A mouse might seem to be a small consideration to 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 verify the mouse you utilize is snug as effectively. Individuals coping with circumstances like carpal tunnel and wrist ache could also be curious about discovering one of the best ergonomic mouse for them. Vertical and semi-vertical designs flip your palm in the direction of your midline as an alternative of downwards, making a handshake place which will really feel extra pure. Others make use of a trackball to attenuate the work your shoulder has to do in a day. I examined out greater than 20 extremely regarded ergonomic mice to give you suggestions for vertical, semi-vertical, trackball and extra, together with recommendation in regards to the deserves of the completely different ergonomic designs.
Desk of contents
Greatest ergonomic mouse for 2025
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Connection: Wired USB-A or 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle fashions out there | 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 in all probability the one I had plugged within the longest, simply because I preferred 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 emblem on the facet turns completely different colours relying on which velocity you’ve chosen (purple 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 sequence of flashes to point velocity.
It has a soft-touch, rubberized exterior with easy metallic plastic buttons which can be simple 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 totally vertical mouse. My medium-sized hand can absolutely palm the outside with far left between the information 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 gradual line-by-line crawl and a page-swallowing velocity run, relying on how briskly you flip it. Possibly it’s simply the assessment unit I obtained, however the wheel often made the faintest squeak, although that’s beginning to fade. The clicks are audible, however not annoying and the lift-off distance is good. When it’s good to reposition the mouse, tilting it barely to glide on its proper edge doesn’t end in errant cursor motion.
The Goldtouch Semi-Vertical comes with an non-obligatory flange that attaches firmly with magnets. It provides a bit weight however the mouse nonetheless glides admirably. The addition means that you can 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 an alternative. I didn’t use the flange aside from to check it, as transferring my entire arm simply aggravates my shoulder stress. Goldtouch claims that the flange additionally provides a bit 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 effectively.
All three of these fashions require a USB-A port so when you don’t have one out there and don’t need to purchase an adapter, you possibly can strive Perrix’s Perimice 819 for the same semi-vertical design. It’s a bit smaller, so medium and enormous 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.
- Solidly constructed
- Adjustable weights
- Easy glide
- Semi-vertical design is further snug
- Detachable flange glides simply
- 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 recommend. It has a snug vertical design, a chargeable battery, a clickable scroll button and even some (non-obligatory) RGB lights to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
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 once you click on buttons, which can really feel extra pure for some. Palming the mouse and transferring it round feels easy and exact. There’s a slight protrusion between the place your center and ring finger relaxation that kind of jogs my memory of a flight-sim joystick. Whenever you’re absolutely gripping the mouse, which is essentially the most relaxed method, the buttons are simple to click on. But when your hand is backed off a bit and utilizing extra of a fingertip grip, the buttons really feel a bit 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 several 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 easy 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 get together 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 choice that I might name one of the best funds ergonomic mouse.
- Nice worth
- Wider vertical rip feels pure
- RGB lights are enjoyable and non-obligatory
- Buttons will be laborious 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 modern 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 facet is greater than on many different mice, and I discovered the position made the vertical form extra snug for my hand. There’s even a bit lip for the pinky to relaxation on, one thing I didn’t even know I needed, however now all different mice seem to be 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 simple to carry out the smaller, extra minute fingertip changes and rapidly return to the complete help of a palm grip. Scrolling has a satisfying clickiness and gradual 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 approach 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 alter up the acceleration speeds (which afterwards felt correct) and altered a number 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 under the thumb relaxation are additionally customizable, however I programmed the highest one to do nothing as a result of I stored unintentionally hitting it after 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 now not want to make use of my keyboard for, which is useful.
As a substitute of a one-size-fits-all method, Evoluent makes three sizes of its mice. I examined the medium, which labored effectively for my 7.25-inch lengthy hand. However there’s additionally a small and enormous mannequin. The corporate claims to have give you 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 completely makes you are feeling just like the navigator.
- Larger thumb ledge and pinky relaxation are further snug
- An extra programmable button close to the left and proper buttons
- Shiny!
- A bit on the heavy facet
- Prime programmable button is straightforward to unintentionally 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, system swap button
Our earlier choose on this class, the Kensington Professional Match Ergo has sadly been discontinued. Logitech’s MX Ergo S Superior trackball mouse is a worthy various. 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 stuck considered one of my few complaints. Now, as an alternative of a dated micro USB recharging port, it is a way more trendy USB-C. The clicks are actually 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 means that you can modify 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 will possibly rapidly swap between two paired units with the on board button — I by no means waited various moments for it to swap. The battery life is nice, too, lasting a number of months earlier than needing a recharge.
Total, 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 effectively.
- Trackball design minimizes arm actions
- Simple clicks and correct monitoring
- Clickable scroll wheel has horizontal motion
- Switches rapidly between two paired units
- 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 swap button
Full disclosure: Nobody would mistake me for a gamer (and after I do get round to enjoying one thing, it’s on a console). However I needed to see what an “ergonomic” gaming mouse would really feel like in comparison with a typical, productivity-style choice. There aren’t very many vertical gaming mice and just about none made by an organization I’m aware of. 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 typical 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 choose in his finest gaming mouse information: Razer’s Basilisk V3. It’s gentle and tremendous simple 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 comfortable ledge to 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, simple 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 possibly can 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 intention in your wand or gatling gun, or clear mud from Photoshop pictures.
- Mild, exact and speedy
- Affordably priced
- Thumb ledge is snug
- Loads of gaming customization choices
- Makes use of a palm-down orientation
$40 at Amazon
What to search for in an ergonomic mouse
Like the whole lot associated to ergonomics, the mouse design that works finest for you’ll rely in your physique and what it’s good to do on a typical day. So the shapes, added options and the way the mouse communicates along with your pc will decide which it’s best to get.
Varieties and shapes of ergonomic mice
After we’re speaking about ergonomic mice for productiveness functions, it often refers to mice that look distinctly completely different from the usual, usually with shapes that tilt your hand in the direction of a extra “handshake” place as an alternative 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 effectively, 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 may also help tackle completely different considerations. If you happen to’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 effectively.
A semi-vertical mouse feels essentially the most like a standard pc 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 an alternative 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 can even maintain your wrist from bending, because it retains your forearm planted. My private wrestle is with neck and shoulder stress, so trackballs and really light-weight vertical mice work finest for me as their configuration lets me maintain 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 assessment information.) What issues listed here are numbers like DPI, or dots per inch, which signifies how delicate a mouse is. The upper the setting, the quicker your cursor will transfer throughout the display screen. Low DPI settings allow you to do precision work like pixel-by-pixel modifying in Photoshop. All of the mice right here have a minimum of two and as many as 5 settings, starting from 400 to three,200 DPI. Mice that make it simple to modify from excessive to low DPI would possibly make sense when you do plenty of 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 stated, a bit 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 might really feel a bit heavy, but when it has easy toes and is used with an honest mouse pad, it should 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 laborious 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 bunch or hundreds of occasions a day, it is important that or not it’s easy — nothing dominated out a mouse faster in my exams 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 reminiscent of 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 completely different features in different apps.
Extra complicated mice have further buttons to customise, usually utilizing a mouse’s proprietary software program. Relying on that software program, you possibly can set buttons to mute calls, copy and paste, undo and redo, swap 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 take a look at these) as effectively. They join in 3 ways: Wired, by way of Bluetooth or with a 2.4Ghz wi-fi dongle. Extra units have integrated USB-C interfaces, however most mice nonetheless use USB-A. So if in case you have a laptop computer that solely sports activities USB-C ports ( 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 utterly clear path between the mouse and receiver. Every little 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 system) and also you’re set. For Bluetooth, it’s good 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 enjoying some Overwatch after hours and need to use the identical mouse, you would possibly need to go along with the quicker, 2.4Ghz route.
How we take a look at 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 now have a complete information devoted to that subject). I used every mouse for a number of hours or a number of days, noting how effectively 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 just below common for a person and enormous for a girl.
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 many who work usually and infrequently need to sport with the identical mouse. However nonetheless, the Professional Click on V2 Vertical mouse is a minimum of gaming adjoining and has an precise ergo design. The handshake place is sweet and upright, forcing little or no twisting in your forearm. It’s instantly obvious how effectively 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 believe Razer’s Basilisk V3 continues to be a greater ergonomic mouse for gaming. Although 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 towards the desk, so I discovered myself lifting my arm loads. Whereas the Hyperspeed dongle is sort of responsive, the Bluetooth connection was persistently gradual to wake. Utilizing the mouse wired wasn’t nice both, as the burden of the cable was extra noticeable with a tilted place. The suitable and left buttons required solely a lightweight contact if my hand absolutely grasped the mouse, but when I backed off the grip a bit, the buttons have been powerful to click on.
Lastly, for a gaming mouse, there aren’t a ton of programmable buttons: good, 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 number of of this mannequin’s drawbacks.
Logitech MX Grasp 3S
Logitech mice have made many appearances in our guides over time. In our information to one of the best productiveness mice, we identify the Logitech MX Grasp 3S one of the best wi-fi mouse you will get. As I thought of its deserves as a mouse, it was certainly a formidable choice — it related flawlessly, has a helpful sideways wheel in addition to the standard scroll characteristic 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 Raise Vertical
The Logi Raise Vertical is probably going one of many extra fashionable ergonomic mice on the market. It’s pretty light-weight, has a pretty design with a pleasant really feel to the outside. The buttons are simple 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 really aggregated my wrist. The cursor actions are pretty exact, although I often had hassle getting the cursor to land simply the place I needed it. Additionally, it’s small; my arms are too giant for the Raise. Logitech’s Logitech MX Vertical is basically 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 needed 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 an especially 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 numerous 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 to your proper thumb, so it could’t be known as ambidextrous, however past that it’s a reasonably normal (albeit fairly good) gaming mouse.
Perixx Perimice 719
The PERIMICE-719 from Perixx is a stable 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 be capable to get essentially the most out of this one.
Anker 2.4G vertical
The Anker 2.4G mouse might make an honest funds choose for anybody who does 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 does not include batteries and solely connects by way of the included USB radio dongle. I additionally discovered the buttons a bit tougher to press which in the end eradicated it from the operating.
