Trackball mice have been around for a while. For many years they have been treated as a viable alternative to the traditional mouse and often preferred by many. But over time they have become less and less common until now they are mostly relegated to their own specific niche in the PC accessories market. But, trackballs still have many fans, and some even use them for gaming for accessibility or comfort reasons. Trackball mice require less space because they don't move around your desk, offer better ergonomics, and with a little practice can be as precise as traditional mice. that there simply isn't. Gaming is so much the domain of traditional-style mice that alternatives to trackballs are usually aimed at general productivity and office work. But, a mouse is a mouse and any mouse can be used to play! none of the trackball mice we list here will specifically boast of gaming-related features, you can rest assured that they will work great as input devices for any game that accepts mouse input.
It should be noted that there are two different types of trackball mice: trackballs and thumb trackballs. Ordinary trackballs are usually (but not necessarily) manipulated by the fingers while thumb trackballs are manipulated by the thumb. Which type you choose really depends on your preference, so we'll cover mice in both categories.
Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball
First up we have the Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball, which is honestly kind of the gold standard when it comes to thumb trackball mice. It's dual-mode, which means 2,4GHz via dongle and Bluetooth are supported, and features an adjustable tilt of up to 20 degrees for ergonomic comfort. The battery, rated at 70 hours, is rechargeable with the Micro USB port on the front and can be used regularly while charging. It also has a DPI clutch to quickly change the speed of the trackball, which is very useful for gaming purposes. On the productivity side, it also offers a copy and paste function between computers by storing files small enough in mouse memory. The maximum DPI is 2048, which is a bit low for gaming, but should do the job just fine for all but the fastest title.
Related: How to Disable Mouse Acceleration (Windows)
Logitech Ergo M575
The Logitech Ergo M575 is a slightly less robust thumb trackball than the MX trackball, but still offers a solid and much more affordable trackball experience. It features the same ergonomic handle, dual-mode wireless (2,4 GHz or Bluetooth), and replaces the rechargeable battery with a single AA with a reported battery life of 24 months. The biggest omission when it comes to gaming is the lack of a clutch compared to the MX Trackball, but at half the price it's still a very solid and usable thumb trackball mouse. It also comes in off-white, which is very striking when paired with the blue trackball.
Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Vertical Wireless
Outside of Logitech, the other big name you'll see in trackball gaming is Kensington Technology. They've been making trackballs of all kinds for ages, and their designs are some of the most copied in the trackball mouse market. Their Pro Fit Ergo Vertical is an interesting combination of the vertical mouse and thumb trackball designs, and is also compatible with 2,4GHz wireless and Bluetooth. The included Bluetooth functionality also has two distinct modes so the mouse can be paired separately to two different devices without having to reconnect when you want to switch. The ball itself also uses a more recessed design compared to Logitech thumb trackballs, which could reduce thumb strain for those of you who tend to overextend your thumb.
Logitech Trackman
Now we enter the wild world of traditional trackballs with the Logitech Trackman. This rather modest-looking trackball is stoic in form and function, but it's a rock-solid design that will hold up well even with heavy use. The base has an ergonomic curve that conforms to your palm and a large center-mounted trackball for easy controls. On the sides, you'll find four buttons in an interlocking formation, making it easy to press with your thumb and little finger. A solid, no-frills trackball is sometimes all you need. The biggest omission here is the lack of a scroll wheel, which might put some players off this mouse, but it's an easy fix if you're comfortable mapping any of the four buttons to do scroll functionality using software such as X-Mouse Button Control.
Kensington Expert
The Kensington Expert is a radically different design than the Trackman, but still retains the same central ball ergonomics. It sports a detachable wrist rest, four separate buttons, 2,4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth. It also works with Kensington's great KensingtonWorks software to customize shortcuts, cursor speed, and other features. The ring around the trackball works like a scroll wheel, and there's also a wired version for those of you who'd rather not bother with batteries.
Related: Best mouse of 2021 for FPS gaming
Orbit the Kensington
Finally, we have the Kensington Orbit, another traditional trackball that uses the same scroll ring design as the Expert (not shocking, since Kensington owns a patent on the technology). Like the other Kensington mice listed here, it is compatible with their customization software and offers two wireless modes 2,4 GHz and Bluetooth. The DPI here is a bit low at a maximum of 1600 DPI, but should suffice for anything but the fastest games, as the trackballs allow you to spin the ball for faster movement. Like the Expert, it also comes in a wireframe variant and multiple color variations.
Whether you have specific accessibility needs, struggle with repetitive stress, or just love trackballs, they're a viable solution for any gamer. Their unique designs often require software tweaks to dial things in exactly where you want them, but a trackball can provide hours of enjoyable, ergonomic PC gaming with ease.
For more hardware recommendations, check out Best Keyboard and Mouse for the PS5 and Best M1 Pro and M1 Max Mouse on Pro Gaming Guides.
