Optical Mouse
- LED light is the illumination source.
- Lower dpi than a laser mouse.
- Surface illumination.
Laser Mouse
- Laser is the illumination source.
- Higher dpi, so it’s more sensitive.
- Deep illumination.
Optical and laser mice differ in the technology used to track movement. The optical mouse uses an LED light as an illumination source. The laser mouse, as its name indicates, utilizes a laser.
Optical mice have a resolution of around 3,000 dpi, while laser mice have a resolution between 6,000 and 15,000+ dpi. Since laser mice have a higher dpi, these devices track more dots per inch and are more sensitive. The average user probably can’t tell the difference.
Some users, however, such as gamers and graphic designers, may notice the difference and prefer a laser mouse or a specialized mouse.