The Best Mouse Buying Guide

Standard Type – Most Common

This is currently the most commonly used mouse type.

If you’re using a standard mouse without wrist pain or other issues, sticking with this type is recommended. While vertical mice and trackballs can help reduce wrist strain, their unique shapes require significant adjustment time.

Vertical Mouse – Reduces Wrist Strain

Standard flat mice force your palm to stay horizontal, twisting your wrist. This twisting of wrist joints and muscles can lead to numbness and fatigue in your wrist and fingers after extended use. In severe cases, this can develop into carpal tunnel syndrome.

Vertical mice are designed to prevent this issue by allowing natural wrist positioning. Most have an elongated vertical shape to reduce wrist strain and include auxiliary buttons.

However, users unfamiliar with vertical mice might experience increased pain initially, and some report shoulder tension leading to arm fatigue. The increased height can also cause accidental bumping when moving your hand to the keyboard – a minor but noticeable issue.

Semi-Vertical = Middle Ground

For those who find vertical mice too extreme but need wrist pain relief, semi-vertical mice offer a gentler angle. They reduce wrist strain while remaining familiar enough for standard mouse users to adapt easily.

Trackball – Thumb-Controlled Pointer

This design moves the ball to the thumb area, controlling the pointer by rolling the ball rather than moving the entire mouse.

While it’s suitable for those with weak wrists due to reduced strain, the long adjustment period requires careful consideration before purchase. Unless severe wrist pain forces adaptation, this type is rarely chosen.

Symmetrical- Same Shape Both Sides
Usable by Both Left and Right-Handed Users

Symmetrical mice have identical shapes on both sides and can be used by either hand. However, since human hands aren’t symmetrical, this design might cause strain on fingers or wrists.

Asymmetrical- Different Left/Right Shapes
Difficult for Left-Handed Use

Asymmetrical mice typically have thumb indentations or auxiliary buttons on one side. They’re more ergonomic than symmetrical mice, and all vertical mice are asymmetrical.

Mouse Shape Suitability Varies by Grip Style

While asymmetrical mice are considered more ergonomic, personal preference and grip style matter more.

If you hold your mouse straight on, either symmetrical or asymmetrical works fine.

However, if you naturally tilt your hand (wrist tilted with right side touching the surface = tilt grip), an asymmetrical mouse might be more comfortable. These mice are specifically designed for this tilted grip style.

Check how your wrist naturally rests – if both sides touch evenly, consider symmetrical; if the right side touches more, consider asymmetrical.

Note: This is just a recommendation. If you’re comfortable using a symmetrical mouse with a tilted grip, that’s perfectly fine!

Honeycomb Design : Lighter & Less Palm Sweating
But Collects Dust and Feels Different

The mouse shell is the outer casing that determines grip feel.
Honeycomb mice have holes drilled in the shell for weight reduction.

While lighter and better for palm ventilation, they:
– Collect dust and dirt between holes, requiring frequent cleaning
– Can feel unusual due to the holes against fingers and palm
– Are vulnerable to liquid damage

Solid Design – The Original Mouse Shell

While honeycomb designs were introduced for weight reduction, traditional mice had solid shells.
Solid mice offer:

– Sturdy feel from the added weight
– Easier maintenance
– Consistent grip feel without holes (Basically, the opposite of honeycomb advantages!)

Wired: Affordable and Fast Response

Wired mice connect via USB cable, offering lower prices and faster response times than wireless. With no signal transmission delay, some high-end gaming mice still opt for wired connections for optimal performance.

Regular Rubber/Fabric vs.
Low-Resistance Paracord Cables

Professional gaming mouse manufacturers often use paracord cables instead of standard rubber or braided cables to minimize resistance and improve flexibility.

Users report less tangling, fewer cable marks, and better weight distribution due to reduced cable resistance. *Paracord (parachute cord): Nylon cord originally used in parachutes, known for softness and minimal tangling

Wireless Connections: Dongle vs. Bluetooth

Wireless mice connect either through a small USB receiver (dedicated dongle) or Bluetooth.

Dongles provide 1:1 connections, limiting use to one device at a time. Bluetooth, however, often supports multi-pairing (connecting to several Bluetooth devices), allowing easy switching between devices. It also saves USB ports since no receiver is needed.

For Multi-Device Use
Choose Models with Device Switch Buttons

When using a wireless mouse with multiple devices, easily accessible device switching is important.

Button switches are more convenient than sliding switches, and placement matters – look for thumb-accessible locations or below the scroll wheel.

Logitech’s Unifying/Logi Bolt Receivers
One Dongle for Multiple Devices

Some Logitech mice support either Unifying or Logi Bolt receivers, which can connect multiple wireless mice and keyboards to one dongle.

Due to security vulnerabilities, Unifying was replaced by Logi Bolt in September 2021 as Logitech’s new wireless standard.

Unifying receivers have a red star icon, while Logi Bolt uses a fluorescent lightning bolt icon.

Note: Unifying and Logi Bolt devices are not compatible.

Hybrid Wired/Wireless Options Available

Some mice include ports allowing both wired and wireless use. This feature is common in gaming mice where response time is crucial.

Some models even include extension cables to position wireless dongles closer to the mouse for reduced latency.

Many Ways to Hold a Mouse
Palm/Claw/Fingertip Most Common

As mentioned in the symmetry section, there are many ways to hold a mouse. However, three main styles (Palm/Claw/Fingertip) are recognized, and manufacturers generally design around these grip types.

Palm Grip: Full Hand Contact

Palm grip uses your entire palm to hold the mouse. Both palm and fingers maintain contact with the mouse surface. This grip typically involves arm movement more than wrist movement and is the most common style. For palm grip users, choose mice with higher backs and bases for full palm support.

Claw Grip: Fingertip and Palm Edge Contact.

Named after claw-like hand position, claw grip uses fingertips and rear palm to hold the mouse.

This grip allows faster clicking than palm grip. Choose mice with some rear height but lower profiles since palm shouldn’t fully contact the surface.

Fingertip Grip: Fingertip Control Only

Fingertip grip uses only fingertips to control the mouse, with palm hovering above. The palm stays grounded while the wrist moves the mouse.

This grip is favored for games requiring quick reactions, offering high cursor precision despite potential wrist strain. Flat, lightweight mice work best since palm doesn’t contact the mouse.

After determining your grip style, measure your hand size.

Measure:

1) Length from bottom of palm to middle fingertip
2) Length from bottom of palm to base of middle finger
3) Palm width

Compare these measurements with mouse dimensions listed in product specifications.

Average adult hand sizes :

Men: 18.3 x 10.5cm
Women: 17 x 9.6cm

(Palm-only length data unavailable) Since specifications alone can be hard to visualize, measure your current mouse and use it as a reference point when comparing sizes of new mice.