- We test gaming mice based on their performance, comfort, durability, sensor, minimum lift-off distance, polling rate, and click latency.
- For keyboards, we focus on their typing experience, keystrokes, key rollover, noise, input lag or latency, switches, and other features.
- We test headsets by evaluating their performance, mic quality, build quality, comfort, connectivity, and software.
how we test peripherals
At Tech4gamers, we rigorously test a wide range of technology products, striving to deliver reviews that are accurate, reliable, and unbiased. As gaming enthusiasts ourselves, we know how important it is for our readers to understand how peripherals perform in real gaming scenarios—not just how they look or what fancy RGB lighting they have.
From key lights to controllers, we test a spectrum of peripherals, but the main focus of this page is to give you insights on how we test our mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets.
Key Takeaways
How We Test Mice
We put every mouse through rigorous testing that comes across our desks before it makes its way into one of our guides. It means we’ve spent weeks understanding and testing a product before considering what our audience needs to know about it. In this manner, we can ensure that we never promote anything that we would not actively use ourselves
- Performance: We test each gaming mouse’s sensor for accuracy and responsiveness, ensuring it handles fast movements in games like Valorant. We also assess how well the mouse performs across different game genres, focusing on critical factors like latency, acceleration, and button programmability.
- Comfort: We make sure each mouse feels good in hand, even during long gaming sessions. We look at its shape, weight, texture, and how the buttons are laid out to ensure it’s comfortable for extended use.
- Durability: We check the build quality from the start, noting materials and construction. During testing, we watch for signs of wear, like weak clicks or cable issues, and update our reviews if any durability concerns arise over time.
- Sensor: We evaluate the mouse sensor’s type—laser or optical—to ensure it delivers the precision needed for gaming. We also check how customizable the sensor settings are to help you get the best performance.
- Polling Rate: We check the mouse’s polling rate, aiming for the highest setting available. This ensures smoother and more consistent cursor movement, especially important in fast-paced games.
- Click Latency: We measure how quickly the mouse registers clicks, aiming for minimal delay to give you a competitive edge, especially in online gaming.
How We Test Keyboards
We run several tests to help you find the perfect keyboard, with a strong focus on the typing experience since it’s the most important factor for most buyers. However, because typing preferences vary widely, we don’t grade most of our tests but instead share the results so you can decide what suits you best.
That said, we do consider keycap quality, switch clickiness and noise, the effort needed to press a key, and, to a lesser extent, latency. While many of our tests are subjective, they should give you a good sense of what to expect.
- Features: We consider essential factors like keyboard manufacturer, model, form factor (e.g., tenkeyless or full-size), switch type, ports, polling rate, and key rollover. We also evaluate weight, size, price, keycap material, and cable type. We test the software and lighting features to identify any performance issues.
- Keystrokes: We compare the feel of key presses by measuring pre-travel and total travel distances, as well as the actuation and operating forces of the keys. This helps determine how well the keyboard performs for different tasks like gaming or typing.
- Typing Experience: We focus on key quality and how they feel when typing. We test for speed, accuracy, and fatigue, considering factors like key spacing, switch type, and pre-travel distance, which can affect overall comfort and typing efficiency.
- Sound Profile: We record the keyboard’s sound to gauge its noise level. While red switches are usually quieter, blue switches are clicky and louder. Keycap material, thickness, and the keyboard’s build also impact the sound.
- Input Lag/Latency: We test the keyboard’s latency, focusing on how quickly it registers key presses and sends them to the computer. We optimize the polling rate and activate latency-reduction modes to measure performance, which is crucial for gaming.
- Switches: We evaluate the switch type—tactile, linear, or clicky—based on feel, noise, and performance. Each switch’s pre-travel, operating force, total travel distance, and actuation force are assessed, with testers using the keyboard for both work and gaming over a week.
How We Test Gaming Headsets
When it comes to gaming headsets, our testing criteria spends from the basics like audio and mic performance to using for days to check battery health, comfort, and general wear/tear.
We also account for the overall usability and customizability which the manufacturer offers through software.
- Performance: We test the clarity of the sound, the balance between bass, mids, and treble, and the presence of surround sound or 3D audio features. We also consider the headset’s ability to provide positional audio, which is vital for detecting enemy movements and environmental cues in games. We also check for any latency issues or sound distortions that could affect gameplay.
- Mic Quality: We thoroughly test the microphone quality by recording voice samples in different environments, checking for clarity, noise cancellation, and any distortion. We also test the microphone’s ability to filter out background noise. Additionally, we check if the mic isdetachable, retractable, or adjustable, to accommodate various user preferences.
- Build Quality: We check the materials, durability, and craftsmanship to check if the headset can handle daily use and occasional drops. We also evaluate the flexibility and sturdiness of the headset’s components, such as the headband, ear cups, and hinges, to determine if it’s built to last.
- Comfort: For comfort, we pay attention to the weight distribution, padding, and adjustability of the headset. The ear cups should fit snugly without causing pressure points, and the headband should be adjustable to accommodate different head sizes. We also consider the breathability of the ear pads, as overheating can become a significant discomfort.
- Connectivity: Testing the connectivity means looking at ease of pairing, connection stability, range, and any latency issues. For wired headsets, we also check how durable the wire is, and for wireless headsets, we test the battery performance to see if it matches the manufacturer’s claim.
- Software: Gaming headsets often come with accompanying software that offers customization options, such as EQ settings, surround sound, and mic controls. We evaluate the user-friendliness, stability, and functionality of this software.
Overall
Usually, the time spent would extend to several weeks, but in any circumstances, reviewers carefully monitor their own findings and also check any problems that may occur. This hands-on experience both enhances the reviewer's subjective assessment and also illustrates any subjective findings that are worth mentioning.
Moreover, we give readers subjective thoughts and insights, as well as extensive explanations of every component of each keyboard, demonstrating points and displaying the work through photographs, and audio, as much as possible. By this, readers may obtain a good image of each keyboard tested and also draw conclusions for themselves.