The Concept of Optical Sensors in Gaming Mice!!

For a mouse, the Sensor is the core and heart of its main functionality. A sensor is responsible for the main movement tracking on the screen. For gamers and regular users, smooth tracking and pixel-precision accuracy can bring noticeable improvements in everyday usage experience. Back in the day, Mouse used to have Tracking balls underneath that provided us with cursor movement, They were referred to as Tracking Ball Mice. They used to be slow and were not exactly compatible with different surfaces and also had a short lifespan due to the tracking ball getting damaged with prolonged use. As the industry evolved, the bulky tracking ball mouse was replaced by the laser pointer sensor mouse. A bright laser light peeps out at the bottom of the mouse. They used to be faster and more accurate still the laser was too bright and not safe for everyday usage. Fast forward to today, when Laser Pointer Sensors have further evolved into Optical Sensors. These adopt an LED light source to illuminate the surface beneath the mouse and capture rapid images of it. A built-in processor further analyzes the images, detects the changes and brings us the cursor movement on the screen.

Today, Tracking ball mice are non-existent and Optical Sensors have taken all the limelight. It all has been for good reason as well as optical sensors are highly efficient in terms of performance, they have accurate tracking precision, smoother cursor movement, high-sensitivity support, etc. as their key features. But it’s not just about capturing the images and noticing the movement, it’s also about achieving accurate precision that demands high image processing power. It translates pixels into precise on-screen distances, This is referred to as DPI(Dots Per Inch). It basically means how many “dots” of pixels the sensor can detect per inch of the movement. Today, high-performance sensors have a maximum sensitivity of 26,000, 32,000 DPI, and even more, essentially providing full control over the mouse movement with pixel-perfect accuracy.

With the advancement in technologies, these new Optical Sensors will never let you lose your aim control. They have a working Lift-Off Distance, basically referring to the minimum height the sensor can “see” and notice your movements before stopping the tracking. The new-generation sensors have minimal lift-off distance, ensuring the cursor is always in control and you never lose your aim even after lifting off the mouse in excitement or awe during a game. High-performance sensors also have high tracking speed which is measured and denoted by IPS(Inches Per Second). It means how fast your mouse movement is presented on the screen. Imagine a fast-moving sequence in your game maybe like some FPS title or some TPS title, high IPS mouse will provide lag-free movement of your cursor across the screen while a low IPS mouse may provide you with a slow or laggy experience. Some flagship sensors today in the market have a maximum tracking speed of up to 650IPS. They offer a swift movement across a big screen with a high 4K resolution.

This is the basic information related to the Sensors. Now, we would like to talk about some of the widely used sensors in today’s market. If you check out the gaming mice catalog that we have on sale, You will notice that the PixArt PAW series is widely used in high-end gaming mice. The flagship PAW3395 is featured in most models and offers fantastic performance with amazing accuracy and great precision. Apart from that we also have many other models from Logitech, Razer, Roccat, Zowie, etc. These self-developed sensors are featured on their own products and have some amazing performance characteristics. Let’s know some models.

PixArt PAW3395:

PAW3395 is the most widely used optical sensor in today’s market. This is a flagship-grade sensor which you will find in high-end mice. PAW3395 provides a maximum sensitivity of 26000DPI and a maximum tracking speed of 650IPS. Its lift-off distance is also quite good, you won’t lose your aim control easily. You will find PAW3395 in latest devices including ZAOPIN Z1 Pro, DELUX M800 Pro, RAPOO VT9S, etc. For unmatched performance with great precision, tracking accuracy, and great efficiency, the PAW3395 is the best sensor in the market today!!

PixArt PAW3370:-

PAW3370 is the previous-gen flagship from PixArt. It offered a maximum tracking speed of 400 IPS and an excellent sensitivity of up to 32,000 DPI. This sensor was widely appreciated for its impressive tracking accuracy and high maximum sensitivity. This sensor was featured in many famous models including Razer Viper 8K, XTRFY MZ1W, etc. You can grab the Xtrfy MZ1W to experience the magic of PAW3370 first-handedly.

Logitech Hero 25K:

Logitech also developed some sensors to feature in its G series of gaming mice. The Hero 25K is the flagship-level sensor chipset that offers a maximum sensitivity of 25,600DPI and a tracking speed of up to 400 IPS. Hero 25K was featured in their famous models including G502 Hero, G Pro Wireless, etc. Logitech G Pro Wireless is the ultimate gaming mouse with an ultra-lightweight design. Users worldwide have appreciated its tracking smoothness and great performance. Have you tried the Logitech G502 Hero yourself?

Logitech Hero 12K:

A budget offering from Logitech, the Hero 12K offers smooth and accurate tracking with a maximum sensitivity of 12,000 DPI and tracking speed of up to 400IPS. Logitech featured the Hero 12K in its mid-range mice such as G305 Lightspeed, G403 Hero, etc. The G403 Hero has got some solid reviews for its smooth and accurate tracking.

Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor:-

Razer, the biggest gaming PC Peripheral brand in the world has developed many sensors for its exclusive range of gaming mice. Razer mice need no introduction among gamers, the DeathAdder V2 Pro, and the Viper Ultimate, are some great mice in the market that offer best-in-class performance. These mice come equipped with the Razer Focus+ optical sensor. They feature 99.6% resolution accuracy and many intelligent functions developed by Razer such as Smart Tracking, Asymmetric Cut-Off, etc. It has a maximum sensitivity of 30,000DPI and offers excellent smoothness in cursor tracking. Razer Focus+ is probably among the top sensors available in the market today!!

Final Words:-

When you search into the market of gaming mice, the first thing you will get to know is what sensor they use. It is really important to understand the sensor that is equipped on the mouse as it can make or break the complete performance of the mouse. With a fast, efficient, and accurate sensor, you will notice great improvements in cursor tracking, movement smoothness, and aim control. All these features make you a better gamer and also help you get a smoother usage experience in office setups. Well, this is it, we hope this guide solves any questions or queries you might have related to optical sensors in the mouse and helps you to understand the technology at hand in a better way. For any further assistance, questions, or queries, feel free to write to us at support@mechkeys.com. We would love to help you out.