Wired vs wireless gaming mouse: which pointer should you choose?

wired and wireless gaming mice
(Image credit: Future)

So your old pointer's looking a little ragged and it's time to upgrade, but do you go for a wired or a wireless gaming mouse? It's important to say first up that one design is certainly no better than the other - our roundup of the best gaming mouse models features plenty on both sides of the fence. However, the decision of a wired vs wireless gaming mouse does come down to how you plan on using your pointer. 

Back when these accessories were in their infancy, there were far more features distinguishing the two designs - a wired mouse was quicker and far more reliable than that early wireless connection, for example. However, today's 2.4GHz wireless connections have very little bearing on the speed of your response, unless you're looking at particularly small numbers that may only make the slightest of differences in the world's most competitive leagues. 

Still, everyday players won't notice any difference in response times or latency, whether they opt for the cheapest or the best wireless gaming mouse on the market. So, to help you work out what does separate a wireless and a wired gaming mouse today, we're rounding up all their key differences, as well as who should buy which right here. 

TL;DR: Wired vs wireless gaming mice compared

Wired gaming mouse

  • Often cheaper
  • Can be ever so slightly faster
  • No extra weight from batteries
  • No need to charge

Wireless gaming mouse

  • No cable dragging
  • Tidier aesthetic 
  • More portable 
  • More freedom of movement

Wired vs wireless gaming mice: what's the difference?

The wired vs wireless gaming mouse debate today stands as a point of preference. Now that concerns around reliability and response times have largely been left in the past for everyday players, there's really very little separating these two connection options from a performance standpoint. 

Of course, cutting the cord means you're getting a clutter-free setup which is sometimes the main draw when choosing the right device for you and certainly can't be understated. However, there are some differences in the way wired and wireless gaming mice perform as well. 

Dropping the cable on your pointer means you'll be moving just a little more freely with a wireless mouse. There's no drag, no chance of snagging your cable, and no resistance during larger sweeping motions when there's nothing tying you down. Many wired mice these days offer up drag-free cables to keep your movements as smooth as possible (the Corsair M65 RGB Ultra offers up a particularly smooth cable), and you can also pick up a mouse bungee to keep your wires off the desktop as well. These are additional extras that you don't need to think about with a wireless model, though. 

Corsair M65 RGB Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

There are some sacrifices to be made when going fully wireless - and many come from the battery sitting under your hand. Not only will that battery need to be charged, something you won't need to think about with a wired version, but it will also add extra weight to your mouse as well. While your sweep might be a little freer, then, it's going to be a little heavier as well. If you're playing super-fast fps titles and rely on twitch reflexes and minute movements, this may become a problem. It should be noted that there are plenty of ultralight wireless options out there, like the Razer Viper Ultimate - but they do carry a premium.

A wired mouse, on the flip side, has room to be featherlight - with some, like the Cooler Master MM710, coming in at just 52g - and won't stutter in its performance when running out of juice.

Who should buy a wired gaming mouse?

Razer Basilisk V3 gaming mouse

(Image credit: Razer)

A wired gaming mouse wins this debate if you're not fussed about keeping a minimalist setup and want the best bang for buck value possible. While you're sacrificing a little flexibility, you're making up for it with a lower price tag and a lighter form factor overall. 

We'd recommend choosing a wired gaming mouse over a wireless one if you: 

  • Aren't concerned about a cable-free desktop 
  • Don't want to spend more than you need to 
  • Play faster FPS or action titles regularly 
  • Play competitively 
  • Don't want to worry about charging

Who should buy a wireless gaming mouse? 

Roccat wireless gaming mouse

(Image credit: Roccat)

Grabbing a wireless connection on your gaming mouse is very much a nice to have at this stage. Any differences in response times are negligible, and if you're not concerned about adding a little heft under your hand, a wireless pointer can certainly clean up a desktop and add extra flexibility to both your play and travel. 

We'd recommend aiming for a wireless gaming mouse if you:

  • Want a cable-free setup
  • Travel frequently with your gaming mouse 
  • Need absolute freedom of movement 
  • Don't mind charging

Once you've made that all-important connection decision, it's time to scout out some pointers. We're rounding up all the best Razer mouse options on the market, with a whole guide to the world of left-handed gaming mice as well. Or, for a full setup refresh, take a look at the best gaming keyboards on the market right now. 

Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at 12DOVE, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector. 

Read more
Razer Viper V3 Pro gaming mouse on a wooden table
The best wireless gaming mouse 2025
Logitech G 502 X Plus
The best Logitech gaming mouse 2025
Best left-handed gaming mouse
The best left-handed gaming mouse in 2025
Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse in black on a wooden desk
Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse review: “gets so much right with a few wrong turns”
Asus ROG Azoth keyboard
The best wireless gaming keyboard in 2025
Corsair MM700 RGB Extended mouse pad on a desk with Asus gaming keyboard and Razer mouse
The best mouse pad for gaming in 2024 - the top desk mats
Latest in Gaming Mice
Logitech PowerPlay 2 mouse pad graphic with mouse hovering over the top of a setup
Logitech just refreshed its wireless charging gaming mouse pad, and it might finally be cheap enough to be worthwhile
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX gaming mouse standing upright on a wooden desk
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX review: "a force to be reckoned with"
NZXT Lift Elite Wireless gaming mouse on a standing upright on a wooden gaming desk with purple lighting
NZXT Lift Elite Wireless review: "a fantastic option for those steering clear of luxury prices"
Razer Viper V3 Pro Faker Edition on a black background
Razer has teamed up with Faker for its latest Viper V3 Pro special edition
Back of Turtle Beach Kone II Air gaming mouse with RGB on and logo visible
This $50 gaming mouse is one of the most comfortable I've tested so far, and it's at a record-low price
Latest in Features
Key art for Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered showing Shay Patrick Cormac in a black and red outfit that's a cross between Assassin and Templar armor, with his ship The Morrigan behind him
Assassin's Creed Shadows can wait – I spent 40 hours mopping up the map in the one game in the series everyone skipped
Avowed screenshot showing a corpse-like figure's face with glowing purple mushroom/spore growths
I thought I was going evil in Avowed, but one quest changed everything I thought I knew about morality in this RPG
Yakuza 0
10 years on, Yakuza 0 is still one of the strongest entry points to a franchise ever made
The Witcher 3 screenshot of Geralt
Avowed and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 tap into the same thing that makes The Witcher 3 so compelling – and it's something I'm always looking for in RPGs
Marvel Rivals Spider-Man
Spider-Man has become every Marvel Rivals player's worst nightmare
The Iron Mask
The 32 greatest swashbuckler movies ever made