Wired vs. Wireless

Our Recommendation

Wireless

Go Wireless for Gaming. The latency is gone, and the freedom is worth it.

Wired

Go Wired for Budget. If you want top performance under $50, wired is still king.

Top Wireless Pick

Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2

Hero 2 • 60g • Wireless

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Top Budget Wired

Glorious Model O 2

BAMF 2.0 • 59g • Wired

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See Best Wireless MiceRead our deep dive on Latency

The biggest choice you'll make when buying a mouse is how it connects to your PC. The market is split into three main types: Wired, 2.4GHz Wireless (Dongle), and Bluetooth. The good news? The old "wireless is slow" myth is dead.

For years, gamers swore by wired mice because they were faster and more reliable. In 2026, that's no longer strictly true. Wired mice are now mostly for people on a budget, or those who just hate charging batteries.

This is the "pro standard" for 2026. It uses a small USB dongle instead of Bluetooth. It is incredibly fast—often indistinguishable from a wired connection. If you are gaming, you want this.

What is Polling Rate? (1000Hz vs 4000Hz)

You'll see mice advertising "4K" or "8K" polling rates. This is how many times per second the mouse reports its position.

• 1000Hz (Standard): Updates 1,000 times/sec. Perfectly fine for 99% of people.
• 4000Hz / 8000Hz (Pro): Faster updates. Only useful if you have a 360Hz+ monitor and a very powerful PC.

Bluetooth is convenient because it works without a dongle. It connects to laptops, tablets, and even phones. It's the champion of battery life—some office mice last literally years on a single AA battery.

However: It is too slow for gaming. There is a small but noticeable delay (latency) that makes aiming feel "floaty." Use it for spreadsheets, not shooters.