Gaming devices are devices with special characteristics. A gaming mouse should be comfortable to play with, with support for a hand, symmetrical (for right-handers and left-handers), inexpensive, preferably not wireless, but connected directly to the computer. The sensitivity of the laser or optical sensor is the main characteristic, the smoothness of movement and the speed of response depend on it.

What is a gaming mouse

With the development of technology, the sale of manipulators for gamers started. Gaming mice for PC are highly ergonomic. They have hot buttons programmed for given commands. For shooters, gaming mice are equipped with soft scrolling, excellent sensor accuracy to quickly switch between weapons, shoot clearly, without jerks and accidental misses.

Rating

Manufacturers regularly develop new products, improving specifications improving the interface. The best gaming mice are produced by such brands:

• Razer - specializes in gaming peripherals;
• Logitech - offers models in different price segments;
• A4-Tech is a Chinese manufacturer, the main products are gaming mice for a computer;
• SteelSeries is a Danish company that develops gamer manipulators;
• Mad Catz is a company that offers versatile devices with complex designs.

The best gaming mice

The presence of a manipulator that is ergonomic and functional is a must when using not only desktop computer but also a laptop. Gamers use the mouse to control their characters in shooters, RPGs, strategies. In sports simulators, it is more convenient to work with it in the menu, although it is not used in cyberspace.

Professional gaming mice

Premium gaming PC devices are expensive. Choose them correctly according to reviews with photos, promotions, sales and discounts, with free delivery by mail, which will slightly reduce costs:

• name: Razer DeathAdder Chroma;
• price: 6,500 rubles;
• characteristics: warranty - 2 years, declared service life - 4 years, resolution - 10,000 dpi, frequency - 1,000 Hz, recall - 1 ms;
• pluses: cord length - 2.1 m;
• cons: high cost, few keys.

Those who want to have a beautiful, functional and durable manipulator should pay attention to this model:

• name: Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS;
• price: 4,000 rubles;
• characteristics: relatively large dimensions - 121x69x41 mm, AVAGO 9500 laser sensor;
• pluses: up to 5,700 dpi - resolution, frequency - up to 1,000 Hz, each button is designed for 5 million clicks;
• cons: simple external execution.

laser

Due to the higher sensitivity of the sensor, mice in this category are considered better than optical models:

• name: Mad Catz M.M.O.TE Gaming Mouse;
• price: 7,000 rubles;
• features: LED indicators for mode and resolution, protection against wire breaks, laser sensor with a resolution of up to 8200 dpi, 20 buttons;
• pluses: adjusted to the individual characteristics of the user;
• cons: not found.

To the best gaming mice for personal computers in this segment include:

• name: G. Skill Ripjaws MX780;
• price: up to 6,000 rubles;
• characteristics: on-board memory, 8 buttons;
• pluses: adjustable in weight and height;
• cons: thumb keys can quickly fail.

Optical

When choosing between a laser and LED gaming mouse, it should be understood that the first one is more expensive, but has a high sensitivity:

• name: DEFENDER Safari MM-675;
• price: 500 rubles;
• characteristics: wireless, 6 keys, sensor resolution 1600 dpi;
• pluses: affordable price with good functionality;
• cons: only suitable for right-handers.

The quality of the sensor determines the smoothness of cursor movement. For large monitors, models with a sensitivity of 1000 dpi are recommended:

• name: RAZER Naga 2014;
• price: 3200 rubles;
• characteristics: wired, 19 keys, stylish case;
• pluses: high sensor resolution - 8200 dpi, ideal for games;
• cons: not the lowest cost.

Wireless

These USB sticks are easy to move around your work surface:

• name: A4Tech Bloody Warrior RT7;
• price: 2,200 rubles;
• characteristics: 20 million clicks, sensitivity up to 4,000 dpi;
• pluses: charging from microUSB;
• cons: for some, a small number of customizable buttons, a small battery capacity will be unacceptable.

There is a slight slowdown in response in such devices compared to the wired model. This wireless gaming mouse is comfortable and functional:

• name: Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum;
• price: 10,000 rubles;
• characteristics: sensor sensitivity - 12,000 dpi, symmetry - suitable for left-handers;
• pluses: charging through a cable with a rigid fixation, high-quality material;
• cons: high price.

backlit

The mouse for games differs from the office version in a bright design:

• name: Zelotes 5500 DPI;
• price: up to $30;
• characteristics: on the sides there are protrusions for fixing the brush, scroll wheel illumination, side panels of different colors;
• pluses: additional buttons minimize the use of the keyboard, the manipulator supports Microsoft OS, Mac;
• cons: no.

In addition to the unusual shape, drawings, the appearance is complemented by lighting. Another notable model in this category:

• name: Qcyber Tur 2 GM-104:
• price: you can buy a gaming mouse for 2,600 rubles;
• characteristics: 10 buttons;
• pluses: selection and adjustment of the reference platform, laser sensor with a sensitivity of 5,600 dpi;
• cons: does not slide smoothly on all surfaces.

Multi-button

Such mice are no less popular among users, even their not the cheapest cost does not reduce the demand for the device. For example, this model:

• name: SteelSeris Rival 500;
• price: 6,000 rubles;
• characteristics: sensitivity - up to 16,000 dpi, 14 programmable keys, proprietary software;
• pluses: comfortable ergonomics;
• cons: no on-board memory.

• name: Razer Naga Hex V2;
• price: 6,000 rubles;
• features: 7-button thumb pad, 16,000 dpi laser sensor;
• pluses: customizing the backlight;
• cons: you need to get used to using the button wheel.

Cheap gaming mouse

Budget versions of gaming devices are models for everyday use of office programs, but with increased sensitivity of the motion sensor.

• name: Corsair Harpoo;
• price: up to 3,000 rubles;
• characteristics: 6 programmable keys;
• pluses: medium size, optimal for most gamers, customizable backlight;
• cons: no.

Among the TOP manipulators, which are offered cheaply by an online store in St. Petersburg, Moscow, this model is found:

• name: Logitech G102 Prodigy Gaming Mouse;
• price: up to 3,000 rubles;
• characteristics: sensor sensitivity - up to 6,000 dpi, average size, weight;
• pluses: the settings are programmed in the mouse itself, when connected to another PC, they do not crash;
• cons: loud buttons.

How to choose a gaming mouse

An important selection criterion is ergonomics. On the market there are models of different sizes, shapes. This is explained by the fact that the age of the average gamer changes every year. Half of the users fully embrace the manipulator. The second - uses a "claw" grip. Try to hold the mouse different ways, it is important that the brush does not start to hurt after a while. Pay attention to the symmetry of the model, the presence of removable side panels.

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Optical mice are more accurate than laser mice. The higher the DPI, the better. Acceleration is evil. Wireless mice lag. Mouse sensitivity value in Windows settings should be set to 6.

If you understand any of this, then you have probably already spent some time reading various articles about choosing a gaming mouse, trying to figure out what really matters.

There are strange, extremely detailed articles and forum posts on the web about every aspect of gaming mice (shake, acceleration, and reading per inch), and much of it is filled with outdated information, techno-voodoo and Internet folklore. I've tried to uncover the truth about some of the more confusing elements of gamepad technology, and dispel some of the most common misconceptions.

Myth: Optical mice are better than laser mice

Conclusion: right, but it's a bit more complicated. Laser mice are actually optical mice for beginners.
This is perhaps the most common opinion about gaming mice that you can find on the net. Optical mice are better and more accurate than laser mice. Laser mice are just junk! Alas, but more and more often in gaming mice put laser sensors, making optical rare and special animals. That's what they say on the Internet. How are things really?

For starters, laser and optical sensors have more in common than you might think.

In laser mice, in truth, there is not a laser sensor at all, but an optical one. It just uses laser illumination. However, it's easier for people to narrow it down to optics vs. laser, when it's actually infrared or red LED (in optical mice) vs. VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser). Still LED, but already a laser. All sensors take many thousands of frames in seconds, based on the comparison of which the direction and distance of the movement of the manipulator are determined.

Both optical mice and those with laser illumination use CMOS sensors to capture the surface below them, and mouse movement is determined from these images. This sensor is similar to the one in your smartphone or digital camera, although it works very differently (for example, it takes thousands of pictures per second). And since the sensor is the same, why is optics “better” than laser illumination?

The laser has a different wavelength, making it more like matter than LED light. This makes the laser more sensitive to surface irregularities. LED light is less sensitive and easier to recover. There are peaks on the surface, which he reads.

If you take a closer look at the rag rugs, you will see that they are woven from fibers, and the laser "sees" their structure perfectly. But no one needs this when all that is needed is to measure the distance traveled by the mouse. The laser, on the other hand, goes deeper under the surface, where, especially at low speeds, it acts differently. That is why there is such a difference between low and high speeds.

Laser-illuminated sensors work unusually well on hard mats, but on softer, deeper surfaces, they collect too much useless information, resulting in varying efficiency at different speeds. This is what most people call "acceleration" or "resolution error due to speed".

And yet, how big is the difference between an optical sensor and a laser-illuminated sensor? The latter have 5-6% deviations when reading at different speeds. For the best optical sensors, this parameter is below 1%.

Myth - the problem of "acceleration" - the mouse behaves differently at different speeds of movement

Conclusion: Lying. The problem is real, but the term "acceleration" is inapplicable in this case. Logitech experts offer two alternatives: "resolution error due to speed" and "speed-dependent variable accuracy."

Acceleration is a big, complex problem. Here's how it's usually described on the Internet: if you quickly drive the mouse across the mat, and then slowly return it to the point where you started, the cursor should also return to its original position. If not, the mouse suffers from some form of acceleration, which means it reads different speeds of movement differently. Bad, right? After all, we need the mouse and cursor to move in unison, otherwise, in a tense shootout in an FPS, this can lead to misses.
So what is causing this problem? And why is “acceleration” an unfortunate name?

Acceleration, as people write on the Internet, is observed only on a certain family of sensors with laser illumination. This is the accuracy error relative to the speed at which the mouse moves. The manipulator itself has no acceleration of its own, either positive or negative. The difficulty is to make the cursor move the same distance as the mouse travels at different speeds. Indeed, it is easier to pronounce "the laser has acceleration."

If you call acceleration "resolution error due to speed", it's important to note that "resolution" has nothing to do with image quality (don't think of it like 1080p, 4K, etc.). Resolution is the relationship between hand movement and the distance traveled on the screen. A parameter consisting of how many pixels on the screen are overcome when moving the mouse one inch.

So, neither the cursor nor the sensor speeds up when you move the mouse at different speeds. The problem is the discrepancy between the data that the manipulator reads when moving at different accelerations. It is quite difficult to explain why this happens, and we will delve into the technical jungle in the analysis. next myth about DPI. But, to put it simply, the resolution error due to speed comes from the fact that the mouse sensor receives too much noise in the pictures of the working surface it takes. And, as you remember from the previous myth, this feature is more characteristic of manipulators with laser illumination.

When you move the mouse, the sensor considers only one direction to be “correct”: the one in which you move it. When the sensor starts picking up noise, it translates into "reading" movements in the wrong direction, like tiny growls up and down as you move the mouse to the side. Adding these false reads “changes the number of reads we get at the end of a mouse move. So, you move the mouse strictly horizontally, but your system loses some of this movement, accepting it as vertical, resulting in a shorter trajectory.

Myth - the higher the DPI, the better

Conclusion: Lying. Some DPI values ​​(6000 and above) are simply ridiculously high for the size and resolution of modern monitors, and many mice have sensors that are not adapted for such values, which negatively affects performance.

If you've ever followed the smartphone or digital camera market, you must be familiar with the race for megapixels: Cameras have gone up in resolution because it's great for marketing. But the quality of a photo is affected by many other factors, such as the quality of the lenses and the true pixel size on the CMOS sensor. That's why iPhone cameras are getting better every year, staying at 8 megapixels since the days of the iPhone 4S.

The same is true for sensors used in game controllers. So, high DPI is not necessarily bad. After all, a 30 megapixel DSLP sensor can be fantastic, right? The problem with high mouse DPIs is how the sensors manage to achieve those numbers.

You need to understand how the CMOS sensor works in a mouse. Its sensor is much smaller than a digital camera and has no color depth. But it can take thousands of pictures per second. For example, Logitech G502 can shoot 12000 frames per second. By comparing these images, the sensor determines the direction of the mouse movement and the distance it has traveled.

Mouse resolution is different from what is called this word in digital cameras, where it is related to the number of pixels in the matrix. The optical sensor does not work properly. Its resolution is the number of pixels on the table. Imagine a pixel (we have lenses and an optical system), decide what size it is, right here on the table. Now decide how many of them will fit into a one inch segment. This is what resolution is. For example, on a matrix one pixel is 30 microns. How many of these thirty-micron babies will fit into one inch?

If the CMOS sensor uses 30 micron pixels, its resolution will be about 840 DPI or CPI, which is the number of readings the mouse will take when moving one inch. But then everything gets more complicated: a mouse with 8400 DPI does not necessarily have a pixel size 10 times smaller, as it should be. Why? Because DPI is often increased by dividing real pixels into smaller and smaller fractions. And this is the moment when a higher DPI does a disservice.

The physical resolution remains one pixel, but the system is able to see less than one due to frame processing, it is able to understand pixel fractions. If the system is powerful, it can distinguish, say, one-eighth of a pixel. That is, you take a pixel, divide it into eight parts, then lay these minipixels one-eighth of 30 microns on the table. How many of these will fit in one inch? A lot, but the original resolution has not changed, it is still a native physical pixel.

The processed resolution created by the sensor algorithms makes it possible to operate much large quantity sliced ​​"pixels", but this is useless for accuracy. All you get is speed. To get one reading, the mouse must be moved quite a bit. The pixels are tiny, one-eighth of 30 microns, and because of this, the sensitivity is very high, much higher than on a system with large 30 microns pixels.

An illustration of the noise level on the example of a wi-fi router.

Each sensor of the manipulator receives a certain number of valid signals and a certain amount of noise, the so-called noise level. Imagine that you are working with a full 30 microns: it will be (relatively) easy to filter the signal from the noise. Now try to imagine the same process with one-eighth of the data. The more you divide a pixel, the closer the signal and noise level converge, the more difficult it is to separate the necessary data from the garbage. When the system can no longer distinguish between them, the sensor begins to transmit noise, which is expressed in inaccurate movements.

That's the danger of increasing DPI if the chief engineer doesn't understand the underlying sensor capabilities. If you aim only for a high DPI value, and build the whole design around this, the project will fail, the output system will turn out to be weak. It will suffer from what is called a false movement, this is when you do nothing, just leave the mouse on the table, and the cursor itself slowly crawls to the side, collecting noise and creating readings. That's the problem with bad design. The correct approach is to design a mouse for low resolution, a solid and reliable system, not to chase high resolution, breaking all the laws of design and development.

Many gaming mice, especially those with laser illumination, use sensors that were designed years ago. Upgrading a 2013 model arm to a 2015 model can get by with the same sensor, but offer more DPI by splitting the original resolution. When dividing the pixels, more noise is obtained, and then the limit is reached when the sensors of the old generations begin to massively shoot completely suspicious frames.

And that's bad. Just awful. Of course, this does not mean that a manipulator with an old, overclocked DPI sensor will be worse under any conditions. At low DPI settings, it will work like the old model, since this setting will be close to (or equal to) its originally designed value. But crank the DPI all the way up and you'll see everything: spurious movement, resolution error due to speed, cursor ripples, and other issues. So when you see a new mouse hitting the market boasting high DPI values, be careful. Anything can happen.

Myth: Wired gaming mice are faster and more accurate than wireless mice.

Conclusion: it was true over the years, but now you probably won't see the difference between a good wireless mouse and a regular tail.

While testing wireless gaming mice, I had and good experience, and not much. There were those that lag, and there were those that worked at the wired level. Many wireless gaming mice have a polling rate of less than 500Hz, while wired mice typically offer 1000Hz. In the latter case, the data is sent by the mouse to the PC every 1 millisecond instead of 2, as with wireless ones. If you're exceptionally, incredibly sensitive to mouse response, you might notice a difference. But remember that most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60Hz or, best case, 144 Hz. You're more likely to notice mouse issues related to sensor quality than polling rate.
François Maurier firmly believes that it is possible to create an excellent wireless gaming mouse, as long as the project is based on a wireless model from the very beginning.

It all starts with the sensor. When it comes to wireless design, the sensor is the most demanding part of the product. If you put a sensor designed for a wired mouse in it, then everything will rest in a short time battery life and, possibly, a great response, since in order to save energy, you will have to compromise with the rest of the modules. And this is all the consequences of ill-conceived design. But, if you understand what the player needs, at what moment he needs a response, and at what moment he does not care, you can optimize the project. Get decent autonomy and maintain remarkable performance.

If you are using a wireless gaming mouse, keep the receiver on the table, close to the mouse. Random radio signals from phones, routers and other devices can interfere with the operation and reduce the effectiveness of the manipulator. By limiting such possible interference, you will most likely not distinguish your mouse from a wired one.

Myth - Windows mouse sensitivity should be set to 6 out of 11

Conclusion: for games - a lie, since no modern game uses pointer settings from the OS.
Setting it to 6 out of 11 on Windows will supposedly give you the best experience of mouse and cursor movement in the OS. The truth is that for normal Windows work, you shouldn't touch this slider at all. For example, if you set it to 11/11, then the mouse will start to skip readings and fail.

What about games? For them, these settings do not matter. Most games work directly with the mouse, bypassing all settings operating system. It's okay to have a pointer speed set to 6/11, but in games released in the last decade and a half, you won't see any difference.

Myth – MX 518 is still the best gaming mouse

Conclusion: Lying but nostalgia is great.

There is no gaming mouse more beloved than the Logitech Mx 518, released in 2005. There are still players who take oaths on it. It was undeniably a great mouse in its day, but anyone who still thinks it's the best is missing out on the huge step forward mousers have taken since 2005: higher DPI values ​​(this can sometimes be a bad thing, as we've covered above). but there are many mice that can easily beat 1600 DPI MX 518 without terrible losses), more high frequency surveys and years of research in ergonomics and the use of materials.

More significantly, one of the most vilified features of mice today, called (prediction), appeared in the MX 518. Prediction, also known as angle snapping, smoothes mouse movements to help draw a straight line. For gaming, obviously, it is not really necessary, since it requires accurate correlation of movements, and not a mouse trying to predict them. Although modern gaming mice often offer the option to turn off prediction, it is almost always turned off at the driver level anyway. In the MX 518, however, it was enabled by default. And no way to disable.

Myth - Taping half of the mouse sensor will help reduce the mouse-off distance when picking it up

Conclusion: Lying. Technically, this works, but the idea is bad, as it negatively affects the operation of the sensor.
Disable Distance - The point at which the mouse stops reading the surface below it. For a certain group of players who play at low sensitivity (most often older games like Counter-Strike 1.6), a low kill distance is very important, because they often pick up the mouse and move it to the other side of the mat.

If this distance is too large, the sensor will continue to read the surface after the concept, which will cause unwanted cursor movement. The life hack with gluing part of the sensor is designed to solve this problem.

The tape hides some of the light emitted by the LED, which reduces the time it takes for the sensor to realize that the mouse is off the surface. There is such a feeling: “Hooray, I reduced this distance!”, But, in fact, you also reduced the speed of the mouse. Only half of the matrix remains to work, which negatively affects the reading speed. Low speeds this is not so noticeable, but for high on some surfaces it can be critical. Doubtful compromise. Usually, if a person is happy with this position, he is not a very fast player, and he can live with it. But really, it's not worth it.

Today, several mouse companies offer a surface calibration feature that adjusts the mouse to the work surface and then allows you to set the turn-off distance. This is certainly better than sticking the sensor with tape, because it maintains the high speed of the manipulator. A long turn-off distance is typical for manufacturers choosing preset settings that allow the sensor to work on surfaces with a variety of colors and textures.

From the gauge surface, there is no need for such templates, since you can set the cut-off distance to your liking.

Computer mouse- the main "tool" of the modern gamer. In order not to concede and even surpass your opponents in online games, a gaming mouse should be as suitable as possible for the user's requests. Important indicators such as ergonomics, ease of placement in the hand, ideal weight, reliable and trouble-free switches, responsive and “non-braking” sensor. For professionals, even such an indicator as the number of keys on the mouse body is important. For example, multi-button devices are more suitable for MMORPG games like Dota2 and StarCraft2. While for shooters (cs go) small-button models are better suited, with 5 - 7 customizable keys.

But before we go directly to the rating, let's recall a few the best manufacturers gaming mice. This list includes both firms specializing in the production of gaming peripherals, and "diversified" companies, including civilian models.

• A4Tech. The company was founded in 1987 in China. Currently, the company is the owner of perhaps the largest line of gaming (and not only) mice. The products are distinguished by a very low cost for the segment and wide distribution.
• Razer. It was established in the USA in 1998 as a subsidiary company specializing in the production of mice. Currently, Razer deals exclusively with gaming devices: mice, keyboards, headphones, etc. The quality is excellent, but the cost can hardly be called budgetary.
• steel series. The Danish company also belongs to specialized manufacturers. The company's assortment includes everything that can be useful for an amateur gamer and a professional cybersportsman. The manufacturer's mice are minimalistic, but have excellent sensors and relatively affordable prices.
• Logitech. The Swiss company was founded back in 1981. Logitech is engaged in the release of computer peripherals of various kinds, designed for any wallet. There are both cheap mass products and professional devices costing several thousand rubles. The company's gaming mice are widely used and respected by gamers around the world.
• ASUS. This Chinese company regularly appears in the ratings on our website due to the huge list of products. Computer peripherals, smartphones, components - you can list for a very long time. Gaming peripherals come out in the ROG (Republic of Gamers) line. It includes, among other things, gaming mice of a unique design and with interesting features.

Our TOP 16 best gaming mice contains some of the best devices in their categories. The main criteria in the selection of gaming mice were reliability, popularity, technical "stuffing", positive reviews users and the compliance of the price with the declared characteristics.

Best Wireless Gaming Mice - Optical Laser

4 Razer Mamba Chroma

Country: USA
Average price: 9 990 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

We start with Razer's flagship gaming mouse. Externally, the model corresponds to the canons of the company's design. The form without unnecessary troubles - only smooth lines of the case and a minimum of buttons for fans of shooters or RPGs. The mouse fits comfortably in almost any hand. The back is made of soft-touch plastic, pleasant to the touch, the sides are made of tenacious rubber. The main buttons are pressed very nicely, they work quickly. Unique feature is the ability to adjust the pressing force with special controls on the bottom of the mouse - the force can be changed in the range from 45 to 90 grams. The side buttons are large, comfortable, have a good click. The only thing you don't like is the wheel. It is tight and almost devoid of cut-offs. Finally, backlighting: the wheel, logo and a pair of side stripes glow. In short, any of your lighting fantasies can be realized through a proprietary application.

The mouse has a record dpi of 16,000. It's hard to imagine a game where this would come in handy. The polling frequency is standard for this class - 1000 Hz. The mouse is powered by a built-in battery, which lasts for 15-20 hours of active play. The device is charging on the docking station. If the mouse is discharged during the battles, you can simply plug the wire into it and play on.

3 ASUS ROG Spatha

The most "fancy" mouse
Country: China
Average price: 9 950 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

The biggest, heaviest, richest set. When describing almost any characteristic of this mouse, you can use the word "most". ROG Spatha is one of the most expensive in the ranking. The design is very "evil", futuristic, the edges are sharp. At the same time, the device lies perfectly in the hand. Of course, if you have large enough hands, because the dimensions and weight (178 grams) are rather big. The palm rests completely on the mouse, because there are stops for the thumb and ring fingers. Matte plastic, does not collect fingerprints. There are rubber inserts on the sides to prevent slipping. The mouse can be both wireless and wired, in case the built-in battery starts to run low during an important game. It, by the way, is enough for about 4 days. Charging is done at the docking station.

There are already 12 additional keys. All, of course, are configured through special software. The sensor resolution is not a record - 8200 dpi, but the response speed is phenomenal when connected by wire - 2000 Hz. In the wireless version, the performance is somewhat more modest - 1000 Hz. Separately, we note the package. It includes the mouse itself, a docking station, a pair of cables (one meter in rubber and 2 meters in fabric), a pair of spare Omron switches and a hard case for carrying all this stuff.

2 Logitech G403 Prodigy

The most compact
Country: Switzerland
Average price: 6 000 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

Model G403 Prodigy from Logitech is somewhat out of the general style of the manufacturer. Before us is not a futuristic "rodent", but a minimalistic working tool. Dimensions - the smallest in the category, and the weight can not be called large - 105 grams. If this seems too little, you can add a special weight of 10 g, which is hidden at the bottom. The design is classic, there are only a couple of additional buttons on the left side and a DPI switch key. They are made of glossy plastic, which allows you to distinguish them by touch from the rubber coating of the side faces. The latter, by the way, quickly get dirty - if you like cleanliness, keep a cloth handy. The back is made of soft-touch plastic.

Omron switches are excellent quality, fast response - nothing to complain about. But the wheel let us down. There are no clear cut-offs, it is pressed hard. Through proprietary PC software, you can configure the color and mode of the backlight, key assignments (macros), sensitivity in the range from 200 to 12000 dpi, and even calibrate the mouse under different types surfaces. In general, the mouse is perfect for shooters of various stripes.

Which gaming mouse is better: laser or optical LED? We offer to study the table of pros and cons of each type of mouse.

1 Logitech G602

Profitable price. The best solution for gaming laptop
Country: Switzerland
Average price: 5 880 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The Logitech G602 is a versatile wireless mouse that's perfect for a gaming laptop. The device runs on two standard AA batteries and is capable of holding a charge for 250 hours of computer games. This is one of the best indicators among competitors in the market. The Logitech G602 is built with Delta Zero™ technology for the most accurate hover. It will be especially appreciated by loved online shooters (cs go, for example). The latency of the device is minimal, the polling rate is 2 ms. The wireless range of 3 meters is enough for any user. Complaints of some players come only to the inconvenient location of the side buttons and the appearance of problems with the "double click" after prolonged active use (more than a year).

Be that as it may, the Logitech G602 is one of the best-selling wireless laser mice. Attractive price, high-quality body materials, thoughtful ergonomics and optimal technical characteristics have made this model very popular with both beginners and experienced players. First place in our ranking!

Video review

Best Wireless Gaming Mice – Optical LED

4 HAMA uRage Unleashed

Best price
Country: Germany
Average price: 1 380 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.5

HAMA is an extremely little-known company in our country. The choice of mice from the manufacturer is quite large. Basically, these are budget devices. uRage Unleashed is no exception. Appearance can be called classic. The body materials are far from premium, you won’t get a tactile buzz, but everything is assembled soundly. Illuminated wheel and logo. There are only 2 states - on (smoothly flickering) or off. The presence of five customizable keys is declared, but in fact there is no software for customization. It is worth noting a unique feature - the ability to adjust the volume with a wheel. That's just to enable this function, you need to pull the switch at the bottom of the mouse. And to scroll back... We also note the presence of a key that emulates a triple click. It is useful in games where you need to "click" the enemy.

However, everything is not so bad. The mouse copes well with the amateur level of the game. Yes, the polling rate is 500Hz, which is half that of most competitors. Yes, the sensor can break, but in most games, an ordinary gamer will not notice problems.

3 A4Tech Bloody Warrior RT7

Good quality for minimal money
Country: China
Average price: 2 163 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.6

We climb a little higher up the ladder of evolution of gaming mice. Models from A4Tech are very popular in our country due to the budget cost, good appearance and good performance. The design is replete with sharp edges, there are several decorative elements. The shape is suitable only for right-handed people because of the massive stop under the thumb and the protrusion under the ring finger. Note the rubberized inserts on the main buttons for better contact. Unlike the previous participant, A4Tech boasts a workable software through which you can set the backlight mode, dpi and remap keys.

Specifications on paper look nice, but in reality, users talk about some problems. The most significant is the periodic (once every 3-4 hours) cursor freezes for a few seconds, which can cause you to lose in an online shooter.

2 Logitech G900

The best optical sensor. A light weight. For professional players
Country: Switzerland
Average price: 9 660 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.7

Logitech G900 is one of best models for the professional gamer. The mouse can work both in wireless and wired mode. The battery in the device is built-in, and when it starts to sit down (the indicator will tell about it), the user can switch the mouse to wired mode and charge it without interrupting the gameplay. The charge for wireless mode is enough for two days of active games.

The sensor here is the TOP - Pixart 3366, works without interruption on any surface, at any speed and turns. Breakdowns and jitters were not noticed in numerous tests. The sensor resolution is as much as 12,000 dpi, which is the best indicator in our review. The mouse is equipped with 12 customizable buttons at once, some of which, namely the side ones, are removable. To store the removed keys, a case is provided in the kit, and a plug is placed in the vacated space.

A separate plus deserves a scroll wheel. This is all the same side-click wheel and proprietary scrolling from Logitech. Normal scrolling can be replaced by fast scrolling when the wheel starts to rotate continuously after light scrolling.

Video review

Sensor

Avago sensors are considered the most popular and reliable, the rights to which were recently bought out by another well-known company, Pixart.

Switches (mics)

Omron mics are considered to be of the highest quality, which, unlike switches from other companies, do not suffer from “double clicks”. These are more reliable and proven switches, but mice with "Omron" mics are somewhat more expensive.

Number of keys

The choice of model by the number of keys depends on the genre of the game. For example, for an online shooter cs go (cs go), a small-button mouse with 3-4 keys is better suited. For MMO / MOBA / DOTA2, multi-button mice are more often taken, with at least 10 programmable keys.

Wheel

On sale you can find mouse wheels with a mechanical and optical encoder. Most are equipped with mechanical famous models. Wheels with an optical encoder are much less common, but they are considered more durable.

Weight

The heavier the mouse, the more accurately you can hover the cursor (target on the enemy), but the slower it will be. In contrast, a light mouse will be very fast, but not as accurate. Therefore, for some games it is very important to choose a mouse with a "golden mean", not so heavy, but not too light. On sale there are gaming mice in which you can adjust the weight with the help of special weights.

1 Logitech G603 lightspeed

Best value for money
Country: Switzerland
Average price: 4 383 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.8

Logitech seems to make the best value for money wireless mice on the market. The G603 lightspeed model does not lower the bar either. In terms of design and shape, this is an almost complete copy of the G403 model discussed above. Even the impressions of the controls are similar: the buttons are chic, the wheel is no good. Differences, of course, are also more than enough. The back of the mouse is attached with magnets, and therefore can be easily removed for cleaning and installation of AA batteries. By the way, they can "regulate" the mass of the mouse, because the G603 can work both from one and from two batteries. In economical mode, they should be enough for 18 months of work. But for games, it is recommended to turn on the performance mode - the switch is located at the bottom of the mouse. In the same place, engineers placed a switch button between Bluetooth and a radio channel. This is useful, for example, when used with a laptop and desktop PC at the same time. There are no questions about the speed of the sensor, the polling frequency and other indicators. In games, the mouse, if it fails, is extremely rare.

Best wired gaming mice - optical laser

4 A4Tech XL-747H Black

Profitable price. Best Selling Laser Mouse
Country: China
Average price: 1,679 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.5

Fourth place in the ranking is A4Tech XL-747H, a budget gaming mouse for beginners. This is a very popular model, which is perfect for users who do not have serious demands on the mouse. The XL-747H has earned high popularity due to its low price, “unkillable” design, flexible dpi settings and the ability to work on any surface.

Removable weights are provided in the body of the device, allowing you to choose the optimal weight for each player. The wheel is very comfortable, rubberized, does not make noise when scrolling. The design of the mouse and the side surface for the thumb also contain rubberized inserts, which creates additional comfort when using. Via special button(next to the wheel) you can instantly change the sensitivity of the mouse, which is very convenient for online shooters.

Among the shortcomings, there is a too stiff cord and a quickly worn out anti-slip coating. However, expect something more from a budget gaming mouse, perhaps, is not worth it.

3 Razer Abyssus 2014

The best quality for the least money
Country: USA
Average price: 2 390 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.6

Inexpensive gaming mouse from Razer. It sounds unusual, but such a model really exists. The Abyssus model has been on the market since the distant 2014, but for most amateur gamers it will still be relevant today. The design is as simple as possible: the rodent with a matte back and rubberized sides fits perfectly in the hand. Moreover, it does not matter if you are left-handed or right-handed - the symmetrical case will suit anyone. In addition to the two main buttons and the wheel, there is nothing. Perfect for shooters, otherwise - for an amateur. Only the logo is highlighted. There are two modes: on and off.

Sensor resolution 3500 dpi, polling rate 1000 Hz. The sensor does not break, clearly fulfills all movements. There is simply nothing to complain about. Abussus works out its money 100%

2 SteelSeries Sensei Rubberized

Most Keys
Country: Denmark
Average price: 4 990 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

If you think Razer's mouse has been around for a very long time, check out the SteelSeries Sensei. This model has been produced since 2012 (!) At the same time, the mouse not only has not lost its relevance, it has not even fallen in price. The design is symmetrical, suitable for both right-handers and left-handers. More buttons than competitors. In addition to the two main keys and the sensitivity switch button, there are 4 side keys - a pair on each side. It is difficult to talk about materials, because a huge number of options with different stylization were produced. In general, there are two options for the back - gloss or matte plastic. Both resist abrasion well, but the glossy one is easier to wipe off fingerprints. But the side faces after a couple of years of use acquire an unpresentable appearance. I tell you this as a longtime owner of Sensei.

Clarity of movement, clicks, wheel - everything works fine. The polling rate is standard 1000 Hz. The resolution of the sensor can be changed in the range from 100 to 5670 dpi. All manipulations are carried out through proprietary software. Sensitivity, backlight mode, as well as the function of all (even the main) buttons are configured.

1 ASUS ROG Gladius

The best combination of price and quality
Country: China
Average price: 4 789 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.8

Gaming mice from ASUS are as always good. The design of the gladius differs from its competitors, if only because it is not suitable for left-handers due to its shape. The back cover is very pleasant to the touch, the sides are well held in the hands due to the textured rubber material. In it, by the way, dirt is clogged, which is not very pleasant. Additional buttons differ in texture, which makes it easier to find by touch. In addition, they are designed to be clicked by a slide - conveniently. Below the main buttons are Omron switches for 20 million clicks. They, if necessary, can be independently replaced by "mics" with a different pressing force and a smaller (1 million) resource.

The sensor resolution is 6400 dpi. The polling frequency is 2000 Hz. Such indicators are quite enough even for professional e-sportsmen. Separately, we note the package. In addition to the mouse and the already mentioned switches, it includes interchangeable feet, 2 cables (2m braided and 1m unsheathed) and a carrying case.

Best Wired Gaming Mice – Optical LED

4 A4Tech Bloody Winner T7 Black

Best price
Country: China
Average price: 1,480 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.5

Fourth place in the ranking is A4Tech Bloody Winner T7, an improved version of the popular A4Tech Bloody V7 gaming mouse. This model is in demand due to its affordable price (only $ 20) and excellent technical equipment compared to its closest competitors. Many users praise the top-end clickers (switches) from Omron, a high-quality Avago sensor with a resolution of 4000 dpi, non-killable iron legs and high-quality impact-resistant plastic that makes up the mouse body. Additionally, the case is covered with soft-touch plastic that is pleasant to the touch.

Another advantage of the Bloody Winner T7 is an optical wheel with a resource of more than a million scrolls. Also, many note comfortable rubber inserts on the main buttons (left and right). Among the shortcomings of the model, one can note complaints about the meager equipment (which is partly due to the low price of the mouse itself) and poor software.

3 Razer Lancehead Tournament Edition

Best optical sensor resolution (16,000 dpi)
Country: USA
Average price: 5 990 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

Before us is the top wired mouse from Razer. The shape is somewhat reminiscent of the SteelSeries Sensei discussed above, but with branded "raiser" chips in the form of small protrusions along the edges of the main keys. The mouse is symmetrical, suitable for both right-handers and left-handers. The back is made of branded plastic, which is pleasant to the touch, does not get dirty, but can wear out and become glossy over time. On the sides tenacious rubber inserts. Due to the textured pattern, dirt can clog into it - this is a minus. The side buttons are small, due to the symmetry of the mouse. With such dimensions, they do not interfere, but at the same time they are quite convenient to use.

Below the main buttons are Omron switches for 50 million clicks. The wheel is excellent, with a clear short-stroke click and good cutoffs. The Pixart 3389 sensor does not break or tremble - it will not let you down at the crucial moment. Resolution - a record 16000 dpi. Of course, all parameters, including excellent backlighting, are configured through proprietary software. You can quickly switch between configured profiles by clicking on the bottom of the mouse.

2 SteelSeries Rival 100

popular model
Country: Denmark
Average price: 3 490 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

The Rival 100 is an inexpensive model in the SteelSeries mouse line. The shape of the mouse is typical for the company. Design without unnecessary details, simple symmetrical shape. However, the side buttons are only on the left side, which means the Rival is better for right-handers. There are small complaints about them - they are difficult to find, and pressing is not perceived from the entire surface. The material is the same as on many other mice of the company - pleasant to the touch, wear-resistant, but very dirty. There are no complaints about the switches under the main keys (Omron for 30 million clicks) and the wheel. The sensor is also good - 3059SS - works well. Problems arise only at maximum dpi (4000).

We also note that there is no way to clearly adjust the sensitivity - the value is adjusted in increments of 250 dpi, i.e., for example, setting 400 will not work. Otherwise, do not find fault with the software. The lighting is worth special attention - in addition to the standard effects, you can turn on GameSense. This mode allows you to color signal about the level of lives, frags, etc. The list of games is modest - CS:GO, DOTA 2 and Minecraft - but the function is interesting.

1 Logitech G502 PROTEUS

The best ergonomics. Quality sensor at 12000 dpi
Country: Switzerland
Average price: 5 650 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.8

A worthy first place in the ranking of LED gaming mice is Logitech G502 PROTEUS. This is the flagship model, with a cool futuristic design and the most comfortable construction. The body of the mouse is covered with non-staining matte plastic with rubberized side inserts, which provides a tenacious position in the hand. There is a weight adjustment system and horizontal scrolling. Branded metal wheel with fast scrolling helps to view very long documents and web pages in facebook or vk.

The sensor in G502 PROTEUS is implemented at the highest level, it provides soft and smooth movement in the game. The resolution is 12,000 dpi, which is a lot for optics. The main switches come from Omron, with a resource of 20 million clicks. A separate plus can be put behind the Teflon legs, due to which the device easily glides over both fabric and plastic.

The mouse is very popular among both beginners and experienced players. The number of available keys here is 11, which is more than enough for any MMO game. Although often the Logitech G502 PROTEUS is specifically purchased for online shooters. The wire is protected from bending, but, according to users, it is too thick.

Video review

For tests, we used regular mats Nova MicrOptic+ and Defender Ergo opti-laser. Appearance they are about the same:

According to both manufacturers, these mousepads are optimized to work with laser mice. Let's check.

First, zoomed surface shots:

There are some differences, but not particularly noticeable. Nova's grains are smaller and less pronounced. Does that mean he's worse?

Now let's look at the mats through the eyes of an optical sensor:

Agree that there is a difference and very cardinal. The high-contrast structure is clearly visible on the Nova mat, but the Defender gave some kind of "soap". Most likely, this is due to the size of the "granules". In laser sensors, unlike optical sensors, the visible window size is reduced. It seems that on the Defender mat the size of the granules is larger than the window and the sensor captures only part of them, constantly switching between monotonously light and dark areas. For comparison, I will give photos of the surface of the plastic.

The right figure is obtained from the left by increasing the contrast. The mouse sees this surface like this:

On such a surface, "office" optical mice do not work at all, but laser ones somehow manage to work very successfully.

Tear-off height

What do you do when the mouse reaches the edge of the pad? You pick up the mouse and move it to a new place, to the center of the mat. The optical sensor is highly sensitive and tries to maintain normal functioning constantly adjusting the parameters of the equipment. As a result, when the mouse is raised above the surface, the speed decreases. More precisely, the speed does not decrease, but rather the quality and reliability of motion detection drops quite sharply. Theoretically, when the surface quality drops below reasonable, the optical sensor should stop producing movement. That is, with some lifting of the mouse, he should not notice that the mouse has been raised, and if it is even slightly raised, then simply stop transmitting the movement. This is ideal, but in real mice, when the surface deteriorates, the quality of the movement transmitted by the mouse degrades. Moreover, this harmful effect depends on the speed of movement, which is why it is more difficult to get used to such a mouse.

The break-off height of LED mice is 1.5-2 mm, for laser versions the figure is larger and is already 2.5-4 mm. These are all numbers, but in reality such a mouse is inconvenient to use even for office applications, you have to raise it very high above the rug. According to my personal impressions, a stall height of 1.5-2 mm is quite comfortable. But what to do with laser mice and their 4 mm stall height?

Let's take one by the tail and look at the insides. Mice on the Avago sensor are now common (link to http://www.avagotech.com) ADNS-6010

In order not to be too smart, I took a picture from the documentation.

Explanations:

This figure shows the figure 2.4 mm - this is the optimal distance from the bottom of the optical system to the surface. One point - the bottom of the mouse has some thickness, so the distance from the surface to the bottom of the mouse will be less by the thickness of this bottom.

And what does the separation height depend on and why on optical mice is this height smaller? Let's see another picture:

I allowed myself to show amateur activity to paint some important elements of the design.

The lenses of the optical system are highlighted in yellow, the light flux of the laser is highlighted in gray. Green - visibility zone of the optical sensor. The zone of "visibility" of the sensor is determined only by its focus and the ability to work with a defocused image. The higher the speed of moving the picture, the worse the stability for unfocused objects should be. If you look at the test data, then it turns out. The stall height of 4 mm is not functional, I tried to reduce this value by slightly changing the principle of operation - the loss of the image by the sensor can be obtained not due to deterioration in focus, but due to the departure of the light spot from the sensor's visibility zone. This is how LED mice work. To do this, I increased the angle of the backlight beam from 21 degrees to about 50 degrees from vertical.

When the mouse is lifted, the backlight spot (gray beam) goes out of the visible sensor window (green zone).

The refinement technique is not particularly difficult - you need to cut the optical block along a vertical line and not touch the lenses. In extreme cases, you can slightly damage the backlight lens, it is not so important. You can fasten the two components with hot melt adhesive, marked in brown in the figure.

It has sufficient rigidity and strength of the connection, while allowing multiple correction of the position of the glued parts of the optics. When the backlight is tilted, part of its design will go beyond the dimensions of the optics unit and it will have to be filed a little, marked in blue in the figure.

Unfortunately, the backlight unit must not only be tilted, but also moved down, which will cause the backlight lens to be below the level of the optics. This is bad, in the bottom of the mouse you will have to melt a small dent under the ledge. However, this is not difficult and does not interfere, because the lens goes beyond the dimensions quite a bit. The laser module was attached to the optics using a VCSEL Clip. Now it will have to be removed and secured with a drop of glue or sealant. Although, he's holding up pretty well. Such a construction has one feature - the illumination beam falls on the surface with a different angle than the angle of view of the sensor. As a result, an angle of about 15 degrees is formed between the surface plane and the reflection plane.

Black - a beam on an unmodified optical system, green - after completion. The surface for the modified case has been conditionally raised so that it does not merge with the normal mode. The sensor looks, as it were, from the side at the surface and sees all the irregularities on it more clearly. The additional slope of the backlight gives additional brightness modulation when passing through volumetric areas under the lens. Whether this is good or bad depends on the rug, the texture of its surface. By the way, if you take pictures of the surface of the Nova pad on this modified mouse, then the photo will not have such clear edges. And, most likely, it's not about focusing. The angle of view has simply changed and the clear structures of the rug have disappeared. Nova and Defender look almost the same on this mouse. However, the mouse walks well on both surfaces. Alas, there is also a clear drawback - due to the fact that the reflection surface is tilted relative to the surface of the rug, the overall level of illumination decreases and it becomes necessary to increase the backlight laser current. Usually it is a figure in the region of eight milliamps. After refinement, I had to increase the current to 12 milliamps. It's already too much, but within the reach.

If you are finalizing a regular, serial mouse, then it would be nice to help a little with the automatic control circuit for the laser current. The documentation for the ADNS-6010 sensor mentions the Rbin resistor from pin 13 of the microcircuit. Usually, its face value is 12.7 com. In order to correct the current, it is necessary to reduce its value. For my case, it would be good to increase the current by 1.5 times, which means soldering another resistor in parallel with this resistor with a rating of 2 times more, i.e. 24-27-30KOm. And a couple of surfaces - fabric and aluminum sheet. Quite often you hear recommendations to use these surfaces, they give very good results.

First, on a mouse with unmodified optics (W-Mouse 730). Textile:

Aluminum sheet:

And a mouse after modification of the optical block (W-Mouse 750).

Aluminum sheet:

On a surface with a three-dimensional relief, the modification of the optics leads to a greater visibility of this relief. But the picture from the aluminum sheet looks rather worse, but not so significantly. Nothing happens for free. They touched the optics - they got problems with focusing.

Recommendation - when repeating such a refinement, do not get carried away! It is hardly worth increasing the angle of the backlight so much, because the stall height turns out to be too small and unpleasant problems arise with pushing it into the case and increasing the laser current.

There is an easier way to reduce the height of the fall - put the button on the bottom of the mouse and, when it is raised, turn off, block the sensor. There are many means of influence, at first I tried to turn off the laser, but the controller in A4 is smart and if you just open the laser current, the controller notices this very quickly and turns off the mouse. Alas, it turns off completely, you have to poke the USB connector, you will have to act not so straightforward. There is a proposal to connect a pair of silicon diodes instead when turning off the laser, but this will require the installation of additional components. I acted differently - I acted on the resistor Rbin (see the documentation for the ADNS-6010 sensor), with an increase in its value, the auto-regulation system tries to set such a current. If Rbin is disconnected or made very large, then the laser will actually turn off, but this will not cause any problems within the regulation system.

I took the "button" itself from a 3.5 "drive from a floppy disk presence sensor. The force is small, but I had to loosen it a little. The idea worked well, you can choose the height you like, only the plastic pin of the button quickly wears off.

We continue to do mini-reviews of the most popular mouse sensors. Today we will talk about mid-range sensors - not the best, but the purchase of which in certain situations can be fully justified.

If you know which sensor is installed in your future mouse, you can find out about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular device model even before buying. However, it should be remembered that the implementation of the same sensor may differ depending on the manufacturer.

The conversation will focus on the sensors of the middle segment in technical terms (not in terms of price).

Pixart A9800 (A9500)

It feels like the A9800 laser optical sensor holds over 95% of the laser mouse market. The A9800 and its predecessor the A9500 (technically not much different) are the first and only laser sensor that can truly be called a gaming sensor.

Specifications are impressive:

Working speed >4.5 m/s
- 30G acceleration
- speed of photographing the surface 12000 fps
- adjustable break-off height
- large photosensitive matrix 30x30 pixels
- 8200 dpi(cpi) in 50 increments (dpi and increment may vary by manufacturer)

Technically everything is perfect. But something is wrong with this sensor. After all, 99% of professional Counter-Strike players use optical mice, not laser ones.

the main problem laser sensor A9800(and accordingly A9500) is RANDOM ACCELERATION, reaching 5-6%. What is acceleration can be read. talking plain language, A9800 has a rather large random error. And this is a fact. This is evidenced by the creators of gaming devices, and the data of various tests.

Acceleration A9800 is a consequence of the characteristics of laser radiation. It is physically "wired" into the sensor and cannot be removed by software.

It is important to know that the effect of acceleration in the A9800 (A9500) can be significantly reduced if you use mats made of hard materials as a surface: plastic, aluminum. But this creates unnecessary problems for the user: such carpets are more expensive and tend to wear out and wear out the legs of mice.

Conspiracy theorists can also speculate on the topic: why is the captain of the Natus Vincere - Zeus team not considered a cool aimer? Maybe because he has been using the SteelSeries Xai (A9500) for a very long time in combination with a rag carpet? And the former player of the above-mentioned team Ceh9 realized that he was "not dragging" after he switched to SteelSeries Sensei (A9800)? Coincidence? I do not think!

Unfortunately, we have not been able to find objective information on acceleration in the new modified versions of the A9800 (Razer Taipan, Logitech g500s). The available data are conflicting.

You can also find information on the Internet, as if the acceleration in the A9800 has been fixed new firmware. This is not true! The stuffing was indeed received from an employee of one of the manufacturers of gaming devices, but he meant the absence of the "smoothing" algorithm in the latest versions of the A9800 firmware. With anti-aliasing turned on, the A9800's latency at high dpi values ​​could reach more than 20 ms.

Conclusions: In many ways, the A9800 is beautiful: it counts angles accurately, finely tunes. In addition, there is simply a HUGE CHOICE of mice with this sensor on the market. Everyone will find the shape/size/weight to their taste. But the problem with acceleration does not allow him to be considered a saint. The A9800 remains a great choice for games like Dota 2, League of Legends, etc. For Counter-Strike it is better to look for something else.

A3090

The A3090 first appeared in the second version of the Logitech G400 and was labeled S3095 (apparently Logitech made some changes of their own). Later, the sensor became open to other manufacturers.

Technical part:
- maximum speed: up to 4.5 m/s (may be significantly lower on some models)
- matrix 30x30 (A3090 is the receiver of A3080/A3060)
- 6400 fps
- LED-backlight (red), infrared in Roccat Savu.
- maximum dpi depends on the firmware: 3500 for earlier and 4000 for later ones.
- native sensor dpi: 1800/3500 (3500 dpi version) and 800/4000 (4000 dpi version)
- the separation height depends significantly on the specific implementation, but most often it is quite high

A3090 gave rise new era top-end sensors: high speed without significant acceleration, lack of angular binding (and generally considers angles quite well), low noise level.

Many manufacturers experienced difficulties with the A3090 in terms of technical implementation. As a rule, this concerns the height of separation and the maximum speed of work. But in general, at 800 dpi the sensor behaves perfectly on almost all models (4000 dpi firmware).

Many variants of the A3090 use "smoothing" technology ( smoothing). The bottom line is that the mouse does not immediately display the tracking results, but applies some processing algorithm to the data. This allows you to significantly reduce the noise level at high dpi, but introduces some specifics into the operation of the sensor. There may be a delay in the response of the mouse, some inaccuracy with small movements, unnaturalness with fast long translations. Probably, at 800 dpi anti-aliasing is not used in the A3090, or its effect is not noticeable.

The 4000 dpi version of the A3090 may have deadzone issues. When you start moving, the mouse does not react immediately, but after some delay, which can lead to "jerky" movement and missing pixels.

Popular mice on the A3090 sensor: Zowie AM/FK/EC-evo, Logitech G400/G400s, SteelSeries Kana V2, Roccat Savu.

To date, all major brands have abandoned the release of mice with the A3090 in favor of the more recent PMW3310 and S3988. However, there are some models left on the market from little-known manufacturers for a small price: Hama uRage, Genius Maurus X, etc. In addition, you can always buy a used mouse from the high-end segment.

Logitech g400s. Version 4000 dpi. (c)gamezone.com

SDNS-SS-3059

SS-3059 is a modified version of A3050. Currently produced exclusively for the SteelSeries Rival 100. Key differences from the original A3050:

Minimized acceleration
- maximum work speed increased from 3 to 4.5 m/s

The result is a very good sensor. But, as in the case of its predecessor, it is better to set dpi smaller. There are also questions about the accuracy of calculating the angles.

Rival 100 has already made its way into the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive elite: it is played by Dupreeh, the best player of the Astralis team.

50 shades of Rival 100. (c) lelong.com.my

AM010 is represented by a line of Logitech gaming mice: models g100s, g302, g402. Apparently, this sensor is a joint development of Logitech and Pixart. PMW3320 is open version AM010, with some changes, in particular, the frame rate has been increased from about 3000 to 5000+ fps.

The AM010 performs well in Logitech mice. Almost zero acceleration (bypasses even the top 3310 and 3988) and a maximum speed of over 3 m/s. Probably the best sensor in terms of price / quality ratio. The only weak point is the calculation of angles. The liftoff height is also relatively high. To date, AM010 is obsolete, and, most likely, we will not see it in new models.

In this regard, the PMW3320 is an extremely promising sensor. 3320 appeared on the market at the end of 2015, and the number of mice with this sensor is constantly increasing. CM Storm Xornet 2, Azio Exo 1, Ozone Neon 3k, Roccat Kova 2016, QPad DX-20 built on PMW3320

In theory, the 3320 should keep everything best qualities AM010 at the same time, the calculation of angles should be improved due to the increased frame rate. However, judging by the first reviews, not all manufacturers managed to cope with the new sensor. Somewhere there are problems with the dpi step, somewhere with the maximum speed.

Probably PMW3320 is also the future of A4tech. In this case, A4tech will greatly advance in terms of price / quality ratio (naturally, with a normal implementation of the sensor).

This ended the average sensors. The next step is to talk about the top segment of the market. In the next part, we will see how the PWM3310 differs from the S3988, and find out which sensor is the most powerful to date.