The very best ergonomic mouse for 2024


There’s a couple of one in three likelihood you’re studying this on a desktop laptop — and also you is likely to be questioning whether or not there’s a option to make your computing-at-a-desk expertise extra superb in your physique. Sitting for hours on finish seems to be the most important detriment to our well being, which is why getting up usually or switching issues up with a standing desk may also help. Then there’s the well being issues of peripherals like mice and keyboards. A standard mouse can constrict your wrist and put stress in your forearm, one thing ergonomic mice can alleviate with their extra pure orientations. I attempted out round 20 extremely rated vertical, semi-vertical and trackball mice to see which of them felt good, labored nicely and most significantly, did something to alleviate my continual shoulder stress. Listed below are the very best ergonomic mice I discovered.

Like every thing associated to ergonomics, the mouse design that works finest for you’ll rely in your physique and what you have to do on a typical day. So the shapes, added options and the way the mouse communicates together with your laptop will decide which you must get.

Once we’re speaking about ergonomic mice for productiveness functions, it normally refers to mice that look distinctly completely different from the usual, usually with shapes that tilt your hand in the direction of a extra “handshake” place as a substitute of going through your palm downward. A vertical ergonomic mouse has probably the most extreme up-and-down angle, semi-vertical mice cut up the distinction and trackball fashions keep put in your desk whereas your thumb controls the motion of the cursor. Gaming mice have an ergonomic class as nicely, however that merely refers to a mouse with curves designed to suit both the appropriate or left hand. It differentiates these mice from ambidextrous fashions, which don’t conform to a specific hand.

Every of three ergonomic mice shapes may also help handle completely different considerations. In case you’re attempting to keep away from twisting your forearm, a vertical mouse might be what you want. Clicking a vertical mouse feels extra like pinching your finger and thumb collectively, which might relieve sure different wrist points as nicely.

A semi-vertical mouse feels probably the most like a conventional mouse, with an angle nearer to 50 or 60 levels out of your desk. Semi-vertical mouse clicks can really feel simpler too, because you’re pushing down as a substitute of pinching. Some vertical and semi-vertical mice have an non-obligatory flange that helps the heel of your palm. As a substitute of pivoting on these bones to make the mouse transfer, your palm and wrist keep aligned and the complete arm controls the movement.

A trackball mouse may maintain your wrist from bending, because it retains your forearm planted. My private wrestle is with neck and shoulder stress, so trackballs and really light-weight vertical mice work finest for me as their configuration lets me maintain my forearm from shifting.

As this information focuses on productiveness mice, gaming-specific stats like polling charges and IPS values don’t actually come into play. (My colleague Jeff Dunn does a great job of explaining these metrics in his gaming mouse overview information.) What issues listed here are numbers like DPI, or dots per inch, which signifies how delicate a mouse is. The upper the setting, the quicker your cursor will transfer throughout the display screen. Low DPI settings allow you to do precision work like pixel-by-pixel enhancing in Photoshop. All of the mice right here have at the very least two and as many as 5 settings, starting from 400 to three,200 DPI. Mice that make it straightforward to change from excessive to low DPI may make sense in the event you do a variety of detailed work.

Weight makes a distinction in vertical and semi-vertical mice (however not trackballs, since they keep put). A lighter mouse can be simpler to maneuver round, which might put much less pressure in your wrist and arm. That stated, just a little weight could make the actions of your mouse really feel extra exact. For reference, a featherweight gaming mouse may weigh 45 grams and a big vertical mouse with a flange hooked up may weigh 140 grams. The latter could really feel just a little heavy, however a mouse with easy toes and used with an honest mouse pad will really feel lighter.

It is at all times good to have simply clickable buttons, however that issues much more when physique well being is a priority. Urgent laborious on a button tenses up my arm and shoulder like no person’s enterprise. Because it’s an motion desk employees carry out lots of or hundreds of instances a day, it is important that or not it’s easy — nothing dominated out a mouse faster in my assessments than robust buttons.

a selection of ergonomic mice are arranged around an ergonomic keyboard on a white deska selection of ergonomic mice are arranged around an ergonomic keyboard on a white desk

Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

All mice have the fundamentals: a proper and left button and a scroll wheel. All mice on this information even have a DPI selector button. Some produce other features akin to a scroll wheel that may click on with a press or deal with horizontal scrolling by tilting the wheel to the appropriate or left. Many even have again and ahead buttons for browser home windows, and typically these two are programmable to carry out completely different features in different apps.

Extra complicated mice have extra buttons to customise, usually utilizing a mouse’s proprietary software program. Relying on that software program, you possibly can set buttons to mute calls, copy and paste, undo and redo, swap tabs and extra. Performing a number of features with out extraneous motion is a giant plus in ergonomic design. After all, there are a selection of keyboards that allow you to program a number of features into particular keys, which cuts down on superfluous motion much more, which you’ll examine in our ergonomic keyboard information.

All of the mice right here will work with Mac’s working system in addition to Microsoft Home windows, and a few work with Chrome, Linnux and even iPadOS (although I didn’t check these) as nicely. They join in 3 ways: Wired, through Bluetooth or with a 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle. Extra units have included USB-C interfaces, however most mice nonetheless use USB-A. So if in case you have a laptop computer that solely sports activities USB-C ports (taking a look at you, MacBook), you’ll want an adapter to make use of a wired or dongle-enabled mouse. You can use a hub or docking station for this goal, however in testing this information, I bumped into connectivity points utilizing a wi-fi USB receiver in a docking station, notably when there wasn’t a direct and fully clear path between the mouse and receiver. Every thing labored much more reliably with only a direct USB-C to A adapter.

The distinction between wi-fi and Bluetooth is twofold: a wi-fi dongle connection tends to be faster to arrange. You simply plug within the accent, activate the mouse (probably granting permission for the gadget) and also you’re set. For Bluetooth, you have to open the settings menu, activate pairing mode on the mouse, seek for the mouse after which click on join. There’s additionally a bit extra latency when utilizing Bluetooth versus a wi-fi mouse. It’s not one thing most individuals will discover doing workaday stuff, however in the event you plan on enjoying some Overwatch after hours and wish to use the identical mouse, you may wish to go together with the quicker, 2.4Ghz route.

After many hours of analysis and studying evaluations, I gathered simply over 20 mice with good claims to ergonomic design to check in my work setup. I principally tried out mice geared in the direction of a work-from-home or workplace setting, versus gaming (now we have a entire information devoted to that subject). I used every mouse for just a few hours or just a few days, noting how nicely they felt in addition to how they carried out. I principally used a MacBook Professional M1 however verified Home windows compatibility with an Asus ROG Strix laptop computer. For reference, my proper hand measures 7.25 inches from the wrist crease to the tip of my center finger, which is slightly below common for a person and enormous for a girl.

Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Connection: Wired USB-A or 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle fashions accessible | Energy: Wired mannequin or 2 x AAA batteries wi-fi mannequin | DPI choices: 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and a couple of,500 | Weight: 110-130g w/o flange, 150-170g with flange | Additional buttons: Ahead, backward

I actually loved utilizing the Goldtouch Semi-Vertical mouse and it’s in all probability the one I had plugged within the longest, simply because I appreciated it. It’s one of many few non-gaming mice I encountered with adjustable weights. I took two of the 4 5g discs out to make it round 120 grams and that, mixed with the simple glide, made shifting it really feel easy. The cursor motion is exact in any respect 4 DPI settings and the light-up Goldtouch brand on the aspect turns completely different colours relying on which pace you’ve chosen (crimson is low, blue is medium, inexperienced is medium-fast, and purple is quick) which is much simpler to discern than most mice that depend on a sequence of flashes to point pace.

It has a soft-touch, rubberized exterior with easy metallic plastic buttons which might be straightforward to click on. As a semi-vertical mouse, it places your hand in a pure, 60-degree tilt place that, to me, feels extra snug than the straight-up-and-down of a completely vertical mouse. My medium-sized hand can absolutely palm the outside with a ways left between the ideas of my fingers and the ends of the mouse buttons, so barely bigger arms ought to nonetheless have room.

There aren’t a ton of additional buttons, simply left, proper, scroll, DPI and ahead and again browser buttons (that aren’t programmable). The scroll button precisely adjusts between a sluggish line-by-line crawl and a page-swallowing pace run, relying on how briskly you flip it. Perhaps it’s simply the overview unit I obtained, however the wheel sometimes made the faintest squeak, although that’s beginning to fade. The clicks are audible, however not annoying and the lift-off distance is good. When you have to reposition the mouse, tilting it barely to glide on its proper edge doesn’t lead to errant cursor motion.

The Goldtouch Semi-Vertical comes with an non-obligatory flange that attaches firmly with magnets. It provides just a little weight however the mouse nonetheless glides admirably. The addition permits you to relaxation the heel of your palm so it strikes together with you as you mouse. That is nice for stopping any bending of your wrist as you progress your entire arm as a substitute. I didn’t use the flange aside from to check it, as shifting my entire arm simply aggravates my shoulder stress. Goldtouch claims that the flange additionally provides just a little additional size to help as much as eight-inch-long arms.

I examined the wired mannequin however Goldtouch additionally gives wi-fi variations and, in a uncommon nod to our sinister-handed kinfolk, wi-fi left-handed mice as nicely. 

All three of these fashions require a USB-A port so in the event you don’t have one accessible and don’t wish to purchase an adapter, you possibly can attempt Perrix’s Perimice 819 for the same semi-vertical design. It’s just a little smaller, so medium and enormous arms will use extra of a fingertip grip. However it glides simply, has exact motion, a chargeable battery and connects through Bluetooth or wirelessly with both a USB-C or USB-A dongle. Plus, it’s an ergonomic discount at $35.

Professionals

  • Solidly constructed
  • Adjustable weights
  • Clean glide
  • Semi-vertical design is additional snug
  • Detachable flange glides simply
Cons

  • No programmable buttons
  • Faint squeak from the scroll wheel

$75 at Amazon

J-Tech Digital

Connection: 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle | Energy: Rechargeable battery | DPI choices: 800, 1,200, 1,600 or 3,200 | Weight: 120g w/o flange, 140g with flange | Additional buttons: Ahead, backward, scroll click on, RGB (programmable)

The J-Tech Digital V638 feels much more premium than its $30 price ticket would recommend. It has a cushty vertical design, a chargeable battery, a clickable scroll button and even some (non-obligatory) RGB lights to maintain issues attention-grabbing.

The outside is a rubberized plastic with a satiny really feel. It has a wider grip than many vertical mice, which ends up in much less of a pinching movement when clicking, which can really feel extra pure for some. Palming the mouse and shifting it round feels easy and exact. There’s a slight protrusion between the place your center and ring finger relaxation that kind of jogs my memory of a flight-sim joystick. If you’re absolutely gripping the mouse, which is probably the most relaxed method, the buttons are straightforward to click on. But when your hand is backed off just a little and utilizing extra of a fingertip grip, the buttons really feel just a little stiff in the direction of the again. In follow, this simply jogged my memory to reposition my hand for a greater grip.

The RGB lights are enjoyable, glowing and pulsing in numerous patterns and colours, which might be modified by clicking the button slightly below the thumb relaxation. But when an onerous deadline has you feeling notably unfestive, urgent and holding the button will shut down the glow totally. Urgent the scroll wheel permits a left click on and the scrolling itself is easy with simply the faintest ratchet because it turns. The opposite buttons are web page ahead and again browser controls, and whereas they’re programmable, it requires a 3rd social gathering software program; J-Tech recommends X-Mouse Button Management.

A flange can be included and once more attaches magnetically. The connection doesn’t really feel as agency because the Goldtouch flange, however it’s not in peril of flying off. It’s sadly textured with curving traces, which feels uncomfortable, and the added drag with the accent hooked up is noticeable. However the V638 is a comparatively low cost but solidly constructed possibility that I would name the very best finances ergonomic mouse.

Professionals

  • Nice worth
  • Wider vertical rip feels pure
  • RGB lights are enjoyable and non-obligatory
Cons

  • Buttons might be laborious to click on
  • Flange is uncomfortable, however removable

$25 at Amazon

Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Connection: 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle | Energy: 1 x AA battery (included)| DPI choices: 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and a couple of,500 | Weight: 140g | Additional buttons: Clickable wheel, higher and decrease thumb buttons, left, proper and middle mouse buttons

Upon opening the Evoluent VerticalMouse D, I used to be instantly transported to my childhood: It’s like a mannequin of the Flight of the Navigator ship, all smooth traces and black metallic (one other blast from the previous). After getting over the nostalgia, I used to be impressed by the smoothest button clicks on any mouse I’ve tried. The thumb relaxation on the aspect is larger than on many different mice, and I discovered the position made the vertical form extra snug for my hand. There’s even just a little lip for the pinky to relaxation on, one thing I didn’t even know I wished, however now all different mice look like they’re letting down my smallest digit.

It’s heavier at 140 grams however it strikes easily and rapidly on its toes. The form makes it straightforward to carry out the smaller, extra minute fingertip changes and rapidly return to the complete help of a palm grip. Scrolling has a satisfying clickiness and sluggish rotations are additional exact. The wheel itself is clickable, however on my unit it was pre-programed as a browser again button. The cursor actions out of the field had been additionally means too accelerated.

Fortunately, all of the buttons and mouse speeds on the VerticalMouse D are customizable. Evoluent gives its personal drivers for Home windows, however the downloads web page says that Mac help is forthcoming, as the corporate is ready on a driver improvement package from Apple that hasn’t been delivered regardless of “repeated emails” from Evoluent. Within the meantime, I used USB Overdrive to alter up the acceleration speeds (which afterwards felt correct) and altered just a few of the button features.

Along with the usual buttons, there is a third close to the appropriate and left, so your pointer, center and ring finger all have one thing to push. Two above and beneath the thumb relaxation are additionally customizable, however I programmed the highest one to do nothing as a result of I stored by accident hitting it after I moved my hand from keyboard to mouse. I set the underside button to point out all home windows (Mission Management) and the third mouse button to open the clipboard. Now there are two strikes I not want to make use of my keyboard for, which is useful.

As a substitute of a one-size-fits-all method, Evoluent makes three sizes of its mice. I examined the medium, which labored nicely for my 7.25-inch lengthy hand. However there’s additionally a small and massive mannequin. The corporate claims to have give you the concept for a vertical mouse again in 1994. The mice it makes thirty years later appears to reside as much as that legacy with a cushty, programmable peripheral that absolutely makes you’re feeling just like the navigator. 

Professionals

  • Larger thumb ledge and pinky relaxation are additional snug
  • A further programmable button close to the left and proper buttons
  • Shiny!
Cons

  • A bit on the heavy aspect
  • High programmable button is simple to by accident bump
  • So, so shiny.

$115 at Amazon

Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Connection: Twin Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz wi-fi | Energy: 2 x AA battery (included)| DPI choices: 400 mounted, 400-800 dynamic, 800-1500 dynamic | Weight: 175g | Additional buttons: Clickable wheel with horizontal scroll, ahead and again, two programmable thumb buttons, gadget swap button

I’m on my second Logitech MX Ergo Superior trackball mouse, after the one I had for practically six years lastly began appearing up. So I used to be fairly sure which trackball mouse would win the prize right here. Nicely, I used to be unsuitable. Whereas the MX Ergo is an incredible mouse that feels good within the hand and has a responsive curler motion, there have been so many extra components to love in regards to the Kensington Professional Match Ergo that it edged out my favourite. And it’s $30 much less.

The very first thing that impressed me was the trackball ejector button. As a result of trackball mice keep in a single place and don’t monitor over your desk, they’re really higher for surfaces that occur to build up cat hair (the dearth of motion additionally helps to not disturb the depositor of stated cat hair). However small bits of mud can nonetheless fall into the hole surrounding the trackball and mess with its roll, so sometimes you have to come out the ball and clear the little helps within the socket. Getting the ball out was at all times type of a ache — till now.

The Professional Match Ergo has a barely steeper tilt than the MX Ergo, which in the end feels extra pure, with much less forearm twisting. The dynamic acceleration with the 2 variable DPI settings make cursor actions each fast and exact. Kensington’s software program (or third social gathering software program like USB Overdrive) will allow you to program the 2 additional buttons in addition to the ahead and again button and multipurpose scroll wheel, which additionally has click on and horizontal scroll talents. There’s A tool-switcher button cycles by means of the 2 Bluetooth and one wi-fi dongle connection. That’s a function I might see utilizing pretty usually, provided that the mouse is appropriate with iPads, and trackball mice are wonderful to be used on the arms of couches.

One of many few gripes I’ve is that the DPI button is on the underside — inconvenient for rapidly swapping to precision mode in Photoshop and the like. I’m additionally not loopy in regards to the hard-touch plastic on the outside. It’s heavy at 175 grams, however since trackball mice must anchor down, that’s really a great factor.

Professionals

  • Handshake place is tremendous snug
  • Additional programmable buttons
  • Trackball design minimizes arm actions
  • Straightforward clicks and correct monitoring
Cons

  • DPI button on the underside!
  • One programmable aspect button is simple to by accident press
  • Laborious plastic is just a little unyielding, however it stays clear

$78 at Amazon

Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Connection: Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz wi-fi | Energy: Rechargeable battery | DPI choices: 5 phases, max 26,000 | Weight: 101g | Additional buttons: Clickable wheel with horizontal scroll, three programmable thumb buttons, profile swap button

Full disclosure: Nobody would mistake me for a gamer (and after I do get round to enjoying one thing, it’s on a console). However I wished to see what an “ergonomic” gaming mouse would really feel like in comparison with a typical, productivity-style possibility. There aren’t very many vertical gaming mice and just about none made by an organization I’m acquainted with. I don’t think about many trackball customers make it very excessive on the leaderboards, both. In order that leaves mice that the gaming world calls “ergonomic.” In that realm, ergonomic means formed to suit a specific hand, with curves and cutouts that conform to palms and fingers. It’s distinct from ambidextrous mice that provide a typical rectangular form with much less consideration for conforming to both hand.

The mouse I attempted from this class that felt probably the most snug turned out to be Jeff’s high decide in his finest gaming mouse information: Razer’s Basilisk V3. It’s gentle and tremendous straightforward to whip round a mouse pad and, even at larger DPI settings, the cursor stops on a dime for precision clicks. It has a properly textured, rubberized exterior and a snug ledge in your thumb to relaxation on. There’s no tilt to talk of; your hand is just about twisted palm-down in your desk, however the gentle, straightforward and correct motion retains the pressure down.

Then there’s all of the stuff that makes it a great mouse for aggressive play, like customizable buttons and a number of profiles so you possibly can program distinctive actions for various video games utilizing Razer’s software program. The scroll wheel has a chunky notched motion, however a button toggles to make scrolling tremendous slick. There’s additionally a button close to the thumb that comes programmed as a low DPI button so you are able to do precision issues like purpose in your wand or gatling gun, or clear mud from Photoshop pictures.

Professionals

  • Gentle, exact and speedy
  • Affordably priced
  • Thumb ledge is snug
  • Loads of gaming customization choices
Cons

  • Makes use of a palm-down orientation

$44 at Walmart

In our information to the finest productiveness mice, we identify the Logitech MX Grasp 3S the very best you may get. As I thought of its deserves as a mouse, it was certainly a powerful possibility — it linked flawlessly, has a helpful sideways wheel in addition to the standard scroll function and the thumb relaxation is a pleasant contact. However the ergonomics did not fairly do it for me. For one, it holds your hand in the usual, palm-down, claw-grip place.

Logitech’s Raise Vertical is probably going one of many extra standard ergonomic mice on the market. It’s pretty light-weight, has a lovely design with a pleasant really feel to the outside. The buttons are straightforward to click on and practically silent. It additionally connects rapidly utilizing both Bluetooth or a dongle. Sadly, it doesn’t glide throughout the mouse pad all that easily, and the pinch grip the design requires really aggregated my wrist. The cursor actions are pretty exact, although I sometimes had bother getting the cursor to land simply the place I wished it. Additionally, it’s small; my arms are too massive for the Raise. Logitech’s Logitech MX Vert is basically a bigger model, however once more, the skinnier form was uncomfortable in my arms and it was robust to get the cursor to go the place I wished it to.

The HP 920 ergonomic vertical additionally has a flange for resting your palm, however it makes the mouse overly heavy to maneuver round. With out it, nonetheless, it is a particularly snug mouse with a premium really feel, rechargeable battery, and two programmable thumb buttons. Sadly, the cursor motion was frustratingly imprecise and didn’t go precisely the place I pointed, forcing plenty of corrections — and extraneous motion is what we’re attempting to keep away from in ergonomic setups.

Other than the reasonably loud clicks, I used to be impressed with the construct and efficiency of the Turtle Seaside Pure Air. It’s light-weight, strikes easily, and has impressively correct cursor actions. However regardless of being labeled an ergonomic mouse, it’s notably gentle on the ergonomics. There’s a divot in your proper thumb, so it will probably’t be referred to as ambidextrous, however past that it’s a fairly customary (albeit fairly good) gaming mouse.

The PERIMICE-719 from Perixx is a stable mouse with an exterior that feels good to the contact. It has a cushty, semi-vertical design, correct cursor strikes and a satisfyingly ratcheted scroll wheel. Plus, it gives dependable connectivity with a wi-fi dongle and solely prices $22. Sadly, it was too small for my hand. Solely of us with smaller glove sizes (or don’t thoughts adopting extra of a fingertip grip) will be capable to get probably the most out of this one.

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