Best Trackball Mouses in the UK

The Logitech MX Ergo is less about guesswork and more about precision that's achieved without sacrificing comfort. First off, this mouse comes equipped with an adjustable hinge. Using this hinge, you can customise the angle anywhere between 0 and 20 degrees, enabling natural hand position. Of course, without the right shape, this hinge would have been worthless, hence the hand-crafted form that offers full palm support, cradling the fingers whilst the soft rubber padding on the top makes the grip both firm and comfortable, smoothing out prolonged use.

All that being said, sometimes, advanced tracking trumps high precision, which is why this mouse adopts the mode switch button on the left side (above the trackball). With this button, you can switch between increased speed and accuracy.

But, before that, this is Logitech we're talking about here, so you know that the integrated battery this model is incorporating will be off the charts. Insert the supplied cable, wait a few hours, and the mouse will last a whopping ~4 months, not too shabby considering that wireless trackball mice normally clock out before the ~30-day mark, right?

What's also not too shabby is the precision scroll wheel. First, the wheel can tilt, offering you quick and easy access to shortcuts. Second, the wheel enables horizontal scrolling and comes armed with a middle click, so you can program it as well.

Including the wheel, this mouse features 8 programmable buttons, with the only caveat being that these buttons are pretty loud, not the biggest concern most users have but the one that's worth mentioning nonetheless.

Casting a quick look at the Logitech M570, you will see that it is designed like a traditional mouse. It has two mouse buttons and a scroll wheel between them. You also get Back and Forward buttons that allow for quick navigation through web pages and scrolling docs, which is very convenient. That said, if you are someone with smaller hands, they might seem to be placed far from each other to reach them easily.

This model was introduced back in 2018 but even now it doesn't lose its popularity and remains a fave choice of computer fans. The mouse has a beautiful matte body and a heavily sculpted shape that provides a comfy fit in your hand. What's more, it is very small. Weighing no more than 200 grammes, this mouse is quite lightweight, which is impressive given that there's also a trackball inside.

Out of the box, you get not only the mouse but also a unifying receiver, an add-on that wireless mice usually bundle. The great thing about this receiver is that it can connect up to six Logitech devices at the same time, which can be helpful if you need to use your headset, keyboard, another mouse, or all of these devices together.

With design and ergonomics out of the way, let's mention that the mouse uses one regular AA battery, just like most models. What's different though is that this battery has an impressive life, providing up to a whopping 18 months of use without battery replacement. So, you won't need to worry about it dying on you in the middle of your gaming session. What's more, there's a handy indicator light that will notify you when it is about time to change it.

The Kensington Orbit TrackBall is not the traditional mouse that puts a trackball on the side. No, this is a symmetrical model with a ball in the middle on top, making the mouse ambidextrous but also quite odd-looking. Models like that usually take some time to get used to but, once you do, they become irreplaceable. Besides, as much as the shape defines this product, it is the company's touch that sells this one first and foremost.

To name one, the optical tracking tech tracks the 40-millimetre ball with improved precision, offering increased accuracy so that you're able to quickly and easily move the cursor where you want it. To name two, the model's footprint has been made more compact, taking up less desk space than orthodox mice and letting you optimise the workstation's layout with more options.

Needless to say, again, this device looks weird but with the two buttons on the sides, the model will make the transition quite smooth, so even the more unwilling mouse converts should be able to figure this mouse out and get the gist within the first few days. Having said that, people with unusually large hands might find this model a little impractical and the improved ergonomics the mouse's offering not quite as improved as one would expect.

The Jelly Comb Store CP007366-CM approaches from an affordable angle. As much as the mouse tries, the economy-model vibe, albeit faint, is noticeable. Where this product takes the biggest wrong turn is its battery life. Whilst we appreciate the mouse being wireless, especially considering its low-end price point, the integrated battery can seldom squeeze more than 30 days from a charge and there's nothing particularly fun about recharging this optical mouse every month. That being said, the model makes more right turns than wrong ones.

To give you an example, this Bluetooth-enabled mouse can be connected to three different systems at the same time. Using the switch button, you can switch between these systems without delay, controlling multiple computers with one mouse. Whilst the USB receiver will let you work with Windows (XP and above) and macOS (10 and above), the Bluetooth module will enable pairing the mouse with just about any Bluetooth-endowed device, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, you name them. These devices even include Android TV boxes, so you can work on PC and control the TV without using separate peripherals.

Compared to/with more expensive trackball mice, this model is pretty basic. To some extent though, the almost no-frills construction works to the mouse's advantage. While traditional mice with trackballs usually weigh at least ~200 grammes, this one stops at 135, making this device not just ergonomic but more lightweight than the competition.

The Perixx PERIMICE-517 cuts almost no corners. The trackball is stiff initially but, with time, the stiffness goes away. Plus, the company also offers alternative trackballs, with the glossy green one enabling fast and agile movements, while the matte red trackball services steady and precise pointing.

By default, the mouse comes with the glossy one, coating the trackball with a finish that supports high-sensitivity sensors and enables precise movement. To add more, using the one-click DPI button, you'll be able to switch between 400 and 1000 DPI settings, making the cursor more or less reserved.

From a mobility perspective, this laser mouse behaves well on the road, sitting on most surfaces without running around. Aside from mobile workstations and small desks, even soft pillows can serve as an acceptable mouse pad replacement.

Design-wise, there's nothing especially interesting about this mouse, which is not a problem, just an observation. The 34-millimetre trackball on the side looks standard, the left and right clicks are pretty quiet, and so are the programmable buttons. Nevertheless, despite the practically silent click, the rebound response is solid. Aside from the ones below the scroll wheel that, before you program them, set the DPI, the mouse adds two more buttons onto the left click, so you can customise those as well. Needless to say, the scroll wheel is also clickable and customisable, borrowing from the same playbook that ordinary computer mice have been following the last decade or so.