▷ Mouse with laser sensor or optical sensor, which is better?

In the market we can find a great variety of different mice, although all of them can be grouped according to the type of technology they use in their sensor. With this we have mice based on laser sensors and those based on optical sensors. In this article we explain the differences and which one suits you best. Mouse with laser sensor or optical sensor Which is better?

How a modern mouse works

Modern mice are basically cameras, since they constantly take photos of the surface on which they move. These images are converted into data that is used to track the current location of the peripheral on a surface. Ultimately, you have a low-resolution camera in the palm of your hand, also known as a CMOS sensor. This sensor combines with two lenses and a light source to track the peripheral's X and Y coordinates thousands of times per second.

All mice are optical, technically, because they take photos, which are optical data. However, those that are marketed as optical models are based on a red or infrared LED that projects light onto a surface. As for laser mice, they use the type of laser light that has the greatest power to penetrate surfaces. The lighting is mounted behind an angled lens, which focuses light onto a beam. That beam bounces off the surface, through the lens that magnifies the reflected light. The CMOS sensor collects light and converts light particles into an electric current. This analog information is converted to 1 and 0, resulting in more than 10, 000 digital images captured every second. These images are compared to generate the precise location of the mouse.

What is the big difference between using an optical mouse and a laser mouse if the only difference is lighting?

Originally, laser models were believed to be far superior to optical versions. Over time, however, optical mice have improved, and now work in a variety of situations with a high degree of precision. The supposed superiority of the laser model is due to its higher sensitivity than LED-based mice.

Both methods use the irregularities of a surface to track the position of the peripheral. A laser can delve into the surface texture without burning the material. This provides more information for the CMOS sensor and processor within the mouse. For example, although the glass is transparent, there are still extremely small irregularities that can be traced with a laser. Optical sensors have less ability to penetrate the material and capture irregularities, which is why these types of mice do not work well on glass.

An infrared LED will track anomalies found in the top layer of a surface, while a laser can go deeper to discover additional details. Optical mice work best on non-glossy surfaces and mats, while a laser mouse can work on almost any glossy or non-glossy surface.

The problem with laser-based mice is that they can be too accurate, as they collect useless information like invisible hills and valleys from a surface. This can be problematic when moving at slower speeds, causing jitter at the cursor on the screen, or what is better known as acceleration. The result is an incorrect 1: 1 trace derived from thrown useless data. Although the problem has improved over the years, laser mice are still not ideal for high-precision tasks.

Jittering is tied to everything the laser scans, collected by the sensor, and delivered to the host computer's processor for on-screen cursor mapping. To alleviate some of the instability, you could get rid of fabric surfaces and place a hard, dark surface underneath, so the laser doesn't pick up unnecessary data. Another option would be to lower the sensitivity. The resolution of the CMOS sensor in a mouse is different from that of a camera because it is based on motion. The sensor consists of a set number of physical pixels aligned on a grid. Resolution is derived from the number of individual images captured by each pixel during a physical inch movement on a surface. The closer you get to the base resolution, the less unwanted positional data a laser-based mouse sensor will collect.

Which is better?

It all depends on the application and the environment. Gaming mice are mostly optical, this is because their audience is sitting at a desk, and possibly even using a mat designed to offer the best tracking and the best friction. Razer prefers laser technology because it offers increased sensitivity for lightning-fast movement in games.

Our recommendation is that you opt for an optical mouse for your gaming sessions, although this will force you to use a mat if you want to have the best sensor behavior. That said, optical sensors have evolved a lot in recent years and are already capable of working correctly on a large number of surfaces.

We recommend reading our post on The best mice for PC

This ends our article on laser vs. optical mice, hopefully it has helped you choose your new mouse. Remember that you can share it on social networks so that it can help more users who need it.