Other Ergonomic Mice to Consider
There are several more options on the market to consider. These didn't cut it as our top picks for one reason or another, but we still like them enough to recommend.
Razer Pro Click V2 Photograph: Henri Robbins
Razer Pro Click V2 for $120: The biggest draw of the Pro Click V2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the shape: It’s sleek, refined, and comfortable. Instead of the sharp edges and angles of the Razer Basilisk, the Pro Click V2 has the curves of a normal mouse and is just as comfortable in an office setting as it would be in a gaming setup. And that’s what makes the Click stand out—you can use it everywhere, for everything. The shape is comfortable for regular use, the design is innocuous yet still satisfying, and the mouse has most of the usual trappings of a productivity mouse: An ergonomic shape, dual-mode mouse wheel, multidevice Bluetooth connectivity, and a slot on the underside to store the dongle. At the same time, it has the specs of a gaming mouse: 1,000-Hz polling, 2.4-GHz connectivity, full programmability, rubberized grips on either side, and bright RGB lighting on the underside. The Pro Click V2 also has horizontal scrolling through the mouse wheel, where it can be tilted to either side to scroll left and right. This isn’t quite as quick or intuitive as the MX Master’s thumb wheel, but it’s still nice to have. While it doesn’t match the Basilisk in performance, the Pro Click V2 is more affordable and a professional option that still has the sturdy build quality and responsive sensors Razer is known for.
Logitech MX Master 3S Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Logitech MX Master 3S for $110: The previous-generation MX Master 3S is still worth considering if you can find it on sale for well below the MSRP or the price of the MX Master 4. You're not missing a ton from the latest model, though the soft-touch plastic won't look great after a few years of use (something the MX Master 4 addresses), and it doesn't have the haptic-enabled Actions Ring. It's still an excellent mouse and was previously the top pick in this guide.
Photograph: Henri Robbins
Elecom Deft Pro for $65: Likely the best of Elecom’s offerings, the Deft Pro is a simple and robust trackball operated with your index finger (as opposed to your thumb). This allows for more precise movements, but isn’t quite as intuitive. I found it comfortable to use for extended periods, but I had a few hiccups—the scroll wheel is awkward to use with a thumb, and the right-click button (located on the far side of the ball) is thin. Still, the overall shape is comfortable once you’ve adapted to it.
Contour Design Rollermouse Red Wireless for $394: This is a very niche and expensive product, but I was impressed by the build quality and usability. It is a wrist rest with an integrated mouse pad, operated using the cylinder at the top. You move the mouse left and right by sliding it along its rail, and up and down by rolling the cylinder forward and backward. It's incredibly well made and shockingly smooth. A set of buttons sits underneath the spacebar, with dedicated copy/paste buttons, a double-click button, and adjustable sensitivity that beeps at you when you press the button. While the ergonomics feel unnatural at first, I quickly adapted to them and was able to navigate Windows easily within an hour or two of testing. However, as you would likely expect, any form of high-intensity gaming is out of the question: Halo CE felt less like a typical gaming experience and more like a challenge run with a drumset. The largest benefit of this device is that you can fully navigate your desktop without ever needing to remove your hands from the home row. It functions wonderfully and is a far more elegant solution than the trackpoint featured on keyboards like the HHKB Studio. With a high price and unconventional user experience, this is not for everyone. I struggle to say it’s worth the price. However, it's specialized equipment, and these often tend to be expensive due to limited demand, high development costs, and low production numbers. If you've wanted something like this, I don’t think you'll be disappointed.
Photograph: Henri Robbins
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