Do wireless gaming peripherals still have noticeable latency issues?
Posted by KRGKart_Support@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 211 comments
We’ve been seeing more gamers consider wireless keyboards, mice, and headsets lately, especially for cleaner desk setups and easier cable management.
At the same time, there’s still a common concern about input lag, connection stability, and battery reliability compared to wired peripherals.
For those who have switched from wired to wireless, did you actually notice any performance difference during gaming?
Does it depend more on the type of games you play, competitive shooters versus casual or story-based titles?
Also curious whether long-term usability, charging habits, or signal interference ever became a problem during regular use.
Would be great to hear real experiences from people who have used both setups over time.
isimpforwookiegirl@reddit
are all wired mouses heavy as hell? I have a g502 and either the pads are scuffed or its just so heavy, but it honestly feels like dragging rock vs my glorious mouse.
also I need a light wireless mouse thats good for fat hands
lurkingtheshadows@reddit
The main issue with wireless mice are is the added weight from the battery, not that bad if you're just casually playing games, but going from a lighter wired mouse to a wireless will be very noticeable if you're playing at a competitive level and are used to the feel of a lighter weight mouse for sure
GfxJG@reddit
Pro Gamers often use use wireless peripherals.
That should really be all the answer you'll ever need.
rendar@reddit
That doesn't explain anything, and that's an insufficient assumption in the first place.
Professionals also travel a lot when cables are prohibitory to pack, and generally the first physical point of failure. That can be justification enough when there is feature parity.
Professionals also favor sponsorship money. That can be enough of an incentive to some.
Nebuchadnezzarthe2nd@reddit
I think it explains that pro's aren't concerned about about latency of wireless peripherials, like OPs is asking.
rendar@reddit
Again, no it does not.
There are plenty of relevant priorities that could be more important in equipment choices.
Some professionals want to win. Some professionals want to make money. Neglecting to identify any sort of segment granularity just cements how useless of a posit it is.
WhatNamesAreEvenLeft@reddit
You're not very bright lol
rendar@reddit
It must be very despondent living a life where you assume the only possible reason you couldn't understand something is because the other person must be wrong
WhatNamesAreEvenLeft@reddit
You big dumb hahaha
buildapc-ModTeam@reddit
Hello, your comment has been removed. Please note the following from our subreddit rules :
Rule 1 : Be respectful to others
^(Click here to message the moderators if you think this was in error)
buildapc-ModTeam@reddit
Hello, your comment has been removed. Please note the following from our subreddit rules :
Rule 1 : Be respectful to others
^(Click here to message the moderators if you think this was in error)
Val_kyria@reddit
Pros will also play with equipment from the early oughts with their feet on the desk and a crack down the middle of the screen.
Really they just use what they had, or what is provided/sponsored
WindowSeat-@reddit
CS players aren't forced to use sponsor mice or keyboards they can pick whatever they want
Amezis@reddit
Athletes bring their peripherals to tournaments, but if athletes are sponsored by a specific brand, they’d use peripherals from that brand. It wouldn’t make much sense for Razer to sponsor someone who then ends up using Logitech on stage.
Ouaouaron@reddit
A lot of sponsorship is about brand exposure; advertisers put a lot of value in simply making potential customers more aware of one brand than they are of a competing brand.
Razer would certainly prefer that every pro that they sponsor only uses Razer gear and talks about how great Razer products are, but they aren't necessarily willing to pay enough to get a contract like that accepted (and pros could be unwilling to accept any amount of money if they think it gives them a disadvantage compared to something else).
BeardenOfLife@reddit
Depends on your contract. My contract stated that we were forced to use the sponsors headset, but mouse and keyboard were a free choice.
Nebuchadnezzarthe2nd@reddit
You'd assume that but in counter-strike the pros use whatever they like despite their sponsors. Vitality's official partner is ASUS, none of their players use ASUS mice. You don't generally tell players what peripherals to use as you want them to be comfortable as they like.
zephah@reddit
In the current day most FPS players end up sponsored by products they choose to use not the other way around. You'll see entire teams where there are 4 different brands of mice on the same team. You'll see players like NiKo in CS who have religiously used Razer products get sponsored by them, but we're pretty much behind "brand sponsors team" and then everyone just uses that product (for the better)
NefariousnessFew4354@reddit
You should specify it's 2.4Ghz not Bluetooth. But otherwise you are correct.
ElectronicRip1630@reddit
This is the correct answer. Most Rocket League pros are using PS4 controllers wireless. Donk plays CS2 with a Logitech Superlight 2 wirelessly and he's the goat. Wireless technology has come a long way.
RancidVagYogurt1776@reddit
Pro gamers will be the first people to admit to you that they don't know shit about PC hardware for example.
Dubl33_27@reddit
some pro players also play with their eyes glued to the screen. Hell of a take you got there
HayesBrewery@reddit
If it uses a dongle it's probably fine
methrik@reddit
I just made the switch to wireless and it’s well worth. The drag from wire always annoyed me but you know how am I can win peak battles in csgo if their mouse is hardwired with low latency.
Then I remembered I don’t even play csgo and just an old man playing single player games.
Jokes aside there isn’t a difference. I like the heavier feel and no pull from a wire.
I got a few sets of rechargeable batteries, so I swap them in and out.
shortish-sulfatase@reddit
Used wireless whenever possible.
It's provably been more than a decade.
If it has it's own adaptor AND bluetooth, I just bluetooth because why am I going to bother with using up another usb plug?
DmMeWerewolfPics@reddit
Go use a 1k hz gpx on wireless and an 8k wired mouse. You’re unlikely to notice much of a difference.
Scarabesque@reddit
None, just make sure you use peripherals with a wireless dongle, as Bluetooth is extremely laggy.
As a fun anecdote, when (I believe) Logitech wanted to convince pro gamers of how good their wireless tech was, they let pro gamers try their new wired mouse, only to tell them afterwards the wire wasn't actually connected to anything. None noticed any latency.
I play a ton of competitive game, most notably cs2s, and only use wireless (2,4 GHz) peripherals. Never going back.
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
Logitechs lightspeed mice have lower latency than similar wired mice, however small of a difference
amberoze@reddit
I have the G502 hero wired mouse, and I'm looking to upgrade to the light speed version soon. I've heard a lot of really good things about it.
ac_slat3r@reddit
Been using a Gpro Wireless mouse and headset for years. I charge the mouse maybe 1 night a week when I go to bed and game A LOT during the week.
I will never go back to a wired headset or mouse.
I actually bought a new dac/amp and microphone to start streaming more, and sent it all back within a week because as much as I love my AKG 702's I love the no wires.
Humpelstielzchen-314@reddit
It should also be mentioned, that replacing the battery on the gpro wireless is rather easy so even when it finally dies you can have it back in working order 20 minutes after the spare parts make it to you.
Just whished they had not hid the screws under the sliders though.
PowerfulAgent9939@reddit
I have the g502x wireless without rgb, i didn’t know it could be charged wirelessly, is this new? I just keep it plugged into usb c, doesn’t bother me too much
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
Didnt know there was one without rgb, frankly I always turn it off anyway
PowerfulAgent9939@reddit
The rgb one costs more, I never use any rgb, too childish and distracting when all I want to focus on is the game
Toraxa@reddit
The little circular disc on the underside that is held in place with magnets can be swapped out for the "powercore module" that comes with the power play mouse pad. It allows the mouse to charge wirelessly with the system. As far as I'm aware it can't do so otherwise
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
Ahhhh
PowerfulAgent9939@reddit
Ahh that weird disk I wondered what that was for
oby100@reddit
I’m sure you’ve done your research, but everyone should keep in mind that wireless mouses are much heavier than a wired one which is the main reason I generally dislike wireless.
Much prefer a light mouse.
PR1NCEV1NCE@reddit
I made the upgrade and added the charging mousepad so I never have to plug it in, it's the best setup I've ever had and I highly recommend it
amberoze@reddit
Charging...mousepad?
Link...now...
Please?
NotLunaris@reddit
I use the G502 Lightspeed. One charge is good for weeks, and it charges in just a few hours. If the light on it turns red from low battery, it'll still be good for days and I just plug it in before bed.
A charging mousepad seems completely unnecessary and I do not need another cable running from my workspace to a power outlet.
PR1NCEV1NCE@reddit
Lookup the logitech powerplay, it does exactly what it says, just a little pricey
Mend1cant@reddit
It’s fantastic. I was so sad when my Pro mouse died on me.
Cormophyte@reddit
I also like Razer's wireless charging mouse dock/antenna.I just stick the mouse on it at night.
10v1@reddit
I have this mouse, it's been great! Battery life is wonderful and the range of the wireless signal is really good for me as well. To be fair it is a heavy mouse. You will notice that right away, it requires more effort to move around, adjust, pick up. Even with all the weights removed, it's a thicc ass mouse. I mostly forget how heavy the G502 light speed is until I use one of my other mice.
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
Id say all those good things are probably correct. 2 things: it big and its heavy, but you already own a g502.
Great mouse
amberoze@reddit
I like big, I have big hands. I like heavy, my grip is stronger that I give myself credit for. Thing gotta be durable.
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
The only downside I can think of here is the rubber grips on the g502 giving out but apparently you can replace them(or just get your favorite mouse griptape)
amberoze@reddit
Yup. Replacements for the grips and skates aren't expensive on Amazon. I went ahead and ordered a few sets of replacements when I got the mouse, since I had seen others having problems.
bpnick@reddit
Make the upgrade. So much worth it imo. I like it a lot
CaptainObvious1916@reddit
Really? How does that work?
theninjaseal@reddit
There is nothing that must be inherently slower about wireless transmission. Light travels faster than electricity. Light travels a shorter distance; directly to the receiver whereas electricity must travel the entire length of the cable.
Realtime wireless transmission has been a thing in show biz for decades. You just have to not be lazy when developing the circuits used.
zagblorg@reddit
Presumably it's actually a radio signal rather than light, though. Otherwise you'd need direct line of sight for it to work, which is not the case with my G304.
theninjaseal@reddit
Radio signals are also light
heavyheaded3@reddit
i believe voltage change is a wave propagated at the speed of light, which is what's happening in a cable, not really "electricity." your point about cable length versus direct distance of wireless communications stands though.
Lenoriou@reddit
A quick note, the propagation in the cables is actually much slower through metal fibers than through air. This would typically be included in a cable spec as a measured Vprop of a cable, usually somewhere between .6 and .9c.
magicpastry@reddit
That's rad. I should read some cable specs.
JirachiWishmaker@reddit
But it's not light, it's 2.4ghz wireless.
It's more down to the fact that it's generally comparing a a sub-$50 mouse to a $150 (or more) mouse, and that you're actually, to some degree, getting what you paid for.
crash_test_fetus@reddit
But radio is light...just a much longer wavelength than visible spectrum.
JirachiWishmaker@reddit
I guess I was thinking more in terms of like infrared vs radio signals...which yeah...all light. Out-pedantic'ed lol
kanshakudama@reddit
You were not out-pedantic’ed. You were simply wrong. You literally said
To be pendantic means to be excessively concerned with small details.
CaptainObvious1916@reddit
I just asked a question. Gamers have been using wireless for ages now, so there’s no disadvantage. But what makes the Logitech light speed different?
I wasn’t disagreeing and there was no need for you to write a diatribe. But hey I hope you had fun.
TradeSekrat@reddit
It's just marketing spin. Once modern wireless mice started using higher dpi sensors and faster polling they all passed up the baseline office mouse used for comparisons.
I think they try to claim it swaps channels for less interference but we are talking about mouse to dongle range distances. So what interference? The gamer a house over?
karmapopsicle@reddit
If you take the exact same mouse and connect it with a wired USB connection vs the LIGHTSPEED wireless connection, there is measurably lower latency with wireless. Plain and simple.
It’s not a lot lower, and certainly not enough to make any kind of meaningful performance difference even to a professional player, but the point of marketing on that was to convince players like that they weren’t giving up any performance switching to wireless.
theninjaseal@reddit
Which, if I recall correctly when it came out around like 2010 was a big big deal.
Ockvil@reddit
As a disinterested third party: I don't pick up any negativity or condescension in the response.
CaptainObvious1916@reddit
I also didn’t pick up an answer to the question. So ask yourself, what was the point of that reply?
OkStrategy685@reddit
That answer was awesome. If you want a sales ad about a particular mouse, go to their website ffs. Very weird.
CaptainObvious1916@reddit
My comment was in reply to a comment referring a particular mouse technology as being faster. That answer was apparently about all wireless mice, so it doesn’t actually address the question.
gmes78@reddit
And that answer applies to the specific one you asked about too. Come on...
TenebrisZ94@reddit
The answer was light. Light is really fast. You just need to build the circuits correctly. There is an answer.
Ommand@reddit
You have problems.
Skeletal_Gamer1001@reddit
why are you suddenly triggered.......?
Canadian_Border_Czar@reddit
Do you work for Logitech, or are you just another gen z that likes to confidently talk out of their ass?
2.4 GHz is 2.4 GHz, no matter how you spin it. It is not light, it is radiofrequency and while it does transmit at the speed of light, that has very little to do with why wireless is not superior.
Lightspeed is indeed very good and for most circumstances more than sufficient, but it is not superior. The difference is between maximum performance, and specifications, where in this case the specification is determined by the user.
Logitech's lightspeed tech meets most peoples' specifications.
buildapc-ModTeam@reddit
Hello, your comment has been removed. Please note the following from our subreddit rules :
Rule 1 : Be respectful to others
^(Click here to message the moderators if you think this was in error)
funbob@reddit
An electromagnetic signal moves through the air faster than electrical signals through a cable. It's called velocity of propagation.
In atmosphere, that is about .9997c
In a wire, it's about .7c (varies with the type of medium, but .7 is a good general average)
So that means on paper, the signal from your wireless mouse makes it to the receiver about a nanosecond faster then travelling along a wire to your USB port from a wired mouse.
In practice, there's no difference nowadays with wireless peripherals using a signaling protocol that doesn't introduce any additional latency over wired USB signaling speeds.
Lenoriou@reddit
Finally, someone who speaks English
JirachiWishmaker@reddit
Pay enough money for quality, and you'll get it. It mostly comes from two areas:
Lightspeed is logitech's proprietary lowest weight they possibly can make protocol for transmission over 2.4 GHz. They're basically at the fastest point allowed at physics for that.
They've also been working on making better input methods, such as optical switches and the new similar to hall effect switches on the superstrike) to minimize the perceived latency by a human due to responding quicker to what you input.
funbob@reddit
An electromagnetic signal moves through the air faster than electrical signals through a cable. It's called velocity of propagation.
In atmosphere, that is about .9997c
In a wire, it's about .7c (varies with the type of medium, but .7 is a good general average)
So that means on paper, the signal from your wireless mouse makes it to the receiver about a nanosecond faster then travelling along a wire to your USB port from a wired mouse.
In practice, there's no difference nowadays with wireless peripherals using a signaling protocol that doesn't introduce any additional latency over wired USB signaling speeds.
_AlphaZulu_@reddit
I want to add the operating system and drivers DO matter (Windows 10 vs Windows 11).
I have a Logitech G502 X Lightspeed, when I use it on my Windows 11 laptop (Lenovo X1 Carbon; it's a work issued laptop). There is a bit of latency/lag.
But if I use the exact same mouse with the same blue tooth connector on my Windows 10 desktop PC, there is NO lag at all. Zero. I also have a second Lenovo X1 Carbon that is running Windows 10 and there is NO lag at all. So something is up with the bluetooth drivers on Windows 11. I don't know what it is, I've run all the updates and I have the latest Logitech Drivers but I haven't been able to fix the latency issue. I've just accepted the latency on the work laptop.
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
You don’t want bluetooth, there is noticeable latency there. You want to use 2.4 ghz wireless to connect. I cant explain what youre experiencing based on what youve said beyond that
saintdudegaming@reddit
I love my 502x but the battery is starting to blow through it's charge quickly these days. RGB is off, lowish poll rate, fully updated on software and firmware. I'll get another at some point but the prices are kinda high now.
primerabbit7@reddit
I used to use wireless. One day, I was playing minecraft hardcore. Flying in the end when the battery died. I got to watch my world go bye bye. Switched to cord immediately
snmnky9490@reddit
Really? I've tried several different wireless Logitech keyboards and mice and always end up going back to wired because the wireless ones end up dropping keys or otherwise not responding right. This has happened with multiple different computers and at least 4 different Logitech k/m sets
Scarabesque@reddit
My G Pro Wireless has been going strong for 5 years now, love it, zero issues with connection.
My former (wired) logitech keyboard was absolutely atrocious though, now on the wireless aula 75. Very nice keyboard.
snmnky9490@reddit
Yeah g pro wireless is literally the last one I got and gave up on after it sucked so bad even from like 5 feet away lol
Cormophyte@reddit
Yeah, I'm pretty lag sensitive and avoided wireless like it was my religion but only reluctantly because I hate mouse wires almost as much as latency. Then one day after my last wired mouse wore out I saw the specs and some testing on the newly released 502 Lightspeed and decided to give it a chance. It's practically indistinguishable from wired. Been using wireless mice ever since.
Imgema@reddit
Ι have been in a ton of discussions about wireless gamepads and i always defend the XBOX pads because they have a wireless dongle. Sure, other pads may be better but i automatically reject any of them that don't have their own dongle while most others defend bluetooth and claim there are no issues or latency.
MattBrey@reddit
I have a Bluetooth 5 adapter and I don't notice any input lag unless I'm using 4 controllers at the same time (which is generally playing party games so it's fine). The dongle is not being produced by Microsoft anymore but you can find alternative versions still and they're compatible with any made for Xbox controller, they're pretty good too.
Roph@reddit
I remember seeing a video years ago testing various controllers wired and wireless, either proprietary wireless or bluetooth, and bluetooth was the best by far.
I think it was a dualshock 4, wired was nearly a whole frame latency but bluetooth was like 2ms.
Your "bluetooth is laggy" knee jerk belongs in the 2000s, or you're thinking of buffered audio and think it applies to everything else.
Scarabesque@reddit
I have yet to see low latency Bluetooth pc input devices that beat wireless dongles, but if you have examples I'm open to accepting it's caught up.
elprincipechairo@reddit
I also play a lot of CS, what mice do you recommend?
Scarabesque@reddit
It's specific to your preference of mouse of course. I have the original g pro wireless sand love it, would have gone for the superlight version now.
rixuraxu@reddit
The biggest problem I've noticed with Bluetooth is the bandwidth, if everything sounds nice to you, your mic probably sounds like shit to everyone else.
Xaan83@reddit
Even 10 years ago the Logitech G900 latency wasn't noticeable. I haven't used a wired mouse since it came out.
Scarabesque@reddit
Yeah I think that marketing experiment is pretty old at this point, but pro players were pretty skeptical of wireless tech still, so they organized that ruse. Pretty funny and effective tbh. :)
Confident_Oil4430@reddit
First off the switch between a wireless mouse and a wired mouse for gaming is night and day. The concern is the delay witch most gaming mice do under 1ms and have no noticeable delay to gaming most pros use wireless mice due to the fact that the wire has no friction and no extra weight getting dragged around not where the mouse is making your movements not precise and different everytime becuase of the weight and position of the cord etc. But it's just so much easier to use I can throw my mouse around my desk and not have to worry about my wire colliding wirh my monitor or anything if you haven't upgraded I would as soon as possible. Wireless keyboard and headset are good too but not the most needed but a good wireless mouse makes gameplay so much easier and less restricting. Wireless headphones are good and don't have much delay I just don't feel like charging them only reason why I use wired headphones and cuz I'm a cheap bastard but if you find yourself walking away from your desk while listening to music wireless headphones can be a blast
ExpeditionItchyKnee@reddit
Is this real
Confident_Oil4430@reddit
Yes plus battery life really isn't a big deal take maybe 15 minutes to charge my mouse and I game for like a week-2 weeks before charging.
Patient_Thought_6890@reddit
My wireless headset has some latency on the wireless dongle, its not a crazy amount but if you really listen to it, there's a small disconnect between the video and audio I'm hearing.
As for the wireless mice and kb, same thing, a very slight delay.
For competitive gaming, I really don't recommend it. For casual gaming though? Great because idc for the performance, just need a cleaner table and less wires.
Yamikuh@reddit
Why are you asking for anecdotes instead of just looking it up to see the measurable differences? Even if there is a difference most people can’t accurately decipher sub 10ms changes.
cheesecakemelody@reddit
No, and I think those that say yes are casuals pretending they’re pros.
None of anything that you’re asking about matters with the overwhelming majority of decently made peripherals. And unless you’re going against shroud it won’t matter anyways.
Full_Vegetable_5348@reddit
nope. Logitech G703 light speed for like 3 years now, I have never experienced any mouse latency. I do use the dongle, can't speak for bluetooth mice.
Orrickly@reddit
If they do it isn't like it used to be. I'd say myself and probably 99% of players are not good enough for it matter anymore.
SignalButterscotch73@reddit
I use wired peripherals because I can't be arsed with having to change or charge batteries.
I don't take my keyboard or mouse on a wander around the flat, they stay put next to my PC and I expect them to always work, so the benefits of wireless are pointless to me.
NotLunaris@reddit
I used to think that before I got a wireless mouse. It's not like I can't live without it, but boy do I like it more than I thought. No cable drag for mouse movements is really nice, and charging is only needed once or twice a month.
Plightz@reddit
Cable drag is very noticeable now that I've mostly switched. It's crazy.
_dekoorc@reddit
The two peripherals that do bother me being wired are my mouse and my headphones.
The mouse seems to always have a wild cable because I have shit on my desk. It's a work/play space, so that's not going to change.
The headphones? It's annoying when you decide to get up and have to take your headphones off. Sometimes the cable is annoying hitting your chin and chest or your hands and keyboard. I wish I could get wireless headphones working better on my machine.
PowerfulAgent9939@reddit
Same I keep it always wired as you hate to charge the thing anyway at some point, wireless works for productivity but not so much for gaming peripherals
pss395@reddit
Wireless has been a non issue for the better part of 10 years now. Just don't use bluetooth and you're good.
Asian_Scion@reddit
Unless you're a professional gamer running the professional circuit out there in competition, I wouldn't worry about it. And even then, some pros use wireless as well, probably uses the 2.4hz dongle wireless vs. bluetooth. There is latency in Bluetooth vs. dongle but dongle vs. wired, not as big of a difference as the bluetooth one.
ime1em@reddit
I game with a wireless mouse, no issue (Contour Unimouse)
Pitiful-Assistance-1@reddit
No, except for Bluetooth in most but not all cases
WizardMoose@reddit
zero latency that is possible to be noticed.
There are tools that some tech reviewers use to show the latency differences across brands and devices. But again, this latency is not noticeable at all.
SKDirgon@reddit
Mouse yeah absolutely I’ve had zero issues with my 2.4ghz Razers
Keyboards on the other hand seem to just randomly cut out for me. I don’t see the point for a keeb, I don’t move it and I end up putting the dongle like a foot in front of it so what am I really saving?
Wet_FriedChicken@reddit
Nope. They haven’t for a decade plus.
ZehAngrySwede@reddit
I've got a razer wireless mouse and I have no noticeable latency, even over BT.
My wife's keyboard is also wireless, a Corsair, and it's connected via 2.4ghz dongle. It's about five years old and has had no issues.
Novaaaaaa@reddit
What is this bot ass post (and all the posts from this account for that matter)? Input latency hasn’t been a concern with wireless mice for close to a decade at this point, neither is it a problem for keyboards or headsets. This account is just engagement farming.
Sajgoniarz@reddit
Most gaming peripherails have dongles with 2-4 ms. BT is another league.
Last time i had issue with BT device stability was 7 years ago due to problem with motherboard and was fixed in BIOS update.
It's more like brain relability. In 7 years of using bt/dongle mouses, keyboards and headphones personally and professionally i only once get into "out of juice" sitation, due to unscheduled 1,5h call.
To the comparission I have a friend with autism and "guys, my mouse is dead" is her weekly quote.
No, it depends on your brain perception that can be trained. I don't play competitve games and BT mouse, keyboard and headphones are just fine to me, but when a friend came to me, who plays CS tournaments he though that i have broken keyboard drivers.
Never. I have a single "free" USB-C cable on my desk just to charge mouse, headphones, keyboard and smartphone. I'm only annoyed because of smartphone that requires charging every 3 days. My headphones usage varies, so they require charging between 4 and 7 days. Everything else lasts on battery at least 1 week.
AlaskanDruid@reddit
Absolutely
ImYourDade@reddit
Why did you ask this question here? And type up this whole post? You easily could've had your answer from Google in 2 minutes with a lot less effort.
Sajgoniarz@reddit
Dongles makes 2-4 ms delay. BT in my keyboard is like 30-40ms, but i don't play games where second of it is noticable.
Everborn128@reddit
Been using a wireless g502 that I've been using for 125 years at this point. No lag ever, no hiccups ever. Nothing
anoordle@reddit
imo no reason to use wired peripherals if you don't want to in the big 2026
dignified-place@reddit
No
CorrectEducation8842@reddit
honestly modern wireless is way better than people think.
good gear (like Logitech Lightspeed or Razer Hyperspeed) is basically indistinguishable from wired in real use, even in FPS. most pros wouldn’t use it otherwise.
where you might notice issues is cheap peripherals, crowded WiFi environments, or if you forget to charge 😅
for competitive shooters, high-end wireless = totally fine. for casual gaming, it’s a no-brainer.
biggest difference now is convenience vs battery, not latency anymore.
pashale@reddit
I use a death adder v3 pro, play plenty of compet and no complaints.
Tapelessbus2122@reddit
for anything that isn't a mouse, get wired
CarefreeCloud@reddit
If latency worries you - you get a 2.4ghz dongle device ands its like 3ms extra (comparing to 16-30 of cpu latency to process it) so totally nonexistent. Bluetooth it depends. Older devices lag. Newer - did not see measurements, but it does not feel like they do
Capokid@reddit
BT hasn't lagged since xbox 360 days, BT xbox one controllers have the same latency as wired. The wireless dongle for them is actually slightly faster than a cable though. Same with BT headphones, if its BT 5.0 or later there is no noticable latency over having it wired.
Boryk_@reddit
Let’s not spread lies, BT has noticeable latency over wired; xbox controller, ear buds, off brand controller all add at least 100ms
selectexception@reddit
The audio codec does, not the others.
Capokid@reddit
https://gamepadla.com/compare/xbox-core-controller_vs_xbox-one-controller.html
You are flat out wrong. Stop spreading bullshit yourself. 4ms is not a noticable difference.
ldn-ldn@reddit
AptX LL exists.
Boryk_@reddit
Have it, still notice significant delay
ldn-ldn@reddit
Lol ok.
SethMatrix@reddit
BT is still more latent than RF. For competitive players 20ms difference is not nothing.
Capokid@reddit
https://gamepadla.com/compare/xbox-core-controller_vs_xbox-one-controller.html Its 4 ms
SethMatrix@reddit
This is r/buildapc. We’re using a lot more than Xbox controllers. The latency difference on headphones is more like 20ms.
Capokid@reddit
i gave an example of something thats been extensively tested that works as a good example of how much latency BT adds to a device. BT aptx low latency also works very well with headphones and adds minimal, unnoticeable latency to headphones. If youve ever used decent BT headphones on a system with 5.0 or later BT standard then you would know there isnt any real difference between using BT or wired beyond the sound quality.
it
is
not
noticable
BT works great these days, no need to spread your ignorance.
SethMatrix@reddit
Try googling more next time.
https://attackshark.com/blogs/knowledges/bluetooth-2-4ghz-latency-gaming-tests
Notice how nobody in this thread agrees with you?
Because we’ve tried it.
Anim8a@reddit
That doesn't sound right.
Microsoft - Xbox One Model 1708
Microsoft - Xbox One Series X/S / Elite Series 2
Sony - DualSense (Playstation 5)
Sony - DualShock 4 (Rev2)
Test method: closed loop; homebrew device you can build yourself from an Arduino Pro Micro and a few cables. The test results are extremely accurate, down to fractions of a millisecond.
https://www.cathoderayblog.com/lag-test-your-controller-mister-fpga-input-latency-tester/
https://rpubs.com/misteraddons/inputlatency
Capokid@reddit
https://gamepadla.com/compare/xbox-core-controller_vs_xbox-one-controller.html Xbox has the same latency with dongle or wired. This has heen extensively tested, and most testers get faster response with the dongle.
Anim8a@reddit
The link you provided has very close to the same ms result of showing BT Xbox controller at 10.23 ms vs 5.54 ms for wired cable.
https://u.cubeupload.com/Anim8/xbox.png
Also of note that looking at the test method they are using isn't going to be as accurate vs FPGA, as they are using software running on a x86 Windows PC.
The Mister latency tester is using a custom made core running directly on a FPGA(DE10-nano) chip via serial. It's not possible to get a controller running with as low latency or less overhead on x86 than FPGA using a real time serial loopback connection such as SNAC(it bypasses all USB layers, offering a direct connection), Jamma(arcade board) or a Blister type connection. It can also be using for real time audio with no buffering such as midi.
You can buy a snac adapter from here for example: https://ultimatemister.com/product-category/mister-snac/
_dekoorc@reddit
It might not have more latency, but a dedicated dongle is definitely a more solid connection because of the algorithms they use for channel discovery and finer tuned drivers/firmware.
Basically, Bluetooth (even the newest ones) don't search as aggressively for a new channel and have to deal with different drivers that aren't optimized for what you're trying to do with input devices.
At my house, Xbox Series controllers are extremely reliable when connected to my Series X, but have sucked with every PC I've ever had.
And down to the OS too. My Bose QC35 Bluetooth headphones are fantastic with my Macbook and phones. They suck so hard with my PCs.
Capokid@reddit
If you had bothered to read the original comment you would have seen that I said the woreless dongle is the best solution for the controllers.
_dekoorc@reddit
And if you had bothered to actually read my comment instantly going to "i'm big mad", you would know that I added nuance about algorithms and interference that you left out of your comment.
No-Operation-6554@reddit
shitty bluetooth adapters still exist
CarefreeCloud@reddit
Yeah I know I use my last gamepad in Bluetooth mode with tv, to not be bothered fetching dongle from PC.
It's good
WildWolf_02@reddit
Mouse really needs a dongle if you're gaming
If you have good Headphones then they can work on Bluetooth too
Controllers, well I have the Xbox one and only option is Bluetooth, never noticed any delay
Keyboards-no idea😕
10v1@reddit
Bluetooth, yes latency. Included wireless dongle from mfgr for device, next to none. Best of luck.
EverglowingSunset@reddit
yeah the dongle thing is key, been using gamо series gx7 for a while now and no lag issue with the 2.4ghz mode
Al-Azraq@reddit
I have a G502X Lightspeed and this thing is absolutely amazing. No connection issues, fast, comfortable, and the battery lasts forever. I will not come back to wired mice for sure. I also have a wireless headset from Logitech and it also works great, but here I feel like you can get a much better quality device for the same price if you go wired.
When it comes to keyboards, I don’t feel the need for going wireless as it is not a part you will move that much.
But really, latency is not an issue anymore as long as the peripheral doesn’t use Bluetooth.
JuJusFury@reddit
Things have changed. I went from a wired death adder to a light speed wireless mouse with a hero sensor. I got used to it quick and don't feel any latency issues.
Deep-Procrastinor@reddit
From my experience using a wireless mouse, none that is perceived, I have my dongle plugged in my keyboard usb port so adding another layer of potential latency but I don't see it Ive used a few different wireless mice from decent razer to cheap ones and not noticed any latency issues.
coolsam254@reddit
I would also like to ask people the following:
How long have you had your wireless mouse for?
How is the battery holding up?
NeonLime@reddit
I've had this particular mouse for 3.5 years, I charge it for like an hour once a month
purinikos@reddit
I don't know about latency but they use batteries. I used to have a wireless mouse and the battery dying in the middle of a game was very annoying. I will never buy wireless kb&m again. Even my dualsense is mostly used with a cable.
NamityName@reddit
My wireless mouse lasts for weeks and has a pulsing red light that comes on several days before it dies. Plus it can be used while plugged in and charging.
The dualsense battery is another issue. Those need to be charged after every session. Sometimes, but not too often, it will die in the middle of a long session. Thats one of the reasons I got two of them.
_dekoorc@reddit
You haven't seen an Apple Magic Mouse before then, have you? I kid, I kid -- this is /r/buildapc, not /r/mac. Terrible design choice to have the charge port on the bottom.
Hugh_Jass_Clouds@reddit
Weird. I have a Logitech g502x lightspeed. Never had an issue with the battery on it. Then again it lights up red when its time to charge it. Yellow when I am getting close to needing to charge it, and I get 2 to 3 weeks out of each charge. Most mouse brands have some sort of wireless charging now as well be it a dock, Qi, or what ever Logitech uses for their charge pads. There is literally 0 excuse to not know that your mouse is about to die for at least 12 hours before it does.
_dekoorc@reddit
tl;dr Wireless is fine, but make sure you get something that has a 2.4ghz dongle instead of relying on Bluetooth.
I'm only really play single player, besides slow paced stuff like UNO or PGA Tour. The only exception is Madden NFL, which is barely "fast-paced". I also work as a software dev.
With Bluetooth, I noticed occasional drops on all my PCs, no matter what I was doing (even just browsing the web or programming). It was happening with my keyboard and mouse (which were just short blips) and with my Xbox Series controller and headphones (complete disconnection issues that were often a pain to get connected again).
Grabbed a Logitech 2.4ghz USB dongle for my keyboard and mouse and haven't had any issues whatsoever with them since.
Grabbed a wired 8bitdo controller and haven't had any issues since. I'd think of getting one of their 2.4ghz ones now, but I was jaded at the time and unwilling to try it. And I don't really need another controller atm.
Bought a Soundblaster X4 to plug my headphones into. It has a combo line out/line in port to use with my headphones, which was a requirement. And something I could put on my desk so the cable could reach. This is the least reliable device (and the most annoying peripheral to use wired). The hardware is good, but the drivers and software aren't the best. It works like 99% of the time though and if it doesn't, it's an easy fix (just switch the driver because Windows is being dumb). Haven't had any issues at all in Linux.
On my Mac's, I saw little blips with the keyboard and mouse on Bluetooth from time to time, but it usually exhibited as something like delayed text or a slow cursor and it resolved itself immediately. And also happened wayyyyy less often. After seeing what the dongle did for my PC, I bought one to plug into my TB4 dock and haven't looked back. I've never used a controller with a Mac and my Bluetooth headphones have always worked flawlessly with a Mac.
AskForNate@reddit
I just got a steal on a Logitech Astro 50X, I was nervous it would be worse than my Logitech G Pro Wired.
The Astro is amazing.
AceLamina@reddit
Cheap ones probably, but most people won't notice
FenrirWolfie@reddit
It probably doesn't, but i don't wanna deal with charging another device so wired it is.
za72@reddit
there are SO MANY layers involved in calculating latency from hardware to software that one single piece of tech in not enough to calculate and blame a single layer alone - for example, The Division on my PC used to run butter smooth originally, i installed it again recently and noticed extreme amount of lag, I tweaked and tweaked anything and everything until I found out it was the poling frequency on my wired mouse... the engine was basically being overwhelmed by the messages my mouse was sending to the Hardware -> OS -> Engine
jaakeup@reddit
I went from wired, to wireless, back to wired. I really liked going from wired to wireless because my first wired mouse had a thick wire that would tug on the mouse (I think Logitech mx518?) Switching to my first wireless Logitech G602 was amazing. Mainly because it was heavy and two double A batteries lasted with over 6 months of use with a ton of hours per day. Eventually, the scroll wheel on that mouse died and when I tried to solder it to fix it, I killed the entire mouse. Devastating but I moved on. From there I went back to a logitech g502 wired. Great mouse, not enough buttons, and I didn't have the braided cable so I still had the cable issues so I eventually moved to a logitech g pro wireless. The scroll wheel started going up when scrolling down. I had to charge it maybe once every 2 months? The bad part about charging that mouse was that the charging cable is literally the stiffest cable I've ever used. Almost as stiff as an HDMI cable. It was basically useless when I had to charge it. Sometimes it died even more frequently and while it doesn't sound bad, the fact that it died mid-game even more than once, made it a bad mouse in my eyes. So then I moved to the spiritual successor of my first mouse the G604. Good mouse, same shape for my full palm grip, wireless, shoulda been good. It sucked primarily because of the weak battery life (around 3 months) and it had issues with the grip on the thumb peeling cause it was just rubber and no plastic underneath. It also scrolled when in infiniti scroll mode if I picked up the mouse. Again, it died mid-game multiple times and that's a deal breaker to me because that one needed batteries.
Now I'm back to wired, using a razer basilisk v3. I kinda hate not having a ton of buttons but the cable is braided and extremely loose. I added some glides and it's honestly like the cable isn't even there. I just tied the cable to my monitor arm and it's perfect. The best part, I never have to worry about a battery dying. So much better than wireless.
capibara_dono@reddit
The Logitech mice with lightspeed technology are the closest I've tried that can compete with a wired mouse. I haven't tried the keyboard though.
Ritvik158@reddit
No lol it’s not an issue. Any latency you experience at this point is not due to the peripherals but probably due to config settings within your pc. There’s thousands of videos on YouTube that discuss and prove that.
woofwoofbro@reddit
they've had no latency for like 10 years at this point. I remember getting into PCs in like 2016 and there being wireless stuff with dedicated receivers with no latency
Qbert2030@reddit
Yes, audio is pretty much the only one we haven't perfected. Other than that, almost indistinguishable from wired to anyone but a pro
PM_ME_YOUR_SPUDS@reddit
Nah. Bluetooth headphones / earbuds are the only noticeable lag I see, those can be pretty killer even if you're not playing anything particularly sound sensitive. And doing like a rhythm game or such with them? That's right out.
The way it works is the delay is built-in for videos, so everything lines up real nice and if its working properly you never notice. But dynamic audio (like games) don't have a way to compensate for that, and you get the full delay between audio being played and hearing it on your headphones.
potato_analyst@reddit
Been using g915 and g pro mouse for ages now, really good combo.
gen_adams@reddit
and they need batteries. all the time. this is worse than any delay tbh
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
Bro the g403 uses a AA and lasts longer than youve probably ever owned a wireless mouse
Scarabesque@reddit
Wireless mice with AA batteries are substantially heavier though, not ideal for competitive gaming.
A mouse with a smaller rechargeable battery is usually worth the compromise, especially for competitive gamers. You just have to charge it every now and then, though they last pretty long anyway.
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
If you are gaming professionally buy two wireless mice
prank_mark@reddit
Those low weight mice are just a fad. There was a time when the G502 was THE most popular mice (it's still extremely popular) and it came with EXTRA WEIGHTS. With those light weight mice you'll actually have way less control because there is no resistance on the desk.
Scarabesque@reddit
Light gaming mouse are what basically every pro fps player uses, and most players who take competitive fps gaming somewhat seriously buy.
Here is a list of CS2 pro gear, the overwhelmingly vast majority of mice are extreme light mice, the G Pro Superlight 2 being the most represented one of all mice.
It's fine that you prefer a heavy mouse and feel that's what adds control, but it's just strange to claim it's a fad, as the direction of gaming mouse has been very consistently towards lighter wireless mice.
prank_mark@reddit
The fact that pro players use something doesn't prove it's not a fad
The fact that pro players use something doesn't mean it's the best for regular users
Scarabesque@reddit
The post you responded to very specifically mentions competitive gaming, twice. Beyond that feel free to believe what you wish.
VulpesIncendium@reddit
All decent modern wireless mice use built-in lithium ion batteries, and you can still use them while they're charging.
AtomicSwagsplosion@reddit
Not really noticeable to me, and I've played competitive shooters on wireless
BilisS@reddit
Only issue ive noticed is that USB 3.0 data activity can produce RF noise that can degrade performance of nearby 2.4 GHz wireless devices. Some dongles keep cutting out when plugged into or near 3.0 ports. https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-30-radio-frequency-interference-impact-24-ghz-wireless-devices
FeyrenX@reddit
The latest logitech mice are stupid good Personally using a g502x lightspeed
PIZZAMEMER69@reddit
No, in pro valorant 99.9% players use a wireless mouse. Make sure to use 2.4ghz gear instead of bluetooth though.
Also since a keyboard isnt something youd be moving at all mid game i think its still better going wired unless you have a specific theme in mind.
As for headphones, gaming headsets kinda suck tbh but if you just want a no brain buy which just works I suppose itd be fine. Although i highly reccomend going with an iem and a seperate mic or an iem with a cable that has a mic, which you could get both for under 60$ total outperforming every "gaming headset".
PIZZAMEMER69@reddit
As for my personal experience, I have two wireless mice the ATK Fierce x and the razer viper v2 pro and will never go back to wired. No problems whatsoever.
PM_ME_BLONDE_GIRLS_@reddit
To add to the convo, Bluetooth is mostly fine if you don't have much interference also. Bluetooth can be good, I have noticed some lag on my system with Bluetooth peripherals, but I'm sitting next to a Bluetooth sound bar that has its own Bluetooth woofer. That doesn't include other wifi and wireless items in that area similar to an entertainment area.
DarthWeezy@reddit
There hasn't been such a concern for close to a decade so...?
Dubl33_27@reddit
idk, all i kmow is it's more expensive so i'm getting the more reliable wired g915 X
booyafafa@reddit
Wireless had noticeable latency up until like the early 2010s, they’ve since figured it out. Any quality wireless product will be indistinguishable from a wired one now.
It’s just a prolonged stigma thats carried over from when they used to be bad.
chr0n0phage@reddit
No
TradeSekrat@reddit
Signal interference is a non-issue now if running off each devices own dongle. My main gaming system runs two key boards (one a wireless ROG keyboard) and two different wireless mice with no issues. Next to Bluetooth speaker and a media PC running it's own wireless mouse. No issues at all.
Battery life is a tricky issue due to the shift to ultra light gaming mice, super high 8k polling rate options and amount of degen gaming hours per a day. Subjective issue but as a low master at best level gamer the whole 4k and 8k poll rates is mostly pointless and gobbles up power.
Like my Pulsar x2 CrazyLight at 35g has such a tiny battery it needs to be charged up twice as often as my Lamzu Maya at 45g, both running 500hz poll rate. Pulsar being my daily driver and Lamzu for gaming. Yet it still lasts 2-3 days between charge for the Pulsar.
The battery pig is the media systems Razor Orochi v2. I thought it would last 3-5 months per AA battery like the Logitec G305 it replaced. No, it's 30 days max even at the lowest poll rate. That's barely even moving it and turning it off VS stand by..
dabocx@reddit
I’m not good enough for it to matter even if it does exist.
Lizpy6688@reddit
Relatable. We're both in paper ranks I bet
herrht@reddit
Yay, wood division!
Ispawnfuries@reddit
Quintuple Bread Mold
PhilThird@reddit
I also subscribe to this answer
zman6116@reddit
Was the same as you, rocked wired versions of everything. Started slowly adopting wireless and noticed no downsides (other than battery life). I play exclusively competitive FPS shooters
Logitech G502 Wireless Logitech Pro X TKL Wireless HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
Still have a wired Boom style mic, would highly recommend that.
IcarusV2@reddit
I have a Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, and I love it. It has very, very low latency. It lasts about a week on the battery (I run mine on 2k hz)
I think the fact that these mice are in use by so many pro FPS players says it all - if there were any issues with latency on wireless mice like the Logitechs, they would never be used by the pros.
VulpesIncendium@reddit
I fully switched over to wireless several years ago now, after seeing some side-by-side comparisons showing that there's literally no difference anymore, and in some cases, the wireless mice actually have lower latency than wired. Input lag and connection stability have been completely solved at this point, they feel just as good as wired.
The only downside is batteries. Sometimes I forget to watch the battery level and they die on me at the worst possible moment. That said, you just plug them in and keep playing as they charge. If you actually have an important competitive match coming up, just do a quick charge beforehand and you'll be all good to go.
ZequineZ@reddit
My experience is that if you wanna game from a distance from the rig and youre going cheap on the keyboard or mouse, go Bluetooth. Cheap mice won't see their dongle properly from more than like 1-2 metres away and it'll suck ass.
But a decent headset of mine on 2.4ghs works from lets me walk a good 10 metres away through the house before it starts cutting out.
I'm yet to square a keyboard and mouse with the dongle for my gaming setup due to the price of the decent ones. I recently moved my old PC to the lounge and being wireless for that was mandatory, I needed something cheap so I opted not to risk another dongle setup for that and the Bluetooth is working fine, it's not for fast paced gaming anymore tho so it's fit for that purpose
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
None at all! Use 2.4ghz usbs and only use wireless and cant notice a difference
CMDR-LT-ATLAS@reddit
I hate wireless.
Vokasak@reddit
Never switching back
TheMagicMrWaffle@reddit
They have lower latency than wired peripherals now, although neither are noticeable
AmazingToe7231@reddit
My PC is connected to a TV so I wireless setup for keyboard/mouse and before headset. Wireless mice came a log way, I am running Logitech G305 which you can get for like 50 USD, comfortable, fast. The only issue I had with it that the click was so sensitive I would double-click, stuck a piece of paper under the button and it's fine.
For keyboard I am on Rapoo e9100m cause super lightweight, has low profile keys and all buttons of regular keyboard. I had some issues with it with connectivity, as in I start typing and it doesn't react for first few clicks, but I got BT adapter for like 10 usd and it works much better. No issues in games.
Headphones sound wise also things are great, even lower end models will give you good quality. Sadly if you want good quality wireless mic that's where you will run into issues. Even top of the line headphones of have trash mic. But there are now attachable microphones, that you attach to your headphones that work much better, but they ain't cheap.
sky_walker6@reddit
Yes
MrFartyBottom@reddit
All depends on the device and type of wireless connection. See this chart for common controller latency.
https://rpubs.com/misteraddons/inputlatency
You really aren't going to notice anything under 5ms.
JOM41@reddit
If I’m not mistaken latency issues don’t really show up until the peripheral is low on batter
zDexterity@reddit
some pros use wireless peripherals so I don't think it's a big deal nowadays.