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A mouse could look like a small consideration in your workstation setup. However after you’ve addressed the essential ergonomics — elevating your monitor to eye-level, utilizing the suitable keyboard and taking frequent breaks all through your workdays — it’s a good suggestion to ensure the mouse you utilize is snug as nicely. Folks coping with situations like carpal tunnel and wrist ache could also be excited about discovering the most effective ergonomic mouse for them. Vertical and semi-vertical designs flip your palm in the direction of your midline as a substitute of downwards, making a handshake place which will really feel extra pure. Others make use of a trackball to reduce the work your shoulder has to do in a day. I examined out greater than 20 extremely regarded ergonomic mice to provide you with suggestions for vertical, semi-vertical, trackball and extra, together with recommendation concerning the deserves of the totally different ergonomic designs.
Desk of contents
Finest ergonomic mouse for 2025
Photograph 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 | Variety of buttons: 6 | Further buttons: Ahead, backward, DPI, scroll
I actually loved utilizing the Goldtouch Semi-Vertical mouse and it’s most likely the one I had plugged within the longest, simply because I favored 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 transferring 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 totally different colours relying on which velocity 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 collection of flashes to point velocity.
It has a soft-touch, rubberized exterior with clean metallic plastic buttons which are 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 totally palm the outside with a long way 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 velocity run, relying on how briskly you flip it. Perhaps it’s simply the evaluation unit I received, 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 excellent. When it’s worthwhile 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 slightly 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 transferring my entire arm simply aggravates my shoulder pressure. Goldtouch claims that the flange additionally provides slightly further size to help as much as eight-inch-long arms.
I examined the wired mouse 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 when you don’t have one accessible and don’t wish to purchase an adapter, you’ll be able to strive Perrix’s Perimice 819 for the same semi-vertical design. It’s slightly smaller, so medium and huge arms will use extra of a fingertip grip. However it glides simply, has exact motion, a chargeable battery and connects by way of Bluetooth or wirelessly with both a USB-C or USB-A dongle. Plus, it’s an ergonomic cut price at $35.
Execs
- Solidly constructed
- Adjustable weights
- Clean glide
- Semi-vertical design is further 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 | Variety of buttons: 7 | Further buttons: Ahead, backward, scroll click on, DPI, RGB (programmable)
The J-Tech Digital V638 feels much more premium than its $30 price ticket would counsel. It has a snug vertical design, a chargeable battery, a clickable scroll button and even some (non-obligatory) RGB lights to maintain issues fascinating.
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 if you click on buttons, which can really feel extra pure for some. Palming the mouse and transferring it round feels clean and exact. There’s a slight protrusion between the place your center and ring finger relaxation that type of jogs my memory of a flight-sim joystick. If you’re totally gripping the mouse, which is essentially the most relaxed strategy, the buttons are straightforward to click on. But when your hand is backed off slightly and utilizing extra of a fingertip grip, the buttons really feel slightly 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 will be modified by clicking the button just under 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 allows a left click on and the scrolling itself is clean 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 also be included and once more attaches magnetically. The connection doesn’t really feel as agency because the Goldtouch flange, but it surely’s not at risk 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 most effective price range ergonomic mouse.
Execs
- Nice worth
- Wider vertical rip feels pure
- RGB lights are enjoyable and non-obligatory
Cons
- Buttons will be arduous to click on
- Flange is uncomfortable, however removable
$16 at Amazon
Photograph 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 | Variety of buttons: 6 | Further buttons: Clickable wheel, higher and decrease thumb buttons, left, proper and heart 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 glossy 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 greater than on many different mice, and I discovered the location made the vertical form extra snug for my hand. There’s even slightly 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 but it surely strikes easily and rapidly on its toes. The ergonomic form makes it straightforward to carry out the smaller, extra minute fingertip changes and rapidly return to the total help of a palm grip. Scrolling has a satisfying clickiness and sluggish rotations are further 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 have been additionally manner 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 growth package from Apple that hasn’t been delivered regardless of “repeated emails” from Evoluent. Within the meantime, I used USB Overdrive to vary up the acceleration speeds (which afterwards felt correct) and adjusted a couple of of the button features.
Along with the usual buttons, there is a third close to the suitable 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 chance hitting it once I moved my hand from keyboard to mouse. I set the underside button to indicate 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 strategy, 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 huge mannequin. The corporate claims to have provide you with the thought for a vertical mouse again in 1994. The mice it makes thirty years later appears to stay as much as that legacy with a snug, programmable peripheral that absolutely makes you’re feeling just like the navigator.
Execs
- Larger thumb ledge and pinky relaxation are further snug
- An extra programmable button close to the left and proper buttons
- Shiny!
Cons
- A bit on the heavy aspect
- Prime programmable button is simple to by chance bump
- So, so shiny.
$115 at Amazon
Amy Skorheim for Engadget
Connection: Twin Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz wi-fi | Energy: Rechargeable battery | DPI choices: 380 nominal, 512-2048 min/max | Weight: 164 – 259g | Variety of buttons: 8 | Button perform: Clickable wheel with horizontal scroll, ahead and again, precision DPI mode, gadget change button
Our earlier decide on this class, the Kensington Professional Match Ergo has sadly been discontinued. Logitech’s MX Ergo S Superior trackball mouse is a worthy different. I am on my second MX Ergo, after the one I had for almost six years lastly began performing up, which was a reasonably good run.
Just lately, the corporate up to date the mouse and glued one among my few complaints. Now, as a substitute of a dated micro USB recharging port, it is a way more trendy USB-C. The clicks at the moment are quieter too, however I by no means thought the unique was notably loud.
The magnetic plate beneath the mouse each anchors it down in your desk (you do not usually need trackball mice to maneuver) and permits you to alter the lean, switching your palm to a flatter place or angling it inward by an additional 20 levels. Cursor actions are actual and there is a precision DPI button that I discover best to function with my thumb whereas my forefinger tackles pixel-level management.
Further buttons embrace back and front browser controls and a clickable scroll wheel with horizontal motion. It could rapidly change between two paired gadgets with the on board button — I by no means waited quite a lot of moments for it to swap. The battery life is nice, too, lasting a couple of months earlier than needing a recharge.
General, it is a very snug mouse to make use of for hours (and years) on finish. My solely gripe is I want the lean have been extra vertical for a real handshake orientation. A few programmable buttons can be welcome additions as nicely.
Execs
- Trackball design minimizes arm actions
- Simple clicks and correct monitoring
- Clickable scroll wheel has horizontal motion
- Switches rapidly between two paired gadgets
Cons
- No programmable buttons
- Angle may very well be extra vertical
$110 at Logitech
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Connection: Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz wi-fi | Energy: Rechargeable battery | DPI choices: 5 phases, max 26,000 | Weight: 101g | Variety of buttons: 11 | Further buttons: Clickable wheel with horizontal scroll, three programmable thumb buttons, profile change button
Full disclosure: Nobody would mistake me for a gamer (and once I do get round to taking part in 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 regular, productivity-style possibility. There aren’t very many vertical gaming mice and nearly 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 supply a regular rectangular form with much less consideration for conforming to both hand.
The mouse I attempted from this class that felt essentially 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 greater 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 very good mouse for aggressive play, like customizable buttons and a number of profiles so you’ll be able to 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 goal in your wand or gatling gun, or clear mud from Photoshop photographs.
Execs
- Gentle, exact and speedy
- Affordably priced
- Thumb ledge is snug
- Loads of gaming customization choices
Cons
- Makes use of a palm-down orientation
$40 at Amazon
What to search for in an ergonomic mouse
Like every thing associated to ergonomics, the mouse design that works finest for you’ll rely in your physique and what it’s worthwhile 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 need to get.
Sorts and shapes of ergonomic mice
Once we’re speaking about ergonomic mice for productiveness functions, it often refers to mice that look distinctly totally different from the usual, usually with shapes that tilt your hand in the direction of a extra “handshake” place as a substitute of dealing with your palm downward. A vertical ergonomic mouse has essentially 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 suitable or left hand. It differentiates these mice from ambidextrous fashions, which don’t conform to a specific hand.
Every of three ergonomic mice shapes might help deal with totally different considerations. When you’re making an attempt to keep away from twisting your forearm, a vertical mouse may very well 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 essentially the most like a standard laptop 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 your cursor transfer, your palm and wrist keep aligned and the complete arm controls the movement.
A trackball mouse also can hold your wrist from bending, because it retains your forearm planted. My private battle is with neck and shoulder pressure, so trackballs and really light-weight vertical mice work finest for me as their configuration lets me hold my forearm from transferring.
DPI, weight and buttons
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 very good job of explaining these metrics in his gaming mouse evaluation information.) What issues listed below are numbers like DPI, or dots per inch, which signifies how delicate a mouse is. The upper the setting, the sooner your cursor will transfer throughout the display. Low DPI settings allow you to do precision work like pixel-by-pixel modifying in Photoshop. All of the mice right here have not less than two and as many as 5 settings, starting from 400 to three,200 DPI. Mice that make it straightforward to modify from excessive to low DPI would possibly make sense when you do numerous detailed work.
Weight makes a distinction in vertical and semi-vertical mice (however not trackballs, since they keep put). A lighter mannequin can be simpler to maneuver round, which might put much less pressure in your wrist and arm. That mentioned, slightly weight could make your actions really feel extra exact. For reference, a featherweight gaming mouse would possibly weigh 45 grams and a big vertical mouse with a flange hooked up would possibly weigh 140 grams. The latter could really feel slightly heavy, but when it has clean toes and is used with a good mouse pad, it can 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 arduous on a button tenses up my arm and shoulder like no one’s enterprise. Because it’s an motion desk employees carry out a whole lot or hundreds of instances a day, it is important that it’s easy — nothing dominated out a mouse faster in my assessments than powerful buttons.
Further options
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 comparable to a scroll wheel that may click on with a press or deal with horizontal scrolling by tilting the wheel to the suitable or left. Many even have again and ahead buttons for browser home windows, and generally these two are programmable to carry out totally different features in different apps.
Extra advanced mice have further buttons to customise, usually utilizing a mouse’s proprietary software program. Relying on that software program, you’ll be able to set buttons to mute calls, copy and paste, undo and redo, change tabs and extra. Performing a number of features with out extraneous motion is an enormous plus in ergonomic design. In fact, there are a variety 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 be able to examine in our ergonomic keyboard information.
Connectivity and compatibility
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, by way of Bluetooth or with a 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle. Extra gadgets have included USB-C interfaces, however most mice nonetheless use USB-A. So when you’ve got 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 objective, 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 way 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 (doubtlessly granting permission for the gadget) and also you’re set. For Bluetooth, it’s worthwhile 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 when you plan on taking part in some Overwatch after hours and wish to use the identical mouse, you would possibly wish to go together with the sooner, 2.4Ghz route.
How we check ergonomic mice
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 (we’ve an entire information devoted to that matter). I used every mouse for a couple of hours or a couple of 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 huge for a lady.
Different ergonomic mice we tried
Razer Professional Click on V2 Vertical
I used to be thrilled to see a gaming firm announce a vertical mouse. In gaming peripherals, the time period “ergonomic” simply means “not ambidextrous” as in, designed for the suitable (or left) hand. To be truthful, Razer calls this a productiveness mouse and a rep instructed me it was meant for individuals who work usually and sometimes wish to recreation with the identical mouse. However nonetheless, the Professional Click on V2 Vertical mouse is not less than gaming adjoining and has an precise ergo design. The handshake place is good and upright, forcing little or no twisting in your forearm. It’s instantly obvious how nicely constructed it’s, plus it’s light-weight, glides simply and properly matches within the hand. It has three connectivity choices: Bluetooth, wired or USB-A dongle. And, as a result of that is Razer, you additionally get some candy, candy RGB lights on the backside.
Sadly, I feel Razer’s Basilisk V3 continues to be a greater ergonomic mouse for gaming. Though it doesn’t have the tilted handshake place, I vastly most popular utilizing it to the Professional Click on V2 Vertical. The V2 Vertical has a small flange that helps the pinky, however my palm was left to pinch in opposition to the desk, so I discovered myself lifting my arm loads. Whereas the Hyperspeed dongle is kind of responsive, the Bluetooth connection was constantly sluggish to wake. Utilizing the mouse wired wasn’t nice both, as the load of the cable was extra noticeable with a tilted place. The precise and left buttons required solely a lightweight contact if my hand totally grasped the mouse, but when I backed off the grip slightly, the buttons have been powerful to click on.
Lastly, for a gaming mouse, there aren’t a ton of programmable buttons: excellent, left, scroll, DPI and a ahead/again pair surrounding the thumb slot. There are some nice concepts right here and, like most issues Razer makes, the construct is top-notch, so I’m excited to see if the model’s subsequent effort within the space of ergonomic gaming mouse addresses a couple of of this mannequin’s drawbacks.
Logitech MX Grasp 3S
Logitech mice have made many appearances in our guides through the years. In our information to the most effective productiveness mice, we identify the Logitech MX Grasp 3S the most effective wi-fi mouse you may get. As I thought-about its deserves as a mouse, it was certainly a powerful possibility — it related flawlessly, has a helpful sideways wheel in addition to the normal scroll function and the thumb relaxation is a pleasant contact. However the ergonomics did not fairly do it for me because it holds your hand in the usual, palm-down, claw-grip place.
Logitech Elevate Vertical
The Logi Elevate Vertical is probably going one of many extra fashionable ergonomic mice on the market. It’s pretty light-weight, has a horny design with a pleasant really feel to the outside. The buttons are straightforward to click on and almost 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 truly 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 giant for the Elevate. Logitech’s Logitech MX Vertical is actually a bigger model, however once more, the skinnier form was uncomfortable in my arms and it was powerful to get the cursor to go the place I wished it to.
HP 920 ergonomic vertical
The HP 920 ergonomic vertical additionally has a flange for resting your palm, but it surely makes the mouse overly heavy to maneuver round. With out it, nevertheless, 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 making an attempt to keep away from in ergonomic setups.
Turtle Seaside Pure Air
Other than the moderately 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 may’t be referred to as ambidextrous, however past that it’s a reasonably customary (albeit fairly good) gaming mouse.
Perixx Perimice 719
The PERIMICE-719 from Perixx is a strong mouse with an exterior that feels good to the contact. It has a snug, 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 people with smaller glove sizes (or don’t thoughts adopting extra of a fingertip grip) will have the ability to get essentially the most out of this one.
Anker 2.4G vertical
The Anker 2.4G mouse might make a good price range decide for anybody who would not thoughts utilizing extra of a pinch grip on their peripheral. It is light-weight and has a exact scroll wheel together with again and ahead browser buttons. It is battery operated, however would not include batteries and solely connects by way of the included USB radio dongle. I additionally discovered the buttons slightly more durable to press which in the end eradicated it from the operating.
