Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse review: The best wired mouse you can buy for $60

Terminal twelvemonth, Microsoft reintroduced its classic IntelliMouse line. Dating back to 1996, the IntelliMouse brand showed the world that computer mice could exist as ergonomic as they are functional. An entire generation grew up on IntelliMouse and its cousins, inspiring mouse design for years to come up.

The Classic IntelliMouse Microsoft launched last year was a solid reimagining of the original product, and while I initially loved it, some of the materials Microsoft utilized didn't lend themselves well to frequent utilize. The rubber side grips eventually wore away, and the safe cable also began to get damaged, with frequent folding and motion. Thankfully, it looks as though Microsoft has taken to middle some of those downsides, releasing a new "Pro" IntelliMouse that addresses all of my previous grievances, while adding various other refinements.

Allow'due south take a look.

Trusty Companion

Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse

$60

Lesser line: The Pro IntelliMouse refines and improves upon the first modern IntelliMouse, making it one of the best no-nonsense mice y'all can buy.

Pros

Ergonomic and sleek
Highly configurable
Textured side buttons for better grip
Smooth action on almost whatsoever surface
Braided cablevision for high flexibility
RGB lighting

Cons

No wireless selection
A footling on the pricey side

What you'll honey about the Pro IntelliMouse

The Pro IntelliMouse is the same ergonomic shape inspired by the 1996 IntelliMouse Explorer iii.0, hand-sculpted for a natural fit in your palm. I've been using it daily not-stop for the past iii weeks, and find it to exist one of the nigh immediately comfortable mice I've ever used.

Category	Spec
Interface	USB 2.0 total speed uniform
Buttons	five buttons (3 customizable*) including left and correct click and curl wheel button
Scrolling	Vertical scrolling
Mouse written report rate	g reports per second, user-configurable
Tracking technology	PixArt PAW3389PRO-MS
Tracking speed	Upwards to 400'' (10,160 mm) per second
DPI	Adjustable upwardly to 16,000
Compatibility	Windows x Pro, Windows 10 Dwelling, Windows 10 S/8.1/8/seven
Dimensions	v.20 x two.72 x 1.68 in (132.00 x 69.00 x 43.00 mm)
Weight	0.31 lbs (0.fourteen kgs)

Equally I noted in the intro, the 2022 Archetype IntelliMouse used a rubbery cloth on the side grips that became worn and irritating very quickly, which is why I've waited a few weeks earlier writing up my experiences with the new Pro version. Thankfully, Microsoft has used a college-quality material for the grips on this mouse, and fifty-fifty when I scrape against information technology with my thumbnail it remains fully intact. The previous cloth was almost vaguely fibrous, and while it was probably a petty more "grippy," it was nowhere near what I'd call hard-wearing. This solution feels much amend.

Another improvement Microsoft has made tin can be constitute in the cable, which is now a modernized braided cloth instead of the very unruly condom material Microsoft used in the 2022 Classic version. The braided cable won't fight against you for control of the mouse unlike more taut materials, making it most feel every bit liberating to move as a wireless mouse. The runners underneath are a very polish, sleeky material with an e'er-so-subtle curvature that allows the mouse liberty to glide on any surface.

Speaking of surfaces, the PixArt sensor Microsoft has dropped into this thing is impressive, with a k reports per second polling rate adjustable upward to 16,000 DPI. My desk-bound is an ancient article of furniture previously used as an fine art table, covered in bumps, scrapes, and blobs of decades-dried paint. The Pro handles the rough desk terrain with ease, eliminating the demand to use a mouse mat entirely.

Some boosted improvements include grooved texturing on the side buttons, making them a little easier to grasp at with your thumb. The light is also RGB configurable, in true gamer-style, and compatible with Microsoft'due south fledgling Xbox Dynamic Lighting integration, irresolute color based on the situation in supported games. Although, the number of games supporting this now (and honestly, in the hereafter) is slim. I stuck it on ruby to match the hue on my Razer keyboard, only you tin can select whatever color you cull.

This is all achieved via the first-class Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Heart software, which allows you to customize every button, set up macros and configure sensitivity and speeds, which are then stored on the mouse itself without having to keep the app open.

Is there anything worth disliking almost this mouse?!

What you'll dislike nigh the Pro IntelliMouse

There's simply very picayune to mutter about across the lath

I truly feel equally though I'grand scraping the barrel here, there'due south simply very footling to complain virtually this mouse. The materials are great and feel premium, the mouse is ergonomic and powerful, and the software is feature-rich and easy to utilize. The simply downside is that, in this price range, Razer has a lot of alternatives that accept more than configurable buttons, which can be a boost for gaming.

The Razer DeathAdder Elite has seven programmable buttons, and the Razer Lancehead has eight, both with comparable prices and DPI ranges. The Pro IntelliMouse has only three customizable buttons, which might not lend itself well to gamers who like more than options out of their mouse.

Should you buy the Pro IntelliMouse?

The Pro IntelliMouse is ultimately everything I want from a mouse. It's sleek, ergonomic, feels great, and has a huge range of features. It'southward also modestly priced at $60, with high-quality construction and revised materials that could serve you lot well for years to come.

Honestly, the only real reason I can come up with to non buy this mouse is if you lot want more configurable buttons. Comparably-priced gaming mice often have boosted controls, with quick access to DPI tuning for situational aiming, for example. If you lot don't feel like you need all the actress buttons, and merely prefer the way the IntelliMouse looks versus some of its more "gamer-fied" competitors, this is a worthy successor to the IntelliMouse legacy.

Trusty Companion

Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse

Worthy of the IntelliMouse legacy.

The Pro IntelliMouse doesn't revolutionize the make simply introduces an assortment of modern improvements and features that brand information technology worthy of the IntelliMouse legacy.

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