Connection: Bluetooth is a requirement-since many laptops have only USB-C ports nowadays-but a 2.4 GHz USB wireless receiver (also known as a dongle) is also nice to have since it can be easier to set up and can provide a more stable connection in some environments.We also noted button placement and whether the buttons felt awkward to use.

Buttons: Every wireless mouse should have the standard left-click and right-click buttons, and many people use the back and forward buttons, too, so we looked for mice that had at least two side buttons.

When we refer to smaller- or larger-than-average hands, these measurements are what we’re basing that on.

We also broke down a 1981 study of hand anthropometry commissioned by the US Army and found similar results among that study’s participants: a 4-inch average from the base of the palm to the base of the middle finger and a 3.23-inch average from the base of the middle finger to the tip. (We know an average-size mouse won’t work for everyone, but we used this information to check that our panel had a representative spread of hand sizes.) Using hand anthropometric data collected by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (taken from studies conducted in 20), we combined the stated hand measurements to find that the average palm size is 4 inches and the average middle finger length is 2.95 inches. Comfort varies based on hand size, so we sought out average hand measurements for adults. Comfort: To evaluate comfort, we’ve tested mice with panels of left- and right-handed people with various grip types and hand sizes.

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