Many people don’t know this, but there are different mouse types, and each one has qualities that make it better for one function or another. In this article, we will tell you a little about the heavy mouse and the light mouse, the characteristics of each one, and finally which is the best.
Heavy Mouse VS Light Mouse
Before getting into the specifics of each type of mouse, you must know the basic definition. A mouse is an external device usually linked to other primary devices, such as PCs or laptops. Mouse types are those mouses that gather all classes of this type of peripheral.
What Is a Mouse?
Depending on the type of mouse, it will have a series of specific characteristics. Some of the factors that determine what kind or type of mouse we are dealing with are:
This first factor is connectivity, and it is based on whether the way the mouse is connected is wireless or based on a wired connection. The second factor is the design; the mouse can be designed for a particular task. There are mouses oriented to the world of gaming or video games, to left-handed people, or to specific professions. An example would be the case of ergonomics, who seek comfort in office professions. The third and last factor is technology, and it is the most relevant since it is the one that has evolved the most over the years. It is about the way the mouse works and, therefore, the type of technology to display the tracing that the user makes. Examples are optical, laser, mechanical, or tactile mouse.
Types of Mouse:
Apart from these characteristics of design, technology, and connectivity already mentioned, there are two major mouse types: light and heavy. Next, I will describe the qualities of each one, so that you know which is the one that best suits your needs. I will show you the main advantages of the two (usability, mobility, and comfort) and the disadvantages of each.
Usability, Mobility, and Comfort
Regarding mobility, keep in mind that the lighter your mouse is, the faster your movements will be. However, this is not always a good thing. In some cases, especially in video games, you have to be very precise. If your mouse moves quickly, even with the slightest push, it may not be ideal for you.
With a heavy mouse, you can be much more precise, although it may not be comfortable for other types of games. Keep in mind that you have to make a more tremendous effort, and if you only play for an hour, nothing happens, but with the passing of the hours, the hand will begin to tire, and you may even have a cramp.
If you are playing a game like MMO or MOBA (For example, League of Legends), the weight doesn’t really matter, so you can use any type of mouse. With that being said, for these types of games, it is better to have a mouse with many buttons to assign your skills, which would make your mouse heavier.
If you need to use the mouse for work, you should base your decision on how precise you have to be. If you work on video editing, a light mouse will help you move things around more accessible and faster. Still, if you have to be extremely precise, you might want to choose a heavier one that gives you stability.
So basically, with a light mouse, you will be able to move it faster and more accessible, and you probably won’t have any cramps or hand-related pain. You will be more precise with a heavy mouse, but your hand is more likely to suffer.
Disadvantages of Each
On the heavy mouse side, the significant disadvantage is that it causes many problems with the joints and muscles of the hand.
It may seem like a lie, but playing or working long hours with a heavy mouse seriously damages your hand and can even cause severe damage such as a muscle tear or chronic joint pain.
This is because the hand is not used to moving a heavy mouse for an extended period. So don’t be surprised if, while using the heavy mouse, you have cramps or if you have a hard time closing your hand at the end of the day. It may give you better mobility or precision within a game. Still, without a doubt, if you use it for many hours, it will cause severe problems in your hand.
Now, not everything is rosy on a lightweight mouse, either. Statistically, it is more likely to make precision errors with this mouse, which can cause you to lose a game or even your work if you dedicate yourself to programming or editing content. One wrong move and you can make a grave mistake. The good thing is that your hand won’t hurt so much, and your body will certainly appreciate it. Still, if you choose it, you should pay close attention while you work or play to avoid making a mistake that could cost you a lot.
Heavy vs Light Mouse for Gaming: Does Weight Matter for Gaming?
It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur or a professional gamer; having a good mouse is essential to take advantage of each game and live the experience to the fullest.
Therefore, using a heavy mouse or a light one makes a difference since you will have a completely different experience with each one. Weight matters because each game has different types of objectives and forms of play. Therefore one type of mouse can’t work for all types of games that exist.
Heavy vs Light Mouse for MMO/MOBA
If you are playing a game like MMO or MOBA (For example, League of Legends), you can use any mouse.
With that being said, most professional gamers consider a lightweight mouse to be better for this type of game as it allows you to make quick and accurate movements and a certain sense of agility. Also, if you think it is very light, you can use a pad with more friction. The great advantage is that being so light, your hand will not fatigue, and you can play for hours without noticing it.
Other gamers continue to prefer the heavier mouse, although they do so because it is believed that they last longer. The truth is that this is a myth, both a light and a heavy mouse will last the same amount of time, although of course, if you buy it used or of poor quality, it does not matter what type of mouse it is may last little.
Heavy vs Light Mouse for FPS Games
When it comes to FPS games, each player’s experience is essential before evaluating whether one type of mouse is better than the other. However, I will tell you a little about each so that you can see which is the mouse that best suits your needs.
One would think that a heavy mouse is naturally better since it will give you more excellent stability, and you will have a better aim.
However, if you are already used to playing with a light mouse, the best thing you can do is continue using that one or practice with the heavy mouse before jumping into official games. This is because the most important thing is that muscle memory is generated in your hand, which will genuinely improve your aim.
Anyway, heavy mice are undoubtedly the best for FPS games, they will give you stability and comfort, and you will feel that you are in complete control of your movements, which will help your aim be better.
Heavy vs Light Mouse for General Purposes
If you need to use the mouse for work, you should base your decision on how precise you must be. If you work on video editing, a light mouse will help you move things around more accessible and faster, but if you have to be extremely precise, you might want to choose a heavier one that gives you stability.
So basically, with a light mouse, you will be able to move it faster and more accessible, and you probably won’t have any cramps or hand-related pain. You will be more precise with a heavy mouse, but your hand is more likely to suffer.
On the heavy mouse side, the significant disadvantage is that it causes many problems with the joints and muscles of the hand. It may seem like a lie, but playing or working long hours with a heavy mouse seriously damages your hand and can even cause severe damage such as a muscle tear or chronic joint pain.
This is because the hand is not used to moving a heavy mouse for an extended period. So don’t be surprised if, while using the heavy mouse, you have cramps or if you have a hard time closing your hand at the end of the day. It may give you better mobility or precision within a game, but without a doubt, if you use it for many hours, it will cause severe problems in your hand.
Now, not everything is perfect on a lightweight mouse, either. Statistically, it is more likely to make precision errors with this mouse, which can cause you to lose a game or even your work if you dedicate yourself to programming or editing content. One wrong move and you can make a grave mistake. The good thing is that your hand won’t hurt so much, and your body will certainly appreciate it, but if you choose it, you should pay close attention while you work or play so as not to make a mistake that could cost you a lot.
In Conclusion
You are the one who has the final decision, and this depends entirely on your tastes and different aspects of yourself. If you already have a hand health problem, such as arthritis, a heavy mouse can worsen your situation. And if you don’t have excellent motor control, a lightweight mouse won’t work for you.
If you still can’t decide on a light or heavy mouse after reading this, something that can help you is buying a hybrid mouse. Luckily, you can find some mouses that come with an extra weight kit, so you can remove or add more weight depending on the activity you are doing. In this way, if you are playing a game that requires exact precision, such as shooting, you can make your mouse heavier, and if you need it to work, you can remove weight and make it lighter.
