plastic will often look better.

Regular mice can easily be externally or internally damaged after being dropped or hit but your chances are a lot better with a gaming alternative. Gaming mice typically last for many years, past the point when many upgrade, but the same is not always guaranteed for regular mice.

Overall better materials help the user have more confidence in the product. When you have confidence in that product you don’t have to think about the issues but instead, you can enjoy it.

Warranty Period

Normal mice often have minimal warranty periods if one at all. With gaming mice, especially from reliable and popular brands like Logitech, Razer, or Glorious, this is not an issue. They have confidence in their products with warranty’s that last typically anywhere from one to three years which is quite good for peripherals.

Aside from the warranties gaming mice often stay in good condition long after the warranty. You could use your mouse for hours every day and your gaming peripheral may last five to ten years.

Normal mice often run into issues far sooner. Cosmetically they will run into issues with paint or plastic quite quickly and internally although they may last a decent amount of time, they usually will not last as long as gaming mice.

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Polling Rate and Sensors

Polling Rate

The polling rate is how fast a mouse will report its inputs to the computer. The polling rate is measured in Hz and that will determine the number of reports per second.

The industry standard for gaming mice is a polling rate of 1000Hz which means the mouse will send a signal once every millisecond. On the flip side, regular mice may have a polling rate of 125Hz or worse meaning they may send a signal every 8 milliseconds or more.

With gaming mice, the polling rate can often be changed. Although is typically not recommended it can make for an interesting experiment and it also will use less battery if you have a wireless mouse. This means you could lower the polling rate by half to something like 500Hz maybe when you aren’t gaming just to save a bit of battery although the difference will be negligible.

For regular use, this may not be much of an issue but when you are gaming any latency can put you at a disadvantage. If you are playing a shooter, even a few milliseconds could potentially mean the difference between winning or losing the round.

Sensors

A mouse sensor is a part of your mouse that tracks your mouse’s movement. There are multiple different kinds of sensors that track movement using different methods.

The most popular modern sensor technologies are:

Optical: Optical sensors function by using infrared light and a camera. Optical sensors are more popular in gaming mice, especially recently.
Laser: Laser sensors use usually use a laser light to track movement and a camera. These are more common for regular mice.

Sensors will first use the source of light, visible or not, to track the movement. This information will then be sent to the camera to actually understand what this movement means.

Laser sensors are often popular because they can work on most surfaces, even glass. This can also be an issue though on more textured surfaces light more rough wood as the sensor may measure more information than needed causing inconsistencies.

During regular use, this may not be an issue but at higher speeds, which often occur while gaming, a laser sensor can become inaccurate. In contrast, an optical sensor will be accurate even at high speeds. Gamers will often be moving their mice quickly and will benefit by having a more reliable sensor that will tailor to their situation.

Gamers often use mousepads and will not benefit from having a sensor that works on surfaces like glass so having the most reliable and accurate technology for what they are doing is ideal.

Apart from the sensor technology that is used, gaming mice usually have more accurate sensors. They will have higher ranges of DPI support just showing how they can be accurate to track very fine movements.

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Lighting Options and Software

Angled view of gaming mouse on a mousepad.

One thing that draws people to gaming mice is the lighting that many of them have. This lighting is often controlled by software. The software can do more than just controlling lighting and can provide a lot of functionality. Lighting and software can make gaming mice look better and have more functionality.

How Software is Useful

More budget gaming mice may not have software but generally, most mice, especially from bigger brands, will have pretty in-depth software. Without software changing lighting will limit you to few options but the many mice that do have software have many lighting effects and tons of color options to choose from.

Software also allows you to change essential things like DPI or polling rate to your liking. You can also reprogram buttons to have different functions. If you have a wireless mouse you can control when it will go to sleep, check battery, and more.

Mouse software can enable you to receive firmware updates that can improve things like sensor performance, battery life, and more.

Overall software opens you up to a world of deep functionality that you can explore while giving you preset options as well.

Most Popular Software

There are many companies that make mice but many have software that gives you more functionality than others. The biggest gaming brands like Logitech, Razer, Corsair, and Glorious will all have good software. Smaller brands may have software but it may not be as in-depth or easy to use.

Logitech G Hub, Corsair iCUE, and Razer Synapse are some of the best software that you can use. They provide a lot of functionality while still being relatively easy to use. At the same time, they are constantly improving.

Gaming mouse software is great and if you want the most functionality and ease of use going with bigger brands is your best bet.

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Lighting Options

Depending on the mouse that you have and if they have software or not you will have a different amount of lighting customizability. Your mouse will probably have a stock RGB color wave effect but you can easily change the effects and colors.

Gaming mice will typically have RGB lighting meaning you can make your mouse be any color. RGB allows you a lot of possibilities for customization. You can set your mouse to colors that match your setup or just leave it to the stock color cycle effect. If you don’t like lighting for any reason you can also turn it off.

Lighting is one of the initial things that people notice between regular and gaming mice. Lighting allows you to add to a theme of a setup or can generally just improve the looks of the device. Overall lighting gives you a lot of flexibility and can improve looks.

Programmable Buttons

One of the biggest utilities that gaming software provides for mice is the option to reprogram buttons. Mice often have preset functions like buttons for forward or previous, one to instantly decrease the DPI while being held down, and other functions depending on the mouse.

Gaming mice have more buttons than regular mice with anywhere from 5 to 20. With these buttons you can create macros for functions in editing programs, copying and pasting with a single click, and making dedicated media keys to play, skip, and more.

With programmable buttons you have tons of options and utilizing them could potentially improve the speed of your workflow. In many cases, a mouse with many buttons could be better for someone as the main alternative would be getting something like a macro pad or stream deck. That could result in you spending upwards of $100 when you could have a mouse with a few extra buttons.

If you only need ten macros instead of getting a macro pad you can buy a gaming mouse with many buttons and remap those. Programmable buttons are a great way to improve the efficiency and speed of your workflow especially when you have many functions setup.

DPI Adjustments

DPI or dots per inch is a measure of how much your cursor will move when the mouse is moved an inch. The higher the value the faster your cursor will move across the screen and the lower the value the slower the cursor will move.

Gaming mice often have a much greater range of DPI than a regular mouse with ranges anywhere from 100 to 25K DPI. Although you have such a wide range you probably will not utilize it as most people use DPIs from about 200-2000.

The range of possible DPIs goes high on mice not because people will use those higher DPIs but instead it shows how accurate the sensor is. Mice with DPIs above 10K are what you should shoot and all you really need if you are gaming.

All gaming mice will have an adjustable DPI, with most doing so via software. If a mouse doesn’t use software it will use buttons which is usually far worse than software. Software can give you more options and greater customization.

With software, you can change the DPI in increments of anywhere from 1 to 100. Even increments of 100 are quite precise as smaller measures are more for marketing. What matters is that with software you can change the DPI to what suits you best. You may want to lower DPI because you play shooters and want as much accuracy as possible or increase it to account for minimal mouse space.

If you a very quick DPI adjustment that lasts for a few seconds some mice have a button that support this out of the box and when you hold this button the DPI will go down to a specified number. This can give you more pinpoint accuracy if you are sniping someone in a game or are drawing the edges of a picture with your mouse.

Overall the option to change your DPI especially with great accuracy can improve your confidence and comfort with that part of your setup. This is especially useful for those who game often as it can improve how you play.

Conclusion

Gaming mice are better than regular mice in basically every way but whether you should spend the extra money to get one is a consideration. Overall getting one is probably worth it if you use your computer a lot, game, or just want more functionality.

All in all, if you game often or find that you want the added features of a gaming mouse then it may be worth it for you to invest in a gaming mouse. Gaming mice can give you a competitive edge over other people in gaming and it could help improve your consistency and ultimately your overall gaming performance.

The additional comfort that gaming mice provide could be the sole reason for you purchasing one as they can be very beneficial for those who are on their computer for extended periods. By getting a gaming mouse you will get better reliability, feel, and performance.

Gaming mice often have software that goes alongside them. This software can enable a lot of functionality at your fingertips like dedicated media keys or macros for specific programs. Overall gaming mice can not only improve gaming performance but can improve work efficiency and comfort.

If you enjoyed this article consider checking out some of our other content, like our Logitech G203 review, a mouse with great value.

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January 28, 2021