Best trackball mouse

Are you searching for the best trackball mouse for your PC? Well, here is the place to be as we’ve picked out the finest ball-based pointers you can buy, including budget, premium, wired, wireless, thumb-operated, and finger-operated options. For more mouse options, including ergonomic, gaming, and productivity mice, check out our best mouse guide.

Here are the best trackball mice in 2023:

• Kensington Expert wireless trackball – the best trackball mouse
• Kensington Orbit Wireless with Scroll Ring – the best budget trackball mouse
• Logitech MX Ergo Trackball – the best thumb-operated trackball
• Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK – the most versatile trackball

1. Kensington Expert wireless trackball

The best trackball mouse is the Kensington Expert wireless trackball.

Kensington Expert wireless trackball specs:

Pros

• Class-leading trackball performance
• Comfortable design
• Effortless button operation
• Clever scroll ring
• Ambidextrous

Cons

• A bit large for small hands
• Limited number of buttons
• Expensive

The Kensington Expert may look very simple but what it lacks in extra features, it makes up for with ease of use and accuracy, plus it’s more capable than you might think. Its large 54mm finger-operated ball makes for class-leading accuracy and stability, while its simple ambidextrous four-button layout is effortlessly intuitive to use, as is the clever scroll ring that encircles the ball to provide a scroll wheel-like function. The key here is that the four buttons can also be pressed in combination with each other, opening up the option of several more pre-programmed functions. You also get wireless convenience with a battery that lasts months. Read our full Kensington Expert Wireless review for more detail on this monster trackball.

2. Kensington Orbit Wireless with Scroll Ring

The best budget trackball mouse is the Kensington Orbit Wireless with Scroll Ring.

Kensington Orbit Wireless with Scroll Ring specs:

Pros

• Solid trackball performance
• Comfortable design
• Great value
• Very easy to use
• Ambidextrous

Cons

• Only two main buttons
• Not as stable as larger trackballs

The Kensington Orbit is a fantastic, low-cost trackball. Its ambidextrous design is very comfortable and its trackball is effortless to use. Its smaller diameter ball means it’s not quite as easy to use accurately as the Expert but it’s still great for most uses. The Scroll Ring is also a great improvement over a scroll wheel for reducing RSI yet feeling totally intuitive to use.

The big downside here is you only get two buttons – left click and right click. You can program one extra function to occur when you press both together (we use it for ‘back’ in your web browser) but that’s your lot. You also get wireless convenience with a battery that lasts months. Read our full Kensington Orbit Wireless with Scroll Ring review for more detail.

3. Logitech MX Ergo trackball

The best thumb-operated trackball mouse is the Logitech MX Ergo.

Logitech MX Ergo trackball specs:

Pros

• Comfortable shape for most hand sizes
• Useful software features
• Can pair with multiple devices at once
• Familiar mouse-like layout

Cons

• Thumb trackball is tiring for the thumb
• Less accurate than multi-finger trackball designs
• Not suited to small hands
• Right hand-only design

The Logitech MX Ergo is a well-built device that will make for an easy transition for any mouse users thanks to its familiar layout – you get a normal left-click, scroll wheel, right-click layout. Its software features are also genuinely useful, allowing you to easily switch between connected devices and even copy and paste between computers.

However, the small thumb-operated trackball isn’t as easy to use accurately as larger finger-operated units (except for large horizontal movements, which are easier with the thumb) and puts all the movement strain on your thumb, plus the scroll wheel is more tiring/RSI-inducing than the Kensington Scroll Rings. Nonetheless, for those seeking a crossover device between a mouse and finger-operated trackball, it’s a great option. Read our full Logitech MX Ergo review for more details.

4. Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK

The most versatile trackball mouse is the Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK.

Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK trackball specs:

Pros

• Large, accurate trackball
• Comfortable shape
• Loads of extra buttons
• Fantastic value

Cons

• Button layout takes time to learn
• Buttons can feel cramped for larger hands
• Right hand-only design

The Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK is just as its name describes. The very large unit incorporated a long wrist rest at the back and includes a massive 52mm trackball at the front. So far, so like the Kensington Expert. Where the M-HT1DRBK really comes into its own, though, is the sheer versatility on offer thanks to its masses of extra buttons. It has a total of seven standard buttons and a scroll wheel that tilts to offer two more buttons. There’s a learning curve to using this trackball and its button layout is actually best suited to smaller hands but it offers loads of utility for a great price. Read our full Elecom Huge Trackball M-HT1DRBK review for more details.

For more ergonomic mouse and office comfort ideas, check out our home office comfort guide. Also, why not complete your setup by finding the best headset or best mouse for you, or check out our best PC builds guide for more PC setup ideas.