Hard plastic mousepads can mess with capacitive touch sensors in dry climates.

Yes, static electricity from a hard plastic pad can interfere with capacitive touch sensors on a mouse, especially in dry climates.

Capacitive sensors detect tiny changes in the electrical field. When you drag a mouse across a hard plastic pad in low humidity, static builds up on both the pad and the mouse itself. That buildup can cause false touches on side buttons—triggering macros when you don’t want them—or make the sensors less responsive. Cloth pads are inherently dissipative; they bleed static charge away instead of letting it accumulate.

If you live somewhere dry and your mouse has capacitive side buttons (common on gaming mice), a cloth pad is the safer bet. Hard plastic or glass pads can work, but you might need to ground yourself or the pad occasionally. Some people run a humidifier or use a conductive mat underneath.

I wouldn’t say a hard plastic pad always breaks things, but in winter or desert climates it’s a real annoyance. Cloth is cheaper and quieter anyway.