{"video_id":"hp-ASYtCDNE","title":"Should You Buy an Expensive Mouse?","channel":"Techquickie","show":"Techquickie","published_at":"2025-05-04T14:58:16Z","duration_s":499,"segments":[{"start_s":0.24,"end_s":7.24,"text":"like other computer parts there's a huge spread in terms of how much you can","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":4.44,"end_s":11.519,"text":"spend on a mouse basic models can be had for under 10 bucks but you can also","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":9.12,"end_s":15.879,"text":"splurge and spend more on a mouse than you would on a Michelin star meal so","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":13.92,"end_s":20.72,"text":"what features do these fancy mice have that more basic models don't to answer","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":18.4,"end_s":26.599,"text":"that we need to start with the sensor on the bottom of your mouse nicer mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":23.24,"end_s":29.439,"text":"almost always use a high CPI Optical","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":26.599,"end_s":34.0,"text":"sensor but what does that mean well mice work by taking pictures of the surface","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":31.679,"end_s":39.44,"text":"beneath them many times per second then comparing those images to determine when","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":36.44,"end_s":42.6,"text":"and where they're moving higher CPI or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":39.44,"end_s":45.239,"text":"counts per inch mean your mouse can see","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":42.6,"end_s":51.44,"text":"at higher resolutions CPI is often used interchangeably with DPI or dots per","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":48.199,"end_s":53.879,"text":"inch to describe sensitivity but CPI is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":51.44,"end_s":59.48,"text":"the more accurate term so in the old days high sensitivity was","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":57.32,"end_s":64.6,"text":"considered important for users of high resolution displays since it allows the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":61.8,"end_s":69.439,"text":"cursor or your Crosshair to travel farther across the screen with a small","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":66.92,"end_s":73.68,"text":"amount of movement but most modern mice are sensitive enough that any further","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":71.64,"end_s":78.52,"text":"development is more to provide better accuracy for fine movements some mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":76.64,"end_s":83.4,"text":"include the ability to switch sensitivity on the Fly depending on what","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":80.799,"end_s":87.439,"text":"you're doing including turning it down to improve accuracy while sniping in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":85.64,"end_s":92.68,"text":"games a related but separate specification is polling rate given in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":90.159,"end_s":98.04,"text":"hertz this is how many times per second a mouse will report its position to your","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":94.92,"end_s":102.28,"text":"PC basic mice tend to have polling rates","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":98.04,"end_s":104.68,"text":"of around 125 or 250 Herz but nicer mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":102.28,"end_s":109.439,"text":"can offer polling rates of 500 Herz 1,000 Herz or even higher giving an","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":107.399,"end_s":114.759,"text":"increased sense of responsiveness and control I can feel I can see everything","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":112.6,"end_s":119.28,"text":"users of high refresh rate monitors will get the most benefit from a mouse with a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":116.399,"end_s":124.36,"text":"higher polling rate but beyond 1,000 HZ you probably won't notice the improved","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":120.92,"end_s":126.56,"text":"latency unless you're a robot not every","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":124.36,"end_s":131.039,"text":"premium sensor is built for the highest sensitivity though while laser mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":129.2,"end_s":135.0,"text":"haven't been fashionable for quite some time as they had a reputation for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":132.84,"end_s":139.599,"text":"undesired acceleration compared to their infrared Brethren they do still pop up","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":137.36,"end_s":144.599,"text":"from time to time Logitech in particular uses a component they call a darkfield","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":142.239,"end_s":150.2,"text":"laser that allows their Mouse to see clear glass as dark with imperfections","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":147.64,"end_s":154.64,"text":"and particles showing up bright coming back to acceleration though certain","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":152.08,"end_s":158.599,"text":"sensors have inherent acceleration meaning the cursor moves a greater","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":156.8,"end_s":162.84,"text":"distance on the screen if you move the mouse more quickly on your desk for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":160.959,"end_s":167.0,"text":"General desktop use this can be convenient and intuitive in fact Windows","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":165.159,"end_s":171.879,"text":"has its own acceleration enabled by default but for competitive Gamers any","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":169.8,"end_s":176.4,"text":"inconsistency in movement can be the difference between Victory and defeat","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":174.84,"end_s":180.519,"text":"the good news is that you don't need to spend a fortune anymore to get a mouse","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":178.48,"end_s":185.239,"text":"without inherent acceleration but you won't get that from a Bargain","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":182.599,"end_s":189.159,"text":"Basement unit either now there is another kind of acceleration that you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":187.2,"end_s":192.68,"text":"want lots of and we'll tell you all about it right after we thank the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":190.28,"end_s":197.0,"text":"sponsor of this video I fix it back to school season is coming up and while you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":194.68,"end_s":202.28,"text":"might be tempted to buy a new laptop why not breathe new life into your old one","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":199.12,"end_s":206.04,"text":"with iFixit iFixit is offering 15% off","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":202.28,"end_s":207.799,"text":"their Manta Mahi make minow and mor bit","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":206.04,"end_s":212.879,"text":"sets for you to start your repairing journey and they're also offering 15% %","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":210.04,"end_s":216.08,"text":"off Mac laptop parts check out iFix it using the link in the description and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":214.4,"end_s":221.68,"text":"save some money this back to school season the other kind of acceleration","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":1},{"start_s":219.159,"end_s":225.84,"text":"described in G's has to do with how quickly you can change the mouse's speed","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":223.72,"end_s":230.56,"text":"and direction without the sensor losing track of where it is again for General","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":228.28,"end_s":234.76,"text":"desktop use it doesn't matter much but if you hope to land any flick shots","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":232.599,"end_s":241.12,"text":"especially at low sensitivity you'll want a mouse that can keep up a related","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":237.36,"end_s":243.0,"text":"characteristic is IPS or in per second","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":241.12,"end_s":247.92,"text":"this is used to describe the maximum speed a mouse can move before the sensor","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":245.239,"end_s":254.4,"text":"loses tracking generally anything above about 20g and 200 IPS is considered good","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":251.599,"end_s":261.32,"text":"enough and can be had for about 30 bucks so why do some mice cost","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":257.639,"end_s":263.44,"text":"$300 well the most accurate low latency","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":261.32,"end_s":268.4,"text":"mouse in the world won't do you much good if it's not enjoyable to use so now","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":266.44,"end_s":273.199,"text":"we've got to consider features for example there are lots of Cheaper mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":270.639,"end_s":277.88,"text":"out there that are Wireless but not all Wireless mice are created equal one big","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":276.4,"end_s":282.24,"text":"thing to look for is what kind of wireless connection the mouse uses","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":279.96,"end_s":286.759,"text":"Bluetooth mice don't require a dongle which can be convenient but dongle mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":284.52,"end_s":292.24,"text":"which typically use some other often proprietary protocol in the 2.4 GHz band","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":290.6,"end_s":296.96,"text":"tend to give you a connection that's a little more reliable as well as lower","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":294.6,"end_s":300.759,"text":"latency for gamers it's a pretty big deal I'm also partial to myice that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":299.0,"end_s":304.16,"text":"feature a built in spot to hold the dongle when you're not using it as","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":302.32,"end_s":308.28,"text":"they're notoriously easy to lose and it's also very satisfying on the subject","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":306.36,"end_s":312.84,"text":"of gaming there's a gaming oriented Mouse category that's actually very","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":310.199,"end_s":318.6,"text":"useful for non- gamers I'm talking about MMO or MOBA mice these tend to have lots","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":316.72,"end_s":323.52,"text":"of buttons on the side that allow Gamers to bind keys or programmable macros to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":321.639,"end_s":327.56,"text":"every button for titles like World of Warcraft or League of Legends where","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":325.4,"end_s":331.16,"text":"having a dozen or more functions at your fingertips can be a huge competitive","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":329.4,"end_s":335.72,"text":"advant AG but even if you don't play games at all they can be very useful for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":333.8,"end_s":339.72,"text":"productivity for example if you often run macros in office suites or editing","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":338.0,"end_s":344.319,"text":"programs in fact you could make the argument that MMO mice are a better fit","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":342.28,"end_s":349.44,"text":"for the office than your gaming rig since the use of macros is frowned upon","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":347.0,"end_s":353.759,"text":"in many popular titles even if you don't need a ton of buttons some premium mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":351.96,"end_s":357.479,"text":"can be customized in other ways to improve their functionality or help them","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":355.52,"end_s":360.36,"text":"last longer this can mean everything from replacing the switches under the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":359.16,"end_s":364.56,"text":"buttons If if you don't like how the default ones feel to changing out the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":362.479,"end_s":368.759,"text":"side grips to suit your grip style to replacing parts of the chassis with","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":366.319,"end_s":373.199,"text":"lighter weight shells this last thing has also become a popular option as mice","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":371.039,"end_s":377.68,"text":"with a lattice style top shell are lighter making quick movements easier","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":375.759,"end_s":382.08,"text":"speaking of doing things quickly even the simple scroll wheel can be a selling","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":379.759,"end_s":386.24,"text":"point for some mice some feature a horizontal scroll wheel often on the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":384.44,"end_s":390.4,"text":"side of the mouse which can be very useful if you often find yourself","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":387.84,"end_s":394.52,"text":"working with large spreadsheets or you might want a mouse with an unlockable","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":392.36,"end_s":399.96,"text":"infinite scroll wheel that allows you to rapidly navigate very large documents or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":397.12,"end_s":404.28,"text":"repeat a key action with unhuman speed in your favorite game and there are many","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":402.199,"end_s":409.639,"text":"other quality of life considerations USBC as opposed to micro USB connectors","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":407.24,"end_s":413.639,"text":"can be more convenient and durable as can wireless charging and a built-in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":411.639,"end_s":418.199,"text":"rechargeable battery so you're not having to swap out ablea batteries all","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":415.56,"end_s":422.52,"text":"the time a mouse's software and firmware can be another big difference maker and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":420.24,"end_s":426.759,"text":"I'm not just talking about fancy RGB effects many manufacturers offer the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":424.479,"end_s":430.28,"text":"ability to tune and even improve a mouse's performance through software for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":428.879,"end_s":434.8,"text":"example some models allow characteristics like liftoff distance to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":432.639,"end_s":438.8,"text":"be configured and saved to onboard memory so it doesn't need to be reset","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":436.919,"end_s":443.12,"text":"every time you delete the software and occasionally manufacturers will find new","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":441.08,"end_s":447.759,"text":"ways to improve tracking performance that they make available to previous","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":445.199,"end_s":451.759,"text":"buyers of their products a final key differentiator is material","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":450.039,"end_s":456.199,"text":"and this is where things can be very costly better Plastics or rubber grips","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":454.599,"end_s":461.36,"text":"shouldn't cost you too much but if you want a mouse made of something more","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":458.0,"end_s":463.72,"text":"exotic like magnesium alloy you can","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":461.36,"end_s":468.639,"text":"expect to pay a pretty penny of course if you think that's silly you're right","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":466.479,"end_s":473.12,"text":"because no one can tell you what's important to you we went through a lot","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":471.12,"end_s":479.08,"text":"of considerations in this video but it's unlikely all of them will apply to you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":476.24,"end_s":482.639,"text":"so spend your money wisely and if you don't need need tons of bells and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":480.72,"end_s":486.879,"text":"whistles you don't have to spend a fortune to get a well-built mouse that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":484.56,"end_s":490.84,"text":"will last you a long time I just steer clear of the off-brand ones at the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":488.8,"end_s":493.68,"text":"hardware store checkout counter thanks for watching this video and if you'd","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":492.12,"end_s":500.28,"text":"like to learn more about the history of mice before they had more options than a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":495.72,"end_s":500.28,"text":"new car go watch this video next","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"like other computer parts there's a huge spread in terms of how much you can spend on a mouse basic models can be had for under 10 bucks but you can also splurge and spend more on a mouse than you would on a Michelin star meal so what features do these fancy mice have that more basic models don't to answer that we need to start with the sensor on the bottom of your mouse nicer mice almost always use a high CPI Optical sensor but what does that mean well mice work by taking pictures of the surface beneath them many times per second then comparing those images to determine when and where they're moving higher CPI or counts per inch mean your mouse can see at higher resolutions CPI is often used interchangeably with DPI or dots per inch to describe sensitivity but CPI is the more accurate term so in the old days high sensitivity was considered important for users of high resolution displays since it allows the cursor or your Crosshair to travel farther across the screen with a small amount of movement but most modern mice are sensitive enough that any further development is more to provide better accuracy for fine movements some mice include the ability to switch sensitivity on the Fly depending on what you're doing including turning it down to improve accuracy while sniping in games a related but separate specification is polling rate given in hertz this is how many times per second a mouse will report its position to your PC basic mice tend to have polling rates of around 125 or 250 Herz but nicer mice can offer polling rates of 500 Herz 1,000 Herz or even higher giving an increased sense of responsiveness and control I can feel I can see everything users of high refresh rate monitors will get the most benefit from a mouse with a higher polling rate but beyond 1,000 HZ you probably won't notice the improved latency unless you're a robot not every premium sensor is built for the highest sensitivity though while laser mice haven't been fashionable for quite some time as they had a reputation for undesired acceleration compared to their infrared Brethren they do still pop up from time to time Logitech in particular uses a component they call a darkfield laser that allows their Mouse to see clear glass as dark with imperfections and particles showing up bright coming back to acceleration though certain sensors have inherent acceleration meaning the cursor moves a greater distance on the screen if you move the mouse more quickly on your desk for General desktop use this can be convenient and intuitive in fact Windows has its own acceleration enabled by default but for competitive Gamers any inconsistency in movement can be the difference between Victory and defeat the good news is that you don't need to spend a fortune anymore to get a mouse without inherent acceleration but you won't get that from a Bargain Basement unit either now there is another kind of acceleration that you want lots of and we'll tell you all about it right after we thank the sponsor of this video I fix it back to school season is coming up and while you might be tempted to buy a new laptop why not breathe new life into your old one with iFixit iFixit is offering 15% off their Manta Mahi make minow and mor bit sets for you to start your repairing journey and they're also offering 15% % off Mac laptop parts check out iFix it using the link in the description and save some money this back to school season the other kind of acceleration described in G's has to do with how quickly you can change the mouse's speed and direction without the sensor losing track of where it is again for General desktop use it doesn't matter much but if you hope to land any flick shots especially at low sensitivity you'll want a mouse that can keep up a related characteristic is IPS or in per second this is used to describe the maximum speed a mouse can move before the sensor loses tracking generally anything above about 20g and 200 IPS is considered good enough and can be had for about 30 bucks so why do some mice cost $300 well the most accurate low latency mouse in the world won't do you much good if it's not enjoyable to use so now we've got to consider features for example there are lots of Cheaper mice out there that are Wireless but not all Wireless mice are created equal one big thing to look for is what kind of wireless connection the mouse uses Bluetooth mice don't require a dongle which can be convenient but dongle mice which typically use some other often proprietary protocol in the 2.4 GHz band tend to give you a connection that's a little more reliable as well as lower latency for gamers it's a pretty big deal I'm also partial to myice that feature a built in spot to hold the dongle when you're not using it as they're notoriously easy to lose and it's also very satisfying on the subject of gaming there's a gaming oriented Mouse category that's actually very useful for non- gamers I'm talking about MMO or MOBA mice these tend to have lots of buttons on the side that allow Gamers to bind keys or programmable macros to every button for titles like World of Warcraft or League of Legends where having a dozen or more functions at your fingertips can be a huge competitive advant AG but even if you don't play games at all they can be very useful for productivity for example if you often run macros in office suites or editing programs in fact you could make the argument that MMO mice are a better fit for the office than your gaming rig since the use of macros is frowned upon in many popular titles even if you don't need a ton of buttons some premium mice can be customized in other ways to improve their functionality or help them last longer this can mean everything from replacing the switches under the buttons If if you don't like how the default ones feel to changing out the side grips to suit your grip style to replacing parts of the chassis with lighter weight shells this last thing has also become a popular option as mice with a lattice style top shell are lighter making quick movements easier speaking of doing things quickly even the simple scroll wheel can be a selling point for some mice some feature a horizontal scroll wheel often on the side of the mouse which can be very useful if you often find yourself working with large spreadsheets or you might want a mouse with an unlockable infinite scroll wheel that allows you to rapidly navigate very large documents or repeat a key action with unhuman speed in your favorite game and there are many other quality of life considerations USBC as opposed to micro USB connectors can be more convenient and durable as can wireless charging and a built-in rechargeable battery so you're not having to swap out ablea batteries all the time a mouse's software and firmware can be another big difference maker and I'm not just talking about fancy RGB effects many manufacturers offer the ability to tune and even improve a mouse's performance through software for example some models allow characteristics like liftoff distance to be configured and saved to onboard memory so it doesn't need to be reset every time you delete the software and occasionally manufacturers will find new ways to improve tracking performance that they make available to previous buyers of their products a final key differentiator is material and this is where things can be very costly better Plastics or rubber grips shouldn't cost you too much but if you want a mouse made of something more exotic like magnesium alloy you can expect to pay a pretty penny of course if you think that's silly you're right because no one can tell you what's important to you we went through a lot of considerations in this video but it's unlikely all of them will apply to you so spend your money wisely and if you don't need need tons of bells and whistles you don't have to spend a fortune to get a well-built mouse that will last you a long time I just steer clear of the off-brand ones at the hardware store checkout counter thanks for watching this video and if you'd like to learn more about the history of mice before they had more options than a new car go watch this video next"}