For development work, comfort and the scroll wheel matter more than sensor numbers. Gaming mice are fine for coding too; they just optimise for different things.
Shape and grip
- Palm grip (whole hand resting) suits larger, ergonomic shapes such as the MX Master.
- Claw and fingertip grips suit smaller, lighter, usually symmetrical mice.
- Measure your hand (wrist crease to fingertip) and compare it with the mouse length; manufacturers and reviewers publish both.
- Left-handed? Many ergonomic mice are right-hand only. Symmetrical shapes work for both, but check where the side buttons are.
Features that matter at work
- Scroll wheel: a free-spinning or electromagnetic wheel makes long files and logs fast to move through. A horizontal thumb wheel helps with wide spreadsheets and timelines.
- Multi-device switching if you move between a laptop and a desktop.
- Quiet clicks if you are on calls a lot.
- Programmable buttons for back/forward, undo, or switching desktops.
Features that matter mostly for games
- Weight: under about 70 g feels fast; heavier mice feel steadier.
- Sensor DPI and polling rate: every current sensor is more than accurate enough for coding. High polling rates (4,000–8,000 Hz) use more battery and CPU for a gain only competitive players notice.
Wrist pain? Look at a vertical mouse (see Desk & Ergonomics), and lower the mouse sensitivity before you buy anything.