Antimicrobial coatings on mousepads are a gimmick.

No, they don’t meaningfully affect glide or sensor accuracy as the coating wears off—because the coating is barely there to begin with. The real issue is that any change you might notice will be from the pad getting dirty or worn, not from some silver ions fading.

These coatings are usually a thin spray or infusion. Even when fresh, the effect on glide is negligible compared to the pad’s surface texture. As it wears (which happens fast if you game heavily), the coating flakes unevenly, but your mouse sensor doesn’t care about silver; it cares about consistent friction. You’ll feel the pad getting ratty long before you could measure a coating change.

Plus, the antimicrobial part is mostly marketing. Silver ions might slow bacterial growth, but your mousepad’s biggest enemy is dead skin and grime, not surface germs. If you’re worried about germs, just wash the thing with soap and water.

This is not where you need special tech.