Frequent mouse use can often put a strain on your hands, fingers, and wrists.

If you find yourself getting tired by using a mouse often, consider getting a trackball mouse.

Instead of moving the entire device to drag your cursor across the screen, you use a trackball instead. This can help lessen the strain on your hands and wrist making them a great choice for those looking to remove the daily strain of using a conventional mouse.

Here are the best trackball mice available today.

When you're spending hours and hours in front of your computer, you need to find an ergonomic way of controlling your cursor to prevent fatigue and physical issues. And that's where the Logitech MX ERGO comes in. This trackball mouse has an adjustable side tilt, ensuring your hand rests on the mouse at the most optimum angle.

The mouse body is specially contoured to provide full support to your palm, making it comfortable to hold. It's also wireless so that you can place it anywhere on your desk—you no longer need to worry about your mouse cable getting tangled.

The device also has a 500mAh Rechargeable Li-Po battery, providing up to 120 days of power on a single charge. So, if you want to invest in an ergonomic desktop mouse that lasts a long time, the Logitech MX ERGO is a great choice.

Key Features
  • Angles at 20 degrees to provide a natural forearm posture
  • Trackball design means you don't have to move your arm to navigate your mouse cursor
  • Easily switch between precision and fast cursor movement with the DPI button
Specifications
  • Brand : Logitech
  • Weight: 5.78oz
  • Sensor and DPI: Logitech Advanced Optical Tracking, 2,048 DPI
  • Switches: Not Provided
  • RGB Lighting: No
  • Programmable Buttons: Six
  • Connectivity: Wireless Unifying USB Dongle, Bluetooth
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Battery Life: 4 months
  • Battery Type: 500mAh Rechargeable Li-Po
  • Multi-Device Pairing: Yes
Pros
  • Wireless design means you can reduce clutter off your desk
  • Ergonomic mouse designs ensures full palm support and a comfortable grip
  • Lasts up to 120 days on a single charge
Cons
  • Doesn't support USB-C charging
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Logitech MX ERGO Advanced Wireless Trackball

If you're a digital nomad but find the trackpad and mouse too strenuous to use, you will like the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball. This device is compact and portable yet still provides an ergonomic experience. It comes with a wrist rest, ensuring your palm is optimally placed, no matter your position. And if you're left-handed, you can still comfortably use it due to its symmetrical, ambidextrous design.

The mouse also has four customizable buttons, allowing you to map it to whatever function you find useful. Best of all, this device is wireless and connects via a Bluetooth connection or a 2.4GHz USB dongle.

It's powered by a single AA battery and has an auto-sleep function to conserve energy. With this mouse, you can get an ergonomic trackball experience wherever you are.

Key Features
  • Ambidextrous design makes it suitable for both left-handed and right-handed users
  • Has four customizable buttons through the KensingtonWorks Customization app
  • Scroll ring lets you easily move your text cursor or between pages
Specifications
  • Brand: Kensington
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz USB Dongle, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  • Mouse Battery: 1x AA Battery
Pros
  • Comes with a wrist rest for comfortable all-day use
  • Connects via Bluetooth 4.0 LE or via the 2.4GHz USB receiver
  • Auto-sleep functions helps conserve battery power
Cons
  • Easily captures dust under the trackball
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Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get an ergonomic device. One such example is the Logitech Trackman Marble—a no-frills trackball mouse that gives you four buttons in a symmetrical layout. It's compatible with whatever OS you use, so even if you're using a more expensive computer, you don't have to shell out more money to get something similar to this.

Adding to its simple design is its ease of cleaning and maintenance. All you need to do is pull the marble out and wipe it with a clean cloth, and you're good to go.

One interesting design feature this device has is its centrally-placed trackball. This lets you use your index and middle fingers to manipulate your cursor, allowing you to be more precise. Furthermore, its smooth trackball design allows for smooth gliding, thus reducing overall hand fatigue.

Key Features
  • Symmetrical design makes it suitable for both left-handed and right-handed users
  • Has four customizable buttons
  • Trackball position lets you use your fingertips for more precise movements
Specifications
  • Brand: Logitech
  • Connectivity: Wired
  • Mouse Battery: N/A
Pros
  • Smooth trackball design reduces hand fatigue
  • Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux
  • Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
  • Doesn't have a native scroll feature
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Logitech Trackman Marble

The Kensington Orbit Trackball is a simple two-button trackball with a scroll ring function. Although it's primarily designed for simple users who don't require a lot of functions, the scroll ring makes it more convenient to use. It's also widely compatible. You can use it for Windows, Mac, and even ChromeOS, so you can stay ergonomic and happy, even if you're using multiple devices.

And since this has a plug-and-play function, you don't have to worry about setting it up on every new computer. Once you connect this to your device, you can start using it immediately.

You also get a detachable wrist rest with this device. So even if you're spending long hours using this trackball, you can comfortably rest your palm, thus further reducing your stress and fatigue.

Key Features
  • Scroll Ring feature lets you browse through documents much easier
  • Ambidextrous design makes it suitable for left-handed and right-handed users
  • KensingtonWorks app lets you adjust cursor and scroll speed, as well as button functions
Specifications
  • Brand: Kensington
  • Connectivity: Wired
  • Mouse Battery: N/A
Pros
  • Includes a detachable wrist rest
  • Easy plug-and-play setup lets you get started immediately
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS
Cons
  • Only has two buttons
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Kensington Orbit Trackball with Scroll Ring

While most people use their right hand to control the mouse, not all of them do so. These include left-handed people and those who may have lost use or function of their right hand. That's why the Elecom Left-Handed Wireless Track Ball is such an excellent device. It's specially designed for left-handed users, giving them advanced functionality that you would usually find on right-handed trackball designs.

These include the scroll wheel and its six functional buttons. You can even remap each button using the Elecom Mouse Assistant app, ensuring you can be as efficient as possible with your left hand.

You also don't have to worry about waiting for a recharge. A single AA battery powers this device, so you can instantly replace it with a new battery if the old one runs low. And despite it not being powered by a specialized built-in battery, you still have up to 125 hours of continuous use with one new AA battery.

Key Features
  • Specifically designed for left-handed users
  • Customize each button's function through the Elecom Mouse Assistant app
  • Trackball supported by three 2.5mm artificial ruby bearings for smooth rolling action
Specifications
  • Brand: Elecom
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wireless USB Dongle
  • Mouse Battery: 1x AA Battery
Pros
  • Easily switch sensitivity between high and low
  • Only requires a single AA-size battery for power
  • Lasts up to 125 hours of continuous use
Cons
  • No Bluetooth connectivity option
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Elecom Left-Hand Wireless Track Ball

While many people look at ergonomic trackball mice as serious machines for serious people, that doesn't mean you can't add your own flavor to it. So if that's what you want, the Perixx Perimice-517 gives you that. Perixx lets you pick up to 11 optional trackball colors to customize your device. Although these are sold separately, no other company offers this flexibility.

Despite it having more personality, you still get the same functions you expect from a productivity-focused mouse—seven multifunction buttons, easily adjustable sensitivity settings, and a comfortable, natural shape.

The size of the mouse itself is perfect for medium-sized hands, with its 4mm height and 130mm length. It also has an easy-to-grip rubber coating on its surface, ensuring that your hand won't slip as you use it, even if it's slightly damp.

Key Features
  • Natural curve design follows hand shape for all-day comfort
  • Has seven buttons for better multifunction ability
  • Easily adjustable sensitivity settings
Specifications
  • Brand: Perixx
  • Connectivity: Wired
  • Mouse Battery: N/A
Pros
  • Available with 11 optional trackball colors
  • Uses an easy-grip soft rubber coating
  • Suitable for medium-sized hands
Cons
  • Not wireless
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Perixx Perimice-517

Being efficient and ergonomic means having everything you need within your reach while keeping your position as natural and comfortable as possible. This is precisely what the Elecom Deft Trackball Mouse offers—eight customizable mouse buttons placed ergonomically around a trackball.

It also has a scroll and tilt wheel, letting you freely scroll in both the x and y-axis. The trackball's ergonomic design also means you don't have to move your hand around all day. Instead, you use your index and middle fingers to get precision movements. Furthermore, this mouse also has a DPI switch, letting you choose between better speed or tighter accuracy.

You also don't have to worry about longevity, as you get Omron switches with the Deft Trackball Mouse. They're rated for up to 10 million clicks, so you have the confidence to use this device day in and day out.

Key Features
  • Has eight customizable buttons to make you more efficient
  • Built-in high and low DPI switch for either faster or more precise movements
  • Comes with a scroll and tilt wheel for x- and y-axis scrolling
Specifications
  • Brand: Elecom
  • Connectivity: Wired
  • Mouse Battery: N/A
Pros
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Supported on Windows and MacOS
  • Uses Omron switches that are tested to last over 10 million clicks
Cons
  • Might not be suitable for users with large hands
Buy This Product
Elecom Deft Trackball Mouse

FAQ

Q: Are Trackball Mice Better Than Traditional Mice?

As trackball mice are inherently designed to be ergonomic, they're typically better than most ordinary mice out there. However, if you compare them against other ergonomic mice, they're not much different.

The main advantage you get with a trackball mouse is its stability. Since you don't need to move the mouse itself around to use it, you can find a solid, planted, and comfortable position where you can move the cursor from.

By having a comfortable and naturally-positioned trackball mouse, you can also avoid or lessen the risk of repetitive strain injuries, like Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

Q: What Are the Disadvantages of a Trackball Mouse?

While trackball mice are generally more ergonomic, they do have a couple of downsides. The first one is that many trackball mice use the thumb. Since this finger is designed for grip rather than fine movement, you might have difficulty getting accurate input with your trackball. You might also strain your finger when using a trackball, especially if you're using a hefty ball.

Secondly, if you don't properly position your trackball mouse, you risk pronation, which is the unnatural twisting of the forearm. This could lead to an overuse of forearm muscles, therefore causing stress and fatigue.

Q: Can You Efficiently Game on a Trackball Mouse?

Yes, you can. While most are used to playing games on a traditional mouse, swiping across a desk to move their character's camera, trackball mice are usually placed in a static position. This means you can effectively play your game without occupying a large desk area.

And since most trackballs are ergonomically designed, you also tend to benefit from having less stress and fatigue in your arms. This is important, especially when competing in professional eSports, and you need many hours to practice every day.

The only downside to this is that it will take time for you to be familiar with the trackball design, but once you're used to it, you can be more efficient in shooting and taking down your opponents.