

If the dongle is USB-C and you have a recent phone with a USB-C port, you could make that connection work, but it's cumbersome.Īlso, you’d be surprised how easy it is to lose a USB dongle when you switch devices, carry it with you on the road, or move. If the mouse doesn't also have Bluetooth, you probably won’t be able to use it with a phone, tablet, or any other device without USB. Second, since the mouse connects wirelessly via a USB dongle, that 2.4GHz connection will only work with computers. Between this and RGB lighting, wireless gaming mice tend to run out of juice much faster than productivity mice. First, it drains battery more quickly than a Bluetooth connection. The low-latency connection is generally the superior option for playing games, but it comes with some drawbacks. In our experience, 2.4GHz connections also tend to be more stable than Bluetooth connections, which can get drowned out and momentarily lose sync if there are too many nearby signals. These mice technically aren’t “lag-free”-there will always be some input lag-but we’re talking about fractions of a millisecond. To get the level of precision one expects from gaming mice, most manufacturers use a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless radio-frequency (RF) connection that syncs directly with a USB receiver plugged into your PC.Ī 2.4GHz wireless arrangement should be able to create a stable connection with no discernible input lag.

Mice designed for everyday web browsing and office work can do pretty well with Bluetooth, but gaming’s quick and precise movements demand a higher standard.

The actual type of wireless connectivity can make or break a wireless gaming mouse, especially if you play high-speed, fast-reaction games. Is Bluetooth or Wireless RF Better for a Gaming Mouse? (There are even a couple of wireless mice on our best esports mice list.) Only the most discerning competitive player would really know the difference. But the gap between wired and wireless weight, when other things are comparable, tends to be pretty small. Most notably for gamers, wireless mice tend to weigh a little more than their wired counterparts due to their additional components, including the inevitable internal battery. There are some small factors where the switch to wireless should alter your expectations, though. To get a more thorough breakdown of those factors and why they matter, check out our more general explainer on picking the best gaming mice. No matter how much gee-whiz factor a wireless gaming mouse might have, don’t consider buying one that doesn’t feel good and do the things you want it to do. Aside from wireless connectivity and battery life, the key features of a wireless gaming mouse are about the same as on any other gaming mouse: the feel of it in your hand, the number and layout of the buttons, the quality of the sensor.
