Pros & Cons
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- Ergonomic, tiltable design
- Quiet main click buttons
- Impressive new software functions
- Easy to clean
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- Slight learning curve for users new to trackballs
Logitech MX Ergo S Specs
| Hand Orientation | Right-Handed |
| Interface | 2.4GHz Wireless |
| Interface | Bluetooth |
| Interface | USB Wired |
| Number of Buttons | 8 |
| Power Source | Internal Battery |
| Sensor Maker and Model | Logitech Advanced Optical Tracking |
| Sensor Maximum Resolution | 2048 |
| Warranty (Parts and Labor) | 1 |
| Weight | 9.1 |
Living in a niche corner of the PC-peripheral market, trackball mice may seem like fusty old tech, recommended mostly for users with wrist pain. Concerns about the learning curve and precision for certain tasks have historically limited their appeal, especially for folks accustomed to pin-precise, high-resolution optical mice. Logitech's MX Ergo S, though, upends those assumptions. Combining a refined ergonomic design, quiet operation, and well-integrated software, it's the most polished and capable trackball mouse we've tested in recent years. It balances comfort and control better than competing models, while avoiding many of the compromises that have traditionally defined the category. It's our new Editors’ Choice pick for trackball mice.
Design: The 'S' Is Silent
Ignore the orb socketed into its left side, and the Logitech MX Ergo S looks a lot like an oversize mouse. Your hand sits on the matte-grey shell in the same way, except with your thumb resting over the glossy trackball and your wrist canted slightly to one side. You can also pivot the whole mouse body to change whether your thumb lies parallel with, or partly perpendicular to, your working surface.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The entire assembly is held securely on your desk by a hefty aluminum “foot” with a rubber base, which allows for the pivot. Logitech also offers a version of the device called the Ergo S Plus that bundles a large, fixed wedge in the box; the wedge can replace the aluminum base, adding an extra 10 degrees to the trackball's 20-degree tilt. This puts your hand even closer to perpendicular to the desk.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)By itself, the Ergo S weighs 5.8 ounces and measures 2 by 3.9 by 5.2 inches (HWD), while the aluminum base adds roughly 3.2 ounces to the total. You can pair the Ergo S with up to two devices via Bluetooth; you switch between them via the "1, 2" button south of the scroll wheel. Alternatively, you can connect the Ergo S to your computer via the included Logi Bolt wireless USB receiver. This 2.4GHz dongle—which occupies a single USB Type-A port on your host computer—can be shared with other, Bolt-compatible Logitech peripherals.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The layout of the Ergo S features the pair of main left/right click buttons, a tilting scroll wheel, and two slim, raised buttons that sit to the left of your index finger, in addition to a single small button that you'd trigger with your thumb, placed slightly above the trackball. All of the auxiliary inputs respond with a distinct click, but the two main buttons are almost silent, similar to Logitech's MX Anywhere 3S—and appreciated for anyone working in a crowded office. The trackball itself uses a 2,048-dot-per-inch (dpi) sensor and is easy to pop out for cleaning the ball and its socket.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The scroll wheel on the Ergo S can pan left or right by nudging it in either direction, but it lacks the quick-scroll feature found on Logitech’s MX Master lineup. Beyond this small omission, I don’t have any issues with the Ergo S's design. The weight might be a problem for someone who prioritizes portability, but personally, I appreciate the extra heft that helps keep the Ergo S from sliding on your desk.
Software: A Valuable Addition
The trackball's configuration software, Logi Options Plus, features a clean, readable layout and is frugal with your system's resources. That's enough to make it a winner in my book, but Logitech has also added some attractive new features.
The first is the Actions Ring function. Assigned to a single dedicated input, this feature pulls up a small radial menu around your cursor with up to eight options. Each option can even include nested functions, drastically increasing the number of macros, shortcuts, and other handy features you can quickly access. The feature is responsive and is a handy alternative to memorizing macros.
By default, the Actions Ring has access to the usual array of system functions like media controls. But several popular applications like Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve have profiles downloadable from Logi Options Plus Marketplace that offer app-specific Action Ring functions.
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The second, less exciting feature of Logi Options Plus is Flow. In theory, Flow should allow you to switch seamlessly between two machines that have Logi Options installed like they are one. You start by pairing the trackball with both machines via Bluetooth, then running the software. When that's done, you can move your cursor between the machines by moving to the edge of one screen and onto another, much like interacting with a second monitor. This is a neat trick, but it has limited functionality in practice. You can’t transfer files or move windows between the two machines, and you can only copy-and-paste text if you’re using a compatible Logitech keyboard.
While Flow fell short of my expectations, the Actions Ring more than made up for it, turning Logi Options Plus into a true value-add.
Testing the Logitech MX Ergo S: Getting on the Ball
I’ve used conventional mice most of my life, so the Ergo S took a little getting used to. The learning curve isn’t steep, but it still required rethinking some fine motor control. However, it wasn’t long before using the Ergo S felt like second nature.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)True to its name, the Ergo S feels remarkably ergonomic. Using a conventional mouse for extended periods, I’d often get aches in my hand and wrist, but I haven't had that issue since swapping to the trackball, and I’m more than happy to give my super-fashionable wrist brace some much-needed PTO. Keeping my wrist from having to flex is a big part of the appeal; the "handshake" hand position is also more natural than the usual mouse manipulation.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)I never had to recharge the MX Ergo S during testing, draining it to about 70% over about three weeks of regular use. Logitech says the device can last up to 120 days on a charge.
Overall, my experience with the MX Ergo S was a revelation, and it quickly became my default peripheral for getting work done during the day. (Part of it may be novelty: Spinning a trackball around is more fun than working a regular mouse.) However, keep a couple of considerations in mind if you’re planning to turn the Ergo into your go-to.
Using a trackball allows for finer movement, but the 2,048dpi sensor means that it's easy to overshoot items if you crank up the pointer speed. This is fine for the vast majority of productivity applications, but I found myself reaching for my regular mouse when doing some light photo editing. Gaming can be another stumble. When I used the Ergo S for some light gaming, it performed better than expected, but it depended on the game genre. For some, like racing games or shooters, you really want a mouse.
While trackballs can accumulate their fair share of grit and grime, I only had to clean the Ergo S a couple of times during testing. It's as easy as popping out the trackball from its cavity and removing any buildup with a cotton swab.