Summary
Most people get by with one mouse without ever considering a second, but for me, having two is a must. It’s become an essential part of how I game on PC, and I’d even be willing to add a third for productivity purposes.
Why I Use Two Mice
The simple answer to why I use two mice is that they serve different gaming purposes.
For 15 years, I exclusively used various iterations of the Razer Naga. This mouse is characterized by a numpad on one side and an ergonomic side rest for your ring and pinky fingers on the other. It’s great for anyone whose workflow involves spreadsheets or otherwise heavy numerical input, though for my purposes it was an invaluable companion forMMO games. More specifically, I used mods inWorld of Warcraftto place my skills on a 4x3 grid that mirrored the numpad so that they’d be easier to view and access.
When I bought my first Razer Naga not long after it launched in 2009, I was still playingWorld of Warcrafton a MacBook and had little insight into the broader world of gaming mice. This meant I had no point of reference for its hefty weight of 135 grams other than cheap mice in a school computer lab. This remained true when I transitioned to PC in 2011, broadening the genres of games I played with a mouse and keyboard. Thenumpad was too important to give upand thus nothing else mattered, and the idea of using two mice hadn’t even crossed my mind.
I took a break from PC gaming through the late 2010s until finally returning last year when Ibuilt a new computer. It was then that I tried out ultralight mice and realized just how cumbersome the Naga felt for any game that didn’t benefit from the numpad. Since I play enoughFinal Fantasy XIVto warrant an MMO mouse, I keep my Naga nearby at all times, but for most other purposes I can’t go back.
Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed
A wireless MMO gaming mouse with a numpad on the side, extra mouse buttons, and a large scroll wheel.
Discovering My Second Mouse Was Revelatory
While I tried multipleultralight mice, I ultimately settled on a Razer Viper V3 Pro for regular use. This high-end ultralight mouse feels virtually weightless, is exceptionally responsive, and was an aesthetic match for my Naga. Plus, the minimalist approach is a refreshing break from the maximalism of MMO mice.
At 54 grams, it weighs less than half as much as the Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed I concurrently sport. For my third Naga, I specifically went for the HyperSpeed overits premium siblingbecause of its reduced weight, yet after trying an ultralight mouse it felt comparatively heavier than any ever had. A lighter mouse allows me to game more dexterously and for longer periods without fatigue, and the two side buttons are typically all I need for most game genres or web browsing.
The great part about having two mice is that if a game demands more button inputs, I always have the option of swapping to my Naga (and vice versa). For example, a strategy game that uses number keys to quickly access different functions benefits from a numpad without being hindered by the increased weight. Meanwhile, while I did enjoy swapping between weapons using a mouse numpad in first-person shooters prior to buying an ultralight mouse, there’s just no parallel to the increased comfort and control that its greatly decreased weight enables.
Razer Viper V3 Pro
Razer’s flagship ultralight wireless gaming mouse (54 grams) with a simple but comfortable layout, an exceptionally responsive optical sensor, and low-latency optical switches.
I’d Be Willing to Add a Third
I still use a beefed-up MacBook Pro for most of my productivity needs, but if there was ever a scenario where I moved a significant portion of my workflow to Windows, I’d consider adding anergonomic mouseto my rotation.
While I love my Viper V3 Pro, it doesn’t support my entire hand as much as I’d want when I’m not gaming. The Naga does better here, though its small side rest pales in comparison to ergonomic mice (though it’s great for gaming as a weight-reduction measure without losing its ergonomics completely). I’d happily give a mouse like aLogitech MX Master 3Sa try to see if a more robust support structure better suited my productivity requirements.
There are also some out-there mice that I’d at least toy with for novelty purposes. For example, if someone figures out how to connect a Joy-Con 2 to a PC as a mouse, that could prove fun to mess around with. I’ve found the Switch 2 controllers’ optical sensors to be responsive when using them in mouse mode, and the form-factor could possibly benefit certain games.
This said, I’m pretty content with my two-mouse setup. It allows me to fulfill all my gaming needs, browse the computer in comfort, and on the off chance that one’s battery dies, I always have a backup. It’s been such a boon that I’d even consider two keyboards if I had the space for them!
