A computer mouse is a simple pointing device that lets you interact with your computer. If you work on your computer regularly, then a computer mouse is must be one of the most used hardware pieces for you.
When purchasing an expensive mouse to boost performance, everyone wants something that will last for a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, before making any purchase, most people become very curious to know – how long does a computer mouse last? Or when to replace your computer mouse? If you are one of them, then keep reading for the answers.
The average lifespan of every piece of hardware depends on several key features, and computer mice are no different. There are different types of computer mice out there for various purposes. So, it is pretty tough to answer this tricky question in just one line.
That’s why in the following segments, we will explain the average lifespan of a computer mouse in detail.
So, without further talk, let’s get started.
A computer mouse is one of the essential hardware of your computer system. It is responsible for cursor movement and navigating through your system.
The average lifespan of a computer mouse depends on several factors, including durability and build quality. A typical budget computer mouse is not as durable as a gaming mouse. However, they work fine if you are not going to use them for any intensive task. Generally, they can last up to 3 years with some luck. But the average lifespan of a regular mouse is between 1.5-2 years.
Also, regular computer mice are not sturdy enough for long time use. A fresh new mouse does its job pretty okay, but its sensors become weak over time and lead to inaccuracy while browsing. Also, regular computer mice wear out pretty fast, and you may face issues with the buttons.
On top of it, fixing a computer mouse is quite challenging. Because most regular computer mice don’t allow the user to replace a component when it stops working, you would need to replace the entire mouse once it stops working.
However, there are also few good value-for-money computer mouse options available that can last between 3-5 years. They are primarily built for heavy productivity tasks.
How Long Does A Gaming Mouse Last?
Gaming mice are among the most popular peripheral devices to come out in the last few years. The versatility of gaming mice is unmatched. A gaming mouse provides the user with accurate and precise control of the actions they will be performing during the game. They are very durable and specially designed to provide extraordinary performance.
A good gaming mouse can easily last more than three years of heavy gaming and intensive use before needing to be replaced. They are very durable and specially made for full-time gaming. Usually, gaming mice are made from hard plastics, and they are designed to last for an extended period.
If you don’t use your gaming mouse for full-time gaming or heavy tasking, it can easily last up to 5 years. However, a low-cost budget gaming can guarantee you to last only till its warranty period lasts.
A good gaming mouse also offers you the ability to customize the mouse. This means you can remove certain parts of the mouse and fix any mouse’s problem. Also, most of the gaming mice out there are pretty robust when it comes to water and dust ingress, extending their lifespan and making them less vulnerable to damage due to water and dust.
However, sometimes due to continuous rough use, some of the buttons of your gaming mouse can stop working well. So, don’t go beyond the limit and perform proper maintenance to serve you well.
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How Long Does A Wireless mouse last?
Most mice today come with wireless connectivity, which is excellent if you want to use it with your laptop or your computer at the same time. They are small and sleek, and for the price, they can be beneficial.
When it comes to wireless mice, there are endless options and styles. A good quality wireless mouse comes with durable mechanics and can easily last for up to 3 years. If you pick a good wireless mouse, it can even offer better speed than a wired mouse.
But, if you go for a budget wireless mouse, then it will have a shorter lifespan. It can last for between 1-2 years maximum. Also, budget wireless mice often come with low-quality sensors, and they are not made for intense use. If you purchase a lower-end wireless mouse, you may experience wireless connectivity issues after a few months of use.
Therefore, make sure the wireless mouse is durable enough before making any purchase. Because at the end of the day, the lifespan of your wireless mouse depends on its durability. However, the price of a decent wireless mouse is relatively high. But it is better to invest your money in a good wireless mouse rather than replacing it every year.
Although if you are short on budget, you can pick a low-end wireless mouse, you should never forget that these are budget mice. So, you should not expect them to last longer than a year or two.
How To Tell If your computer Mouse Is Dying?
If you use your mouse regularly, you may sometimes feel that your mouse is not working. You may experience glitches, cursor freezes and incorrect responses from your mouse. But not every glitch is a sign that your mouse is dying. Therefore, you may wonder – how to tell if your mouse is dying or not?
Telling the exact time of a mouse failure is pretty tough. But there are some signs to look out for that will help you figure out that your mouse is failing.
1. Laggy Cursor Movement
One of the earliest signs of your mouse dying is that the mouse cursor isn’t moving smoothly. You will experience lags when moving the cursor. If you are used to working continuously with your mouse, then you will face this problem frequently. The laggy cursor movements will not let work properly and affect your productivity.
So, if you experience this kind of issue, it will be better if you replace your mouse quickly.
But before declaring your mouse as a lost cause, make sure you clean the bottom part of your mouse to ensure that the problem is not occurring due to dust. Another reason you may face this issue is related to the surface where you are moving your mouse. Make sure you are using a good mousepad.
2. Mouse Suddenly Stops Working
A common symptom of your mouse dying is that it will stop working suddenly. Sometimes, it can even go mad start turning on and off. When this problem occurs, you will notice that the tracking laser light of the mouse goes out. Gamers and official persons are the worst sufferers due to this problem. However, you can try fixing this problem by switching the mouse on and off.
3. Cursor freezes frequently
If your mouse cursor freezes frequently, then it is a sign that your mouse will pass out soon. It can be so frustrating when a mouse completely stops working. Just think, what would happen if this occurred when you are doing your work?
However, this problem can also occur if you open so much memory-intensive software at a time. So, you can fix this problem by simply closing all the unnecessary applications running in the background. If the freezing issue continues, you should restart your whole system.
If you are still facing the problem, then you should double-check all ports and cables. If you are using a wireless mouse, then the battery is probably dead. So, install a new battery and check if the issue continues before going for a new computer mouse. You can also try changing the mouse cursor.
4. Random Cursor Movement
If you face random cursor movements, you need to get a new mouse as soon as possible. Most of the time, it is not possible to fix a mouse that is doing everything itself. It will be excruciating to deal with, especially if you are a gamer or use the mouse for graphics design. So, if you are facing this issue, it will be better for you if you replace it quickly.
5. Buttons are not working
A traditional mouse comes with two buttons; left, right and a centre wheel for scrolling pages. But a gaming mouse may have some extra programmable buttons. If you find out that any of the buttons is not working probably, it is clear that your mouse is dying.
When your mouse buttons stop working, you can’t do your daily work properly. But most of the time, buttons don’t stop working entirely. They will likely start working again when you don’t need them and ruin your work by clicking randomly or scrolling.
Generally, there is no fixed solution to this problem. So, if you are facing this issue, you probably need to get a new mouse.
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When to replace your computer mouse?
A mouse has become an essential device in our day-to-day working life. A good quality mouse can last anywhere from a year to 3 years. But it would be best if you always had a clear idea of when to replace your computer mouse.
Above, we have discussed a few symptoms that give you an idea that your mouse will die soon. If you are dealing with any of the symptoms mentioned above, your computer mouse will probably pass out. So, please replace your mouse with a brand-new one as soon as possible.
However, before going for a new mouse, you should always try to solve the problem yourself because there are cases when the problem occurs due to dust, software issue, heavy use, and loose connection.
How can you extend the life of your mouse?
If you want to keep your mouse in good working condition for an extra couple of years, here are few tips that would help you extend your computer mouse’s lifespan.
But, if your mouse is already broken or started dying, then there is no point in attempting to follow these tips. It will be better if you get a brand-new computer mouse.
1. Get a branded mouse
A good computer mouse can last up to 3 years. But you can extend this lifespan for more couple of years by purchasing your mouse from a reputable brand. Because a branded mouse usually lasts longer than a no-name branded mouse. Also, branded mice are designed to last long and survive heavy intensive workloads.
So, if you want your mouse to continue working correctly for an extra couple of years, it is recommended to buy a branded mouse.
2. Keep the mouse clean
If you want to enhance the lifespan of your computer mouse, you should clean your mouse at least once every ten days. Cleaning your mouse will neglect issues like a laggy cursor, inaccuracy, stuttering, and random cursor movements. Especially if you don’t want to experience frequent cursor freezes, you will need to clean your mouse sensor using a microfiber cloth.
3. Use a good mousepad
Most of the time, the reason you may deal with different problems of your mouse cursor is directly or indirectly related to the surface where you are moving your mouse. If you are using your mouse on wooden surfaces or glossy surfaces, your mouse may not work well and damage the sensor. So, it is always recommended to use a mousepad for smooth performance.
There are different kinds of mousepads available on the market. If you want to enhance your computer mouse performance and longevity, make sure you purchase an excellent mousepad from a reputable brand with some good positive reviews.
4. Don't go beyond the limit
Regular budget mice have a shorter lifespan. Also, they are not as hardy and durable as gaming mice. They are not made for rough use. If you use them for heavy intensive tasks all day long, they will wear out much quicker.
So, if you want to extend the lifespan of your mouse, then you should not go beyond the limit. Also, you should not expect too much from a regular mouse.
Conclusion
The average lifespan of a computer mouse depends on different factors. So, giving a straightforward answer to this tricky question is pretty challenging.
However, a regular computer mouse can last for up to 3 years, while a good quality gaming mouse can easily last for about 3-5 years. But besides the lifespan of a computer mouse, you should also have good knowledge about when to replace your mouse.
Therefore, in this article, we also have discussed how you can tell when your mouse is dying. We also shared with you few tips that can help you perform proper maintenance to your mouse and extend its lifespan for a couple of years.
But, before going for a new mouse, make sure you try to fix your old mouse yourself.
We hope you got all the information you required from this article, regarding the lifespan of a computer mouse. For further assistance, you can read our other articles or email us.
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