Computer Mouse Types: A Detailed Overview

A computer mouse is a small hand-held device we all use as an input device while working on a laptop or a PC. However, this little device comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Below is the lineup of the different types of computer mice available.

The different types of mice listed above all have different features. Even though they essentially are all input devices, some are better suited for certain tasks such as gaming or designing. At the same time, some computer mice provide a better user experience. Here is a helpful guide to learn everything about the different types of the computer mouse.

The Scroll Ball Mouse

The scroll ball mouse is one of the first mouse designs that we used. It is the one with a ball inside that rolls over the mousepad to detect the cursor movement. It is a simplistic design and this mouse is a wired mouse. The mouse cannot work on all surfaces and needs a mousepad for smooth operation. Usually, this type of mouse uses a rubber or metal ball.

The other problem with this mouse is that the ball collects a lot of dust during usage. And when this happens, the mouse movements are not very smooth. This is the reason that this type of mouse has been widely replaced by the more modern optical mouse and several other types of mouse. It is also called Mechanical Mouse.

Pros:

• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Collects dust easily
• Gets stuck occasionally
• Needs frequent cleaning
• Quick wear and tear

The Basic Wired Mouse

This is the mouse that we usually see. It is a traditional mouse with a wire that connects to the laptop or PC through a USB. Since it is wired, stable connectivity is not an issue. The mouse movement is highly accurate. It is fairly durable, too. The basic wired mouse is inexpensive and reliable. Since they run on a USB connection, there is no problem with the mouse running out of batteries. However, due to the cord, the operator needs to sit near the PC or laptop to use the mouse.

Pros:

• Good accuracy
• Low cost
• Reliable

Cons:

• Constrained movement due to attached cable

Wireless Mouse

A wireless mouse is more convenient compared to a wired mouse. There is more freedom of movement. Also, it can be operated from anywhere within the specified range. There are two types of wireless mice – the regular wireless mouse and the Bluetooth mouse.

The Basic Wireless Mouse

The basic wireless mouse runs on batteries. It is connected to the laptop or PC using a small USB dongle device. The mouse is convenient to use due to the absence of a cord. The mouse transmits radio signals to the receiver attached to your machine. This receiver is usually a small dongle connected via a USB to the laptop or the PC.

The receiver accepts the signals and the computer decodes how the cursor was moved and the mouse clicks. Since it is wireless, there is more freedom of movement. The range is also decent. The only issue is low responsiveness since sending and receiving signals is involved. This could be a problem if you are using the mouse for intensive gaming sessions. For other users, the lag is negligible.

Pros:

• Freedom of movement
• Convenient range
• Mousepad is not required

Cons:

• Low responsiveness
• Needs batteries

Bluetooth Mouse

A Bluetooth mouse looks similar to a basic wireless mouse. However, instead of using a USB dongle, it uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with the computer. Thus, the Bluetooth mouse can also connect with multiple devices at the same time. A Bluetooth mouse is more expensive than its USB counterpart.

The only precondition is that your computer should have Bluetooth connectivity. However, if your computer does not have an internal Bluetooth receiver, you can get an external USB receiver and plug it in.

Pros:

• No movement constraints
• No mousepad required
• Can connect with multiple devices

Cons:

• Needs batteries to operate
• Low accuracy for gaming
• More expensive

Optical Mouse

An optical mouse takes images as the mouse is moved and thus tracks the mouse movement. The optical mouse uses a red light or infrared light that is projected on the surface on which the mouse is

being used. The mouse movement is tracked when the light bounces off the surface and is read by a sensor. The light beam is converted into electric signals.

The optical mouse can capture 10,000 digital images per second. This means it operates at a high accuracy level. The movements are smooth. The mouse can work well on any surface including glass and wood. It does not need a mouse pad. An optical mouse comes in two variants – wired and wireless.

Pros:

• Good accuracy
• High responsiveness

Cons:

• The design is not ergonomic

Laser Mouse

A laser mouse is quite similar to the optical mouse both in looks and operation. However, there is one distinct difference. The laser mouse uses a laser beam that is not visible to the eye. So, when you lift an optical mouse, you can see the red light underneath. However, there is no visible light under a laser mouse.

The laser mouse, too, comes in both wired and wireless variants. It has more accuracy compared to an optical mouse. However, it can have a little higher cost, too.

Pros:

• Great accuracy
• Very responsive
• No light emission

Cons:

• The design is not ergonomic

Ergonomic Mouse

Ergonomic mice are designed especially to reduce the strain on hands during usage. Heavy mouse usage can lead to wrist injuries and Mouse Arm Syndrome. The ergonomic mouse allows the hand and arm to be at a more natural angle. It reduces the strain on the hand, the wrist, the arm, as well as the shoulders during continuous mouse use. Below are the different types of ergonomic mice.

Trackball Mouse

Remember the earlier mouse that would have a trackball in them? The little ball would glide on the mousepad and capture mouse movements. Even though we no longer use those mice, the new ergonomic mice use a trackball in a very modern-looking design.

The trackball is on the top instead of being at the bottom. The mouse is not moved during operation. Instead, as the trackball is moved with fingers, the cursor moves on the computer. Due to this, there is less strain on the hands while using the trackball mouse. Scrolling on this mouse is very convenient. It also has buttons on the top.

Pros:

• More freedom of movement
• Ergonomic design
• Can be used on any surface
• No space constraint
• Scrolling is easy

Cons:

• Unconventional design. Needs time to get used to
• Difficult to use for gaming
• People with small hands might find it difficult to use

Vertical Mouse

The vertical mouse is a type of ergonomic mouse designed for better comfort. As the name suggests, it has a vertical design instead of having a design that is flat on the surface it is being used upon. It enables the user to hold the mouse in a comfortable position and avoid stress. The angle is more like a handshake so that the wrist is in a more natural position. It causes less strain on the bones and muscles.

There are buttons on the mouse which can be accessed using the thumb. The grip engages the stronger muscles in the arm and takes the load off the weaker muscles. However, since the design is so different from the regular mouse, it takes some time to get used to it. This design might not be suitable for gaming. Also, the number of options available in the market are limited.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design
• No strain to the arm and wrist muscles
• Better grip

Cons:

• It takes some time to get used to the design
• Limited options available in the market
• Not suitable for gaming

Horizontal Ergonomic Mouse

The horizontal ergonomic mouse uses the traditional mouse design and gives it an ergonomic shape. It is also sometimes known as the Contour mouse. The mouse has the curves and angles at the right places to make it more user-friendly. This way, it fits better in the hand and reduces the strain. The shape is only slightly different than the regular mouse. Hence, getting used to the new design should not be a problem.

Pros:

• The design is similar to the regular mouse
• Easy to use
• Natural angles reduce stress to the muscles
• Lots of options are available in the market

Cons:

• The ergonomics are not as good as the vertical mouse
• Most models that provide good comfort are expensive
• Left-handed people might find some designs unsuitable for use

Roll Bar Mouse

A roll bar mouse is a very convenient mouse option that sits just below the keyboard. You can also think of it as an extension of your keyboard. If you need to use the mouse while typing at the keyboard. Due to the position of the mouse in relation to the keyboard, the arm movement to use the mouse is reduced. The inbuilt wrist rest that comes with the roll bar supports the hands while using the keyboard, too.

The roll bar mouse also has buttons on it for left and click and some other buttons, such as for copy-paste, that can make usage convenient. However, it slightly increases the distance of the keyboard from you. People with smaller arms might thus find it inconvenient to type on the keyboard if they use a roll bar mouse. This mouse is also not suitable for gaming.

Pros:

• Convenient, ergonomic design
• Many variants include shortcut buttons
• Comes with a wrist rest
• The mouse can be used by both the hands

Cons:

• Might take some time to get used to
• The distance to reach the keyboard increases
• The roll bar mouse is slower than the other mice

Touch Mouse

The touch mouse does not have buttons on it. Instead, it has a touch zone. This zone senses touch from one or several fingers to carry out the functions. The two prominent providers of Touch Mice are Apple and Microsoft.

Apple Magic Mouse

The Magic mouse developed by Apple has all the functions of a regular mouse and some more. It uses a unique technology that allows you to swipe and scroll by moving your hand across the surface of the mouse. This increases efficiency of the mouse during usage. It also is very convenient to use this mouse.

This mouse is compatible with Macbooks. However, even if you use a Windows PC, you can find drivers that let you use this mouse and bring in a bit of magic at your workstation.

Pros:

• Unique multitouch technology for scrolling
• Sleek, modern design

Cons:

• Cost is high

Microsoft Touch Mouse

This is a wireless mouse that comes with a dongle device. It is compatible with all Windows devices. This mouse, too, uses multi-touch technology. It can be scrolled up and down as well as from left to right. However, it is not very ideal for gaming. It has only one physical button on it. New users find it difficult to use due to the different design and functionality.

Pros:

• Understands several finger gestures
• Compact, sleek design

Cons:

• Difficult to use for new users
• Cost is high

Gaming Mouse

The gaming mouse has some more features than a regular mouse. They are designed to make the gaming experience much better compared to using a regular mouse. They have more buttons on them which can be programmed to suit gaming needs. Since intensive gaming requires a lot of mouse movement, the gaming mice usually have an ergonomic design to reduce the strain on the hands.

The gaming mice also have better accuracy and are very responsive. They have no lag making them ideal for gaming. They also come in interesting designs and colors with a shape that is more suited to the natural position of the palm and hand. Some models also have adjustable weight to suit different requirements. They also come with customizable drivers so that you can personalize the mouse. And of course, once you are done gaming, it can be used as a regular mouse.

Pros:

• Very responsive
• High accuracy
• Ergonomic design
• Mouse buttons can be personalized

Cons:

• Cost is high

Pen Mouse

The pen mouse or the stylus mouse is designed like a pen and has the functionality of a mouse. It is a great option to use in small spaces where using a regular mouse might be constraining. It is very portable and can be used anywhere. The design fits perfectly in the hand. It also has adjustable DPI to match the speed of operation. The pen has buttons on it for left and right clicks.

Many designs in the pen mouse are not ambidextrous. So, people with a dominant left hand can find it difficult to use these mice. However, there are some ambidextrous options available, too. The pen mice are usually wireless and run on batteries. They come with a dongle device that can be connected via USB.

Pros:

• Handy design
• Portable
• Good accuracy
• Adjustable DPI

Cons:

• All designs might not be suitable for left-handed people
• Not suitable for gaming

Track-point Mouse

Laptops come with a trackpad to move the cursor on the screen and also for clicking. However, some laptops also have small red or grey spherical buttons between the ‘G’, ‘H’, and ‘B’ keys. These are known as track points and are used to scroll up and down. So, the track-point mouse on the keyboard is a good alternative for those who have to type a lot and want the convenience to scroll during typing.

It reduces the strain on the wrists and the hands to reach out for a traditional mouse. It also lets you work without moving your hands away from the keyboard.

Pros:

• Convenient access

Cons:

• Not suitable for gaming
• Can cause strain on the fingers in case of heavy usage

Foot Mouse

You guessed it! The foot mouse is operated by using your foot instead of the hand. The mouse can be accessed by your foot as your hands remain on the keyboard. The concept might sound a little weird to those who have always been using the traditional mouse. However, when you come to think of it, it is a pretty efficient way to use a mouse! You don’t need to move your hand away from the keyboard at all.

Pros:

• Hands-free access to the mouse
• Convenient

Cons:

• Needs some time to get used to
• Accuracy might suffer because the foot is not as efficient as the hand

Blue Track Mouse

The blue track mouse is a specialty mouse developed by Microsoft. It uses a mechanism that combines image sensors and pixel geometry to detect movement of the mouse on different surfaces. The mouse works on a wide variety of surfaces. It can even work well on a carpet. The mouse also features a 4-way scroll. So the cursor can be moved not only from top to bottom but also from left to right.

Since the mouse is developed by Microsoft, it also has a very handy Windows button to access the Start Menu on a Windows computer. It is a wireless mouse with a compact and sleek design.

Pros:

• Convenient mouse for using with a Windows PC
• Compact design for portability
• Wireless

Cons:

• Design is not ergonomic

3-D Mouse

A 3-D mouse can detect movements and gestures in the virtual 3-D environment. It is also known as a Space Mouse. This type of mouse can be a great option for presentations. Thus type of mouse is very different from the regular mouse. It does not require a plain surface for operation. Below are the two types of 3-D Mice.

3-D Remote Mouse

This type of mouse can be pointed at a computer like a remote control. It is designed for movement in virtual 3D. They can use different sensors, accelerometers, and IR lights depending on the functions and features. A 3D mouse can also be used as a 2D pointing device.

It has different buttons on it just like a TV remote. These buttons can be used as shortcuts for different functions. Keyboard modifiers such as ‘Alt’, ‘Shift’, ‘Esc’, etc. are present as individual buttons on the mouse. It also has a circular surface in the middle that can be used as a trackpad for scrolling.

Pros:

• Do not cause strain to the hands

Cons:

• Not suitable for intensive use
• Difficult to use for new users

3-D Ring Mouse

This wearable mouse is worn like a ring around the user’s finger. It is designed to reduce the strain on the wrists while using the traditional mouse. It has sensors that can read gestures and perform functions. Typically, this mouse can be used for playing music, scrolling, sending emails, or even playing games.

Pros:

• Unique, wearable design

Cons:

• Not suitable for heavy usage

Trackpad

The trackpad is not always a separate device. It is often a part of the laptop keyboard. However, if you are using an external keyboard, it is possible to get an external trackpad to go with it.

A trackpad is a small rectangular pad present on laptops. It can track cursor movements as well as left and right clicks. The trackpad usually also can read certain gestures such as the number of fingers being used to perform different functions. However, these functions can vary from one laptop to the other.

Pros:

• Easy to use

Cons:

• It is vulnerable to wear and tear
• Might stop working smoothly with regular use
• Not very responsive after some time

Projection Mouse

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Just like a projection keyboard, a projection mouse is not a physical device, but rather a virtual projection. It uses a small projector to project the layout similar to a laptop’s trackpad with the left and right click buttons. It usually uses IR light for the projection. When the fingers move on the projected trackpad, the IR light beam is broken. This is used to read the movement and is converted to cursor movements and clicks on the computer screen.

This mouse can read scrolling gestures as well as clicks. Also, it can read gestures such as pinching to zoom and two-finger scrolling. It is a great alternative to the regular trackpad which can stop working smoothly after a while. It also eliminates the strain involved in using a physical mouse.

Pros:

• Very portable
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Can have low accuracy

Waterproof Mouse

Most mice are permanently damaged due to water ingress. However, there are some models that are waterproof. These mice can withstand even being submerged in water. And if you spill something on them, they can even be washed underwater.

The mouse is environmentally sealed. Usually, it uses silicon. This type of mouse can be used in places where there is a high chance of water spillage such as in clinics and hospitals, certain industries, marine applications, etc. Also, it is also good for regular use if you are a clumsy user and want to protect your mouse from occasional spills.

Pros:

• Washable body
• Good protection against liquids and dust

Cons:

• Cost is high

Tactile Mouse

First developed by Logitech under the name “iFeel Mouse”, this type of mouse uses an actuator. The actuator can create physical sensations during usage. This acts as a tactile feedback from the mouse. This is useful to notify users when a cursor crosses the boundary of a window or when an area is selected successfully. However, this technology was never effectively marketed.

Pros:

• Innovative technology
• Can be used by visually impaired

Cons:

• This type of mouse is not yet available in the market

Induction Mouse

An Induction Mouse is a wireless mouse that works on the principle of induction. However, they can work only on a special mat that is connected to the computer. The mouse cannot work without the mat. The mouse does not need batteries to operate. Instead, they take power from the mat. Also, the accuracy of this type of mouse is good. It will not work to take the mouse anywhere from the mat.

The induction mouse is not widely used. The main reason is that these mice are more expensive compared to other mice.

Pros:

• No batteries needed
• High accuracy

Cons:

• Cost is high

Conclusion

After going through this comprehensive list of different computer mice, the foremost question would be – which one is the best? There is no clear answer here. It all depends on preference, utility, and budget. However, one thing is quite clear. There are plenty of options for mice to choose from.

Just like a computer mouse, a computer keyboard also has various different types available. Check out the complete guide for types of keyboards.