Wired vs wireless gaming mice
Based on manufacturer specifications. We have not tested these products ourselves, and we earn nothing from the links on this page.
Wireless is no longer the slow option
Good 2.4 GHz wireless mice use a small USB dongle and are built for fast games. Every mouse in our list works this way, so the choice today is less about speed and more about convenience.
Bluetooth is different. It is useful for a laptop or travel, but it usually responds more slowly than a dongle.
What a cable still does well
A cable means no charging and no dongle to lose. The trade-off is drag, since the cable can catch on your desk during quick movements.
Some wireless mice give you both. The Razer Viper V3 Pro and DeathAdder V3 Pro can run from a cable when the battery is empty.
Battery numbers depend on settings
Razer rates the Viper V3 Pro at up to 95 hours at a 1000 Hz polling rate, but about 17 hours at 8000 Hz. A higher polling rate reports to your PC more often and uses far more power.
Lighting matters too. Logitech rates the G502 X Plus at up to 130 hours with its lights off and 37 hours with them always on.
If you hate charging, look for the longest figure at the settings you will actually use. Logitech rates the G305 at 250 hours.
Which one to choose
Choose wireless if you want a clean desk and don't mind charging now and then. A mouse with a wired mode is a sensible middle ground if you worry about running out of power mid-game.
