Ergonomic vs. Ambidextrous: Which Gaming Mouse Shape Should You Get?
You have many choices when buying a gaming mouse, and it’d nearly be impossible to go over each of them in one go. However, we can explore the two most popular categories of gaming mouse shapes: ergonomic and ambidextrous.
So, what’s the difference between the two, and which shape is better for you? Let’s find out.
What Are Ergonomic and Ambidextrous Gaming Mice?
An ergonomic mouse conforms to the hand’s natural shape and position. Usually, it has a raised inner side to accommodate that hand’s natural tendency to have the palms facing inward when resting on a desk, and its outer side slants gently so that your ring finger and pinky are supported.
On the other hand, an ambidextrous mouse has a symmetrical design, meaning its left and right sides are mirrored. This makes it easier to use for both right-handed and left-handed people, although the side buttons are always available for the latter. Although gaming mice are available in both designs, you have more options with the symmetrical shape.
While mouse shape is important when picking a gaming mouse, you should also check out the otherkey characteristics of a good FPS gaming mousebefore buying one.
Pros and Cons of Ergonomic Gaming Mice
Ergonomic mice are very comfortable, but comfort doesn’t mean performance. Here are the pros and cons of ergonomic gaming mice.
Ergonomic Gaming Mice Advantages
These are why some gamers (and even office workers) choose ergonomic gaming mice.
Ergonomic Gaming Mice Disadvantages
Despite all the advantages, these are why ergonomic gaming mice aren’t as popular as ambidextrous mice.
Pros and Cons of Ambidextrous Gaming Mice
Ambidextrous gaming mice have all the hype, with almost every new model released in a symmetrical shape. But are they really that much better? Here are the pros and cons of ambidextrous gaming mice.
Ambidextrous Gaming Mice Advantages
Here’s why many gamers love symmetrical mouse designs.
Ambidextrous Gaming Mice Disadvantages
Despite their popularity, ambidextrous gaming mice also have their drawbacks.
Which Gaming Mouse Shape Is for You?
Only you can determine the answer to this, as the right shape is based on your preference. Furthermore, you have many choices for both forms, each with pros and cons. But, to help you figure out what you’ll like, here are some questions you should ask yourself.
What Is Your Grip Style?
How you grip your mouse is a significant factor in what type of mouse shape you should get. If you prefer the palm grip and like stability, you should go for an ergonomic mouse.
But if your palms barely touch the mouse (or not at all) and like it that way, a low-profile ambidextrous mouse would be an excellent choice. You can check outRocket Jump Ninja’s mouse search toolif you want to go deeper into your grip. This page will help you find good mice based on your grip and hand size.
However, if you’re left-handed, you have precious few options if you want an ergonomic gaming mouse, with theRazer Naga Left-Handedbeing the only one we know of. That means you’ll have to choose an ambidextrous mouse. But if you want one with left-handed side buttons, your choices are further reduced. Still, we can recommend theLogitech G Pro Wirelessif you want a well-performing lightweight gaming mouse with left-handed side buttons.
Do You Play for Long Periods?
Playing for hours without breaks is detrimental to your hand’s and wrist’s health, not to consider other health problems you could face for not taking a rest.
Although the risk for RSI is negligible for most users, having an ergonomic mouse could further reduce this and even let you play for longer before you feel physical stress.
Wrist-related injuries can stop you from intense gaming altogether. Take care of your health to keep playing the games you love.
Do You Experiment With Different Grip Styles?
If you change up things pretty often or copy other players' grip styles, then an ambidextrous mouse is the better choice. An ergonomic mouse’s shape will limit your grip style, so it’s possible to’t experiment more.
However, ergonomic mice are great if you prioritize comfort and don’t want to worry about how you hold them. It’ll guide your hand to an ideal position more than any ambidextrous mouse could.
Your Gaming Mouse’s Shape Matters
Gaming mice are getting so good that they perform pretty much identically as long as the sensors and buttons are up to par. With that, there’s no reason to choose a mouse for performance anymore.
Instead, the focus is now placed on weight and shape. While weight is important, we suggest focusing on the form unless you prioritize being competitive.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a premium gaming mouse. Here are the best cheap gaming mice for your setup.
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