Connection
The type of connection used by the mouse.
All types of mouse connection can be divided into
wired and
wireless. There are also
combined models that allow both methods; however, for a number of reasons, they have not received much distribution.
Wired mice can vary in connector type; however, the universal standard nowadays is USB, other options are much less common (see "Cable" for them). Anyway, such mice are much cheaper than wireless counterparts, moreover, they do not require batteries / accumulators and have an almost unlimited lifespan. On the other hand, the wire restricts mobility and can be inconvenient when connecting, especially if the computer is located far away or in a hard-to-reach place.
Wireless devices, in turn, can connect via
radio,
Bluetooth, or
Wi-Fi ; in some models, two options are combined — at the user's choice, (usually radio and Bluetooth). Regardless of the interface used, all such models are more convenient than wired ones due, in fact, to the absence of a cable; and their range is at least a few metres, so a wireless mouse can also work as a kind of remote control. At the same time, a wireless connection is more expensive than a wired connection, and besides, it requires autonomous power supply — as a result, the per
...iod of continuous operation of the mouse is limited.
As for the different types of wireless connection, here are their features:
— Radio. To connect over the air, usually, a wireless adapter is used, which is connected to the USB port of the computer. This method is convenient in that it can be used with any computer, including systems that do not have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules. The disadvantages of this option include the fact that the adapter requires a free connector; as a result, with a small number of USB ports, difficulties can arise. However, this moment, if necessary, can be easily corrected by connecting a USB hub; so it is this connection method that is most popular among modern wireless mice.
— Bluetooth. The main advantage of this connection method is that many modern devices — laptops, most monoblock computers, smart TVs, etc. — have built-in Bluetooth modules. Thus, you can connect the mouse to such equipment directly, without occupying hardware connectors. And for PCs not equipped with internal Bluetooth modules, appropriate adapters are available (which may even be included with the mouse). In addition, some advanced models with such a connection are able to remember several Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them literally “with the touch of a button”. The Bluetooth communication range is at least 10 m with line of sight.
— Wi-Fi. A rather specific option, which is extremely rare — in certain models of laptop mice (see "In the direction"). In many respects it is similar to Bluetooth — in particular, it is designed mainly to work with built-in modules and allows you to use a mouse without occupying hardware connectors. At the same time, the range of communication via Wi-Fi is much greater. On the other hand, this advantage is not of fundamental importance, and on the technical side, the creation of Wi-Fi mice is associated with certain difficulties. That is why this type of connection has not received distribution.Interface
Interface used for wired connection in mice that have this capability (see "Connection type").
The most popular nowadays is the connection through the
classic USB port. Mice for the newer
USB-C connector, for a number of reasons, are produced quite a bit, despite the advanced capabilities of this interface. And
PS/2, on the contrary, is gradually giving way to newer and more advanced standards. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:
— USB. Connect to a traditional, full-size USB port (called USB A). Such connectors are extremely widespread: they are practically mandatory for modern PCs and laptops, and are also used as standard for working with peripherals in smart TVs, media centers and other types of electronics. That is why the vast majority of wired mice use this connector.
— USB-C. The newest (for 2020) type of USB connector; is significantly smaller than the USB A described above, as well as a convenient double-sided design. Such connectors are increasingly used in modern PCs and laptops, but very few mice are made for them; this is due to several reasons. Firstly, advanced versions of USB are often implemented through the USB-C connector, with high speed and high power supply; for mice, these characteristics are not needed, but they can be useful for more demanding devices. Secondly, the USB-C hardware socket can b
...e used for interfaces other than USB (primarily Thunderbolt v3 and v4). Thirdly, it is simply easier to get into the full-size USB A connector with a plug — especially when trying to blindly find the connector on the back of the system unit. In light of all this, only a few laptop mice are produced under USB-C (see "In the direction").
— PS/2. A specialized connector with a characteristic round shape, used exclusively for keyboards and mice; colloquially known as "pee in half". PS/2 inputs are found exclusively in desktop PCs — they are too bulky for laptops. In general, this interface is considered obsolete and less used, but it can still be found in modern computers. At the same time, PS/2 has a very practical advantage: connecting a mouse to such a socket allows you to leave an additional USB connector free, which, in turn, can be useful for other peripherals. However, mice with only such a plug nowadays are almost never found — devices that can also connect to USB have become more common (see below).
— USB or PS/2. This option most often means that the mouse itself is equipped with a USB plug, and an adapter for PS/2 is supplied with it. Thus, the device turns out to be as versatile as possible in connection; at the same time, adapters are very inexpensive, their price is almost invisible compared to the cost of the mice themselves (even inexpensive ones). Therefore, most modern manipulators with the ability to work through PS/2 belong to this category.Max. acceleration
The greatest acceleration during movement, at which the mouse maintains normal performance; if this indicator is exceeded, the cursor may “break down” (moving to an unexpected place due to incorrect processing of data from the sensor).
The faster the mouse moves, the greater the acceleration acting on it. Accordingly, this parameter determines the sensitivity to sudden movements, the extent to which this model is able to normally perceive and process such movements. High values of maximum acceleration (
40 G,
50 G) are important first of all in dynamic games, especially for professional e-sportsmen and advanced enthusiasts. If the mouse is bought for relatively simple tasks (working with documents, surfing the web, etc.), you can ignore this indicator.
Number of buttons
The number of buttons provided in the design of the mouse. However, the term "buttons" can also refer to specific hardware solutions — for example, a solid touch area used in many Apple mice counts as two buttons, because. it is divided into two working areas. But the clickable wheels, as well as the power button, are not taken into account in this calculation.
The minimum number of buttons for modern mice and other similar manipulators is
two : this is the number that is necessary for comfortable work in most modern operating systems. If there are more than two keys, this means that there are additional buttons responsible for specific actions. So, even relatively inexpensive devices can be equipped with
3 – 4 buttons ; in addition to the 2 main buttons, they can have, for example, 2 side thumb keys, or 1 double/triple click button (see below). Solutions for
5 – 6 buttons are extremely popular nowadays; among them are many gaming mice, where the mentioned thumb buttons are supplemented with a double / triple click, a sniper button and/or a DPI switch (see also below about these functions). And in the most multifunctional models,
7 – 8 buttons and even
more can be installed. In some cases, this number exceeds a dozen and a half; such mice are usually gaming devices designed for RPGs and other simil
...ar genres where it is important to have a wide range of actions at your fingertips.Switch resource
The durability of mouse switches is measured by the number of clicks the keys can withstand before they begin to show signs of wear or malfunction. Switches can have a lifespan of several million to tens of millions of clicks. In laboratory conditions, this parameter is checked using special testing machines, which diligently press the keys the required number of times, on the basis of which a verdict is made regarding the approximate service life of the switches.
Feet material
- Teflon (PTFE). Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) glides - also known as Teflon - are characterized by an extremely low coefficient of friction. As a result, mice with Teflon feet boast excellent glide and high cursor speed on any type of surface. The minimum level of friction allows you to easily control the movements of the mouse. Manipulators with Teflon gliders perform well in dynamic games and reduce wrist strain during prolonged work at the computer.
— Metal. When properly sanded, the metal feet provide excellent glide for the mouse, and they also have a long service life before abrasion. Note that manipulators with metal gliders are best used on plastic or other hard-wearing playing surfaces. Using a mouse without a mouse pad runs the risk of scratching the surface.
Power source
The type of power used by the wireless mouse (see "Connection Type").
Modern mice can be powered by replaceable cells,
by a built-in battery, or
by a mousepad. The first option is good because dead batteries can be replaced with fresh ones in a matter of seconds, no need to waste time charging. At the same time, replaceable cells are sold both in the form of disposable batteries and in the form of rechargeable batteries, which gives the user a choice: to buy inexpensive batteries regularly or to spend money on a battery (s) with a charger once. Here are the main sizes of such elements found in modern mice:
— AA. Widely known "finger" batteries. A fairly common option, although less popular than the smaller AAA — in fact, because of the larger size, poorly suited for compact mice. On the other hand, AA cells have higher capacitance. The number of such batteries can be different, most often there are models for
1xAA or
2xAA.
— AAA. "Mini finger" or "little finger" batteries. More compact than AA, due to which they are widely used in modern mice. The capacity of such elements, however, is lower, however, mice do not consume so much energy, and even with
1xAAA power supply, battery life can be calculated not only for months, but for years. Also, there are often models on
...="/list/267/pr-15332/">2xAAA, and extremely rarely on 3xAAA.
As for other ways of eating, their features are as follows:
— Accumulator. Own built-in battery is convenient primarily because it is initially included in the package, you do not need to buy it separately. And the further operation of such a mouse does not require additional expenses — it is enough to charge it from time to time. In addition, batteries can be made more compact than replacement cells. There are two main disadvantages of such a power supply, compared with the same batteries. Firstly, this is less battery life — in the most "long-playing" rechargeable mice, the battery life does not exceed 120 days (for batteries, this is a very limited indicator). The second point is the inability to quickly remove and replace the battery. This means that with a dead battery, there is only one option — charging, and it takes time; however, many mice allow use directly in the process of charging. But if the battery fails, at best, the device will have to be carried to the service, at worst, it will be changed entirely.
— From the rug. Quite a specific option: powered by a special pad that transmits energy to the mouse wirelessly. The pad needs to be connected to a computer port (usually USB), so such mice are very conditionally wireless. One of the advantages of such models is that they do not need to monitor the battery status. On the other hand, you can use the mouse only with the supplied mouse pad; if it is missing, the device becomes useless; and freedom of movement is limited by the length of the wire. Thus, mice with such a power supply do not actually have key advantages over wired models, and they are much more expensive. So nowadays, food from the rug is extremely rare.
Battery life
Battery life of the mouse (see “Power”) on a single charge.
The battery life in this case is rather approximate: it is given for an average usage scenario, and the actual autonomy may turn out to be less or more than stated, depending on the usage patterns. Nevertheless, it is a fairly reliable indicator, allowing different battery models to be evaluated and compared with each other: the difference in the stated battery life usually correlates well with the actual autonomy difference.
Charging port
— microUSB. One of the miniature versions of the USB connector, still popular in gadgets, despite the emergence of the more advanced USB C. It has relatively modest capabilities (in particular, it is inferior to USB C in terms of the maximum possible charging power), but this point is rarely critical. At the same time, there are a great many cables and chargers for microUSB.
— USB C. The latest (as of the end of 2024) type of USB connector. It is symmetrical, which allows you to insert the cable in any direction, eliminating the possibility of incorrect connection. USB-C is more reliable, has an increased service life and supports higher data transfer and charging speeds. In addition, it is compatible with modern devices and is gradually becoming a universal standard, which makes mice with such a connector more convenient and relevant for users.