Let’s Talk About Mice

Main Image: Asus Gladius III Wireless

Intro

The best mouse to use for someone that isn’t “gaming”, but at the same time demands a certain level of performance and reliability from their peripherals isn’t a topic that is discussed very often, so I thought I’d cover it here.

I believe there is a lot of value in thinking about the peripherals we use day-in and day-out and how they can contribute to our overall performance, health, longevity and enjoyment at work.

In this article I will cover some basic information about what to consider before buying a mouse and then provide some examples of mice that I think are best suited for the task.

Why

I believe most people are not aware of the options that are available on the market today and how they can impact your ability to execute at work in fields where relatively fast, precise and reliable inputs may be required.

My goal is to to shed a bit of light on this topic for those that are interested. The products recommended in this guide also provide a good reference for people who are simply looking for a new mouse that they can get to work with immediately and don’t want to spend too much time thinking about all the options available on the market.

What To Consider

When buying a mouse, consideration should be given to the ergonomics or shape of the mouse. There is no point in having a state-of-the-art input device if it leads to pain or subpar performance due to handling issues.

Besides the shape of the mouse, I also think it’s important to think about the technology inside of the mouse. For poker and activities like day trading, I believe it is important to use technology that is reliable and won’t fail in the heat of the action. For example, I think it is fine to use modern day wireless technology, but consider that there is still some chance of wireless interference and power loss with a wireless mouse that is almost eradicated with a wired mouse (or a wireless mouse that can be used in wired mode). There is also the added benefit of not having to worry about battery charge with a wired mouse.

Additionally, there are also things to consider like the technology of the micro switch used in the mouse to register whether a click has been activated or not. At the time of writing, the majority of mice will use a standard mechanical switch, but more high tech mice may employ some form of optical switch, which eliminates the notorious double-click fault that is frequently seen in traditional mechanical switches over time, to effectively zero. A double-click fault could be hazardous, because it may lead to the accidental release of a click at the wrong time or the additional sending of clicks to the area beneath the mouse at the wrong time.

Top Recommendations

For most people I would recommend a medium to large sized ergonomic gaming mouse or a small to medium sized symmetrical mouse. For those who don’t know how to determine whether a mouse is ergonomic or symmetrical, simply speaking an ergonomic mouse (sometimes also referred to as asymmetrical) will be a mouse that is designed to support your hand in a more natural position and so typically the mouse will have some degree of slant, with the right mouse button typically being lower (in right-handed mice, vice versa for left-handed mice) so as to naturally support your palm and wrist.
A symmetrical mouse will be, as the name suggests, shaped symmetrically, with both buttons being the same height and no bias with regards to which side has more or less slant. It is now less common, but some symmetrical mice are also ambidextrous, which simply means that all of the features of the mouse are accessible when using the mouse either right- or left-handed (this must be adjusted in either software or hardware, depending on the mouse).

Additionally, as eluded to earlier, I would also recommend a mouse with optical switches.

Below are my top recommendations for mice at this time. You will notice that they are virtually exclusively gaming oriented products. This is because at the time of writing the majority of high end peripheral products tend to be oriented towards professional gamers.

Razer Deathadder v3 Pro – Premium Option

The Deathadder v3 Pro is at the cutting edge of gaming mice at the time of writing. This mouse has features that are overkill for the purpose of this article, but I can’t think of a more premium mouse (at least when it comes to technology) currently on the market. The Deathadder v3 Pro, also referred to as DAV3, is a lightweight ergonomic mouse that is based on a proven ergonomic design. Like all wireless mice in this list, it can also be used as a wired mouse for added reliability.

Roccat Kone Pro Air – Alternative

I present the Roccat Kone Pro Air, also KPA for short, as an alternative option for those wanting to spend less, but still seeking a high end product. You won’t be getting the bleeding edge in terms of internal technology, as with the Deathadder v3 Pro, but you will still be getting a premium ergonomic mouse with optical switches and the possibility to use the mouse wired as well as wireless.

Razer Deathadder v2 – Budget Pick

For those on a budget, the Deathadder v2 meets all of my criteria for a good mouse: Ergonomic design, optical switches and a reliable connection. This mouse is the predecessor of the Deathadder v3 Pro (minus the pro).

Razer Viper Mini – Budget Pick

The Razer Viper Mini is a fan favourite amongst gamers. It’s a budget mouse, but it still manages to offer optical switches, which is why it has made this list. I present this as an alternative budget option for those who prefer small and symmetrical mice.

Razer Viper 8k – Left-handed option

There aren’t many good left-handed mice on the market, let alone ones that come with optical switches. The Razer Viper 8k is a good option for people who want a left-handed and/or ambidextrous mouse. This mouse is neither an “ergonomic” or small ambidextrous mouse, but I wanted to include it as an option for left-handed people since there are few options in this market segment. This mouse also happens to be very affordable and can often be found for under $50.

G502 x – Users Who Prefer Additional Buttons

The G502X is Logitech’s first mouse with optical switches, based on the very popular G502 (which is the best selling gaming mouse of all time on Amazon.com). This mouse is a little overbuilt for me personally, but if you are the type of person to prefer extra buttons on their mice, then this is something you should check out.

Outro

My final list turned out to be somewhat heavy on Razer products. This is because Razer is one of the early adopters of optical switches and many other companies have yet to follow suit. As time passes we will see more and more options for mice with optical switches coming onto the market and so the composition of such a future list will likely change.
I hope this guide was helpful to you and, if you are in the market for a new mouse, it aided your purchasing decision. If you have any questions about recommendations for mice or about something I have written, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below.

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