Best Flawless Mouse Sensor List: Ranking (2023)

One of the most important components of a gaming mouse is the sensor. It is the backbone of any gaming mouse. It tracks movement and communicates with the computer by predicting where the mouse is on the screen. The better the prediction of a mouse sensor, the better the sensor accuracy.

Also, a good mouse sensor can make your aim much smoother in any FPS game. So, in this article, we will explore different types of gaming mouse sensors and find out which sensor is the best.

Type of Mainstream Gaming Mouse Sensor

There are two main types of mouse sensors: Optical and Laser.

Optical vs Laser Sensors

Optical sensors use an LED to illuminate the surface beneath the mouse, while laser sensors use a laser to achieve the same result. While both types of sensors can work well for gaming, optical sensors are generally considered to be more accurate. It has a higher maximum tracking speed and is less prone to acceleration issues.

One of the advantages of optical sensors is that they can work on almost any surface, as long as it is not too shiny or reflective. This makes them ideal for use on a wide variety of desks, mouse pads, and other surfaces. Optical sensors can track even very small movements of the mouse.

Rank and Comparison List of Popular Mouse Sensors

Below rankings are heavily based on price, accuracy, reliability, architectural flaws, and power efficiency. We have ignored the CPI for ranking as most gamers stick to less than 3200 Hz. Also, higher CPI almost produces similar results in tracking accuracy in most FPS games.

Now let’s talk about the sensors in-depth, starting with PixArt sensors. Shall we?

1. Best PixArt Sensors

Pixart has two types of popular sensors, PMW and PAW sensors. PixArt is known for producing high-quality sensors, with three of their most popular models being the PMW 3360, PMW 3389, and PAW 3399. These sensors are almost similar in terms of performance and difficult to differentiate.

1(a): PMW 3360 Sensor

The PixArt PMW 3360 is a popular choice among gamers due to its high CPI range of up to 12,000 and its tracking speed of 250 IPS (inches per second). It also has zero hardware acceleration, which means that the cursor will move in a 1:1 ratio with the mouse’s movements. It is built with a 23-bit ARM microprocessor and a USB data format of 16 bits per axis.

Despite being OG, it is still the most popular sensor in gaming mice due to its accuracy and affordability.

List of mice with Pixart PMW 3360 sensor

1(b): PMW 3366 Sensor

The PMW 3366 is a highly regarded sensor used in Logitech gaming mice. It is a modified version of the PMW 3360 sensor by Logitech using custom firmware.

It has a CPI range of up to 12,000 and a tracking speed of 400 IPS. The sensor has zero hardware acceleration, and its highly accurate and precise tracking makes it a popular choice for competitive gamers. The PMW 3366 is a reliable and consistent sensor that is well-suited to all types of games.

As of now, PMW 3366 sensor is discontinued and replaced by the Hero and Hero 16K sensor by Logitech. It is due to the fact that Hero sensors are much cheaper to manufacture and Logitech does not have to pay any royalty fee to Pixart.

List of mice with Pixart PMW 3366 sensor

1(c): PMW 3389 Sensor

The PixArt PMW 3389 is an improved version of the PMW 3360 and is found in many high-end gaming mice. It shares the same architecture as PMW 3360 sensor but has slightly improved technical specs.

The CPI has increased from 12,000 to 16,000 (max cap of PMW 3360) with a tracking speed of 450 IPS. The lift cutoff is less than 2mm, which means if you lift it above the range, the mouse will no longer function. It also has zero hardware acceleration and is known for its exceptional accuracy.

List of mice with Pixart PMW 3389 sensor

1(d): PMW 3390 Sensor

The PMW 3390 is a custom variant of the PMW 3389 sensor, made by Razer, exclusively for Razer mice.

This sensor is tweaked a little bit in terms of performance to adapt Razer mice accuracy. That is why, it has the same 16,000 CPI and comes with 450 IPS as the original PMW 3389 sensor.

List of mice with Pixart PMW 3390 sensor

1(e): PMW 3391 Sensor

The PixArt PMW 3391 is Corsair’s variant of the PMW 3360 sensor.

It is tweaked to boast a maximum CPI of 18,000 and a tracking speed of 400 IPS. It has zero hardware acceleration and is known for its low lift-off** distance and high precision. Nothing fancy here.

** Lift-off distance: Lift-off distance is the distance at which the sensor will stop tracking when the mouse is lifted off the surface. The PMW 3391 has the lowest lift-off distance of the three sensors, which means that it will not track any movement when the mouse is lifted, making it a good choice for low-sensitivity gameplay.

Corsair M65 RGB mouse comes with PMW 3391 sensor.

1(f): PAW 3395 Sensor

PAW 3395 is currently the latest and greatest sensor by Pixart. It has all the features of the PAW 3399 sensor with a whopping CPI of 26,000, making it the smoothest mouse sensor ever built.

In addition, PAW 3395 uses less power (1.7 mA in high-performance mode and 1.3 mA in low-performance mode). Because of this low power consumption, the wireless mouse runs more on a single charge. Two programmable LOD (life-off distance) of 1mm and 2mm options are available.

1(g): PAW 3399 Sensor

The PAW 3399 sensor is a new addition to PixArt’s PAW sensor family. It features a maximum resolution of 20,000 CPI and a tracking speed of 650 IPS (inches per second).

Another notable feature of the PAW3399 sensor is its low power consumption (2.4 mA in high-performance mode and 1.7 mA in low-performance mode), which is important for wireless gaming mice. The sensor uses PixArt’s SmartEngergy technology, which enables it to operate for long periods of time on a single battery charge.

One of the key features of the PAW 3399 sensor is its ability to track accurately on a variety of surfaces, including glass, wood, and cloth. This is due to its advanced tracking algorithm, which allows it to adjust its tracking capabilities to match the surface it is being used on.

Three programmable LOD (life-off distance) of 1mm, 2mm, and 3 mm options are available.

1 (h): PMW 3325 Sensor

**This is our honorable mention**

PMW 3325 sensor has been around since 2016, but it gained popularity in recent years due to its excellent performance and affordability. PMW 3325 has two versions, TWV1 and TWMU, which are suitable for wired and wireless gaming mice, respectively. It has 5,000 CPI and a tracking speed of 100 IPS which is comparatively low as today’s standards. Additionally, It has almost no lift cut-off.

The specs of this sensor are quite basic yet good enough for casual FPS gaming. Due to this fact, you find this sensor mostly in low-budget gaming mice. PMW 3325 may be a little outdated sensor but due to its accurate tracking capability, it is still relevant.

One more thing about the 3325 PWM sensors is that they can introduce “spin out”. Which is not a trouble for most gamers.

What is Mouse Spin Out?

Mouse spin-out happens when you lift your mouse accidentally from the left side while the right side stays on the surface (or vice-versa). As a result, your mouse loses track of its original position when flicked quickly. It mostly happens due to bad architecture flaws or LOD (lift-off distance) capability.

2. Best Logitech Sensor

Logitech’s HERO (High Efficiency Rated Optical) sensor technology was first introduced in 2016 and since then almost every new Logitech mouse comes with a Hero sensor. It has become a staple in many of the company’s gaming mice. Before Hero sensors, Logitech used a modified PMW 3360 sensor on their gaming mice as I have mentioned above.

The HERO sensor is designed to offer a high level of precision and accuracy, especially for FPS gaming. It is ideal for gamers who demand the best performance from their peripherals. Hero sensor is highly customizable, allowing users to fine-tune their mouse’s performance to match their gaming style and preferences.

2(a): Hero 16K Sensor

Most of the new Logitech gaming mouse comes with the Hero 16k sensor which has an improved CPI of 16,000 over Hero sensors (12,000 CPI). In theory, the more the CPI a mouse sensor has the more precise it gets. With 16,000 CPI, Hero 16K gets more data to process and as a result, the accuracy improves.

The sensor tracks movement with pinpoint accuracy at a level below one-millionth of a meter, known as the sub-micron level. This sensor works with both wired and wireless mice.

List of mice with Hero 16k sensor

2(b): Hero 25K Sensor

Hero 25K is another sensor by Logitech with an increased CPI of 25,600. However, in terms of performance, it has almost the same accuracy and smoothness as the Hero 16K sensor. Some users have also reported that they have managed to upgrade their Hero 16K sensor to Hero 25K just by receiving a software update via Logitech G Hub software.

So needless to say that 25K can be a marketing gimmick. Therefore, Hero 16K is recommended as a cheaper yet more powerful option.

3. Best Razer Sensor

Razer is another well-known brand in the gaming industry, and its Razer Focus+ sensor is one of the best gaming mouse sensors available. The Razer Focus+ sensor offers excellent tracking and precision, making it an excellent choice for FPS games. The sensor is used in several of Razer’s top-of-the-line gaming mice, including the Razer Viper Ultimate and the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro.

3(a): Focus+ Sensor

Focus+ uses a variant of the PAW 3399 sensor which is patented by Razer. That’s why Razer offer’s you a high CPI of 20,000 and a tracking speed (IPS) of 650. Read above to know more about PAW 3399 sensor.

Focus+ sensor has intelligent motion tracking technology, which uses advanced algorithms to provide accurate tracking even during fast and sudden movements. It also allows you to customize the lift-off distance (1mm, 2mm, 3mm) from the surface according to your need. This can help to prevent unwanted cursor movements and improve overall accuracy.

List of mice with Focus+ sensor

3(b): Focus Pro 30K

Focus Pro 30K sensor advertises a shocking sensitivity (CPI) of 30,000 including a tracking speed of 750 IPS. No other mouse sensors are close to these specs. The mouse acceleration is also way too good i.e. 70 g. It also introduced an asymmetrical cut-off of 26 steps and claims to track perfectly on the glass surface with at least 4 mm thickness.

In spite of great specs, it doesn’t affect your mouse’s performance too much. The reason being 20,000 Hz CPI is already too high, and upgrading to 30,000 Hz won’t make any sense unless you are from outer space.

So from a performance point-of-view, you won’t feel any difference in daily gaming. However, if it all comes down to power efficiency, Focus Pro 30K sensor should be a clear choice here.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)