The Best Mouse for Graphic Designers

As graphic designers, our primary focus is to create designs that will please our clients or ourselves, depending on the project we are working on. We need the best mouse out there to achieve that because this is an essential graphic design tool.

So, today, I will talk about the best mouse for graphic designers and what features you need, and later on, you can find a list of the five best mice for graphic designers.

Now, what is a massive distraction for a graphic designer? A graphic designer is distracted when his tech is not up to the mark. Most graphic designers tend to ignore the type of mouse they are using, making it challenging to get that perfect design.

But before we dive into the list of the five best mice for graphic designers, we need to know the qualities that make up an excellent mouse for graphic designers.

What Are The Features Of The Best Mouse For Graphic Designers?

Laser Mouse or Optical Mouse

The main difference between an optical and a laser mouse is the amount of dpi they track. An optical mouse will track within 500 to 800 dpi, which is okay for regular use where you do not need such fine tracking.

A laser mouse will track starting from 2000 dpi. This tracking dpi number for laser mice is high; your average consumers do not need such a high dpi tracking mouse.

But graphic designers need precise tracking to do their job in the best way possible. In my opinion, every graphic designer should consider buying a laser mouse.

Wired mouse or Wireless mouse

Whether you prefer a wired or wireless mouse, it just comes down to your choice. The wired mouse does not offer the amount of portability, which, on the other hand, the wireless mouse does.

It might even happen that a wireless one will run out of batteries when you need it, so that is one of the most significant minuses of owning one.  

But if you are a person who does not like wires or you do not prefer having to deal with them, then you should consider buying a wireless mouse.

All wireless mouses need a battery power supply to work, so if you are considering buying one without the charger, you must know that the additional purchase of new batteries will add up to a mouse’s lifetime cost. Plus, you need to have them in stock to quickly replace them if they go empty at the wrong time.

On the other hand, the wired mouse does not need extra charge as it draws power from the computer.  

The main disadvantage of a wired mouse is that it offers less portability or freedom. Also another drawback of the wired mouse is that it might tangle with other wires you have around you.

Comfort Level – Ergonomics

The shape of the mouse you use matters a lot because it will determine how comfortable the mouse feels in your hand, which correlates to how relaxed you will feel during your design work.

I have worked with a mouse that wasn’t pleasing to my hand, which bothered me a lot during the work.

If you’re faced with the same problem, choose an ergonomic one. It will help you through long working hours with excellent hand support, and you won’t need to worry about any compressed hand nerves.

An ergonomic mouse is the best choice for graphic designers, and if you try it, you will see the difference I am talking about.

Mouse Sizes: Full-size or Travel Size

There are two different mouse sizes available in today’s market; one is a full-sized mouse, and the second is a travel-sized mouse. Which size you prefer will depend strictly on your choice and mobility.

The full-sized mouse is more significant than a travel-sized one. It’s a bit clumsy if you take it to a design meeting or if you like to work in cafes, but they are usually more ergonomic than travel-sized ones.

On the contrary, the travel mouse doesn’t have many programmable buttons that you can map to your desired shortcuts, which is a minus.

You can find more information about the programmable buttons in the next section.

Do You Need Programmable Buttons?

A typical mouse will have two buttons and one wheel in the middle to scroll down with. However, different mouses types on the market come with extra buttons tailored for professionals who may work in specific fields, like graphic design.

Those extra buttons on the mouse will let you map them for particular functions, which might come in handy when using them repeatedly. Programing those buttons to your preferences will make your work life more comfortable and productive.

The 5 Best Mice for Graphic Designers

1. Logitech MX Master 2S – The Best Overall Mouse for Graphic Designers

Logitech produces some of the best computer mice out there on the market, and when I tried this mouse for the first time, I immediately fell in love with it. It has an excellent ergonomy which fits my hand perfectly. This mouse has a tracking DPI of about 4000 and customizable buttons.

Pros

It has an ergonomic shape and is wireless.

Cons:

You will have a tough time using it if you are left-handed; for some, it might be a bit too big for their hand.

2. Apple Magic Mouse 2 Sleek Designers Mouse

If you are a Mac user and haven’t checked out this mouse from Apple yet, you should consider trying it out. It has a dpi of about 1000 and provides excellent tracking.

Pros:

It has an elegant and simple design.

Cons:

The only downside of this mouse is installing third-party software to use it on a pc.

3. Anker 2.4g Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

This mouse has a lot of valuable features. One of them will let you control the dpi of your mouse. Depending on your needs, you can choose from 800/1200/1600 dpi.

This mouse also has an excellent ergonomic shape that supports your hand throughout the day.

Pros:

It has programmable buttons.

Cons:

The only thing I can complain about is that programmable buttons do not work on Apple computers.

4. Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Travel Perfect Mouse

I know another mouse from Logitech. But Logitech makes excellent products, and I used to own this mouse. Still, when I switched from making designs on the laptop to making them on a desktop computer, I also changed the mouse.

Pros:

You can pair it with up to three devices, and it has a brilliant battery life span.

Cons:

It’s not made for lefty designers and might be too small for some hands.

5. Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse

This mouse has a tracking DPI of about 3200. It has a solid-looking design, ergonomic shape, and programmable buttons.

Pros:

It has a subdued white light that looks good when working in the dark.

Cons:

It does not have a wireless version.

Conclusion: The Best Mouse for Graphic Designers

Choosing the best mouse you will use for creating new graphic designs comes down to your personal preferences. I would recommend giving Logitech MX Master 2S, which has all the qualities that make up an excellent mouse for everyday graphic design. But you should try others from this list and choose one that fits your hand perfectly.