Rounded corners are better — get those.

Sharp corners peel off first. That’s the short answer.

The physics is simple: a sharp corner is a stress concentration point. Every time your arm brushes against it or you slide a mouse off the edge, that corner catches and starts lifting. Rounded corners spread that force out. No sharp point to grab onto, so the adhesive sticks longer.

I’ve seen people buy the cheaper sharp-cornered pads and complain about peeling within a month. The rounded ones on the same desk? Still flat a year later. It’s not just aesthetics — it’s actual engineering.

You can save a few bucks on the sharp-cornered version. But you’ll probably end up annoyed and buying a replacement sooner. Rounded corners cost maybe five bucks more. Worth it.