Polling rate is how frequently a mouse sends movement and click data to the computer. Standard gaming mice have used 1,000 Hz for years, which is 1 ms of latency. Newer esports-oriented mice advertise 8,000 Hz, cutting that to 0.125 ms. But as Tom's Hardware points out, the jump from 125 Hz to 1,000 Hz is a real improvement, while going from 1,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz is a difference of less than a millisecond.
The article argues that most gamers simply cannot perceive such tiny delays. The real downsides are practical: higher polling rates increase CPU load, which can hurt performance on weaker systems, and they require a very high refresh rate monitor to show any benefit. Wireless mice suffer especially — battery life on the Corsair Sabre v2 Pro Wireless drops from 120 hours at 1,000 Hz to just 21 hours at 8,000 Hz, and the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro falls from 150 hours to 28 hours.
For competitive esports players, the extra responsiveness might justify the trade-offs. But for the average user, the source concludes, an 8,000 Hz mouse is probably not necessary. The technology is real, but the practical benefit is marginal at best.