The Best Trackball Mice
Verified by
Ryan V. Editor-in-Chief
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
RTINGS, PCMag and Wirecutter all put the Logitech MX Ergo S, or its near-identical predecessor, at or near the top of their lists. PCMag named it the Best Thumb-Operated Trackball and an Editors' Choice in an April 2026 update, describing it as the magazine's favorite trackball for productivity users. Wirecutter named it the upgrade pick after a panel of nine testers rated it the most comfortable thumb-operated model they tried. RTINGS' lab picked the original MX ERGO as its best thumb trackball and describes the S as broadly the same design with minor updates.
Comfort is why. The sculpted body supports your whole palm, and a magnetic metal plate underneath lets you switch between a flat position and a 20-degree tilt. RTINGS puts the resulting posture halfway between a handshake and a palm-down grip. Your thumb does the steering, so the motion stays close to a regular mouse, and both RTINGS and PCMag say that shortens the learning curve. Wirecutter's small-handed testers liked its size and button layout too.
The everyday details hold up. It pairs over Bluetooth or a Logi Bolt receiver, remembers two computers and switches between them with one button. Logitech rates the USB-C battery at up to 120 days, and Wirecutter relays Logitech's claim that one minute of charging buys a full day. Six buttons are programmable in Logi Options+, which ships with presets for apps like Zoom and Photoshop. PCMag credits that software and the quiet clicks for putting it ahead of rivals.
What It Won't Do
It's right-handed only, so left-handed buyers should look at the Orbit or the SlimBlade Pro. Wirecutter found its ball stiffer to roll than the cheaper Nulea M501's, enough to tire some thumbs over a long day, and Custom PC raised the same thumb-fatigue concern about the original MX Ergo. RTINGS adds that the polling rate can't be raised, so cursor motion isn't smooth enough for gaming or a 4K monitor. There's also nowhere to store the tiny Bolt receiver, and the USB-C cable charges the battery without turning it into a wired mouse.
No trackball shows up in more budget recommendations than Kensington's Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring. RTINGS lists it as its Best Budget Trackball, and Custom PC gave it the same title. Wirecutter made it the top finger-operated pick for first-time trackball users, and PCMag lists it as the Best Ambidextrous Trackball.
The symmetrical shape is the big draw. The ball sits in the middle with a large button on each side, so the Orbit works the same in either hand, something the MX Ergo S can't offer. Its 40mm ball is big enough to rest two fingers on. Wirecutter found the pointer easy and accurate to land, and it crossed ultrawide and multi-monitor setups in fewer rolls than Wirecutter's thumb picks. A ring around the ball handles scrolling, and a detachable palm rest comes in the box.
It also covers connection basics that cheap trackballs often skip. A switch underneath flips between Bluetooth and the USB receiver, and the receiver tucks into a slot in the base so it doesn't get lost. Kensington backs it with a three-year warranty, and its list price is less than half of the MX Ergo S's.
What It Won't Do
You can feel the lower price in the materials. Wirecutter describes hollow buttons like those on a freebie mouse and a scroll ring that grinds against the plastic, though RTINGS was kinder and found it well built. PCMag found the flat body uncomfortable without the wrist rest, which Wirecutter says is thin and slides around. There are just two main buttons. Power comes from a pair of AA batteries, and RTINGS notes the low maximum sensitivity can feel slow on a very high-resolution screen.
Who Should Buy Which
Logitech MX Ergo S Wireless Trackball
The thumb trackball Wirecutter's testers found most comfortable, with a tilt plate and two-computer switching
- You're right-handed and want the thumb trackball testers found most comfortable
- You're moving from a regular mouse and want the shortest adjustment period
- You work on two computers and want to switch between them with one button
- You like to change your wrist angle during the day with the 20-degree tilt
- You'd rather recharge every few months than keep buying batteries
Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring
The budget pick from RTINGS and Custom PC, and Wirecutter's favorite first finger trackball, for either hand
- You're left-handed, or you share a desk with someone who is
- You want to try a finger-operated trackball without spending much
- You work across an ultrawide or multi-monitor setup and want to cross it in fewer rolls
- You prefer a flat layout to a tilted one
- You only need left click, right click and scrolling, with Bluetooth and a receiver in one device