Comparison SteelSeries Rival 310 vs Logitech G403 Prodigy

The length of the cable that is equipped with a mouse with the possibility of a wired connection (see "Type of connection").

When choosing this parameter, you should first of all take into account the distance from the manipulator to the connection port: a cable that is too short may simply not reach the connector, and a cable that is too long may get tangled at hand and create inconvenience. As for specific values, the most modest wire length in modern mice is 1 m or less ; such devices are intended mainly for laptops. Most desktop manipulators come with cables that are 1.1-1.5m or 1.6-2m long, with some models running longer than 2m.

The model of the sensor installed in the mouse. This information is indicated mainly for models equipped with high-end sensors, which are significantly superior in their capabilities to simpler solutions. Such characteristics are important primarily for gaming mice, so most of the devices for which the sensor model is specified belong to this category.

Knowing the name, you can find detailed data on the sensor and evaluate its capabilities. Note that one of the most popular brands nowadays, under which advanced sensors are produced, is PixArt ; on the market are often found, in particular, sensors PixArt 3212, PixArt 3325, PixArt 3327, PixArt 3335, PixArt 3360, PixArt 3389, PixArt 3395. The second common brand is Avago (recently owned by the same PixArt); the most popular model of this brand is Avago 3050, the simplest and most affordable representative of gaming sensors.

Resolution of the sensor responsible for tracking mouse movements on the work surface. Specified in DPI — dots per inch.

The physical meaning of DPI as a whole is as follows. The sensor of a modern mouse works on the same principle as the camera matrix, and consists of pixels. And DPI is the number of pixels that fall on 1 inch of the underlying surface (length or width), "visible" by the sensor.

It is believed that more DPI means a more advanced sensor and mouse in general; nowadays, models for 3500 – 5000 DPI, 12000 DPI, 16000 DPI even more are not uncommon. In a way, it is — high resolution contributes to accuracy. However, the only thing that is directly determined by this indicator is the speed at which the cursor moves across the screen: the higher the resolution of the sensor, the greater the number of pixels that the cursor will move when the mouse itself moves a certain distance. At the same time, it is worth recalling that too high a speed is even more undesirable than too low. So the real need for high DPI ( 1000 and above) arises mainly when working on large screens (4K resolution and more); for more modest displays (HD and Full HD), smaller values are often enough.

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.

The ips (inches per second) parameter is the linear speed of mouse movement, expressed in inches per second, at which the manipulator's sensor is able to read the surface. In top models, the maximum mouse movement speed often reaches 400-600 ips, but devices with ips in the region of 200 are more common.

The brand of switches (switches) installed in the mouse. Also, these parts are often called "mikriki" — from the term "microswitches". Usually, the characteristics indicate the brand of switches used in the main buttons (left and right); additional buttons, usually, are equipped with other switches, often simpler and cheaper.

The mics are directly responsible for the operation of the keys when pressed. Accordingly, the quality of the mouse, as well as the feel and comfort of the user, depend on the quality of these parts: different switches can vary in stiffness, ease of operation and the sound of pressing. And the brand of switches is not specified for all mice, but only for models equipped with advanced elements. In other words, this parameter is indicated in cases where the brand of the microswitch is a sign of the high quality of the "rodent". Typical examples include mics under the brands Omron(considered premium) and Huano(Chinese counterparts of quite comparable quality). Light Strike and Razer switches are also pulled up to them.

We emphasize that in this case, not a specific model is indicated, but a general brand under which mikriks are released (sometimes also their type, opto-mechanical or mechanical). At the same time, the same brand may include different models of switche...s that differ in features: some are “quiet”, others with a normal sound, some with increased accuracy, others with an extended service life, etc. So the features of these parts should be clarified separately. However, the detailed characteristics of mikriks are important mainly for demanding users, in particular professional cybersportsmen.

The mouse has additional lighting effects. For more information about the backlight itself, see above, and its effects can be different — ranging from a smooth change in brightness and/or colour to colour and light signals, as well as backlight synchronization(for models with synchronization, this paragraph indicates the supported synchronization technology).

The last function is worth dwelling on separately. Synchronization itself allows you to "match" the mouse backlight with the backlight of other system components — the case, graphics card, keyboard, monitor, etc. Thanks to this matching, you can create various unusual effects: synchronous colour and brightness changes, "colour waves", "running lights" etc. However, for such work, all components of the system must support the same synchronization technology — and such a technology, usually, each manufacturer has its own. So before buying it's ok to check compatibility. However, some mice are able to work with several options at once — for example, iCUE from Corsair and MLS (Mystic Light Sync) from MSI.

Additional features of the cable that the mouse is equipped with.

These features may include a winding system, a detachable wire, and a braided wire(however, most modern mice still have a cable without a braid). Here is a more detailed description of all these features.

— Retractable. Wire equipped with a special coil for winding. This feature greatly simplifies transportation: during off-hours, the wire is as compact as possible and does not get tangled, and when used, it can be unwound to the desired length (usually the coil allows this possibility). All this is especially important for laptop mice (see "In direction") — in fact, most models with a wire reel fall into this category.

— Removable. Wire that can be detached from the mouse. Almost all mice with two connection options have this feature — wired and wireless: when working in a wireless format, the cable can be removed so that it does not interfere. However, there are also purely wired devices with such a cable — mostly laptop devices, where the wire is removed for ease of transportation. Also note that most often a universal connector like microUSB is used to connect the cable, so if necessary, the wire can be replaced with another one — for example, a longer one.

— In a braid. The presence of an additional braid on the mouse cable. This feature makes the wire more d...urable, reliable and resistant to bending. On the other hand, braid tends to accumulate dirt and fray when worn; because of this, the wire sheath loses its presentation faster than in mice without a braid. Yes, and such a wire is more expensive than a regular smooth one.

The total weight of the mouse. For models with a wired connection, usually, it is indicated without cable, and for devices with weight adjustment (see above) — without weights.

This parameter is important primarily for professional gaming applications, although it is often relevant for ordinary users. Theoretically, less weight promotes speed and reduces fatigue. At the same time, in fact, much depends on the personal habits and preferences of the user: a mouse that is too light may “not be felt in the hands” and not give familiar feedback. Therefore, although most mice have a lower weight limit of 60 – 80 g, however, even among professional gaming models there are much more massive devices — 120 – 140 g or more. The lightest variety of "rodents" is laptop (see "In the direction"), among them devices come across and less than 60 g.

Also note that the weight to some extent depends on the size and “tricked out” of the device, but there is no unambiguous dependence here: models similar in size and functionality can differ markedly in weight.