Polling Rate Test

The number of times a second the mouse reports its position to the computer. 125 Hz reports every 8 ms, 1000 Hz every 1 ms. A higher rate makes the pointer track your hand more smoothly and with less delay.

Move your mouse quickly in circles inside the box for a few seconds. The average and the likely setting appear below it. Keep moving: the rate is only measured while the mouse is moving.

Browsers can cap or batch pointer reports, so rates of 4000 Hz and above often read lower in a web page than in the maker's software. Chrome and Edge give the most accurate reading. USB hubs and some ports can also limit the rate.

For games, 1000 Hz halves the delay between reports, from 2 ms to 1 ms, and most gaming mice default to it. For office work the difference is hard to notice, and lower rates save battery on wireless mice.

A wireless link dropping the odd report, USB power saving, or a busy computer can all make the rate uneven. Slow or uneven mouse movement also produces fewer reports. Move faster and steadily, and check the Stability score.