The material from which the upper part of the pad is made, in direct contact with the mouse. Ease of sliding, accuracy and convenience depend on its properties.
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Plastic. Plastic mats are on the market in many varieties — from the simplest inexpensive models to advanced gaming solutions. In fact, the quality of work and the durability of the plastic coating directly depends on the price category of the product. Of the common features of this material, ease of cleaning can be noted — it is enough to wipe the contaminated rug.
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Fabric. Fabric surfaces have a texture, which is easily "cling" to the optical or laser sensor of the mouse, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of work. In addition, such mats are soft, do not rub your hand even during prolonged use, and the “legs” of mice do not wear off on them as quickly as on plastic or aluminium (the latter is especially appreciated by enthusiast gamers who actively use expensive gaming mice). Of their disadvantages, it is worth mentioning the higher cost than plastic, as well as the difficulty in cleaning — washing may be required to remove dirt. In addition, inexpensive types of fabric wear out and fray quite quickly.
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Cork. Cork provides good accuracy, and is also appreciated among lovers of natural materials. At the same time, these mousepads can be quite rough, which slows down th
...e movement of the mouse and can even lead to blisters during prolonged use. Yes, and the cork is much more difficult to clean than plastic (although easier than fabric).
— Rubber. This category includes both classic rubber and leather-like materials and finishes — the practical features of these varieties are the same. In general, rubber mats are similar to fabric mats — they are soft and contribute to precision. The advantages of this material also include ease of cleaning. On the other hand, rubber is not so pleasant to the touch. For this and some other reasons, this option is not particularly popular.
— Aluminium. Aluminium is predominantly used in high-end gaming mats (see "Type"), although it can also be found in general-purpose models. This material is characterized by high strength with low weight, provides good accuracy (for this, a special texture is applied to the surface), in addition, it creates the impression of solidity and solidity both in appearance and to the touch. The main disadvantage of aluminium is its high cost.
— Silicone. Soft and elastic material, on which mice slide well at the same time; in a simplistic way, it can be described as a cross between rubber and plastic. Suitable for both universal and play mats, including quite advanced, but for a number of reasons it is used relatively rarely.The presence of
lighting in the design of the rug.
This function is found mainly in top-end gaming models (see "Type"). The backlight does not affect the main functionality of the product, its role is primarily decorative. Perhaps the only situation where a luminous mat can be useful from a practical point of view is when working at a computer in the dark, when even the light from the screen does not illuminate the mat.
The backlighting capabilities can be quite advanced: it can have different colours and even react to individual user actions — for example, change colour depending on the mouse sensitivity set (such capabilities are usually available with high-end mice from the same manufacturer). The backlight requires power to operate; it is usually provided via a USB cable.
The presence
of firmware around the perimeter of the rug. Such firmware prevents delamination of the material and makes the product more durable.
The presence
of a pattern on the rug. The drawing does not affect the practical properties of the product, but it can give it an attractive and original appearance.
Models without a pattern can be attributed to business office options, where it is not so important to stand out with colorful colours and unusual pictures.
