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When it comes to peripherals, the common belief is that wired peripherals are better than their wireless counterparts because they’re faster and more reliable. However, that’s not the case in 2024. I use all wireless tech because I hate wires, and the experience has been nothing short of great.
1Performance Is Just as Good as Wired
Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room. Unless you’re a professional eSports athlete, I doubt you’ll be able to tell the difference between wireless and wired peripherals when it comes to performance.
It’s not about using flagship or expensive wireless technologies like Logitech’s Lightspeed, either. I have both a G502X Plus Lightspeed that connects over a 2.4GHz connection and aKeychron K2 V2that uses a Bluetooth connection, and even in my most hectic gaming moments, they function perfectly fine.
Of course, there is going to be some input lag, and chances are it’s going to be more than something with a wire. However, unless you may tell the fine differences between a few couple of milliseconds, you’ll be good to go.
I’ve extensively tested my wirelessG502X Plus Lightspeedmouse against the older (and wired)G402 Hyperion Fury, and the G402 was faster—by about five milliseconds. That’s barely enough to put a dent in my performance, and unless you’re extremely perceptible to small lags, yours too.
The same applies to my keyboard. I’ve tested it over a wired connection versus over Bluetooth, and while there’s definitely more input latency, it’s barely recognizable whether you’re in-game or typing a simple document. At this point, any good wireless piece of tech, whether it’s a mouse, headphones, keyboard, controller, or anything else, performs just as well as its wired counterparts.
2Better Range and Reliability
Wireless tech has become much more reliable over time. If you gave up on your wireless headphones or mice years ago because of short ranges or constant disconnects, now’s the time to reconsider.
Keep in mind that range and reliability vary greatly depending on the wireless tech your peripherals are using. There areseveral differences between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, and they significantly affect how your device performs.
Simply put, if you want the best possible performance, range, and reliability, go for 2.4GHz tech. However, if you prioritize battery life and are okay with a little bit of extra input lag (less than 10-20ms in some cases), Bluetooth is the way to go.
If you’re using a keyboard and mouse, chances are you’re well within Bluetooth range of your PC, so range and reliability will largely remain the same. Headphones opt for Bluetooth because of its convenience, but if you’re looking at gaming headphones, you’ll see many use 2.4GHz wireless simply because it gives you unparalleled range and reliability.
Wireless audio is one aspect where I’ll admit a cable might be objectively better. Even there,wireless and 2.4GHz wireless audiohave caught up to the point where unless you want an audiophile-grade experience, most wireless headphones or earbuds on the market will easily be good enough.
3A Clean, Clutter-Free Desk
One of the biggest reasons I almost entirely switched to all wireless tech was the cable spaghetti my desk had become. Every peripheral had its own wire, and cleaning or packing my tech meant backtracking each of them. Even if I tried to cable manage my desk, it’d eventually end up in a jumble of wires.
Switching to wireless alternatives freed up a lot more space on my desk, giving me a much better and calmer working environment. I now have designated places for each item, and I don’t have to fumble around with USB ports when plugging in a keyboard, mouse, or headphones.
Additionally, with the number of ports shrinking on laptops with each generation, it’s a good time to ditch wires, as you’ll likely need external USB hubs or other adaptors to plug your devices in.
With wireless tech, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Additionally, there are no wires I need to protect from getting damaged. This is especially problematic with headphones and mice, as their wires tend to break and damage rather easily.
4You Get Freedom From Cable Failures
Speaking of wire issues, wireless tech gives you freedom from cable failures. We’ve all had to hold a pair of headphones or a charging cable at a certain angle for it to work at some point in our lives. That’s something you shouldn’t have to deal with.
Every piece of wireless tech I’ve bought has lasted longer than its wired counterparts, and the reason often comes down to the wire being damaged. Sure, you can replace the wire with a little bit of handy soldering, but just opening up a pair of headphones or an expensive mouse can be daunting enough, let alone replacing a cable. You should also keep in mind the skill set required to pull off these repairs.
Those cables do afford wired tech some benefits, and there’s a good argument to be made as towhy you should use wired tech. But unless you have a specific requirement that a wireless peripheral can’t satisfy, you’ll find wireless alternatives that easily match your expectations.
5Wireless Tech Is More Portable
Last but not least, wireless tech is much more portable and easy to carry. For my everyday carry, all I need to do is switch my mouse off and put it in my backpack—instead of worrying about folding the cable the right way and making sure it fits without bending too hard. The same goes for headphones and any other piece of tech I may have to carry on a trip.
Those cables might not look like a lot, but as someone who’s had to pack up his entire desk on the daily and move around with it in a backpack, they end up taking up an incredible amount of space. On top of that, you’ll be worried about your cables sitting at an odd angle or bend.
I genuinely think wireless tech has reached a point where its main concerns—performance, reliability, and connectivity—have all been adequately resolved. Yes, you might need to charge a bunch of devices every now and then, but the benefits wireless tech affords far outweigh that.
