Introduction
I’d always heard my gamer friends tout the peak performance they got after using gaming mice and keyboards. So, I decided to give myself a chance to feel the difference. Looking at all the brilliantly lit gaming keyboards and gaming mice, it’s easy to get caught up in the style points. Sure, they looked cool, but would any of them make a difference to my game, or would I just be wasting my money? I put together this article so you won’t face the same situation I was in when I was looking to upgrade my setup.
So is a gaming mouse and keyboard worth it?
A gaming keyboard and mouse can let you level up your game by offering loads of features. You can feel the difference in terms of added comfort and improved performance with the first use. Plus, you don’t need to splurge out on high-end peripherals to have this experience. Most budget devices give you the same pro-gamer feel.
Here’s why gaming keyboards are worth the money:
- You get more key rollover and less ghosting since you can press several keys at the same time.
- They’re more durable because they tolerate the physical blows that come with the excitement of playing games.
- With customizable macros, you can bind a key to activate several skills with a single tap.
- They have backlighting with both aesthetic and functional potentials. RGB keyboards allow you to assign colors to each switch and reaction.
- The higher DPI (dots per inch) and polling rate give you extra sensitivity and let you react faster.
- They have additional buttons that you can customize.
- They’re more comfortable because you don’t need to move your hands too much.
While these added features can translate into higher prices, you don’t have to have them all. You can decide which ones you need more and get a budget mouse or keyboard. For example, depending on the game, you may need added sensitivity and responsiveness with high DPI.
This article is for anyone who enjoys PC gaming, especially if you’re considering getting a gaming mouse or keyboard. We’ll help you figure out whether you need a gaming kit for your PC and which mice and keyboards are the best. Whether you play Overwatch or Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, we’ve got you covered.
Table of Contents:
- Logitech Mouse Example
- Corsair Gaming Keyboard Example
- Pros and Cons of Gaming Keyboard
- Pros and Cons of Gaming Mice
- What to Look For In Each One
- Final Thoughts
Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
One of the top gaming mice on the market is Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse. It’s a hybrid that comes with wireless and corded capabilities. However, if you have a Logitech charging pad and connect it to a USB port, it will never run out of power. It keeps charging while you use it.
It has customizable weight adjustments that allow you to choose the perfect weight for more comfort and balance. However, if you use the mouse pad, you can’t use two of the adjustable weights.
With 11 personalizable buttons, it can eliminate the need for a mechanical keyboard. It’s one of Logitech’s most ergonomic designs with a professional look created by the matt black color. The rubberized grips on the scroll wheel give it a comfortable feel that allows you to switch between notched, clicky, and smooth scrolling.
Its biggest disadvantage is probably the price, which you can ignore if you want a long-term investment in your gaming peripherals.
The price could be worth it, given all the customization and high-end technology it offers. You can customize the buttons, reprogram the RGB, and change the DPI sensitivity through Logitech G Hub software.
Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
When choosing the best gaming keyboard, you can’t ignore the Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Its robust aluminum frame ensures high durability that can last for years and justify the price. It guarantees an impressive 150 million keystrokes with keypresses that register four times faster than regular gaming keyboards.
It’s Corsair’s first optical keyboard with an iCue control wheel located in the top left corner. Optical mice increase actuation speed using light technology. You can customize the control wheel to do various tasks, such as skipping music tracks, zooming, adjusting light levels, or scrolling.
The full RGB color comes with a variety of patterns, including wavy and rippling. The optical-mechanical switches have a 1mm actuation point, 45g actuation force, and bottom out at 3.2mm. These features make them highly comfortable yet sensitive for typing. Although you can access many of the functions and effects without installing Corsair’s iCue software, you’ll have much more options if you do.
A downside of this keyboard is installing two different software packages to get the most out of it. The keyboard has six macro keys on the left bottom, which need Elgato Stream Deck software to work best.
All in all, this keyboard has a lot to offer, making your gaming experience pleasant with its loads of features.
Advantages of Gaming Keyboards
A gaming keyboard can massively improve your game performance since it allows for backlighting specific keys. It makes it easier to play faster in different lighting settings.
You can also create your own sets of macros to personalize which keys correspond to which functions. For example, these programmable keyboards come in handy when you play MOBA games. These games require you to remember game-specific hot-keys or press different sequences, but with a gaming keyboard, you can set the keys to perform in your desired order.
Instead of membrane switches with heavy keypress and poor key rollover, gaming keyboards have mechanical switches. You’ll get better performance with the faster response time and N-key rollover, which lets you press different keys at the same time accurately and in the right order.
Mechanical keyboards are more stable because they’re heavier with all the components they contain. Plus, they tend to be more durable since they’re made of higher-quality and more expensive materials. You can get worked up while playing, so you need a robust keyboard.
Unlike standard keyboards, gaming keyboards are modular. So you don’t have to replace the entire device if there’s a problem. They’re also easier to clean since you can remove the keys and give the base a thorough cleaning. Plus, you can replace your switches to match your needs. They give you a level of versatility that regular keyboards simply can’t provide.
These keyboards have shorter actuation points, so they don’t tire your fingers. They also have a shorter actuation distance, which means you don’t need to bottom out the switches to register the tap.
The wider space between the keys reduces the chance of hitting the wrong keys. This feature, along with wrist rests, makes the gaming experience more comfortable by reducing wrist strain.
And as a bonus, you can use your gaming keyboard for other purposes. Its backlight and other cool features can give you a better experience with your regular computing activities.
Any Disadvantages to Gaming Keyboards?
With extra features come extra costs. Mechanical keyboards are usually more expensive than regular ones. Plus, mechanical keyboards can be louder than regular ones. The switches determine the levels of sound.
Finally, mechanical keyboards are heavier than their regular counterparts to avoid slips and movements. However, they can be challenging to carry around if you need to do so.
What To Look for When Buying a Gaming Keyboard
There are several things to consider before you splash out on new gear. You’ll want to consider things like size, backlighting, and more. But first, you need to think about the budget.
Budget
Even the lowest budget gaming keyboard needs robust construction and durability. Instead of backlighting and macro keys, look for performance features like 6-rollover and 10+ million keystrokes.
Size
Most gamers prefer to keep a full-size keyboard, but you can opt for a tenkeyless instead. Tenkeyless keyboards have no number pad, which allows for a smaller desk, but will cause problems if you use alt codes.
Backlighting
You’ll also need to consider macro capabilities and whether you can backlight individual keys. Backlighting could be single-color or full RGB with 16.8 million colors. If you play MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, you’ll need plenty of customization options for your keys, such as multiple sets of macros. That’s also useful if you play several different games.
You may want to opt for a single-color backlight, which can adjust brightness. An RGB backlight lets you customize every key, and some models offer other effects such as waves and color-shift.
If you want to have a full setup with the same colors on all devices, a single-colored keyboard is a way to go. If you prefer diversity, a full RGB is a better choice.
Having synced illumination accessories is both visually appealing and helpful in improving your experience. You can use applications such as GameSense that allow for reactive lighting in different games, including DotA 2 and CS:GO. You could also track cooldowns by setting lighting alerts.
Advantages of Gaming Mice
The first thing you notice when using a gaming mouse is the increased DPI (dots per inch), also known as resolution.
To get a bit technical, DPI depends on the screen size. The larger the screen, the higher DPI you’ll need. It determines the distance the pointer moves on the screen with every mouse movement. So, higher DPI means more sensitivity.
In gaming, higher DPI means the mouse can pick up the smallest movements, giving the player more control over the game environment.
The DPI on gaming mice can be three times higher than regular mice. Plus, you can lower or raise DPI by pressing a specific button on the mouse. This way, you can adjust the sensitivity to the particular game you’re playing and your screen size.
Gaming mice have more buttons.
For example, the Logitech G600 has 20 buttons on different sides. You can map these buttons, making more inputs with minimal hand movements.
With these extra buttons, you don’t need to move your hand to press other keys, and you can stay in the resting position longer. It means higher comfort and less strain on your hands.
Since these buttons are customizable, you can change their functions the way you want. More key binds help you improve your gaming performance by giving you different bindings. Depending on the manufacturer, you’ll get different sets of bindings provided by the software. Some software gives one set of bindings for all the programs, while others give each program different bindings.
However, the number of buttons depends on the game you play. For example, FPS gamers don’t need as many buttons as RTS gamers do. While the former needs more accuracy and quicker tracking, the latter can use extra buttons that take various macros.
Gaming mice have higher polling rates. Polling rate refers to the frequency at which the mouse reports its movement or position to the computer. For example, a mouse with 500 Hz polling reports its movement to the computer 500 times in the span of a single second! A higher polling rate creates more responsive controls for you because your computer can detect even the most subtle movements.
Any Disadvantages of Gaming Mice?
Generally speaking, getting a gaming mouse can be a wise investment with all the thrilling benefits it brings. However, it can be a bit costly, depending on the mouse you get. The best gaming mice can cost over 100 dollars. But you don’t need to pay that much if you’re not a pro gamer. You could find lots of decent gaming mice at more reasonable prices.
Another downside of gaming mice is the high number of buttons on the mouse, which can distract you. But once you get the hang of them, you’ll wonder how you lived without them.
What To Look for When Buying a Gaming Mouse
Like keyboards, you should consider different factors when choosing the right gaming mouse. Choosing the best gaming mouse can be tougher than the keyboard since there are variations in personal preferences, hand sizes, and grip styles.
Comfort
One of the most crucial things to consider is comfort. A poor gaming mouse can hurt your wrist and hands and leave them with permanent problems. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition among gamers. So, while you may be confused by the overwhelmingly diverse shapes, go for one that feels comfortable in your hands with an ergonomic design.
Weight and size are also important factors that affect the mouse’s comfort. Even non-gamers opt for gaming mice due to better comfort and their ergonomic design. Since gamers use their mice a lot, they need robust devices made of premium materials. Plus, some materials can get slippery in sweaty hands. They need materials that are easy to clean and don’t build up dirt.
Optical vs. Laser
Sensor-wise, mice come in two different types: optical and laser. Laser sensors have more accurate tracking capabilities, but you can’t use them on any surface. Smooth and hard surfaces are optimal for them. Optical sensors go with different surfaces and provide suitable tracking capabilities for gaming. However, they can lose their performance if there’s dust on the surface.
Wireless vs. Corded
You may also need to choose between a wireless and corded mouse. Since the input signal in wireless mice goes over wireless, it may have more lag. The risk with wireless mice is running out of charge or dead batteries in the middle of the game. You could also go for a hybrid.
Lighting
Aesthetics and lights are also important for some people, especially if you have a gaming keyboard with backlights. In this case, you may want to have matching lights for a more pleasing look.
Should I Buy a Mouse or a Keyboard?
If you’re not low on budget, getting both a gaming mouse and a keyboard will massively help with your journey to becoming a pro gamer. However, if you have to choose between the two, base your decision on the games you play.
Some games, such as FPS, where the aim is more important, are all about mice. And you definitely need a gaming mouse for a competitive game. On the other hand, programmable keys will come in handy for playing games such as MMO or RPG.
More often than not, you could make up for a gaming keyboard by getting a programmable mouse. It gives you more precision and sensitivity with a higher DPI. However, it all boils down to your preferences and gaming style.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of getting a gaming mouse or keyboard, I highly recommend it. A gaming mouse and keyboard can be worth it if you do frequent, serious gaming. Even if you’re not a pro-gamer, you can benefit from cheaper gaming peripherals because of the comfort and high performance they offer.
If you have to choose between a gaming keyboard and a gaming mouse, the latter is a better option. While you can get a better one with a lower budget, it gives you similar functions, such as customizable buttons and ergonomic design.