If you are following the gaming mice “meta”, you will find that there is a race between the companies to make the lightest mouse possible. But in the past, things were a bit different. There was a consensus that heavy mice are better. My brother is using the Razer Taipan and he has weights inside the mouse to make it heavier. But now, fast forward a few years, everyone is talking about light mice. So, the question is, should you get a light mouse as well?
Heavy Gaming Mouse - Pros And Cons
Heavy gaming mouse, is a mouse that weighs above 100 grams. Logitech G502 for example. This mouse weighs 121 grams without any weights and is one of the best and most popular heavy gaming mouse.
Let’s check out the pros and cons of a heavy gaming mouse.
Pros
- More Stable – Because the gaming mouse is heavier, it is more stable, and it is easier to keep on track on high sensitivities. As I said in my Best Sensitivity For FPS Games article, high sensitivity is less stable and is prone to little micro twitches that can mess with your aim. A heavy mouse combats just that.
- Larger Size – Heavier gaming mice usually come in larger sizes. So if you have big hands, you might want to test some heavier mice as it can be more comfortable, which is the biggest factor here.
Cons
- Fatigue – This is the biggest con, heavy mice have. This is especially true when playing on low sensitivity. Playing on a low sensitivity means that you have to move longer distances, occasionally lift your mouse, and as a result, your arm is getting fatigued. Anyone with a heavy mouse and low sensitivity can relate. Long gaming sessions are tiring for your arm.
- Harder To Flick-Shot And Build Momentum – Heavier mice are harder to move. Therefore, there are different types of shots and flicks that will be harder to do. Frequent target switching is harder than on a light mouse.
As you can see, the general consensus here is that heavy gaming mice are more suitable for high sensitivity players as it helps with stabilization of the mouse and you won’t feel the biggest con of heavy mice, which is fatigue due to the high sensitivity.
Light Gaming Mouse - Pros And Cons
Light gaming mouse, is a mouse that weighs below 80 grams. Logitech G Pro X Superlight for example. This mouse weighs 63 grams and is one of the best and most popular light gaming mouse.
Let’s check out the pros and cons of a light gaming mouse.
Pros
- Easier On Your Arm – Because it takes less force to lift and move, the mouse around, your arm fatigues less quickly. Therefore, your gaming sessions can be way longer, and you will play optimally throughout the session.
- Target Switching And Momentum – The lightness of the mouse, affects your speed and agility, and as a result, you can flick and target switch faster and more precisely. If you want to flick from head to head in Call Of Duty, then a light mouse is perfect for you.
- Better Reactivity – I always say, that your gaming mouse should be an extension of your hand. You should not grip it too tightly. It should be like a feather. It should be a part of you. And light gaming mice do exactly that. They are just easier to control and move around.
Cons
- Less Stable – They move around faster than on heavy gaming mice. And because most of the people used to play on heavy mouse, light mouse will be too fast and smooth for them. Which can result in aim inconsistencies and reduction in mouse control.
- Sometimes Can Feel Cheap – If you take a look for a light gaming mouse today, you will find a bunch of gaming mice full of meme holes that look and feel cheap. I’ve used some of these, and I never liked them. But, this can be easily solved by just buying the right gaming mice who I will recommend in the end.
As you can see, the general consensus here is that light gaming mice are more suitable for low sensitivity players as it is easier on your arm and you won’t be fatigued as easily. Plus, your mouse control and momentum will benefit because moving the mouse will be easier and smoother.
Pro Players Opinion
I’ve analyzed 25 esports players including: TenZ, S1mple, Scream, Niko, Twsitzz, Sinatraa, and Seagull. And to make everything fair, I made sure to include pro players with high sensitivity as well. And here are the results:
- Lightweight Gaming Mouse (50-80) – 18
- In Between (81-99) – 5
- Heavy Gaming Mouse (100-150) – 2
As you can see, there is a clear trend here. Light gaming mice are more favorable to pro players as 72% of the pro players I’ve analyzed use lightweight gaming mice And another 20% use an in-between weight. Only 8% of the pro players I’ve analyzed use a heavy gaming mouse. Of course, this is a very tiny pool of players (only 25), but you can clearly see the trend here. And I agree. From my experience, I found that lightweight gaming mice feel better. This is clearly only an opinion, but after switching from about 110 grams mouse to 80, I’ve felt a relief. It felt like I was playing with a new arm. And I got used to it within a few days.
What was interesting to me, is that even “wrsit aimers” (Wrist Aiming Vs Arm Aiming), were playing with lightweight gaming mice. Even players with high sensitivities prefer to play with light gaming mice.
Heavy Vs Light?
Generally, I would say light gaming mice are better. They are easier on your arm and allow for longer gaming sessions. They increase your momentum and reactivity skills. they can feel less stable, but after getting used to them and playing on a low sensitivity, this issue is non-existent.
If you are playing on a high sensitivity (I recommend low sensitivity though), then heavier gaming mice may be better for you. It will be more stable for the little micro-movements and micro-twitches, and the fatigue problem will be less apparent as you barely move around the mouse. But, as I said before, most of the pro players with high sensitivities still prefer lightweight gaming mice, so make sure you test both and see what works best for you.
If you are using low sensitivity with a heavy gaming mouse and you like it, then do not change it. The number one thing you should care about is comfort.
Comfort Is Number One Priority
At the end of the day, there are pro players who play with a heavy gaming mouse and manage to get to the top, and there are pro players who play with extremely lightweight mice. It all comes down to comfort and preferences. If you used both, and took the time to actually get used to the heavy / light mouse and you still prefer one on the other. Then 100% use it. It’s like meta. There are so many weapons which are better than others. But if you like and prefer some of the non-meta weapons, you will probably perform better on these. So comfort is a big factor here.
But, if you’ve never tried a light gaming mouse, then you should try one. As I said, objectively, they are better. And you might really like it and you might find that your old mouse weight was a handicap for your performance. If you have used a heavy gaming mouse for all these years, I recommend starting with Logitech G Pro.
Logitech G Pro, is one of the most used (if not the most used) gaming mouse by the pro players. It weighs around 80 grams and is perfect for anyone who transitions from a heavy gaming mouse or even a very, very light weight mouse to a heavier one. I, my self use this one, and I talk from experience, that this is hands down the best mouse I have ever had. Check it out here: Logitech G Pro.
If you want a very lightweight gaming mouse to enjoy all its benefits, then make sure to check out the best light gaming mouse on the market. Logitech G Pro X Superlight. It weighs 63 grams. It is suitable for any grip type, and is just perfect for anyone who wants to jump on the light gaming mice bandwagon. Check it out here: Logitech G Pro X Superlight.
Conclusion
To summarize, the general consensus here is that light gaming mice are better for FPS games. Your mouse control and momentum will benefit to a great extent because moving the mouse will be easier and smoother. Plus, your arm won’t be fatigued as easily while playing on a low sensitivity.
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