Why Do Gaming Mice Have Holes?

Mice with holes in their body, also called honeycomb designs, are increasingly popular among gamers. But do they offer real improvements?

If you follow the news on PC gaming hardware, you will likely have seen a new type of mouse design in the past few years. They feature holes in most of the body and are instantly distinguishable from the usual pointing gear.

But what are these holes for? Do they offer actual gameplay improvements, or are they just for aesthetics?

Unlike many trends in tech, the history of holed mice started quite recently. For a long time, the rule of thumb for gamers was that heavier mice were better—many brands even offered additional weights in the box if one wanted even heavier pointers.

With eSports' rising popularity, especially with pro streamers, a new scene for gaming gear influencers was born. Some were also part of enthusiast communities previously not very heard of.

Around the end of the 2010s, some gaming influencers started using holed mice during their streams. The same trend was seen in high-level competitions (the ones that gather thousands of viewers both in-person and online).

Then the word got out: "Lighter mice are better for gaming," and that was the start of all the fuss. Initially, it was restricted to smaller manufacturers and aftermarket customizations—folks at Reddit started 3D-printing holed shells for their mice from larger brands.

These established companies joined the trend around 2020 and 2021. Nowadays, some of the best gaming mice have holes in them. Enthusiasts swear this is the most important change in mice design since moving from rubber balls to optical sensors, though this is still up for debate.

Not all holed mice use hexagonal patterns, though. Many feature circular holes arranged in a honeycomb format. Others, like Pulsar's Xlite, have long, thin inlets resembling wire ducts.

For a short answer: yes, mostly. That doesn't mean holed mice can't be used for other tasks—if you're on a tight budget or would rather have a single mouse for working/studying and gaming, they'll do the job just fine.

But PC gaming is a highly specialized task, with gear that is aimed at that goal. It even has some deeper ramifications, like mice with a grid of thumb buttons for MMO games that can benefit from having tons of shortcuts easily accessible.

That said, if you have the money to spare, it could be worth having two or more different mice for specific tasks. For example, let's say you're a fan of first-person shooters but also work with large spreadsheets. For gaming, a lighter mouse with half a dozen buttons or less does the job, but for work, having one with a thumb scroll dramatically improves productivity.

First and foremost, some people just fit better with heavier mice. So for that audience, holed mice won't work, even the best one available on the market.

But there are other shortcomings, too. For one, this type of mouse is more prone to failure due to debris or liquid getting inside it. Since the outer shell provides minimal ingress protection with dozens of holes built-in, it's way more vulnerable to the elements.

People with hyperhidrosis can point out that even traditional mice seem less than optimally protected. In this case, sweat drops could get to the motherboard, while dead skin and grime pile in the sides of the holes. Not a pretty view.

Since the light mice trend is still somewhat recent, innovation in that area has a ways to go. However, that doesn't mean a few things haven't been tried already.

A good example is Microsoft's Arc Mouse. Announced in 2008, it embeds the PCB into the upper shell of the mouse, right below the buttons. That way, it doesn't have a lower part and, as the name implies, features an arc shape.

Another way of reducing weight is by using different materials. A good choice is carbon fiber, which has good rigidity and is extremely light. For example, the EVGA X10 Carbo is a gaming mouse built mostly of carbon fiber.

People with fingertip and claw grip types can also benefit from shorter mice. These work the same from the buttons to the sensor, and then... The physical body ends right after that. There's no more mouse; that's it. If you usually rest your palm on the curved part, that might sound weird, but people who just use their fingertips work fine with a "halved" mouse.

It's also important to (pun intended) point out that weight, while important, is not the only factor to influence mouse usability. Some of the others aren't even in the mouse itself!

One of the external influences, and the more important one while we're at it, is the mouse pad. Having a good surface to slide the pointer is important to define how well it tracks your movements, how much area you have for movement, and even if the mouse will work.

Some more advanced mice can track the light from the optical sensor, even on transparent glass. The majority of them, however, only work on non-reflective surfaces. In any case, it's always better to use something specifically made to have a mouse sliding over it.

The low-cost mouse pads used in offices and most people at home usually have a flexible plastic surface. On the other hand, the best mouse pads for high-performance gaming are mostly made of rubber, though some use leather instead. They are also larger, often with enough space to fit a monitor and a keyboard.

Lastly, custom-made mouse feet also help with sliding. Feet so terrible they render the mouse unusable are rare, but ones made by companies specialized in that type of product definitely improve usability.

After reading everything above, you may still want a heavier mouse. Well, we've got you covered! There are also ways to increase a mouse's weight.

For gaming mice, almost every not-so-recent model has optional weights included in the box by the manufacturer. A lid in the mouse's lower side usually houses the slots for them. You don't need to use all of them simultaneously, but we suggest you keep track of the weight balance in this case.

Another possibility is using grip stickers. These are a step above the usual cosmetic stickers, having a rough surface and being thicker. While they usually add negligible weight, the added grip makes the mouse feel firmer in hand, which is the reason most people resort to heavier mice in the first place.

Mouses with holes and honeycomb patterns are still a somewhat recent trend. The very fact they exist, though, shows innovations in that area can move in interesting ways.

For years the word was that heavier mice were indisputably better. That notion is now being challenged, but there is space for everyone.

Different mice work for different people with different needs. So if you're looking for a new gaming mouse, just remember: the important is finding what fits your needs best and having lots of fun!

Before being a journalist, Bemfica worked for over a decade as a support technician. She has loved electronics since her childhood, and first got on the internet when she was 5. Bemfica loves to review various devices and explain technology in simple terms, so people know how it can benefit their lives. In her free time, she and her wife are the servants of three cats, a fish, and lots of plants.