We have compared almost every kind of gaming gear and office gear up until now. One of the few which has not been mentioned is the mouse pad, which doesn’t seem to be as important as others. Right? After all, it only does one thing: provide a place for you to use your mouse on and maybe support your wrist. This all seems very trivial and it doesn’t seem relevant to your gaming experience.
Well, let’s talk about it, because many people disregard just how important a gaming mouse pad can be. You would be surprised at the difference they can make, especially the size of the gaming mouse itself! If you’ve ever played an FPS game and flicked your favorite gaming mouse across your regular mouse pad only to lose accuracy and precision, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
Pros and Cons of Gaming Mouse Pads
Pros
Gaming mouse pads tend to be larger for a really good reason. This is mainly because their purpose is to accommodate all kinds of gamers, which includes those who play FPS shooters, MOBA and Action games mostly (but not limited too). These categories are the ones that need a lot of mouse movement, so they provide you with a larger surface to make quick movements on. If you have a large table then this works especially well, as you can get pads that can cover it entirely. If you choose a mouse pad like that then even your keyboard will stay in the same place. No annoying sliding!
Besides this, gaming mousepads are also made of a harder material than regular ones. Or at least the very least they have a thin coating on top. Because of this, your mouse is able to slide better with more precision and accuracy. There’s less friction and the pad is much less likely to wrinkle up while you perform sudden moves. If you regularly have a problem with the latter then you should definitely consider getting a gaming mouse pad. There’s also a good chance that you would benefit from a harder and slicker surface besides just getting rid of an annoyance.
Another thing that you should consider is the visual aspect of them, everyone loves some good aesthetics right? Gaming mouse pads usually have the brand’s name printed on it or a game’s splash art. These can look astonishing, especially if you are into a very specific game. In that case, you can even get your favorite picture of it printed on your mouse pad. Overall you’ll find that gaming mouse pads are both stylish and worth the money for its precise accuracy in understanding where your mouse sensor actually is, giving the best feedback possible for your gaming experience.
Cons
Like every good, there is also bad. Everything has faults and so do gaming mouse pads.
The first problem is that you can’t transport them as well as regular mouse pads (depending on which one you end up getting). They are able to hold their shape much better and will take up a ton of space if you plan on taking them with you. Or if you manage to do so, then you will end up with a part of it basically destroyed, as the hard material giving it structure will fall apart. There are some gaming mouse pads that are actually a solid slab of plastic or material that is not malleable or foldable in any way. This makes it very difficult for transporting when going from your home setup to a competitive LAN set up (if you’re a competitive esports player).
Secondly, they can get pretty expensive if you want something of good quality like anything of high quality. Some manufacturers also jack up the price just because of the “gaming” part of the game. Unfortunately, many people believe that this equates with quality and continue on buying not-so-good mouse pads. That’s marketing for you!
Pros and Cons of Regular Mouse Pads
Pros
The best part about regular mouse pads is that they bend really well and take up very little space. Therefore, if you plan on traveling but still want to play you absolutely need to invest in one. They can easily fit in a suitcase and will have no problem being folded for several hours or even days. Their quality will not deteriorate for these simple reasons.
Another factor you need to consider is the lack of plastic and hard materials. Not only does this make the pad have more bend, it also makes it breathable. Why does hat matter? Think of those scorching summer months. The times when you can barely even stay beside your PC because it’s emitting too much heat. Now try to imagine what it would be like to play on a surface that absolutely traps every bit of your sweat and body heat right against your skin. Not only is this very uncomfortable, but it can also make your gaming experience and performance much worse.
And of course, it’s more professional looking. There are no bright colors or pictures that would draw people’s attention. No brand names either. Most regular mousepads are plain black, the rest is just a solid color. Either way, they are not made to be fancy or to show off. They are simple, elegant and best if you don’t want to pay extra for the visuals.
Cons
Unfortunately, there is one crucial thing that might break the whole idea of regular mouse pads for you. There is no way in hell that you will be able to use it on an otherwise soft surface. They are great on a desk or on the floor, but nothing else. You can’t play in your bed or on the couch. It will simply wrinkle up and your mouse won’t be able to move fast or accurately enough. And the precision of regular mouse pads do not produce the best accuracy when it comes to playing your favorite games. You won’t be able to build and aim as accurate as you’d like in Fortnite without a great addition of a gaming mouse pad, regular mouse pads just won’t do the trick!
Gaming Mouse Pads are Better for Having the Best Gaming Experience
Some people prefer gaming mouse pads, others prefer regular ones (says no gamer). There are even people who don’t like to use any kind of mouse pad at all. This is entirely up to you and your own taste, but to find what’s best for your experimentation is absolutely needed. Without trying every option you won’t be able to make the right choice. We highly recommend each option, because they all have their benefits and downsides as well. We hope we were able to provide you with enough information on the matter and that now you will be able to make the right choice.
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