What Is Mouse DPI and Why Does it Matter for Gaming?

ign.com:

Industry-leading DPI! Sub-micron precision! True 1-to-1 tracking! These are just some of the marketing claims you’ll see from our favorite gaming mice. Such buzzwords are often paired with incredibly high maximum figures which on modern mice can exceed 25,000 DPI. That sounds impressive, but DPI matters less than mouse makers would have you believe.

DPI stands for "dots per inch” or “dots per linear inch,” and is used to measure the sensitivity of a computer mouse’s sensor. Alternative phrases such as CPI, or “counts per inch,” are used by some manufacturers.

In either case, the DPI or CPI number describes how many pixels the cursor will move across the screen per inch of physical movement by the mouse. A higher DPI means the cursor will move faster and cover more screen distance with less physical movement. A lower DPI results in slower, more precise cursor movement. Put simply, DPI impacts sensitivity and speed. It can become too much of a good thing, however, and most mice offer a maximum DPI setting that’s well beyond what’s useful in real-world gaming.

The ideal DPI setting varies based on the genre of game, personal preference, and even the resolution of the monitor in use. Speaking broadly, however, a DPI setting between 400 to 3600 will cover nearly all players.

Those who enjoy first-person shooters might like a higher DPI that allows quick, responsive cursor movements. A high DPI setting of up to 3600, or higher, is useful for ultra-quick, flick-and-fire moves and trick shots. This can also reduce consistency and precision at range, however. Most professional esports players use a surprisingly low DPI setting, such as 400 or 800 DPI while moving their whole arm in wide arcs for mouse movement.

A moderate DPI