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Braided vs smooth mouse cable

What sort of mouse cable do you prefer

  • Braided

    Votes: 23 39.0%
  • Smooth

    Votes: 14 23.7%
  • Neither: go wireless

    Votes: 27 45.8%

  • Total voters
    59
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Silly question, but which is considered better for a mouse cable? braided or smooth?
 
braided is supposed to last longer (against everyday wear & tear, mostly tear), but in reality the braided cable of my g502 doesnt resist rubbing at all, the way my setup is implemented the mice cable goes to the end of the desk and then makes a 90 degree turn towards the rig. Thats where the cable rubs against the desk edge (pretty much every time i use the mouse in games) and the cable is already a bit worn in that part. The previous crappy logitec mouse (dont even remember the model, but it had smooth cable) was used for much longer in similar conditions and the cable still looks semi-new.
 
Wireless.

don't like rubber cables because when they get stuck on a speaker or the monitor stand, they really stick compared to braided cables.
 
response time on wireless has gotten really good. That being said, braided cords are better
 
I just don't want the hassle of one more set of batteries.
 
I use a wire braided cable mouse (G502 Hero). I prefer it when sitting at a dedicated computer desk. If I'm traveling I use a wireless mouse because I don't always have a desk. Same with keyboard, wired and full ten-key equipped at my dedicated computer desk. But when traveling, I have a mini wireless keyboard I can plop in my lap. Wires have never bothered me when working or gaming. The biggest issue I've had is once a cat chewed thru my mouse cable which was pretty frustrating!
 
I just don't want the hassle of one more set of batteries.
using a mouse for around 3-5 weeks without charging and when it blinks red you plug it in and use it wired for 20 minutes until it's full again.
the battery is replaceable and with that tiny amount of powerdraw and heat generated it easily lasts a decade.
 
I hate braided cables but they put that shit on everything now. My distaste for it includes power supply cables, mouse cables, webcam cables.

I prefer the smooth cable of my EC2A to the braided cable of my EC3C, though the shape of the EC3 is far superior to the EC2.
 
A light cable is a good one, doesn't matter if its braided or not. The point is to make it as unobtrusive as possible so new gaming mice cable are following this logic (most of them). Otherwise aftermarket cables exist so you can switch them up yourself (paracord).
 
Hi,
I like braided looks more stylist.

Should of added a poll.
 
Should of added a poll.

Done


A light cable is a good one, doesn't matter if its braided or not. The point is to make it as unobtrusive as possible so new gaming mice cable are following this logic (most of them).

For me it is the cable internals that fail and I would be willing to go heavy if this made them last longer.
 
Hi,
I do have some badly braided psu cables from evga though, mostly the vga cables are twisted a little others look fine.
My red dragon mice are all braided black and red :cool:
 
It depends.

Braided cables wear out quickly if you have a desk with rough straight angles, this is common in IKEA-like DIY desks, smooth rounded surface edges prevent the cable braid from being destroyed in a matter of days.
Also, cheap braided cables will be eventually ruined since their quality is meh, I've seen these in low end "gaming" mouses that are literally regular mouses with new plastics and some extra LEDs, same for keyboards.

The poll asks what I prefer not what's better so I went for smooth, mainly because the braid serves no actual purpose other than looks, it's not an actual insulator. I'm not a gamer so I use a regular Logitech mouse and an IBM keyboard salvaged from a dead terminal, it's not a model M and some keys are dead but it serves me well, no Elden Ring ragequit can damage this bad boy.

Pro tip: apply tape over the desk edges if you want a braided cable to last.
 
Wireless it is for me, Logitech lightspeed feels just like wired, never had an issue.
IF i had to go wired, braided definitely just 'feels' higher quality.
 
Doesn't matter which cable, as long as it is cable. I have already seen too many interference nightmares with WiFi, mouse doesn't have to be a victim too.
 
I have a USB 3 hub that seems to give a lot of interference on 2.4 GHz
 
Wireless or just a normal cable. No rubber, no braids.
 
used braided cable mouse....braided cable was a dust magnet....switched to wireless.....never looked back..
 
I prefer mice with cables, to avoid corner of desk chafing a cable get a cable crane/isolator/bungie.
 
Tried wireless but can feel the lag compared to wired... For work it's not an issue but for games got to be wired for me.
I prefer Wired controllers, as there is 0 input lag
 
I think the "opening post" question, which asked, "which is considered better" is too generalized. There are high quality braided cables and super cheap ones too. Just as there are high quality smooth insulation cables, and cheap ones. Plus, so much, especially in terms of flexibility, depends on the wires inside - for example, the size and number of strands in the wire. And the insulation on the individual wires inside the cable can affect how mouse movement feels and behaves.

So to be a valid question, it would have to compare two specific mice, one braided, one smooth. And ideally, it would have to be two identical mice, one with braided and one with smooth cables. That, to me, is the only fair and valid comparative test. Otherwise, there are too many other variables that will skew the results.

The "poll" question, on the other hand, is very valid as it simply asks what we "prefer".

I prefer wireless. I have not encountered lag issues (at least not with the latest wireless mice and keyboards). Plus I never have to worry about cable clutter, wire chaffing, wire snags, cable hangers/cranes, the cable pulling on the mouse sending the cursor to parts unknown - and most importantly, no worry with my feet and cable trying to occupy the same space.
 
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