Computer Mice and Trackballs Reviews

Best Computer Mice and Trackballs Reviews: (out of 30)
Extreme Tech.com, HardwareLogic.com, SharkyExtreme.com

Best Computer Mice and Trackballs: (out of 55)
Logitech MX Revolution, Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse, Logitech G5 Laser Mouse

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Fast Answers - Best Computer Mice and Trackballs

Top Rated	What the Research Says
• Logitech MX Revolution (*est. $70) >> Where to buy	Best wireless mouse. The Logitech MX Revolution is the best general-use mouse, according to reviews. It's appropriate for office applications and web surfing, and precise for video and photo editing. The MX Revolution has a low-battery indicator, and can be recharged on the base unit. It's loaded with features that let you do more with the mouse and less with multiple clicks or keystrokes. The Logitech is for right-handed use only, but is compatible with both PC and Mac computers. Gamers are the only group that might not be happy with this mouse; they will probably prefer a higher-resolution mouse with customizable software. (compare prices)
• Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse (*est. $40) >> Where to buy	Best budget wireless mouse, best for left-handers. Among reviewers that compare the two, all prefer the pricier Logitech MX Revolution to the Logitech MX610. However, experts say the MX610 is a good runner-up choice for those who don't want to spend $70 on a mouse. The Logitech MX610 also fills another niche -- it's one of the few models that's available in two separate versions -- one for left-handers and one for right-handed people. The left-handed version is a better choice for left-handers than mice with symmetrical shapes. The MX610 has a scroll wheel and a zoom feature. The MX610 is suitable for casual gaming, but reviewers concur that specialty mice are better for competitive gaming. (compare prices)
• Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (*est. $45) >> Where to buy	Best corded gaming mouse. Although some reviewers find that using a corded mouse interferes with the gaming experience, the Logitech G5 is otherwise fast, precise, and incredibly customizable. The G5 mouse comes with weights, so you can match the weight of the mouse to your personal taste. The G5 adjusts sensitivity on the fly and has a 2,000-dpi laser engine. The G5 doesn't have as many convenience features as the MX Revolution, and it is not Mac compatible. (compare prices)
• Logitech G7 Laser Cordless Mouse (*est. $75) >> Where to buy	Best wireless gaming mouse. The Logitech G7 is the wireless version of the G5. While the G5 comes with weights, the G7 uses that space for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (two hot-swappable batteries are included). Although you don't have to deal with a cord, some reviewers prefer the ergonomics of the cheaper corded Logitech G5. Both mice come with software that enables customization for games. In the past, gamers complained that wireless mice aren't instantly responsive, but reviewers claim they experience no lag with the G7. The G7 is PC-only. (compare prices)
• Logitech VX Revolution (*est. $45) >> Where to buy	Best laptop mouse. The Logitech VX Revolution is the laptop version of the Logitech MX Revolution -- and it gets the highest ratings among laptop mice. While reviewers concur that the VX is the best portable mouse, they also note that it is one of the largest. The VX Revolution is large enough that many people will prefer it to the larger MX for desktop use. The VX is feature packed. A small wireless receiver, which stores inside the mouse when not in use, is a key advantage for portable use. It is both PC and Mac compatible. (compare prices)
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What the experts say, our analysis, and more...

Updated July 2007

We found lots of very good reviews of mice at websites devoted to computer hardware analysis. The best reviewers tell us that when it comes to computer mice, first impressions can be misleading. Instead, these experts say valid testing requires at least a couple of weeks of ordinary use. ExtremeTech.com is one of the best reviewers of mice in that regard. The long-standing technology site identifies the best and worst mice in multiple categories in comparative reviews. Other roundups compare budget mice and novelty mice geared toward young people.

Mouse reviews at HardwareLogic.com, Sharky Extreme.com, and Virtual-Hideout.net are also first rate. All of them do comprehensive testing and their reviews are marvelously documented, with lots of illustrations and comparisons to other products. Tom's Hardware Guide, OverClock Intelligence Agency, Techtree.com, XYZComputing.com, HardwareCentral.com and EverythingUSB.com all have very good reviews, but all fall short of the best reviews in one of those three key areas. Consumer Reports magazine has not yet covered input devices (mice or keyboards), but Australian consumer magazine Choice published a good roundup review a year ago.

Most reviews say that Apple's Mighty Mouse (*est. $50) looks great, but reviewers are not enthusiastic about its performance. Instead of a scroll wheel, the Mighty Mouse (and its cordless counterpart, the Apple Wireless Mouse, *est. $60) has a small scroll ball about the size of a pea. Most reviews say the ball just isn't as easy to use as a scroll wheel. For example, PC World's Rebecca Freed notes that it's too sensitive out of the box, and that like all mechanical trackballs, the scroll ball can get dirty and gummy.

Right-clicking is different with the Mighty Mouse. Instead of a dedicated button, the mouse can tell when you're pressing the right side of the cover. Mac owners using OS X Tiger and higher can customize the buttons, and by squeezing the sides of the Mighty Mouse you enable the "Expose" function, which displays small versions of all open windows simultaneously. Although the Apple Mighty Mouse looks nice, reviews say other mice work better and are compatible with Macintosh computers. Most Logitech optical mice, for example, work perfectly with a Mac.
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Consensus Report

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
8	Logitech G7 cordless laser mouse (*est. $75)	details
7	Logitech MX Revolution (*est. $70)	details
7	Logitech G5 laser mouse (*est. $45)	details
5	Logitech VX Revolution (*est. $45)	details
4	Logitech MX610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless Mouse (*est. $40)	details
3	Razer Copperhead (*est. $55)	details
2	Razer Krait (*est. $40)	details
2	OCZ Technology Equalizer (Mobile Size) (*est. $35)	-
1 each	Mice: Logitech MX1000 cordless laser mouse , OCZ Technology Equalizer (Desktop Size), Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 , Kensington Mouse.in.a.Box Optical Elite , Active Release Techniques Zero Tension Mouse, Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 , Microsoft Habu , Kensington Ci65M Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse , Razer Diamondback , Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 , Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 , Logitech MX3200 desktop combo

In comparative reviews, Logitech mice are almost always favored. We didn't find reviewers who preferred Microsoft mice to Logitech mice in direct comparisons, but some prefer Razer mice for gaming. The Logitech MX Revolution and VX Revolution (laptop version) are the best general-purpose mice according to most review sources. The Logitech G5 and G7 (cordless version) are the best gaming mice according to most review sources.

Input devices stay on the market much longer than other computer system products. Some mice, such as the Razer Copperhead, are top-rated in older reviews. Those same reviewers might favor a different (newer) mouse today. The Logitech MX610, MX518 and MX1000 are recommended in much older reviews as the best all-around or gaming mouse. Although those mice are still available, we did not include results from any pre-2006 reviews in our Consensus Report.

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