The Best Trackball Mice in 2024

Trackball mice aren’t the hottest piece of tech around but they do have a place on the market, with dozens of different models available online. Finding the best trackball mouse can be a hassle since many models share similar specs. If you want to save some time and patience, check out our list featuring the best trackball mice you can buy right now.

We’ve included both wired and wireless mice. The list also includes some highly unique looking mice, as well as a couple of ergonomic rodents equipped with a trackball. If you don’t find your next trackball mouse somewhere on this list, we recommend checking out our trackball mouse buying guide which can be found at the bottom of this piece.

logitech mx ergo wireless trackball mouse
  • Number Of Buttons: 8
  • Max Resolution: 2048 DPI
  • Weight: 259 grams with tilt plate/164 grams without tilt plate
  • Connectivity: Wireless
  • Battery Life: Up To 70 Days

The Logitech MX Ergo wireless is probably the best trackball mouse on the market. It has an excellent ergonomic design, top-notch build quality, as well as an impressive battery life. If you need a comfortable mouse that doesn’t have to be moved around the desk and that can reduce wrist tension you cannot go wrong with the Logitech MX Ergo Wireless.

Its trackball design needs some time to get used to but once you do, doing any sort of work on your computer will be a breeze. The trackball isn’t suited for gaming but for office use, it’s as good as any optical sensor. Lots of metal in the body and the fact that you don’t have to move it around make the Logitech MX Ergo Wireless one extremely heavy mouse.

It’s not very portable but if you plan on using it just at one location, this shouldn’t bother you. The stainless-steel tilt plate allows users to use the mouse while tilted at a 20-degree angle, which can further reduce wrist strain. When it comes to wireless performance it’s flawless. You have a choice between using the proprietary wireless dongle or Bluetooth and in both cases, the experience is near spotless. The cherry on the cake is a built-in battery that can last up to 70 days.

Pros:
  • Impressive Build Quality
  • Excellent Wireless Performance
  • Long Battery Life
  • Comfortable Ergonomic Design
  • Perfectly Suited For Office Work
Cons:
  • Quite Heavy
  • Expensive

ELECOM Deft Pro Finger-Operated Trackball Mouse

Excellent Trackball Mouse With Unique Design

elecom deft pro finger-operated trackball mouse
  • Number Of Buttons: 8
  • Max Resolution: 1500 DPI
  • Weight: 162 Grams
  • Connection: Wired, Wireless
  • Battery Life: Up To One Year
CHECK PRICES

The Deft Pro from Elecom is a trackball mouse that is basically a modernized version of the legendary Microsoft Trackball Explorer. You have the trackball at the helm of the mouse flanked by the right-click and two extra buttons. The left click is placed at the side of the mouse along with another array of extra keys and the scroll wheel.

This design might be quite hard to get used to for people who never encountered it but users already familiar with similar mice will feel like at home. The performance is excellent, with a fairly precise trackball that can sometimes feel a bit stiff. The sensor below the trackball tops out at 1500 DPI, making it precise enough for work. It’s also pretty good for gaming if you’re into playing games with a trackball mouse.

The wireless performance is pretty good, with the connection being spotless when using the included wireless dongle. Bluetooth performance is great most of the time, but expect some lag from time to time. When it comes to the battery, the mouse uses one AA battery that can last up to one year. Overall, this is an excellent trackball mouse for people looking for a Trackball Explorer-like design. The big trackball on the top is fairly easy to use and the mouse has enough extra buttons for most work-related apps.

Pros:
  • Great As A MS Trackball Explorer Replacement
  • Solid Build Quality
  • Long Battery Life
  • Lots Of Extra Buttons
Cons:
  • Awkward Positioning Of The Left Mouse Button
  • Trackball Can Feel A Bit Too Stiff

Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse

The Best Ergonomic Trackball Mouse

kensington expert wireless trackball mouse k72359ww
  • Number Of Buttons: 4
  • Max Resolution: 500 DPI
  • Weight: 463 Grams
  • Connection: Wireless
  • Battery Life: Up To One Year

Kensington is known for its trackball mice and the Expert Wireless is the company’s premium ergonomic offering. This mouse is built for users suffering from wrist strain or for those who want to prevent it. The unusual design allows people to use the mouse while keeping their hands in a natural position, with the removable wrist rest providing further comfort to the hand and wrist.

The large trackball is found on the middle of the mouse, surrounded by four programmable buttons and encircled with a handy scroll ring that might seem like a stepdown from the classic scroll wheel but after some time you’ll get used to it and it will become as useful as a regular scroll. When it comes to connectivity the Expert Wireless mouse features both a USB dongle and Bluetooth connection.

The performance is spotless, although you will experience a moment or two of lag when using Bluetooth. The mouse is powered by two AA batteries with a single pair lasting about a year, which is impressive. It’s worth noting that this is one of the heaviest mice around. The added weight keeps the mouse in place so, considering this is a trackball model, we can’t look at that as a notable negative Overall, this is a trackball mouse made for people who want maximum comfort and who don’t care about using a classically shaped mouse.

Pros:
  • Excellent Build Quality
  • Great For Any Hand Size
  • Very Comfortable To Use
  • Impressive Battery Life
Cons:
  • Not Very Portable

Elecom Riracon M-RT1BRXBK

Bluetooth Thumb-Operated Trackball Mouse

elecom m-rt1brxbk
  • Handheld trackball mouse
  • Bluetooth connection
  • 500, 1000, 1500 DPI steps
  • Uses 2x AAA batteries
CHECK PRICES

If you would like a more relaxed posture then using a handheld trackball mouse that can be used wirelessly can greatly enhance that. The Elecom handheld trackball mouse is exactly that and more since it has 10 buttons to enhance productivity and is perfectly shaped to fit in your hand.

You can move the cursor using the main ball that rolls on three 2.5mm large artificial ruby ball bearings. The bearings are smooth and the fact that they are big also makes them easy for cleaning.

The trackball mouse has 3 main DPI settings – 500, 1000, and 1500. These will allow you to tweak how fast your cursor will be moving across your screen. The mouse connects to your PC device using a Bluetooth connection making it easy to pair with any device that supports Bluetooth.

The mouse uses 2x AAA batteries for power, therefore, is not rechargeable.

Pros:
  • Is small and easy to carry around
  • This device is great for remote work
  • Has enough buttons to be still functional for most tasks
  • The trackball is smooth and easy to operate with enough experience
Cons:
  • Bluetooth connections instead of 2.4GHz which is more stable
  • Trackball mice require cleaning
  • No rechargeable battery

Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring

The Best Budget Trackball Mouse

kensington orbit trackball mouse with scroll ring k72337us
  • Number Of Buttons: 2
  • Max Resolution: 500 DPI
  • Weight: 290 Grams
  • Connection: Wired

The Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring is an old model that is on the market for more than a decade but is still a great choice for everyone who wants to get a cheap but well-built trackball mouse. It features the trackball-centric design with the trackball placed in the middle of the mouse. The trackball is encircled by the scroll ring, and flanked by the left and right mouse button.

This design allows the hand to stay in its natural position, with three middle fingers controlling the trackball and the thumb and the pinky placed about the left and right-click. The wrist is kept in position thanks to the wrist rest that isn’t the most comfortable but does its job just fine. The final result is less wrist strain and less pain in the hand and shoulder due to the fact that your arm doesn’t move while using the mouse.

While the utilitarian design doesn’t include extra buttons, the mouse should be fine for day to day use. If you need extra buttons, there are other models on this list that may suit you better. Also, don’t expect wireless connectivity on this mouse. But as a cheap and reliable trackball mouse, the Kensington Orbit Trackball Mouse with Scroll Ring does a great job. It’s maybe basic but it’s very comfortable to use and it will help you rest your hand, arm, and shoulder while using the computer.

Pros:
  • Very Affordable
  • Excellent Build Quality
  • Comfortable Ergonomic Design
Cons:
  • No Extra Buttons

Logitech Trackman Marble Trackball Mouse

Excellent Trackball Mouse With One Major Flaw

logitech trackman marble trackball mouse
  • Number Of Buttons: 4
  • Max Resolution: Undisclosed
  • Weight: 90 Grams
  • Connection: Wired

The Logitech Trackman Marble Trackball Mouse is another cult trackball mouse that’s on the market for about two decades. It was extremely successful (for such a niche product) back when it was originally released and it’s great to use even today.

It’s based on the ergonomic design that puts the trackball at the center. Instead of placing buttons around the ball, the left and right-click (as well as two extra buttons) are placed behind the ball, which allows for your hand to be constantly in a natural position, with the wrist rest providing further support for even less strain.

The major disadvantage of this design is the lack of any scroll device. You don’t have a scroll wheel nor scroll ring, which can be a real problem since the scroll is one of the most used functions on a mouse. On the other hand, the mouse is very comfortable to use, it’s rather precise for such an old model, is built like a tank, and it is an excellent choice for everyone who needs a trackball mouse.

Pros:
  • Comfortable Ergonomic Design
  • Sturdy Build Quality
  • Two Extra Buttons
  • Great For Work
Cons:
  • Lacks Any Form Of Scroll Wheel

Logitech ERGO M575

Premium Trackball Mouse

logitech ergo m575
  • Ergo thumb trackball mouse
  • Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connection
  • 1x AA battery
  • 24-month battery life

The design of the Logitech M575 makes it a perfect ergonomic shape that hugs your hand and allows you to minimize movement with the additional thumb trackball that gives you the opportunity to move your cursor the way you please.

This is a wireless mouse that can use both Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz for connectivity making it flexible since it can connect to multiple types of devices. The cool part about this specific mouse is that the sensor is very efficient and even in the wireless mode you can forget about changing the AA battery for a very long time.

The mouse is very simple but the shape, the design, and overall quality is top-notch making it a great recommendation for those with limited office space that cant move their mouse around on their desk too much.

Pros:
  • The shape of the mouse is great for both big and small hands
  • The 2.4 GHz connection is stable
  • The battery life is incredible
  • The trackball is precise and quite nice to use
Cons:
  • No rechargeable battery
  • Uses AA but could have used AAA for lighter weight

How To Choose A Trackball Mouse

Trackball mice are great for people suffering from wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. They don’t have to be moved around so they are inherently more comfortable to use compared to regular mice. Vertical mice, for instance, are also great for wrists but they use a regular sensor meaning that your hand will move when using a vertical mouse. This makes trackball mice the best choice for wrist pain.

Just remember that you will sacrifice precision, especially during the adjustment period. Also remember that the trackball has to be cleaned from time to time, just like in days when trackballs were found in every mouse. Down below you can find other important things to consider when buying a trackball mouse.

Trackball Mice Are Great For Work But Not So Great For Gaming

Gaming is certainly possible with trackball mice but if you’re used to a regular mouse for gaming, maybe it’s better to get a trackball mouse along with an extra gaming mouse you can use when playing games. There are plenty of excellent budget gaming mice on the market so you don’t have to pay a lot to have an extra mouse for gaming.

For work though, a trackball mouse can be as enjoyable and easy to use as a regular mouse. The adjustment period is short because you don’t need quick and precise movements while working. Once you get used to it, a trackball mouse is a breeze to use while working and you should definitely consider one if you’re suffering from wrist pain.

Do You Want A Classic Design Or Trackball-Specific Design?

Once you decide to get a trackball mouse you have to pick between the classic design and a trackball-centric design. The former includes the trackball on the right side of the mouse, where it can be used with the thumb.

The trackball-centric design puts the trackball at the center of the mouse, allowing you to control it with the three middle fingers. In this layout, mouse buttons are placed either around the trackball or behind it. Now, most trackball-centric mice have kept some form of scroll wheel but remember that some models lack any form of a scroll wheel. This may be a dealbreaker for lots of people so double-check for the inclusion of a scroll wheel or a scroll ring before pulling the trigger.

Wired Or Wireless?

When it comes to performance, both wired and wireless trackball mice perform the same. The trackball doesn’t require a fast pooling rate and it doesn’t require ultra-high precision sensors, especially if you don’t plan on using a trackball mouse for gaming. If you do want to play games with one, get a model with higher precision. Max precision depends on your personal preference but most users are fine with about 1500-2000 DPI for their gaming needs.

What About Extra Keys And Extra Features?

Some trackball mice come with extra keys if you need them. They won’t feature a dozen or so extra keys like some MMO gaming mice, but if you need up to three or four extra keys, you should be covered by at least a couple of models.

As for the other extra features, you won’t find any RGB here, as well as optional weights or other gaming features. On the other hand, some wireless models do come with built-in batteries. Also, some trackball mice offer removable wrist rests, which can be useful if you prefer using the mouse without one.

About The Author

Stole Trishanski

Ever since Stole was a kid, when he wasn’t playing video games he was probably in some corner disassembling any gadget he could get his hands on. His curiosity and will to learn made him into a huge tech nerd and enthusiast. Finally, after years of practice, learning, and breaking hundreds of gadgets Stole is helping others learn everything about tech.

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