Left, right, and side (if any) buttons — when pressed, the tested button lights up.
Scroll wheel —scroll up/down, press (there should be a clear click).
Check the cursor movement:
Move the mouse smoothly across the pad.
Draw circles, lines — the cursor should not "freeze" or twitch.
Try sudden movements — if the cursor "gets lost", there may be problems with the sensor.
Additional checks:
Surface — check the mouse on a mat, table, glass (some sensors do not work well on glossy surfaces).
USB port — if the mouse is glitching, try connecting it to a different port.
Wired vs wireless — if the mouse is wireless, check the battery charge and the Bluetooth/USB receiver connection.
Types of mice
1. By Principle of Operation (Sensor)
Optical LED
How they work: They use an LED light (usually red) and a special camera that takes hundreds of pictures of the surface per second. A processor analyzes these images to determine the direction of movement.
Pros: Reliable, inexpensive, work on most surfaces (except glossy and glass).
Cons Sensitive to surface imperfections, less accurate compared to laser sensors.
Laser
How they work: They use an invisible laser diode instead of an LED. The laser allows for much higher precision (DPI/CPI resolution).
Pros: Very high accuracy and sensitivity, work on almost any surface (including glass and gloss).
Cons: Can be too sensitive for some tasks (e.g., graphic design), sometimes more expensive.
Modern Optical Gaming Sensors
How they work: These are modern high-tech sensors developed specifically for gaming. They combine the high accuracy of laser sensors with the stability of optical ones.
Pros: Maximum accuracy, no acceleration, predictable movement. The standard for modern gaming mice.
Cons: High price.
Gyroscopic / AirMouse
How they work: Contain a gyroscope that tracks the mouse’s movement in the air. It doesn’t need to be moved on a pad.
Pros: Unique control experience for presentations or media centers.
Cons: Low precision for regular work and gaming.
Trackball
How they work: The mouse has a stationary ball that the user rotates with their finger or palm. A sensor inside the mouse reads the ball’s movement.
Pros: Requires very little space, less strain on the wrist (ergonomic), high precision for certain tasks (e.g., graphic design).
Unusual control scheme, requires a learning period.
Obsolete:
Mechanical (Ball Mice): Movement was transmitted via a rubber ball and two internal rollers. Required constant cleaning and a mousepad. Now virtually obsolete.
2. By Connection Type
Wired
Connect via USB (formerly PS/2).
Pros: Minimal input lag, no charging required, usually cheaper.
Cons: Limited freedom of movement by the cable.
Wireless
Radio Frequency (via USB dongle): Use a proprietary receiver (e.g., Logitech Unifying Receiver).
Bluetooth: Connect directly to a device’s built-in Bluetooth module.
Pros: Freedom of movement, clean desk setup.
Cons: Require charging/battery replacement, can have slightly higher latency (though it’s almost negligible in modern high-end models).
Combo (2.4 GHz + Bluetooth): Many modern wireless mice support both connection types for greater versatility.
3. By Purpose and Design
Office / Standard
Characteristics: Standard design, 2-3 buttons, a scroll wheel. The main focus is reliability and low price.
Gaming
Characteristics: High-precision sensor (high DPI), high polling rate (1000 Hz), lightweight body, additional programmable buttons, RGB lighting. Often wired for minimal latency.
Ergonomic
Vertical: The body is positioned perpendicular to the desk, with the hand in a more natural “handshake” posture. Reduces strain on the wrist.
For a specific hand: Designed for right or left hands, considering palm anatomy.
Portable
Characteristics: Compact size, often with a foldable design or detachable cable. Designed for use with a laptop on the go.
Creative / For Design
Characteristics: High-precision sensors, often feature additional scroll wheels (e.g., for zooming) and buttons optimized for software like Photoshop or CAD.
Inductive
Characteristics: Work only on a special mousepad-tablet, which also acts as a charging station. They are completely wire-free and never run out of charge while on the pad. An example is the Apple Magic Mouse lineup.
4. By Design Features
Touchpad-like
Characteristics: Use a touch-sensitive surface instead of physical buttons and a wheel, recognizing gestures (e.g., Apple Magic Mouse).
Transformers
Characteristics: Can change shape or be disassembled for easy portability.
Top Computer Mouse Manufacturers
Logitech: MX Series, G Series, Pebble
Razer: DeathAdder, Viper, Basilisk, Naga (для ММО)