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- A good mouse pad has a smooth surface for your mouse that ensures precise tracking of your movements.
- Some mouse pads protect your desk, while some boast extras like RGB lighting and wireless charging.
- The slick and durable Corsair MM 350 Pro is the best mouse pad we tested.
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Mouse pads provide a smooth, uniform surface for your mouse to move properly and precisely. They're also multipurpose, protecting your desktop and your mouse and picking up lint and dust that would otherwise attach to your mouse. They're simple to clean, too, ensuring your workspace is up to par. Mouse pads come in different colors and materials. You can choose between a silky smooth layer that enables fast movements, or a rougher textured surface that enables greater precision. Gamers, in particular, will have personal preferences depending on the games they play and their play style, but anyone can reduce the risk of a slip or tracking error with a good mouse pad.
Some of the latest mouse pads even come with RGB lighting so you can match one with your keyboard, mouse, and rig lighting. Others offer wireless charging, which can be very handy if you have a mouse that supports it.
I've tested several mouse pads, employing them for work and gaming to see what benefits they offer. I also included my son in the testing process, subjecting each mouse pad to the ultimate test of durability (that is, an 11-year-old gamer's bedroom).
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Here are the best mouse pads of 2021
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Updated on 06/25/2021 by Simon Hill: Added specifications to each recommended product and streamlined the length and legibility of our recommendations.
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